Wednesday Weekly May 27, 2015 Print Edition

1.     Bioethics Presentation

Please post the attached updated poster and put the following notice in parish bulletins:

Do you have questions regarding End of Life Issues? Withdrawal of treatment, prolonging life, pain and suffering and terminal sedation are just a few of the topics that will be addressed on Saturday, June 13th with Dr. Moira McQueen, LLB, MDiv, Phd. She will break open these issues as well as the controversial topics of Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide. Please join us for a Roman Catholic perspective from 8:30 am – 1:45 pm (break for lunch at 12:00 pm) at the Coast Inn of the North, Prince George.

Dr. McQueen is the keynote speaker of the 68th Annual Provincial Convention of the Catholic Women’s League and because of the importance of these topics in today’s society this talk has been opened up to the public. Advance payment and registration is required and the deadline is Friday June 5th. Don’t miss out on this once in a life time event!

Fee: $10.00 for presentation and $20.00 for the optional lunch. See poster for further details. Register at Sacred Heart Cathedral in person at 887 Patricia Boulevard, by phone (250)564-5225 or by email shcath@shawcable.com.

 Dr Mcqueen Presentation Poster

2.     Northern Uganda Development Foundation

Please share the following information with all who may be interested; the dinner is this Saturday:

The 6th Annual Dinner and Auction for the Northern Uganda Development Foundation will be held at St. Mary’s Gym 1088 Gillett Street, Prince George on Saturday May 30th. Cocktails: 5:30 pm; Dinner 6:00 pm. Tickets are $40.00 each and include an authentic African Dinner. Tickets are available for purchase at Books and Company or Ave Maria.

3.     Monthly Day of Adoration

Please put the following notice in Central Region parish bulletins:

Emmanuel Hermitage invites you to a Personal Date with Jesus on June 9th in the Domano Chapel, 6500 Southridge Ave. Mass will be celebrated at 7:30 a.m. and the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for a day of silent prayer and adoration. We will pray for the people and needs of our Diocese, the universal Church, and the world. In particular we will pray for the protection of all human life, for vocations, and for the intentions of those participating in the day. Please mark your calendar on the second Tuesday of each month for Personal Dates with Jesus days.

4.     Domano Renewal Centre

The June At a Glance for the Domano Renewal Centre is attached. Please put the following notice in Central Region parish bulletins:

June at a Glance

“Anger Affects Everyone“ Workshop, Saturday, May 30^th, 9:30 am—3:30 pm

Do you or someone you love have difficulty controlling his/her temper? Does this anger come out in unhealthy ways that could hurt others as well as yourself?   Anger is a powerful emotion that can lead to serious problems in relationships, home and work life if left unbridled. This workshop will begin with an overview of the topic including triggers, anger styles and anger management, more specifically for children and youth. The afternoon session will address more directly adult anger issues including common myths, assessment protocols, personality issues as well as evidence-based approaches to adult anger management. Come join us for an interesting and informative sharing.

Registration accepted until Friday May 29^th:

On-line: www.domanorenewalcentre.org
By email: drc@pgdiocese.bc.ca
By phone: (250) 964-4475
Location: Emmaus    Fee: $35.00 (Light lunch included)
Facilitators: Fr. John Garden (MEd Counselling); Dorothy Ryan CSJ (PhD Clinical Psychologist)

5.     CNEWA Middle East Campaign

Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) has launched an emergency Middle East campaign to aid Christians and refugees in the region. The campaign was issued at the end of April, but CNEWA Canada chose to focus at this time on the emergency fundraising campaign for the earthquake victims in Nepal which struck a few days after the CNEWA campaign was launched.

