Dear Monsignors and Fathers:

Yesterday, the Chief Medical Officer of Health announced that as of 12:01 a.m. Saturday March 27^th all of the province would move to Alert Level 2.  Please find attached with this Memo in pdf format a copy of the Public Advisory of March 24, 2021.

According to this Advisory, “formal gatherings” are limited to no more than 50 people.  In addition, the Chief Medical Officer requested that masks be worn by congregants through out public worship services (except when receiving Communion, and lectors, cantors and the celebrant when ministering).  Further information is found in the June 25, 2020 Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John’s Covid-19 Parish Church and Pastoral Ministry Guidelines while operating under Alert Level 2.

With the above in mind and having consulted and received the advice of the COVID-19 Sub-committee of the Presbyteral Council, I ask that as 12:01 a.m. Saturday March 27^th and until further notice, the parishes of the Archdiocese please adhere to the following instructions:

Diocesan and Parish Adminstrative Offices:

1. Diocesan and parish staff that can work from home are encouraged to do so.
2. As much as possible, parish meetings should be held online.
3. All in person meetings must comply with present COVID-19 safety protocols.

Archdiocesan Churches:

1. Churches may be opened for private devotion and/or public worship provided that:
2. No more than 50 people are present including the officiant;
3. All present COVID-19 safety protocols are followed including social distancing, facemask wearing, COVID self-assessment and contact tracing registration.

2021 Chrism Mass

Given our present situation and that in Canada the CCCB has left it to Ordinaries to decide whether to transfer the date of the Chrism Mass, we are presently planning to celebrate the 2021 Mass of Chrism at the Basilica on Monday May 17^th at 7:00 p.m.  Further details on this celebration and other social and spiritual events that may take place in conjunction with the Chrism Mass will be provided at a later date.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+Peter Hundt

Dear People of the Archdiocese of St. John’s:

Recently, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed our Archdiocese’s application for Leave to Appeal. This makes final the judgement of the Appeal Court of Newfoundland and Labrador that the Archdiocese of St. John’s is vicariously liable for the abuse at the Mount Cashel Orphanage in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. We must now move to address these claims to the best of our ability, and in justice to the victims.

The resolution of these claims will have significant implications for the parishes and parishioners of our Archdiocese. Therefore, we are presently working with financial and other advisers to discern how best to move forward in addressing them. Further communications will be sent to the parishes as more information becomes available.

There will be changes and sacrifices required of all of us as we move through this process. I cannot promise that the road ahead will be an easy one, but certainly, the practice and celebration of our Catholic faith will continue.  I hope that this resolution process will bring with it healing for the victims, their loved ones, and the entire community of faith, and closure to a dark chapter in the history of our Archdiocese.

As we move forward with this process, I ask that you please join with me in praying for God’s guidance, healing for the victims, and understanding, compassion and patience for us all.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+Peter Hundt

Archbishop of St. John’s.

St. Patrick’s Church has recently launched a Youtube Channel, all Masses will be live-streamed here. You can subscribe to our channel to get notifications whenever we go live and videos are posted. The channel can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_TdOAkAtDe5AWQ3z0_tDvA

Dear parishioners and visitors to our website,

During these current restrictions due to COVID-19, we invite you to join us virtually for the offering of the Mass. If you are in need of Confession or Anointing of the Sick during this time, please contact the parish directly and ask for Fr. Fleming.

In addition, we kindly ask you to remember our parish and consider ways to continue your financial support. Following almost a year of restrictions on attendance and fundraising, our parish finances are heavily strained. We have several ways to donate:

1. You can drop your collection in the drop box of the parish office.
2. You can register for direct debit by completing this attached form (Click Here) and returning it by email or by dropping it in our drop box at the parish office. If you have any questions on this option, please call the parish office at 754-1195.
3. You can mail your donation to: St. Patrick’s Parish, 6 Patrick Street, St. John’s, NL A1E 2S7.
4. You may now donate directly online by clicking here.

May God bless you and protect you,

Fr. James Fleming

Please see the below memo from Archbishop Hundt providing instructions in regards to the province returning to COVID-19 Alert Level 5. During this time we will be live streaming Sunday Mass and daily Mass (Tuesday – Friday) through our website beginning on February 14th.  
Dear People of the Archdiocese of St. John’s:

Last night the Chief Medical Officer of Health announced that our province was returning to Alert Level 5. This Alert Level has broad sweeping public health measures to protect the population. These measures include staying at home as much as possible, except to get essentials like groceries and medications, the prohibition of gatherings of more than five people, the prohibition of funerals, wakes and visitations and the limiting of burials and weddings to a maximum of five people including the officiant.

Out of pastoral concern for the health and wellbeing of all our people and in keeping with these Public Health’s measures, I am hereby directing all the parishes in the Archdiocese to adhere to the following instructions:

1. The churches are to remain closed and all public liturgical celebrations, including Mass, are to be cancelled. (Where possible, parishes are encouraged to make Mass and spiritual devotions available to their parishioners through the internet and/or Facebook.)
(Please note: live-streamed Masses are celebrated daily at the Basilica and can be viewed at www.thebasilica.net and then clicking Live Stream.)
2. Burials and weddings may take place provided that:
a) No more than 5 people are present, including the officiant;
b) Safe distancing and facemask wearing protocols are adhered to;
c) A list of the names of those present is compiled for contact tracing purposes.
3. Diocesan and parish staff that can work from home should do so.
4. Access to diocesan and parish administrative buildings is to be limited to staff and those individuals conducting essential repairs and services (social distancing, facemask wearing,COVID self-assessment and contact tracing protocols all being properly followed).
5. All in person parish meetings are to be cancelled or held online;
6. All in person public meetings in parish facilities are to be cancelled or postponed until further notice.

Asking that you join with me in praying for serenity in dealing with our present situation, for courage in facing the challenges that confront us, for charity in reaching out to those who are in need and for steadfast faith in God’s goodness and love, I remain,

Yours in Christ,

+Peter Hundt
Archbishop of St. John’s, Nfld.

The St. Patrick’s Parish Family welcomes Father James Fleming to our parish. Father Fleming began his appointment as administrator of St. Patrick’s Church and St. John Bosco Church this past Tuesday, January 19, 2021. We look forward to working with Father Fleming over the coming months to continue the important work that our parish does. Please keep Father Fleming in your prayers as he begins this new position.

St. Patrick’s Parish has launched an online donation system. This system provides an easy means to donate to the valuable work that our parish conducts.  You can use your credit card from the comfort of your home. To donate, please visit www.stpatrickschurch.ca and click Donate in the top menu. This system allows you to make a one-time donation, an automatic weekly, or automatic monthly donation to our parish. A charitable tax receipt will be issued at the end of the year for all donations made through this system. Thank you for your continued support of our parish.