During the COVID-19 shutdown, meetings will be held virtually on Zoom. Registration is required for Zoom meetings by calling Mount Carmel at 905-356-4113 or the diocesan Pastoral Centre at 905-684-0154, or emailing separatedanddivorced@saintcd.com
Returning January 11, the Diocesan Separated & Divorced Healing Ministry Support Group meets every second and fourth Monday of the month (except holidays) from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
During the COVID-19 shutdown, meetings will be held virtually on Zoom. Registration is required for Zoom meetings by calling Mount Carmel at 905-356-4113 or the diocesan Pastoral Centre at 905-684-0154, or emailing separatedanddivorced@saintcd.com Attendance in church is limited to 10 people (including priest and other ministers). To attend a Mass, you must call the office Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. to register.
Schedule: Sunday Vigil Mass - Saturday at 5:00 p.m. Sunday Mass - Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Weekday Masses - Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. The office maintains its usual hours but is closed to the public. If necessary (e.g. picking up marriage certificates), business will be transacted at the door. On Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., the Niagara Region, with all of Southern Ontario, is going into the provincially ordered shutdown.
Under these conditions, provincial regulations limit a gathering for the purposes of a wedding, a funeral or a religious service, rite or ceremony to 10 people. We are still determining a fair and effective way we can admit people while limiting attendance. Thus, for the weekend of December 26-27 the church will be closed to the public. Masses for the feast of the Holy Family will be celebrated and posted online. Once we have figured out a system of attendance, Mass will be continue to be celebrated in the church each day, including Sundays, with that maximum limit of 10 persons mandated by provincial regulations; this limit includes priest(s) and other ministers (lector, servers, music ministers). Please remember that you are exempt from the Sunday Obligation during this pandemic. Check this website for updates on Masses throughout the Octave of Christmas, during the Christmas season, and until the shutdown ends. Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are being celebrated as scheduled. Please note that you must pre-register no later than 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22nd. You absolutely need a printed pass in your possession to attend any Mass. Pews and seats are pre-assigned to each person. Masses on Christmas Eve are already at capacity. God bless you all and have a blessed and safe Christmas.
Christmas Eve Thursday, December 24th 4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., 12:00 a.m. [All Christmas Eve Masses at capacity.] Christmas Day Friday, December 25th 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. [Spaces are still available as of December 21.] On the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary December 8, 2020, Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter, Patris corde, for the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as patron of the universal Church. To mark the occasion, the pope proclaimed a year dedicated to Saint Joseph through December 8, 2021.
Pope Francis includes this prayer to Saint Joseph in the apostolic letter: Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen. (Read more about the declaration on the Vatican website.) The Masses for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, January 1, are as follows:
Thursday, December 31 at 5:00 p.m. (Vigil) Friday, January 1 at 11:30 a.m. This is ordinarily a holy day of obligation; however, Bishop Bergie has dispensed the faithful from attending Mass Sundays and holy days of obligation during the pandemic. The Christmas letter for 2020 from the Most Rev. Gerard Bergie, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of St. Catharines, is available below. ![]()
The Soup Kitchen in Niagara Falls needs your support. There is a 40% increase in need for daily meals to the poor.
There will be no communal reconciliation service this year.
For those wishing to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation in this Advent season of preparation for the coming of Christ, there will be two extra opportunities. Saturday, December 12th and December 19th, priests will be available to hear confessions in the sacristy and in the ushers’ room between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Entry is through the main doors of the church. Masks must be worn except for medical reasons, and 2m physical distance must be maintained. Reconciliation is also available before the 5:00 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass from 4:30 p.m. and any time by appointment. The maximum permitted at each Mass is 110 persons.
All Masses require pre-registration. Please call the office 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Monday - Friday to register. Christmas Eve Thursday, December 24th 4:00 p.m. - update: Mass in church filled; Also at 4:00 p.m. there is a parallel Mass in gymnasium 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 12:00 a.m. Midnight Mass Christmas Day Friday, December 25th 8:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. For 11:30 a.m., if needed due to numbers, there will be a parallel Mass in gymnasium Note there is no 7:00 p.m. Mass |
Archives
January 2021
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