The appeal asks for support for families fleeing the barbaric violence perpetrated by ISIS and the unresolved Syrian civil war. Among the millions affected are the once vibrant Christian communities of Syria and Iraq, which may, for the first time in 2000 years, be forced from their homeland. CNEWA’s Middle East aid program includes emergency relief for refugees and displaced Syrian and Iraqi Christian families; support of youth initiatives, schools, health clinics and hospitals; helping people with special needs, elderly and vulnerable children; and the support of pastoral work of the church, such as the formation of seminarians and lay leaders in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Israel, Palestine and Gaza. Canadians interested in making donations to help CNEWA and its partners in the Middle East are invited to do so by visiting www.cnewa.ca or to write a cheque to CNEWA Canada at 1247 Kilborn Place, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 6K9 or by phone at 1-866-322-4441.

6.     World Meeting of Families 2015

In preparation for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, September 22 to 27, 2015, Salt + Light TV has produced a series of videos on how family life and the lives of the Saints and Blesseds are inter-related and have special importance for the Church as well as for today’s families. Each presentation is approximately five minutes long, and provides a short biography on the life of each Saint or Blessed as well as a testimony to their journey of faith. To date, Salt + Light has completed 12 videos, some of which are available in four languages — English, French, Chinese and Spanish. The goal for these resources is to spread the word about the World Meeting of Families to a wide audience. Links to the videos can be found on the Diocese of Prince George website at: World Meeting of Families or on the CCCB website at: http://www.cccb.ca/site/eng/church-in-canada-and-world/catholic-church-in-canada/life-and-family/4135-2015-world-meeting-of-families.

Wednesday Weekly May 20, 2015 Print Version

1.     Adrian Dominican Sisters – Prince George

The Diocese of Prince George bids a fond farewell to the Adrian Dominican sisters whose ministry in the city of Prince George will end in May. Sr. Kathy Nolan, OP and Sr. Jude Van Baalen, OP will be returning to the United States to serve in new areas of ministry with their congregation. Since her arrival in 2007, Sr. Jude has served as Pastoral Assistant for Sacred Heart Cathedral and St. Mary’s Parish, as Coordinator for Shepherd’s Corner and as Diocesan Spiritual Advisor for the Catholic Women’s League. For the past two years, Sr. Kathy has provided family counselling services at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, at Catholic Independent Schools, and volunteered at Shepherd’s Corner. We are very grateful for their spirit-filled presence in the diocese and wish them many blessings in their new endeavors!

2.     Sr. Connie Harkin

Please place the following information in parish bulletins:

Notre Dame Parish in Dawson Creek will be celebrating Sr. Connie Harkin’s 50 year Anniversary as a member of the religious congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame School on May 31, 2015. The celebration will commence with Mass at 10:00 am followed by a Barbeque at the School Gymnasium. Parishioners from across the diocese are most welcome to join the Parish in celebrating this wonderful occasion with Sister Connie on her Golden Jubilee.

3.     Appeal Update

Wednesday Weekly May 6, 2015 Print Version

1.     51^st International Eucharistic Conference

Please place the following information in school and parish bulletins:

Every four years, Catholic faithful from around the world gather together to reflect on and celebrate the great mystery of the Eucharist during the International Eucharistic Congress. Youth, families and organizations belonging to the Catholic community are invited to experience the fullness of the Eucharist and deepen their Catholic Faith through the Symposium and Congress taking place January 24-31, 2016 in Cebu, Philippines. International Eucharistic Congress 2016 is also looking for dedicated volunteers from around the world who are willing to help promote the presence of the Eucharist in their Roman Catholic community. Please see the Congress website for online registration, travel details, and further information at: http://iec2016.ph/

2.     Week for Life and the Family, May 10-17, 2015

The National Week for Life and the Family takes place May 10-17, 2015. The theme for this year is “We’re All Connected” and deals with assisted suicide. The resources were prepared by the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Parishes are asked to refer to the CCCB website for suggested resources, prayers of the faithful and other activities in support of this week.

http://www.cccb.ca/site/eng/church-in-canada-and-world/catholic-church-in-canada/life-and-family/4178-2015-national-week-for-life-and-the-family

3.     Vocations Weekend – Saints: Models of Discernment

Please ensure the discernment weekend notice is placed in parish bulletins this weekend and keep those attending in your prayers. Thank you!

