Message to the Faithful

On April 14, 2016, the federal government introduced Bill C-14 — legislation that, if passed, will amend the Criminal Code to make euthanasia / assisted suicide legal and accessible throughout the country. Now that Bill C-14 has been tabled, here are some practical steps you can take:

• Distribute the attached action plan, “It’s time to talk Poster”. This can be distributed most effectively as a bulletin insert, or it can be made available in appropriate locations in your parish.
• Use the suggested bulletin announcements and encourage parishioners to visit http://www.canadiansforconscience.ca/. Concerned Catholics can write directly from the website to the federal Ministers of Justice and Health as well as to their local MP. By registering through this website, you can use or adapt a proposed message to communicate your concerns.
• Consider a letter writing event. A number of parishes have offered information sessions on euthanasia / assisted suicide. Resources are available on the website of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, http://www.cccb.ca/site/eng/media-room/euthanasia-and-assisted-suicide/4463-campaigns-against-physician-assisted-suicide. Use this information session or any gathering of parish organizations (CWL, Knights of Columbus, parish council, social justice groups, and others) to write to the Minister of Justice and cc the Minister of Health and your MP. Remember to ensure your local Member of Parliament receives this communication.

We know that original letters, phone calls or emails are the most powerful way to reach our elected officials. A sample letter with possible messaging can be found on the “It’s Time To Talk” handout. Thanks to all parishes and parishioners for working on this most important issue!

Thousands of Canadians have contacted their elected officials, respectfully expressing their concerns. Visit http://www.canadiansforconscience.ca/ to urge elected representatives to protect healthcare workers and institutions from having to provide or refer for euthanasia/assisted suicide. Ask Members of Parliament to expand palliative care and support for the vulnerable.

Thank you for your ongoing support!

CISPG Employment Opportunities

Here is a list of teacher positions for the 2016-2017 school year.

The positions are as follows:

• Annunciation Continuing 1.0 FTE Learning Assistance Sept-2016
• Annunciation Continuing .50 FTE Band & Music Sept-16
• Sacred Heart LD 1.0 FTE Intermediate Sept-16
• Anthony’s Limited Duration .50 FTE Language Arts – Sept-16
• Anthony’s Continuing 1.0 FTE Primary – Sept-16
• Joseph’s Limited Duration .80 FTE Learning Assistance Sept-16

Camp Morice

Online camp registration for Camp Morice is open! Check out our new website campmorice.com for all the details of camps for ages 6-18 offered this summer. Our theme this summer is Star Wars: The Faith Awakens!

We are still looking to hire several paid team members, cooks and volunteer counsellors for this summer. Contact programdirector@campmorice.com for application and info.

During the month of May, Camp Morice will be collecting bottles at the 2629 Vance Road Recycling Depot under Camp Morice to support our Leadership Training week for volunteers who are helping during our camp season and for those who cannot afford a week at camp. Your bottle donations would be a great help to those in need.

If you are cleaning out your house, camp can use your stuff!

Used sports equipment: balls, bats, gloves, life jackets, canoes, boats, water stuff, slides etc…

Furnishings: sofas, loveseats, queen beds, old used Truck, used quad, lawn mowers, weed eaters, chain saws and air conditioners.

Costumes: baggy pants, white shirts, brown boots, belts etc…

Kitchen Equipment: Fridges, Freezers, BBQ, New/Used Commercial Dishwasher, New/Used Commercial Stove, mixing bowls, mugs, cups, pots, pans, knives, spoons, microwave.

Call 250-996-7881 or email info@campmorice.com

OEC and Youth and Young Adults Events

DYC is happening this weekend!

Please keep the Diocesan Youth Conference in your prayers as over 150 youth and young adults gather for a weekend to encounter Jesus. Pray for open hearts to encountering the mercy of our Father. Also, all parents and families are welcome to come for our final mass on Sunday, May 1 at 11 AM at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre (6500 Southridge Avenue)

World Youth Day Fundraisers

Art Knapp’s Plantland, both Prince George locations, and Homesteader Meats are donating a portion of your purchases to World Youth Day 2016 Pilgrims.

When:   Art Knapp’s from May 6 – June 5, 2016
Homesteader Meats from April 5, to May 5, 2016

What:    When you present them with the coupon found in
World Youth Day 2016 web page at
www.pgdiocese.bc.ca/our-ministries/youth/

Art Knapp’s will donate 20% of your purchase of bedding and annual plants, annual hanging baskets, vegetables and herbs

Homesteader Meats will donate 10% of $25.00 or more to the Diocese of Prince George World Youth Day 2016 Pilgrims.

