Wednesday Weekly August 27, 2014 Print Version
1. Diocesan Assembly 2014
Please post the following announcement in your parish and school bulletins and make the attached poster available in your Churches and schools:
Everyone is invited to participate in the Diocesan Assembly October 1-3, 2014. This is an opportunity for us all to come together and explore God’s unfolding vision for each of our lives. Our keynote speaker will be Deacon Ralph Pollo, a Catholic permanent deacon with a dynamic gift of making The Joy of the Gospel come fully alive. We will also hear from the Alive in Christ team with Dr. Joseph White. They will introduce the new catechetical program being implemented throughout the Diocese. Bishop Jensen will also address participants on the important developments on the theme of evangelization through the family. So spread the word and pray for this special time together of grace, learning and renewal. Registration information and forms are available on the diocesan website at www.pgdiocese.bc.ca or by contacting Teresa at teresa@pgdiocese.bc.ca or 250-964-4424 extension 242.
2. Prayers
Please pray for Arthur James, brother of Fr. Vincent James. Arthur is critically ill in the hospital in Nova Scotia. Your prayers for Arthur and his family are welcomed and appreciated.
3. Domano Renewal Centre – September Programs
Please post the attached flyers and put the following notice in parish bulletins:
The Domano Renewal Centre staff have been busy preparing this season’s new brochure and it will be available in all parishes in early September. In the meantime, we have some great programs ready to start! New for this year is the Bible Study program; the group will be hosted by Sr. Jude starting September 9. Also new is Sr. Irene’s Noon Hour Eat and Retreat! Please take a peek at the September At a Glance & the Noon Hour Eat and Retreat flyers for information on these and other programs scheduled for September! If you have any questions or would like to register for a program, please contact us at drc@pgdiocese.bc.ca or by calling 250-964-4475.
Noon Hour Eat and Retreat Sep 2014
4. Private Sponsorship of Syrian Refugees
Parishes are asked to put the following notice in bulletins:
The Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP) will present an online webinar on Thursday, September 18th, 2014 from 4:00 – 5:30 pm on how to sponsor Syrian refugees. The discussion will include: refugee eligibility and admissibility, an explanation of Ministerial priority spaces for Syrian refugees, and the criteria to sponsor Syrian refugees out of Turkey. The RSTP is a Canadian refugee resettlement program that allows a group of five Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents to sponsor refugee families or persons. To register for the online information session, please enter the following link and complete the brief form prior to September 15th: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/763266383
5. An appeal for mercy, compassion and justice in the Middle East and throughout the world
Attached is a letter from the Executive Committee of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops regarding the situation in Middle East. Please insert this letter and/or print the following notice in parish bulletins:
The Executive Committee of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) issued an appeal “for mercy, compassion and justice in the Middle East and throughout the world”. In its message, the Executive states: “As followers of the Crucified One, we recognize particularly in the Middle East the sufferings of our own brothers and sisters in faith. Moved by their pains and afflictions, we make their cause our own. We are united with them in solidarity and faith.” In particular, they “pray that the Holy Spirit continue to inspire Canadians, particularly the faithful of our Catholic Church, to support the work of agencies that bring solace and aid to the persecuted and the exiled.” Three Canadian Catholic agencies are fundraising for the suffering people of the Middle East: Development and Peace, CNEWA Canada, and Aid to the Church in Need – Canada. Further details are available from these organizations and on the Diocese of Prince George website.
CCCB Appeal for mercy compassion and justice
6. Catholic Missions In Canada – Great Need Great Hope
Catholic Missions In Canada (CMIC) released a new video entitled “Great Need, Great Hope”. The video presents the breadth and depth of missionary work in Canada through stories and interviews of missionaries in the field and the people they serve. It shows some of the mission communities in the Canadian Prairies, and the people’s pains and struggles and joys as they try to live their faith in a fast transitioning world. As well, it gives a peek into how mission work has evolved over the past century. The video can be viewed on the CMIC website at www.cmic.info and on YouTube.