FUNDRAISING: Our fundraising ability has been seriously diminished over the past number of months due to Covid 19 restrictions. We have had to put the Trouter’s Special ON HOLD for now. There are still over 300 tickets left to sell to meet our goal from last years draw. I realize that many of you have already purchased and sold tickets. However, if you are able to take another ticket or more tickets to sell, please call Regina at the parish office or email at home@stpatrickschurch.ca Arrangements will be made to collect the monies either by dropping it in the mailbox or by returning stubs and money once the restrictions have been lifted. We will notify everyone once the draws are permitted to proceed.

Centre for Life is hosting virtual tax clinics under the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program. If you are a senior with a modest income please call 579-1500 for any inquiries or to make an appointment.

WHERE IS GOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PANDEMIC?

If you have been asking questions about how to make meaning in these uncharted waters that we are in, you are not alone. If you’ve asked where God is, or how you might hear God’s voice, others are asking the same questions.

If you would like to take part in an online discussion about your own experiences and how it all relates to God and faith, the Redemptorist Adult Faith Formation Team (Fr. Tony Bidgood, CSsR, Fr. David Louch, CSsR and Anne Walsh) would like invite you to a virtual Zoom gathering of people who want to share their thoughts, questions and faith.

Simply email us at the following address:

rafftcssr@gmail.com

and the Redemptorist Adult Faith Formation Team will contact you about how to connect to the virtual discussion.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Peace!

FAMILY CATECHISM AND SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

Our families have continued to meet virtually and continue with family faith development and Sacramental Preparation.  We cannot plan dates for the reception of sacraments at this point but we are continuing to prepare.  If you have any questions please email familycatechism@stpatrickschurch.ca

CONTACT INFORMATION RE – CANCER

Cancer Can Be Exhausting! Have you been diagnosed with cancer? Do you have trouble sleeping and experience difficulty with your memory, concentration, and attention? Our research team can help! For more information please call 709-864-8035 or email sleeplab@mun.ca

Message from the Archbishop

May 7, 2020

RE: Precautions during the time of Alert Level 4

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

At the April 30^th Newfoundland Covid-19 briefing it was tentatively announced that the province will move to Alert Level 4 on Monday May 11^th.

At Alert Level 4, it will still be everyone’s responsibility to follow the Public Health Guidance for All Alert Levels and to stay home as much as possible, except to get essentials like groceries and medications.  However, gatherings at funerals, burials, and weddings will be expanded to 10 people as long as physical distancing can be maintained.  Visitations and wakes will remain prohibited.

In consultation with the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council and ensuring that we adhere to the Special Measures Orders of the Department of Public Health, the following decisions regarding pastoral ministry and public worship have been made for the time period that this province is at Alert Level 4:

1. All people of the Archdiocese are dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.
2. All churches are to remain closed to the public.
3. Access to diocesan and parish administrative buildings will be limited to staff and those individuals conducting essential repairs (social distancing protocols to be followed in their dealings with staff).
4. Diocesan and parish meetings involving non-staff members are to be hosted virtually or postponed.
5. “Private” celebrations of funerals, weddings and baptisms may take place in the church within the context of a Liturgy of the Word service (i.e. no Mass) provided that:
6. No more than 10 people are present including the celebrant.
7. Safe distancing protocols are adhered to.
8. Before the celebration begins, a list of the names of those present is obtained (in case needed for contact tracing).
9. In the case of a baptism, the celebrant wears a facemask for those parts of the celebration where physical distancing cannot be maintained and wears a glove when performing the anointings.

At the May 5^th meeting of the Presbyteral Council a subcommittee was formed to review all the Alert Levels and to prepare recommendations regarding pastoral ministry and public worship at each level.

We are being told that it may still be a long while until this pandemic is behind us and things are back to “normal”.  In the mean time, I ask that you please 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 in need and for steadfast faith in God’s goodness and love.

Sincerely yours in the Risen Lord,

+Peter Hundt

Archbishop of St. John’s, NL

To all family, friends and parishioners, I extend heartfelt gratitude for your many well wishes and prayerful support as I celebrated 34 years of Priesthood yesterday. I was overwhelmed by your many expressions of love and encouragement. I would like to thank you each individually but there are just too many of you!!!!! I will remember you in my prayers. Thanks again! Fr. Ray

“The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of St. John’s is inviting all interested parties to bid on the tender for: ‘Burial Plot Opening/Closing and Ground Maintenance in Cemeteries’. All interest parties can obtain copies of the tender documents by sending an Email to ‘cemetery@rcsj,org’ or by contacting the cemetery operations office at 730 8752 or 691 6620. Tenders close on Friday May 29, 2020. All details and requirements for bidding are contained with the tender documents. “