Category: Information

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Votive Candles

You have probably noticed that there are no Votive Candles currently available in the church. Current health restrictions prevent people from gathering in front of the votive stands, and from sharing the wooden tapers used to light the candles. If you would like to have a candle lit in the church, please contact the parish office (653-6830 or holyredeemersj@gmail.com) and a member of our staff would be happy to light a candle on your behalf. The suggested donation for each candle is $4, and money can be placed in the collection basket.

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Collection For The Needs Of The Church In Canada

Bishop Riesbeck has asked that we pass along the following message from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB):

This year, the Catholic Church in Canada, along with the rest of society, has been seriously affected by the Coronavirus pandemic: from an inability to gather in worship, through limitations on pastoral and personal interaction, to office closures. Bishops, as shepherds who watch over their flock, felt this disruption very keenly.

As we continue to address the challenges and impact of the Coronavirus upon our families, communities of faith and ecclesial outreach, your prayers, gestures of kindness and generosity are invaluable, heartfelt and true sources of consolation, comfort and renewed encouragement in the pursuit of the Church’s pastoral mission.

The Collection for the Needs of the Church in Canada will take place on September 26 & 27. This annual charitable initiative assists the Bishops in their ministry of accompanying, teaching, guiding, sanctifying and caring for the Church in Canada.

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Introduction – Prayers Of The Faithful

“Each of us is a small stone, but in Jesus’ hands participates in the building of the Church.”     Pope Francis

Much has been learned about the current Corona Virus since it first brought havoc to much of the world. Now that its effects have subsided somewhat the attention turns to the next, or second wave. In the meantime many people have begun to experience pandemic fatigue! They are certainly concerned about the possibility of future illness but there has been so much impact on our daily lives many are looking for some kind of relief! Generations within families are cut off from physical contact and many live in isolation. Daily routines and life-giving rituals have stopped. Seasonal workers have lost their income and some workers have been forced to work longer, more stressful hours.

It is natural to question our place in the community and even wonder what our lives are all about. But living the difficulties of restrictions and facing future uncertainties can serve a larger purpose. Our thoughts of people cut off from us, our prayers for each other person affected, our contributions, in whatever form, to people in need, our prayers of petition for others and even our prayerful sighs of loneliness and bewilderment build up the church and our community of faith. We are not alone. God is with us. Each of us is necessary. The sadness, boredom, hardship and sacrifice of today are the grains of wheat that God grinds to become the Eucharist we long to celebrate together!

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Introduction – Prayers Of The Faithful

The benefits of social distancing and self isolation are seen in the low rate of COVID-19 infection in our province. Another benefit is the halt to some of the busy-ness that often made up our day. In “normal” times there was often little time to be quiet or to reflect on what was happening around us or to us. It is good to take some time each day, maybe at the end of the day, to look at how we live what we believe and how we have been faithful to following the gospel of Jesus. That can be uncomfortable and make us want to seek some distraction. Or, even worse, it may lead us to do an examination of other people’s lives. After all, that’s much easier and a lot more entertaining!

Looking at the ways we have been faithful can be very encouraging. If you have placed someone’s needs before your own or if you have chosen to let go of a resentment or to actually forgive someone who has offended you, then you have accepted God’s grace and chosen to love. But if you discover that you have acted out of selfishness or chosen to cause harm to another by words or actions, it reveals an opportunity to ask for God’s grace even more and to learn how to love a little more. That’s the best protection against the pandemic of sin that tries to enter our lives each day.