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

Wednesday Weekly April 1, 2015

1.     Easter Greetings – Bishop Stephen Jensen

Please share the following Easter Message from Bishop Jensen in parish bulletins:

“O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever.”

 The words of the responsorial psalm for Easter Sunday present the celebration of the Resurrection as an invitation to encounter God’s steadfast love for us. This love that moved Him to humble Himself by becoming a man to offer His life on the cross is a torrent of mercy that touches people in every age.

Pope Francis has just announced an extraordinary Holy Year, from December 2015 to November 2016, to be observed as a “Jubilee of Mercy.” In this the Holy Father is building on the ministry of St. John Paul II, who instituted the observance of Divine Mercy Sunday on the octave day of Easter in answer to the message of Saint Faustina, the Polish mystic to whom the Lord spoke of His great mercy for sinners.

I invite everyone to join me at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Sunday, April 12, beginning at 2:00 pm, for the Divine Mercy devotions and Mass. It will be a wonderful way to anticipate the jubilee year and strengthen our trust in His mercy.

 Happy Easter!

                                                                  Bishop Stephen Jensen

2. Youth and Young Adult Ministry Update

 Young Adults:

• As the strike has ended at UNBC, there will be regular Mass on campus Wednesdays at 11AM in room #7-158.
• DISH with the BISH: Thursday, April 9 will mark the end of Alpha and an opportunity to have DISH WITH THE BISH. Join us at 6PM at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for dinner with our beloved Bishop Jensen. The evening will conclude with the Alpha program.
• SUMMIT: Join us for a night of praise & worship and adoration. This will mark the last Summit for the university year. Come to Sacred Heart Cathedral, Saturday April 11 @ 7PM.

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 for this awesome weekend ends APRIL 10^TH. Tickets are $50 until this date 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!

Wednesday Weekly – March 25, 2015 Print Version

 1.     Condolences

It is with sadness we announce that Lawrence Beaudette, father of Rev. Richard Beaudette, OMI, passed away Tuesday, March 24^th at the age of 87. A Funeral Mass will be held this Saturday, March 28^th, 2015 in Vegreville, Alberta. As we pray for the repose of his soul, we also offer our condolences and prayerful support to Fr. Richard and his family.

2.     Camp Morice Employment

Please place the following announcement in parish bulletins:

Camp Morice is hiring the following 2015 summer staff positions:

• Program Coordinator who will oversee and run the programs all summer. Eligible candidates must be 19 years old and have a solid faith to apply. The position can start as early as May and will go until the end of August.
• 7 team members who have graduated from high school. Team members must be energetic and have a love for children and our faith. Team work is vital in this position as well as a love of the outdoors.
• Musicians and Lifeguards are in need from late June until August.

If you are looking for employment and enjoy working with children ages 6 to 18, please inquire at info@campmorice.com or check out our website for complete Job Descriptions.

There are also volunteer opportunities for all youth ages 15+. If you have talents you would like to share, please feel free to contact info@campmorice.com or call 250-964-5641.

3.     Camp Morice 2015 Camp Dates

Please share the following information in parish bulletins:

Kids Camp (completed grade 1 to grade 3):

• August 3-7; Cost $245.00

Tween Camps (completed grade 4 to grade 6):

• July 19-24; Cost $245.00
• August 9-14; Cost $245.00

Teen Camps (completed grade 7 to grade 12):

• July 12-17; Cost $275.00
• IGNITE – August 16-21; Cost $275.00

Counselor Training Leadership Camp (15+):

• July 5-10; Cost $275
  • This week is for all Youth wishing to work as a Counselor at camp during the summer of 2015. You must attend this training to work at camp.

Disciples in Training (13+):

• Must first attend Leadership Camp July 5-10 for proper instruction. Cost $275.
• Then may choose to work any number of the following weeks:
  • July 19-24 Cost $100.00 (Tween week)
  • August 3-7 Cost $100.00 (Kids Camp)
  • August 9-14   Cost $100.00 (Tween Camp)
  • August 23-28 Cost $40 (Cana Camp)
• Maximum 12 Disciples per week so register early to secure your place.