For more Information, please contact Angelo at (250) 613-3969 or asabbadin@pgdiocese.bc.ca

Photos of Diocesan parishes or missions

Any parishioners out there with an updated  photo of any parish or mission.  Please submit a digital copy  to mprimus@pgdiocese.bc.ca as soon as possible.

REGIONAL VOCATIONAL DISCERNMENT GATHERINGS

There will evenings of vocation discernment for high school students throughout the diocese in April: in Terrace, Burns Lake, Prince George and Dawson Creek. If you are in grade 8-12 you’re invited.

The evening will begin with a pizza dinner, followed by a program that will allow the participants to come to a better understanding of God’s call in their life.

To help us plan for the evening, please indicate your attendance by contacting one of the sites:

Friday, April 15:

Sacred Heart Parish, Terrace               250-635-2313
Immaculata Parish, Burns Lake          250-692-3568
Vianney House*, Prince George         250-964-4424 *adjacent to the Domano Renewal Centre

Friday, April 22:

Notre Dame Parish, Dawson Creek    250.782.3456

Pope Francis recently wished young people a “good journey of discernment.” “For each one of us,” he said, the Lord has his vocation, that place He wants us to live our lives.” But, the Pope continued, “we must seek it, find it; and then, continue in it, always going onward.”

The 4^th Sunday of Easter, April 17, 2016 is World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Please pray for vocations.

Fr. Charles Donovan, OMI

We are sorry to report that Fr. Donovan has been recalled by his Oblate provincial to work in Ottawa as the superior of a community of retired priests. Fr. Donovan’s unexpected departure from Prince George was occasioned by the sudden death of the former superior of retirement house. We are grateful for his service to our diocese during his limited time here.

RACHEL’S VINEYARD RETREAT

A Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat will be held in Cache Creek from Wednesday, May 4 to Friday, May 6. The retreat is confidential and is designed to help those suffering from abortion, miscarriage or other unresolved pregnancy loss.  During the past year, Rachel’s Vineyard as an international organization has been doing a “Shockwaves” campaign.  Basically, they are reaching out to those affected by these losses and traumas beyond just the mothers and fathers directly involved.  Certainly grandparents, siblings, friends are also affected, and so too are health care workers, counsellors, pregnancy care workers and crisis phone line workers.  All who are experiencing grief, pain, even anger, around such a loss are most welcome and invited to attend the retreat.

It is not easy to come to a retreat.  It is also not easy to ask someone you know who needs healing to attend one. The healing that occurs each and every time is simply amazing.  If you are suffering a little or a lot, or someone you know is suffering, it doesn’t have to be that way.  Help is available.

More information is available at www.rachelsvineyardkamloops.org or on the Facebook page www.facebook.com/rvkamloops  or by phone or text at 250-267-5081.

OEC &
Youth and Young Adults

Come and Rest

Who:       Everyone is welcome and childcare programs will be provided for ages 2-18!

When:     Sunday, April 17, 3:00 -7:30 PM

Where:   Christ our Savior Parish, Prince George (4514 Austin Road West)

Event:     We will begin with a coffee and snack social in the parish hall, followed by John Connelly and Fr. Basil Burn’s presentation entitled, “What is The Secret of The New Evangelization?” After a question and answer period there will be a potluck supper. Please bring enough food for your family and there will be enough for everyone! Adoration will follow.

For more Information, please contact Angelo at (250) 613-3969 or asabbadin@pgdiocese.bc.ca

World Youth Day Fundraisers

Art Knapp’s Plantland, both Prince George locations, and Homesteader Meats are donating a portion of your purchases to World Youth Day 2016 Pilgrims.

 When:   Art Knapp’s from May 6 – June 5, 2016

Homesteader Meats from April 5, to May 5, 2016

What:    When you present them with the coupon found in World Youth Day 2016 web page at www.pgdiocese.bc.ca/our-ministries/youth/

• Art Knapp’s will donate 20% of your purchase of bedding and annual plants, annual hanging baskets, vegetables and herbs
• Homesteader Meats will donate 10% of $25.00 or more to the Diocese of Prince George World Youth Day 2016 Pilgrims.