God calls each and every one of us to be a saint, to become the man or woman he made us to be according to our own unique individuality like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Avila or St. John Paul II. Vocational discernment is about discovering where God is calling you and then living out that call. Men and women 19 years and older are invited to attend a Vocation Discernment weekend from May 15-17 at Camp Morice facilitated by Fr. Terry Brock, Diocesan Vocations Director and Most Rev. Stephen Jensen. Cost is $50 for the weekend. To register, email your name, phone number and age to office@sacredheartnews.ca or call Sacred Heart Parish in Terrace at (250)635-2313. Hope to see you there!

4.     A BIG DYC Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who came and helped make DYC such a wonderful success!!! Countless young people came closer to His heart this past weekend. There are many to thank including our many priests and Bishop Jensen who came out to support the weekend. At the risk of leaving someone unmentioned, here are just a few of the people that really helped make this year’s DYC such a success: Sharlene Irving, Tracy Connelly, Shelley Caldwell, Sr. Maria, and Mike Labonte. Our planning team both here at the Diocese and those who volunteered their time – you know who you are! Thank you also to our dedicated volunteers who responded to every need this past weekend. Thank you especially to all parents who shuttled their kids all this way and to the youth who attended with open hearts—making our efforts worthwhile! Until next DYC…

A big thanks,

Eunice Hii
Youth and Young Adult Ministry Coordinator

5.     Rainbows Fundraiser – Lobster Kitchen Party

Please place the following information in parish and school bulletins in the Central Region:

A Lobster Kitchen Party will be held Saturday, May 23^rd at the Knights of Columbus Community Centre in support of the Rainbows Program.  Rainbows is a peer support group for children, adolescents and adults who are grieving a death, divorce or other painful transition in their family. Tickets for the fundraiser are $45.00 and are available from Terry Fedorkiw by email terryfedorkiw@hotmail.com or phone 250-562-3209.  Entertainment provided by Billy Wiseman and friends. For further information, see the Facebook Event Page “PG Lobster Kitchen Party”.

6.     Special Presentations at CWL Conference

Please post the attached poster and place the following notice in parish and school bulletins:

Join with members of the Catholic Women’s League on Saturday, June 13th from 8:30 am – 1:45 pm to hear keynote speaker, Dr. Moira McQueen, LLB, MDiv, Phd. Speaking on Bioethics and End of Life Issues, Euthanasia and Assisted Dying, Dr. McQueen will provide a Roman Catholic perspective along with guidance into the moral and ethical dilemmas that have arisen because of new developments in science and medicine. All are welcome but advance registration is required. Fee: $10.00 for presentations and $20.00 for optional lunch. See poster for further details. Register at Sacred Heart Cathedral in person at 887 Patricia Boulevard, by phone (250)564-5225 or by email shcath@shawcable.com.

Dr. Moira McQueen Presentation poster

7.     March For Life

Please make available to parishioners the attached message from the Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) for the annual National March for Life with the theme “Let life win!” On May 14^th, the National March will be held in Ottawa. Also, on May 14^th, the 8th annual March for Life will be held in Victoria at the BC Legislature. The recent Supreme Court decision to permit the killing of people through assisted suicide is certainly a good reason for all to march for life, especially those who are most vulnerable.

March for Life

Wednesday Weekly April 29, 2015 Print Version

1.     Pastoral Assignments – Clarification

The recent announcement of new pastoral assignments included Fr. John Garden’s appointments to St. Patrick’s parish in McBride and a half time counselling position in the three Catholic schools in the city of Prince George.

Fr. Garden will also continue in a half time counselling position in a Prince George child and youth mental health agency.