Young Adults Weekend Cost $65.00

• September 11-13

Cana Family Camp

• August 23-28 Cost $350.00 (each family per week)

4.     April at a Glance

The April At a Glance newsletter for the Domano Renewal Centre is attached. Take some time during the Easter season to join us.   If you have any questions regarding our programs or to register, please contact us at drc@pgdiocese.bc.ca or by calling 250-964-4475.

April at a Glance

5.     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 April 14th 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.

6.     Message for Holy Week and Easter 2015

The Holy Week and Easter message from the CCCB President, Archbishop Paul-André Durocher can be found on the on the CCCB website (www.cccb.ca/) and is attached for your convenience.

CCCB Message for Holy Week and Easter 2015

7.     Appeal Update

Wednesday Weekly March 18, 2105 Print Version

1.     Chrism Mass Reminders

The Mass of Chrism will be celebrated at 7 pm on Monday, March 23rd at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Parishes have been invited to send two representatives to accompany their pastor to the Mass of Chrism and to a dinner beforehand at 5:00 pm in Sacred Heart Cathedral’s lower hall. Please contact Jennifer Foster, the Cathedral secretary by Friday, March 20th by telephone at (250)564-5225 or by email at shcath@shawcable.com to confirm your parish’s attendees, if you have not already done so. Thank you.

Those attending the reception following Mass are asked to bring a plate of snacks to share. Please bring to the lower hall before Mass. Thank you.

Mail for the parishes/schools in the outlying regions will be collected at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre and given to priests following their study day. Local parishes are asked forward any mail you may wish to have delivered. Thank you.

2.     Depression Workshop

Parishes in the Central Region are asked to ensure that notices are placed in bulletins this weekend about the CHABC presentation being held at the Diocese:

It is estimated that 1 in 10 Canadians will experience an episode of clinical depression during their lifetime. Have you wondered if you or someone you love might have depression? The Diocese of Prince George is pleased to host a session on this topic. Please join Jo-Ann Tait, President of the Catholic Health Care Association of BC for an informative presentation on Tuesday, March 24th, 2015 at 7:00 pm in the Conference Room, Diocesan Pastoral Centre. All are welcome. Registration is not required.

3.     Religious Education Trust

The Religious Education Trust provides funding to support and encourage initiatives for religious education in our diocese. The closing date for submission of applications for the next distribution of funds is April 7^th, 2015. A copy of the Application Form is attached. Forms and brochures are also available on the Diocese website under Policies and Forms. Forms can be sent to Lynn Monteith via email: lynn-monteith@pgdiocese.bc.ca or fax: (250)964-2101 or mailed to the address on the form.

RET Application – 2015

4.     Easter Schedules

Parish secretaries are asked to forward their parish Easter schedule to Lisa Weber at lisa@pgdiocese.bc.ca. This information will be placed on the Diocesan website.

5.    Year of Mercy

On March 13, 2015 Pope Francis announced the celebration of an “extraordinary Holy Year”. This “Jubilee of Mercy” will commence with the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter’s on December 8, 2015, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and will conclude on November 20, 2016 with the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The Holy Father stated: “This is the time of mercy. It is important that the lay faithful live it and bring it into different social environments. Go forth!”

The opening of this next Jubilee will take place on the fiftieth anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council in 1965. This is of great significance, for it impels the Church to continue the work begun at Vatican II.

During the Jubilee, the Sunday readings for Ordinary Time will be taken from the Gospel of Luke, the one referred to as “the evangelist of mercy”. Dante Alighieri describes him as “scriba mansuetudinis Christi”, “narrator of the meekness of Christ”. There are many well known parables of mercy presented in the Gospel of Luke: the lost sheep, the lost coin, the merciful father.

The official and solemn announcement of the Holy Year will take place with the public proclamation of the Bolla in front of the Holy Door on Divine Mercy Sunday, the Feast instituted by Saint John Paul II and celebrated on the Sunday after Easter.

In the ancient Hebrew tradition, the Jubilee Year, which was celebrated every 50 years, was meant to restore equality among all of the children of Israel, offering new possibilities to families which had lost their property and even their personal freedom. In addition, the Jubilee Year was a reminder to the rich that a time would come when their Israelite slaves would once again become their equals and would be able to reclaim their rights. “Justice, according to the Law of Israel, consisted above all in the protection of the weak” (St. John Paul II, Tertio millenio adveniente 13).