For more Information, please contact Angelo at (250) 613-3969 or asabbadin@pgdiocese.bc.ca

DYC 2016:  

DYC is just 2 weeks away. Registration for the 2016 DYC: The Ascent is open for all those in Grades 7-12! You can register online at www.dycpgdiocese.eventbrite.ca. The fee is $60. Scholarships are available. The Diocesan Youth Conference is a packed weekend adventure filled with dynamic talks, workshops, games, adoration, praise and worship, and a coffeehouse featuring artists from across our diocese as part of an evening celebration. This year, our theme is ‘The Ascent’. The Christian journey often feels like a tough climb, but we hope young people will leave ready to take on every mountain. With the help of Face2Face Ministries, we will unpack that which is most central and basic to the Catholic Christian faith.

Seeking Volunteers for DYC16

If you have graduated from grade 12 and are passionate about seeing young people come to know Jesus, please sign up to volunteer at this year’s DYC. Email Eunice Hii, our youth coordinator at youth@pgdiocese.bc.ca for more information on how you can get involved!

Diocesan Annual Appeal Monthly update for March 2016

Doman Renewal Centre – First Nations Retreat Flyer

Mary’s Parish: Mass time changed April 9, 2016

The 7:00 PM Mass at St. Mary’s Parish in Prince George has been changed to 5:00 PM on Saturday, April 9, 2016. This change is to accommodate the Charter Night Mass for the Knights of Columbus.

Open House Farewell Tea

Please save this date of June 2, 2016. This will be an opportunity to say farewell and thank you to Sister Elizabeth Pollièvre. More details to follow.

Finance Department News

WCB 1st Quarter Report Deadline Wednesday April 13, 2016—Parishes and Schools are asked to report to Diocesan Payroll Services any WorkSafeBC (WCB) payments for the first quarter January 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016. Payments include those made to individuals who are not on the diocesan payroll and to contractors who are not registered with WCB.  Thank you.

 Outage Notification:  April 7, 2016

Payworks will be performing scheduled maintenance on Thursday, April 7, 2016, beginning at 11:00 PM (Central).  The plan is to have system availability restored by 4:00 AM (Central) on Friday, April 8, 2016.

Please be advised that you will not be able to access the Payworks application during this time (including Payroll, Human Resources, Employee Time Management and any clock updates functionality). Users attempting to access the application during the planned outage will be redirected to a system outage notification page.

OEC, and Youth and Young Adults Events

 Come and Rest

Who:       Everyone is welcome and childcare programs will be provided for ages 2-18!

When:     Sunday, April 17, 3:00 -7:30 PM

Where:    Christ our Savior Parish, Prince George (4514 Austin Road West)

Event:     We will begin with a coffee and snack social in the parish hall, followed by John Connelly’s presentation entitled, “What is The Secret of The New Evangelization?” After a question and answer period there will be a pot luck supper. Please bring enough food for your family and there will be enough for everyone.

For more Information, please contact Angelo at (250) 613-3969 or asabbadin@pgdiocese.bc.ca

World Youth Day Fundraisers

Art Knapp’s Plantland, both Prince George locations, and Homesteader Meats are donating a portion of your purchases to World Youth Day 2016 Pilgrims.

When:         Art Knapp’s from May 6 – June 5, 2016
Homesteader Meats from April 5, to May 5, 2016

What:             When you present them with the coupon found  here WYD 2016 Art Knapp and Homesteaders coupon-letter or in World Youth Day 2016 web page at www.pgdiocese.bc.ca/our-ministries/youth/  

Art Knapp’s will donate 20% of your purchase of bedding and annual plants, annual hanging baskets, vegetables and herbs and

Homesteader Meats will donate 10% of $25.00 or more to the Diocese of Prince George World Youth Day 2016 Pilgrims.

 For more Information, please contact Angelo at (250) 613-3969 or asabbadin@pgdiocese.bc.ca

DYC 2016

DYC is just 3 weeks away. Registration for the 2016 DYC: The Ascent is open for all those in Grades 7-12! You can register online at www.dycpgdiocese.eventbrite.ca. The fee is now $60. The Diocesan Youth Conference is a packed weekend adventure filled with dynamic talks, workshops, games, adoration, praise and worship, and a coffeehouse featuring artists from across our diocese as part of an evening celebration. This year, our theme is ‘The Ascent’. The Christian journey often feels like a tough climb, but we hope young people will leave ready to take on every mountain. With the help of Face2Face Ministries, we will unpack that which is most central and basic to the Catholic Christian faith.