2.     Employment Opportunity

Please circulate the following employment opportunity and place the following notice in bulletins:

Immaculate Conception School, Prince George is seeking a part time EDUCATION ASSISTANT (EA) effective immediately until the end of the current school year. Preferred qualifications include relevant certification for working in an elementary school setting, and strong experience working with children. Apply in writing to the Principal, Immaculate Conception School, 3285 Cathedral Avenue, Prince George V2N 5R2 or email to icsprincipal@cispg.ca.

3.     May At A Glance – Domano Renewal Centre

The May at a Glance newsletter for the Domano Renewal Centre is attached.

 May at a Glance 2015

4.     Monthly Day of Adoration

Please put the following notice in Central Region parish bulletins:

Emmanuel Hermitage invites you to a Personal Date with Jesus on May 12^th in the Domano Chapel (at the Domano Renewal Centre, 6500 Southridge Ave.). Mass will be celebrated at 7:30 a.m. and the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for a day of silent prayer and adoration. We will pray especially for the people and needs of our Diocese, the universal Church, and the world. In particular we will pray for the protection of all human life, for vocations, and for the intentions of those participating in the day. Please mark your calendar on the second Tuesday of each month for Personal Dates with Jesus days.

5.     Special Collection for Nepal

The CCCB will participate with the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace in a joint campaign to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake in Nepal. The Government of Canada will match any contributions to assist Nepal which are collected by May 25, 2015. Parishes are encouraged to submit any donations collected directly to Development and Peace prior to the May 25 deadline (To be acceptable for CRA purposes, the postmark on the envelope needs to be stamped before the May 25 date and the envelope should be marked “EMERGENCY-NEPAL”.) If a parish needs to send a donation through our diocese please contact Catherine Cosh by email at catherine@pgdiocese.bc.ca by noon on Wednesday, May 20, 2015.

Please place the following notice in parish bulletins:

 A massive earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck Nepal on April 25, 2015. More than 4200 people are dead and more than 7500 are injured. In a joint campaign with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Development and Peace is coming to the aid of the earthquake’s victims through their Caritas partners in Nepal. The Canadian government will match, dollar for dollar, all of the donations made by Canadians to support the victims of the earthquake in Nepal until May 25, 2015. Parishioners are encouraged to donate prior to this date. Mailed donations to the campaign should be sent to Development and Peace, 1425 Rene-Levesque Blvd West, 3rd Floor, Montreal, QC H3G 1T7. Additionally, donations can be made by phone to 1-888-664-3387 or online at www.devp.org. Thank you!

Wednesday Weekly April 22, 2015 Print Version

1.     World Day of Prayer for Vocations

The Message from Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is attached. Please share the following message from Bishop Jensen in parish bulletins:

In the Gospel for “Good Shepherd Sunday”, Jesus tells us: “I know my own and my own know me.” In the language of Scripture, this knowing is more than information: the Good Shepherd’s knowledge of us is an invitation to a deep, life-giving relationship with him.

Since the call of the apostles, the Lord invites men to follow him as priests and be his collaborators (co-labourers). The Church reminds us to pray for those young men in our parishes who have vocations to the Priesthood. The Good Shepherd never fails to invite; we should pray that those he is calling may hear and answer.

A “Discernment Weekend” will be held at Camp Morice May 15 – 17 for men and women seeking to know the vocation God has in mind for them. Let us encourage and pray for them, especially those the Good Shepherd asks to know and serve him as priests.

Bishop Stephen Jensen

Message from Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations

 2.     Pastoral Appointments and Changes

Attached is an announcement from Bishop Jensen on pastoral assignments effective August 1, 2015.

2015 pastoral appointments

Effective August 1, 2015, the following Oblate of Mary Immaculate priests will be moving to new assignments outside our diocese: Frs. Richard Beaudette, OMI; Fr. Nestor Silva, OMI and Fr. Robert Smith, OMI. Our thanks go to them for their generosity in sharing their priestly ministry in the diocese.