6.     Life Giving Love Campaign

Last year, the campaign entitled Life‐Giving Love prepared by the Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) was created to help people understand the teaching of the Church pertaining to issues surrounding end‐of‐life care. The recent ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada that removed the legal prohibition against assisted suicide and euthanasia underscores the importance of this initiative. A special website containing useful educational resources was created for the campaign. It is found at www.lifegivinglove.ca. In addition, COLF’s own website (www.colf.ca) contains a wealth of information relating to euthanasia and assisted suicide, including that which could be used for homilies.

Wednesday Weekly March 11, 2015 Print Version

1.     Personnel Changes

Bishop Stephen Jensen announces the following priest moves:

Robert Smith, OMI is appointed Administrator of St. Mary’s Parish in Prince George, effective March 11, 2015.

Piotr Dudek, OMI, formerly Pastor of St. Mary’s will move to Ottawa this week.

On behalf of the Diocese, I offer many thanks to Fr. Dudek for his service in the parish and a warm welcome to Fr. Smith.

2.    40 Days for Life

Prince George parishes are requested to use the following updated announcement in bulletins the weekends of March 15th and 22^nd:

The Prince George 40 Days for Life Campaign commenced on Ash Wednesday, February 18^th and will conclude on Palm Sunday, March 29^th. We are still in need of volunteers to join our focused pro-life effort consisting of prayer and fasting to end abortion with a peaceful vigil outside UHNBC. Please consider volunteering any day during the campaign from 7 am to 7 pm to pray and witness along 15th Avenue. To sign up for the vigil or for more information, please email 40dayspgbc@gmail.com or Tony Donovan at tdonovan@gmail.com or phone Lucy Quickfall at 250-962-7454 between 6:30 am and 10:00 pm.

3.    Bursary

Please place the attached ad or the following notice in parish bulletins:

The Sisters of St. Ann are offering a Bursary named in honour of their foundress, Blessed Marie Anne Blondin. This bursary offers assistance to women seeking education in theological and ministry studies that promote justice, peace, integrity of creation, healing, holistic living and a healthy life style. Priority will be given to a candidate from BC, the Yukon or the Northwest Territories. Preference will be given to a candidate on limited income and who sees the educational opportunity as a means of employment training or personal growth. For an application form, please contact administration@ssabc.ca or 250-592-3133. Deadline: April 2015. Further information about the Sisters of St. Ann is available on their website at www.ssabc.ca.

MARIE BLONDIN BURSARY AD 2015

4.     Give Us Time

A new website, http://giveustime.ca/ has been created by the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition of B.C. in response to the recent ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada on assisted suicide and euthanasia. When the Supreme Court struck down Canada’s assisted suicide law, it gave Parliament one year to replace it. One year is not enough time to draft effective legislation especially in an election year. The GIVE US TIME postcard campaign urges the Federal government to invoke the Notwithstanding Clause to give Parliament more than one year. Please refer to the website for further information and add your voice to this important cause.

5.     National Mission – VisionTV

Please post the attached poster and place the following notice in parish bulletins until March 29th:

The National Catholic Mission 2015, “Beware the Holy Spirit!” will be broadcast on VISIONTV on Monday, March 30 (Pt. 1) and Tuesday, March 31 (Pt 2) at 3 pm and repeated at 7 pm. It will be hosted by Fr. Pat Fitzpatrick and feature Spiritan Fr. Anthony Gittins. This year’s Mission looks at when and where God speaks to us in our daily lives and how we, as an institution and as individuals, can ignore that voice at our peril. In Program Two, the afternoon of life is looked at and why it burdens some people and brings freedom and joy to others.

 Mission 2015

6.     CNEWA – Syria

Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) Canada is collecting funds to assist Assyrian Christian communities in Syria where there have been recent abductions and displacements. They are urging the general public to renew their aid to displaced persons and refugees, victims of the war raging in this country. The Christian community is increasingly threatened by extremist groups that have taken advantage of the current political instability to prey on the most vulnerable. Anyone wishing to support the Assyrian Christians can make a donation to CNEWA Canada by mailing a cheque (payable to “Emergency Syria”) to CNEWA Canada, 1247 Kilborn Place, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 6K9, visiting www.cnewa.ca or calling toll free 1-866 322-4441. Please see the attached press release for further details.

