Wednesday Weekly June 5, 2013 Print Version
1. Pastoral Appointments
Bishop Stephen Jensen announces the following pastoral assignments, effective August 1, 2013:
- Fr. Rene Antonio as Administrator of St. Peter’s Parish, Mackenzie, with part-time ministry at Sacred Heart Cathedral
- Fr. Piotr Dudek, OMI as Pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, Prince George (upon presentation by his religious superior)
- Fr. Louis Kwena as Pastor of Notre Dame Parish, Dawson Creek
- Fr. Christopher Lynch as Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Prince George
- Fr. Alvin Matias as Administrator of Our Lady of Peace Parish, Chetwynd
- Fr. Venerando Sabacan as Pastor of Church of the Resurrection, Fort St. John
- Fr. Thomas Shymko as Pastor of Immaculata Parish, Burns Lake
Among the diocesan priests who have been given new assignments this summer, two are relatively new: Frs. Rene Antonio and Alvin Matias are newly ordained, and two are returning: Fr. Louis Kwena from a sabbatical leave and Fr. Christopher Lynch from temporary service elsewhere.
2. Priests Leaving the Diocese
Three priests from Nigeria, who have been serving here by arrangement with their own Bishop, will be returning to their home diocese this summer: Frs. Michael Anyasoro, Udoka Christopher Nwosu and Albanus Ogowuihe. Our thanks go to them for their generosity in sharing their priestly ministry with the parishes of the diocese.
3. Sr. Mary-Ann Bates, RSCJ retires
After 22 years of ministry at the Diocesan Office in Prince George, Mary-Ann Bates, RSCJ will retire from her position as Diocesan Director of Catechetics, effective August 31, 2013. We are very grateful to Sr. Mary-Ann for her many years of service and wish her well as she continues on the journey in new ways. Mary-Ann and Sally McLean, RSCJ will continue to reside in Prince George.
4. Venue Change for three-school Mass
Due to the soggy grass and creepy, crawling caterpillars, who have taken over Fort George Park, the three Catholic schools in Prince George have decided to MOVE the Mass in the park to Mass in the Cathedral on Thursday, June 6 at 9:30 a.m. Please pass the message on to those who would be attending in your communities. To schools: please do not bring your banners, as we won’t have the space or place to hang them. Please inform your classes we will have pews marked and we will have ‘Sacred Heart Hospitality’ in full force to help you find your pews.
5. Rose Prince Pilgrimage
Please put the following notice in parish bulletins each weekend in June:
The Annual Rose Prince Pilgrimage will be held July 5-7, 2013 at Lejac. Sr. Kateri Michell, SSA will be the guest speaker. The weekend begins with an opening prayer at 7 p.m. Friday and concludes with lunch at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Along with presentations/sharing by Sr. Kateri, there will be prayer services, Stations of the Cross, a Healing Mass, the Living Rosary and a Candlelight Procession. Bishop Stephen Jensen will preside at Mass on Sunday. For more information contact Father Vincent James, OMI at St. Andrew’s Parish, Fraser Lake (250)699-6593 or see the schedule on the diocesan website.
6. CCCB President writes to Prime Minister re: G8 Summit
Two weeks before the upcoming G8 Summit in the United Kingdom, the Most Rev. Richard Smith, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), has written to the Prime Minister of Canada inviting him and all the leaders of the G8 nations to put the protection of the poor and assistance to developing countries at the center of their meeting. “Your focus on agriculture and nutrition ahead of the G8 Meeting is timely,” the letter states. “In a world that has made great strides in improving food production and distribution, far too many of God’s children still go to bed hungry or suffer from a lack of nutrition, a tragedy that has lifelong consequences for health and educational achievement.” See the document for the complete text of the letter.
Letter from National Conferences of Catholic Bishops to the Leaders of the G8 Nations