 Fr. Roger Lavoie and Fr. Thomas Shymko will be retiring from active ministry effective August 1, 2015. We are very grateful to both priests for their many years of service.

3.     Northern Catholic News Deadline

The Northern Catholic News is looking for articles from our parishes and schools to publish in its Summer edition. Did your parish or school celebrate a special occasion or event for the Year of Consecrated Life? Did someone in your organization receive special recognition? Please let us know about it! Did you have an inspiring and informative guest speaker? Our readers would love to hear about it! Contact Mary-Anne Lewis Jamin at majamin@pgdiocese.bc.ca or 250-964-4424 extension 234 with your stories and pictures. The deadline for this edition is May 15^th, 2015.

4.     Beatification of the Venerable Elisabeth Turgeon

The Papal Legate, His Eminence Angelo Cardinal Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, will preside at the Beatification of Elisabeth Turgeon on April 26, 2015, in Saint-Robert-Bellarmin Church, Rimouski. It is the first time that such a ceremony will be celebrated in Quebec and a Canadian Diocese.

The principal charism of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Rosary (in French, the Les Sœurs de Notre-Dame du Saint-Rosaire) is Christian education, including catechetics, pastoral work, and ministry with children, youth and their parents. In addition to their presence in the Archdiocese of Rimouski and the Diocese of Gaspé, as well as elsewhere in Quebec, the Sisters have served on the Lower North Shore and in Newfoundland and Labrador (1972-1998) as well as Maine. They have done missionary work in Haiti (1970), the Dominican Republic (1974), and Africa (1970 -1993), and continue to have missions in Honduras, Peru, Guatemala and Nicaragua. They are now also in Lebanon. The Congregation today has a little more than 300 religious and about 460 associates.

This Beatification is a significant moment for the Church in Canada, not only as part of the Year of Consecrated Life, but also as one more reminder of how all the baptized are called to evangelize today, finding inspiration for proclaiming the Good News in the missionary examples of earlier generations of Canadians.

Further information on preparations for the Beatification is available on the Congregation’s website at: http://www.soeursdusaintrosaire.org/ or the CCCB website at: http://www.cccb.ca/site/eng/. Prayer cards are available for purchase from CCCB Publications.

5.     Appeal Update

Wednesday Weekly April 15, 2015 Print Version

1.     New Chancellor for the Diocese

Bishop Stephen Jensen announces that Ms. Mary-Anne Lewis Jamin has been appointed Chancellor of the Diocese of Prince George, effective April 22, 2015.

On behalf of the diocesan community, Bishop Jensen thanks Fr. Louis Kwena for his years of service as Chancellor.

2.   Youth and Young Adult Ministry Update

• Have you registered for the 20th annual Diocesan Youth Conference taking place May 1-3 in Prince George? It is sure to be the biggest yet! Come on out for an amazing weekend of great worship, talks, and fellowship with hundreds of youth from across our diocese and beyond. You can register online at dyc2015.eventzilla.net or head on over to www.pgdiocese.bc.ca for more info. We look forward to seeing you there!
• We are also seeking practicing, Catholic young adults interested in volunteering as small group leaders and general volunteers. Email youth@pgdiocese.bc.ca if you are interested!

3.     Saints: Models of Discernment

Parishes are requested to post the attached poster and distribute the attached Discernment Weekend flyers. Please place the following notice in bulletins:

God calls each and every one of us to be a saint, to become the man or woman he made us to be according to our own unique individuality like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Avila or St. John Paul II. Vocational discernment is about discovering where God is calling you and then living out that call. Men and women 19 years and older are invited to attend a Vocation Discernment weekend from May 15-17 at Camp Morice facilitated by Fr. Terry Brock, Diocesan Vocations Director and Most Rev. Stephen Jensen. Cost is $50 for the weekend. To register, email your name, phone number and age to office@sacredheartnews.ca or call Sacred Heart Parish in Terrace at (250) 635-2313.