CNEWA Press Release

Wednesday Weekly March 4, 2015 Print Version

1.     CHABC Presentation – March 24, 2015

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

It is estimated that 1 in 10 Canadians will experience an episode of clinical depression during their lifetime. Have you wondered if you or someone you love might have depression? The Diocese of Prince George is pleased to host a session on this topic. Please join Jo-Ann Tait, President of the Catholic Health Care Association of BC for an informative presentation on Tuesday, March 24^th, 2015 at 7:00 pm in the Conference Room, Diocesan Pastoral Centre. All are welcome. Registration is not required.

Depression CHABC Workshop Mar 24

2.    Chrism Mass

Please place the following notice in parish bulletins until March 22^nd:

The Mass of Chrism will be celebrated at 7 pm on Monday, March 23rd at Sacred Heart Cathedral. In this diocesan celebration, the Holy Oils and Chrism used in the Sacraments are blessed and consecrated and the priests renew their commitment to serve the Church. A reception will follow. Those attending are asked to bring a plate of snacks to share (please put on the table in the lower hall before Mass). Thank you!

3.     Chrism Mass Oils Set Confirmation

To help with planning for the Chrism Mass, all parishes and missions are asked to look over the attached list to confirm their sets of oils for this year. Please contact Jennifer at Sacred Heart Cathedral (shcath@shawcable.com or (250)564-5225) by Friday, March 20^th, to confirm or indicate required changes. Thanks!

Chrism Mass Oil List

4.     CIS Employment Opportunities

Please replace the CIS Employment Opportunities poster with the updated list of teacher postings. Further information can be found on the CISPG website at www.cispg.ca.

CISPG Teaching Jobs -2015-2016

5.     Northern Catholic News

The Spring edition of the Northern Catholic News will be available for pick up by parishes at the Diocese Pastoral Centre on Friday, March 6th. Out of town parishes are requested to please contact Teresa in Reception if you can pick up your package in the next week. This will help reduce shipping costs. Thank you!

6.     Youth and Young Adult Ministry Update

DYC 2015: Mark your calendars! The 20^th annual DYC will be held May 1-3, 2015 at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Prince George with and keynote speaker, Chris Padgett. DYC is open to all youth from Grades 7 to 12. Early registration is just $50 for the entire weekend until April 1. Head on over to our online registration page to secure your spot at http://dyc2015.eventzilla.net/

DYC Volunteers Needed: We are searching for small group leaders for DYC who are passionate about their faith and looking for a creative way to serve youth at the 20th annual DYC. If you are interested in being a small group leader or a general volunteer for the weekend, please fill out this brief form so we can get in touch: http://bit.ly/17Ej1zW

Campus Alpha: Campus Alpha resumes on Thursday, March 5th, 2015 for all young adults. Dinner is provided. Please bring $3 donation or a snack to share. Due to the UNBC strike, this week’s Alpha will be hosted in the Diocesan Pastoral Centre Boardroom located at 6500 Southridge Ave. If you’re coming from the university, you can take bus #16 to the Save on Foods and the Centre is just a 10 minute walk from the bus stop. Please check out the ‘Catholic Young Adults – Diocese of PG’ Facebook page for more details!

Seeking Chefs: We are still on the hunt for some volunteers to feed our Alpha group on Thursdays. We have just 3 more nights that need to be covered! Please email Eunice at ehii@pgdiocese.bc.ca if you can commit to making one meal or more!

Ski Smithers: All young adults ages 18-35 are invited to be a part of our ski retreat in Smithers from March 13-15, 2015. This will include 1-2 days of skiing as well as some much needed times of contemplation with Fr. Jack and Fr. Pier. You can find out more details and register for the retreat over at http://pg_youngadult_ski_retreat.eventzilla.net/

7.     Archdiocese of Vancouver – Change in Address

Effective February 27, 2015, the Archdiocese of Vancouver offices and the BC Catholic moved to a new location. Please update their mailing address as follows:

             4885 Saint John Paul II Way, Vancouver, BC V5Z 0G3