As churches continue to remain closed, we continue to come together for Mass in the open air!
Indeed, -20 degrees could not even separate us from one another after Mass -- I was watching you continue after Mass socializing and conversing with one another despite the weather.
"One of the biggest gifts of these outdoor Masses... is a restoration of the parish communal bond."
Thank you to Eileen Devlin and Maria Olaguera for the photos from Saint Thomas More on January 9th (where Fr Robert was in white vestments for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord) and January 15th! (green vestments for Ordinary Time and a fur cap for the cold)!
Bundle up this Sunday and joyfully join us!
- St. Thomas More: Mass at 10:00am on the church steps; Communion at 10:25am
- St. Willibrord: Mass at 11:15am in front of the Rectory; Communion at 11:40am
Masks and 1m physical distancing required. Communion will be brought to you in place.
If you take any photos and are open to having them included in upcoming editions of Soul Health), please send the pictures along with your consent for us to share to Fr Robert (vicarofverdun@gmail.com) and Angela (pa.englishparishes.verdun@gmail.com)!
Yours in Christ,
Father Robert Assaly +
***
Keep your faith alive while churches are closed!
All are welcome to the open-air Masses, even those who are not parishioners of St Thomas More or St Willibrord! And, if you choose to attend Mass online or on television, consider completing your Sunday with Communion at either church.
Attend Mass online with:
- Saint Ignatius of Loyola https://stig.ca/live-stream/
- Saint Thomas à Becket https://www.becket.ca/
- Saint Joseph’s Oratory https://www.saint-joseph.org/en/keep-in-touch-with-the-oratory/
- On TV, the Salt & Light channel is also a great option for attending Mass virtually.
Sacraments can also be brought to your front steps! If you are unable to get to the church to receive Communion or to go to Confession, please contact the parish office to request a visit from Father Robert.
Collection Envelopes and Making Online Contributions
Parishioners who use envelopes for their Sunday offerings can drop off their envelopes at the parish office while the church is closed. Regular or one-time donations can also be made at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/50630. Canada Helps is a secure online platform that’s a good alternative to envelopes for parishioners who cannot easily get to the parish to drop off their donations, or even for those who wish to go paperless. The weekly collection is an incredibly important resource for the parish, and your contributions to it support our various programs and efforts to serve our parish and our community.
New **Online** Course: The Bible and the Virgin Mary
Parishioners and friends of the parish who are seeking to gain more knowledge of Catholicism and deepen their faith are invited to join Father Robert on a new online course!
Developed by the Saint Paul Center and based on Dr Scott Hahn’s book Hail, Holy Queen, participants will rediscover Mother Mary through Sacred Scripture during this course. From the newly confirmed to the fully engaged, this study has something for all Catholics!
The Bible and the Virgin Mary is accessible through the following Zoom link: https://concordia-ca.zoom.us/j/91966291246. More information on this program can be found on the Saint Paul Center website here.
Each gathering for this study begins with 30 minutes of prayer with the Rosary, followed by a video, discussions, and teaching with Father Robert. For more information, including a list of session topics, please contact Angela or Father Robert.
Father Mike Schmitz: A Pep Talk for difficult times, and Bible In A Year
We continue to live in unprecedented times and as the pandemic presses it, it’s easy to feel helpless and hopeless. If this resonates with you, take courage from this message from Father Mike Schmitz.
Speaking of Father Mike, have you heard of Bible In A Year? In just about 20 minutes a day, this podcast will take you on a journey through Scripture that not only shares the Word of God, but helps you “understand how all the pieces of the Bible fit together to tell an amazing story that continues in your life today!” Join Father Mike and Jeff Cavins on YouTube, or on your favourite podcast app. For more information, visit https://ascensionpress.com/pages/biy-registration.
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