Vocation Discernment Poster

Discernment Weekend Flyers 2015

4.     First Nations Retreat – Living the 12 Steps in Everyday Life

Parishes are requested to post and distribute the attached poster. Please place the following notice in bulletins:

Addictions take many forms and affect all of us—our families and society. Living the 12 Steps in Every Day Life is a workshop/retreat for anyone interested in learning more about the healing power of the 12 Step program as a way of life. Most Reverend Sylvain Lavoie, OMI will lead the workshop/retreat using a blend of information, quiet time for reflection and prayer, and optional sharing and fellowship. There will also be time for music and laughter. Fee: $100.00. Registration is required. Please contact the Domano Renewal Centre at (250)964-4475 or drc@pgdiocese.bc.ca to register or for further information.

First Nations Retreat Poster

Wednesday Weekly April 8, 2015 Print Version

1.     Fr. Dominic Apaatah

We welcome back to the diocese Fr. Dominic Apaatah, who served for several months last year in Christ the King parish in Kitimat. His bishop in Ghana has allowed him to return to the diocese for a period of three years. In the coming months, Fr. Dominic will be replacing in several parishes before receiving his full-time assignment in the summer as part of personnel changes.

2.     WCB

A reminder that the 1st quarter (January to March) report of payments the parish or school has made to individuals and to contractors who are not registered with WCB are due. This includes replacement ministry personnel. Please send your report to Payroll Services by April 15th if you have not already done so. If you have any questions, please call Lynn Monteith at 250 964-5646 or e-mail at: lynn-monteith@pgdiocese.bc.ca. Thank you!

3.     Youth and Young Adult Ministry Update

Young Adults:

• All are welcome to join us at Mass on the UNBC campus Wednesdays at 11AM in room #7-158.

Youth:

• Have you registered for the 20^th Annual Diocesan Youth Conference?? All those in grades 7-12 are encouraged to attend. DYC is being held May 1-3 this year and will feature keynote speaker, Chris Padgett. Early-bird registration ended APRIL 10^TH. Tickets are now $65 and scholarships are available. Be sure to register quickly! All registration can be done online at http://dyc2015.eventzilla.net/. It is going to be one amazing weekend! Any questions? Email youth@pgdiocese.bc.ca.
• We are also seeking practicing, Catholic young adults interested in volunteering as small group leaders and general volunteers. Email youth@pgdiocese.bc.ca if you are interested!

4.    Bill C-356 (An Act Respecting a National Strategy for Dementia).

The Private Member’s Bill (C-356), The National Strategy for Dementia Act, was introduced by Claude Gravelle, a Member of Parliament, and calls on the Government of Canada to increase funding for research; to promote earlier diagnosis and intervention; to strengthen the integration of primary, home, and community care; to enhance the skills and training of the dementia workforce, and to improve support for caregivers. The final vote for this bill is scheduled for May 6‎.

On March 13 the Conservatives announced they would oppose the bill, introducing instead their own motion that focused more on research initiatives and listing some main issues to address moving forward. ‎Research is good but a non-binding motion rather than a law means no mandate to act, no real leadership from Ottawa, no help now for those patients, their caregivers and healthcare providers. As MP Claude Gravelle stated, “What the Conservatives call their national dementia strategy is in fact a research strategy alone, a plan that does not immediately help patients, caregivers, and the dementia workforce. As important as research is, it does not help keep our loved ones with Alzheimer or related dementia diseases in the home.”

Parishioners are encouraged to contact their local Member of Parliament if they support Bill C-356. This action has been successful recently with the palliative and end-of-life care motion (M-456) where enough people contacted their Conservative MPs who then voted for the bill, despite their own government’s opposition.

Further information can be found on the following links:

• http://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/parlvu/DayView.aspx?date=20150313&lang=en
• http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Pub=hansard&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=41&Ses=2