Wednesday Weekly November 6, 2013 Print Version
1. Farewell for Susan Campbell:
Please put the following 3 messages in parish bulletins:
Announcement Diocesan Pastoral Centre
After 18 years of service at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Prince George, Susan Campbell, has resigned from her position as Director effective December 31, 2013. Susan has been instrumental in building many programs integral to the Diocese such as Lay Formation and Returning to Spirit. We wish her well in her sabbatical and in the new directions this leave may take her.
Farewell Celebration for Susan Campbell
A farewell celebration in honor of Susan Campbell will take place at St. Mary’s Parish in Prince George on Monday, December 2, 2013, beginning with Mass at 7 p.m. and followed by a reception. Please join us in thanking Susan for her ministry among us over these past 18 years.
Farewell Message from Susan Campbell
I take this opportunity to thank the people of this diocese for their support over the years. It has been a very rich experience and I leave grateful for it all. Thank you to all I have had the privilege to work with and serve. Several people have asked what my future plans are: I will complete my position with the diocese at the end of December and January 1st I will be moving to Quebec City to begin a year of French immersion studies. I wish the new co-directors, Fr. Jack Michalchuk and John Connelly every success as they move into a new ministry.
2. Celebrating the Year of Faith
This special year of grace ends this month on the solemnity of Christ the King, Sunday, November 24. To mark the closing, parishioners from across the diocese are invited to pray Vespers (Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours) for the memorial of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 7:00 pm on Thursday, November 21.
Parishioners in the city of Prince George will gather at Sacred Heart Cathedral. In all other locations, the prayers will be offered in the parish church. Lisa Weber will distribute a pdf of the prayer booklet to all parishes prior to the service.
3. Short-term priest replacements
Pastors are reminded that the permission of the Bishop is necessary when inviting a priest from outside the Diocese of Prince George to minister in your parish. Occasions for such invitations may include vacation replacement, sacramental celebrations such as marriages and baptisms, parish missions and workshops, visiting friend or former pastor, etc. The attached form must be completed by the priest’s Bishop or Religious Superior and returned to the Chancery beforehand. (This form will be posted on the Diocesan website in the New Year, but for now please make copies of the attached pdf.)
Pastors are also reminded of the information shared at the recent Council of Priests meeting regarding changes in the BC Vital Statistics Department which affects the length of time needed to obtain a certificate to solemnize a marriage. When a priest from outside the Province of BC has been invited to celebrate a wedding in your parish, please contact Lisa Weber in the Bishop’s Office at least three months prior to the wedding to allow time to obtain the necessary licence.
Authorization for Pastoral Ministry Form 1
4. Adult Faith Formation – Distance Education
St. Francis Xavier University offers distance education courses for adults seeking faith formation for personal and professional development: Diploma in Ministry; Certificate in Lay Ministry; Certificate in Spirituality; and the award-winning Diploma in Intellectual Disability Studies. For information please contact Continuing & Distance Education, StFX University by phone: 1-877-867-5562, email: diplomainministry@stfx.ca; or visit their website at: http://www.sites.stfx.ca/continuingeducation/ministry
5. Appeal Update
