From Fr. Rector's Desk | September 9, 2022

CALLED TOGETHER - Giving, Sharing, Serving 2022-23
Along with all other parishes and missions throughout the diocese, today we kick-off the Annual Diocesan Appeal: “Called Together – Giving, Sharing, Serving.”

Called Together supports the mission of the local Church across our diocese. Your gift to Called Together is one way that you can practice stewardship and participate in the mission of the Church.

The diocesan goal has been slightly increased to $250,000 this year, far short of the usual $400,000. Funds raised will continue to go to help those parishes, missions and ministries across the diocese who continue to face ongoing challenges and need our support. Part of the increased goal will go to programs and ministries that were suspended during the challenges of COVID and are now being restarted.

Our Parish Goal is: $19,901

This year, the diocese is also collecting funds for the BC Bishops’ appeal in support of Healing and Reconciliation. This appeal is separate from Called Together and aims to provide funds for projects that support healing and reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigeneous peoples. In prior years, the diocese has tried to meet this need through programs such as Returning to Spirit, the Rose Prince Pilgrimage and through the work of our priests and religious involved in indigenous ministry.

After we began last year’s Appeal, the Canadian Bishops agreed to support a national campaign to raise $30 million dollars in support of healing and reconciliation efforts. The diocesan goal for our portion of that $30 million is $147,000 of which half has already been raised. The monies raised in our diocese will be used to support healing and reconciliation efforts in our diocese.

We look to the generosity of everyone to make a meaningful contribution to promote this important work.

The form in the Called Together package allows you to designate how much you would like to direct to the Diocesan Annual Appeal and how much to the Healing and Reconciliation appeal.

Please pick-up your (APPEAL) CALLED TOGETHER package located in the foyer. They are arranged in alphabetical order.

We thank you for your continued generous support.

A MESSAGE FROM BISHOP STEPHEN JENSEN
It has come to my attention that priests from the “Society of St. Pius X” have been visiting parts of the diocese and celebrating Mass and perhaps other sacraments.

Unfortunately, these priests often do not make clear their status in relation to the Catholic Church and parishioners may be led to believe that this society and its clergy have some recognition from the diocese. This organization is not in communion with the Church and Catholics should not attend these services.

-Most Reverend Stephen Jensen

READERS, ALTAR SERVERS AND CHOIR
Please see schedule above. If you are not available on the date and time you are assigned, please let Fr. Rector know ahead of time.

SACRAMENTS OF RECONCILIATION, EUCHARIST AND CONFIRMATION

Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation will begin soon. To register, sign-up sheet for each Sacrament is in the foyer or e-mail Fr. Rector at fr.rector@shcpg.ca.

The ages or grade level for the reception of the Sacraments are as follows:

Grade 2 - Reconciliation and First Eucharist
Grade 6 - Confirmation

Meeting with parents of children preparing to celebrate the Sacraments will take place on Sunday, September 18, 1:30 PM at the Cathedral.

If you know of someone who would like to become a Catholic and enter the process of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (R.C.I.A), please let Fr. Rector know and he will meet with them to inform them of the process.

REQUEST FROM HARMONY HOUSE
Two weeks ago, Fr. Rector has received the request above. If you are interested to assist, please let the parish office know and we will coordinate with Harmony House.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

If you are technologically gifted and interested to be part of those who are streaming live the Mass, please contact the parish office. We need you.

We are inviting any interested parishioner to assist in streaming the Mass live via Facebook.

Since the time of pandemic, Leonel Caunan and Dennis Roallos are the ones faithfully doing it. But we need more people to learn how to do it so that when they are not available, we will still have someone who can look after livestreaming.

Livestreaming our Sunday Masses helps those who are unable to come to Church i.e. homebound.

VISIT TO THE HOMEBOUND

Fr. Rector tries his best to regularly visit Catholic residents of Fort George Manor (Thursday) and Simon Fraser Lodge (Friday). If you have family members that you want Fr. Rector to visit, please inform him by calling the parish office. During the visit, Fr. Rector celebrates Liturgy of the Word with Communion. At the request of the residents, he also listens to their confessions and of course, if needed, the Anointing of the Sick.

PASTORAL CARE TRAINING PROGRAM

The valuable and free Pastoral Care Outreach Training online series offered by the Diocese of Victoria will begin this fall. The nine sessions will be held via Zoom on Saturday mornings from 9:30 – noon, starting on September 24, 2022, except for Thanksgiving (October 8) to conclude November 26.

Participants will require a phone number and email address, a computer, tablet or smartphone with speakers, microphone and webcam, and a reliable Internet connection.

Please register through your local parish by September 16.

TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME C

First Reading: Exodus 32.7-11,13-14

The Lord changed his mind about the disaster he has planned to bring upon the people.

Responsorial Psalm:
I will get up and go to my Father. (Ps 51)

Second Reading: 1 Timothy 1.12-17

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

Gospel: Luke 15.1-32

There will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.

CONFESSION TIMES

Priest will be available for confessions before the 5:30 PM (Vigil Mass) and the 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM Sunday Masses. Please see schedule below:

4:45 PM Saturday
8:30 AM Sunday
10:30 AM Sunday

If the schedule above does not meet your availability, please phone the parish office to arrange with your personal schedule of confession with a priest.

SEPTEMBER 2022 PARISH CALENDAR

(Please click the image to see a bigger version of the calendar.)

LOOKING AHEAD

Rachel’s Vineyard Fall Retreats
Rachel’s Vineyard Retreats offer you a supportive, confidential and non-judgmental environment where women and men can express, release and reconcile painful post-abortive emotions to begin the process of restoration, renewal and healing.

Registering now. Confidentiality assured.

Kelowna Retreat: October 21-23
Call 250-762-2273 or email info@rachelsvineyardkelowna.com

Lac Des Roches Resort Retreat: October 25-27
Call 250-267-5081 or email rvkamloops@yahoo.ca

If you or someone you know is suffering from an abortion experience, there is no need to suffer in silence. Rachel’s Vineyard is here to help.

PRAYERS NEEDED
Gibrone Cano (parishioner and a part-time/substitute staff at the Cathedral) and Albert Calago went missing while in their canoeing and fishing trip in Fraser Lake last Monday. Please see news from the Prince George Citizen:

Canoeists go missing on Fraser Lake

Let us join in praying that the time and effort of the rescuers will give us a better result, even a miracle.

Secondly, we pray for continued strength and courage for Aprilyn (wife of Gibrone) and Cha (wife of Albert), and their respective families.

Prayer gathering has been organized by the friends of Gibrone and Albert at Sacred Heart Cathedral every evening at 7:00 PM.