From the Vineyard

From the Vineyard

Newsletter No. 112 - July 10, 2020

OUR REOPENING PLANNING COMMITTEE held another virtual meeting this week, tracking the progress of the relaunch of parish life around the Diocese.  Things are going quite smoothly with churches able to accommodate the parishioners who come for Sunday Mass.   Much of our time was taken up with the various Regional Health Units and their statements about the use of face masks. (There are six such Units that serve our Diocese).  It’s a bit complicated but the situation right now is this: as of Monday, July 13 the use of face masks is mandatory in the churches of Simcoe-Muskoka.  In all other regions, the Health Units encourage the use of face masks in churches (as does the Diocese of Peterborough) but it is not mandatory.  Additionally, the Bereavement Authority of Ontario has mandated the use of face masks for all indoor funerals in the following regions of our Diocese: Simcoe-Muskoka, Durham and Haliburton-Kawartha-Pine Ridge.  The situation is very fluid, so you can always check for updates on our Diocesan website and social media pages. 

THE VIANNEY FAIR IS GOING VIRTUAL!  Our annual Vocations Fair will be online this year and takes place on Sunday, August 23.  In the previous years, we gathered at the beautiful property of Paschal and Sylvia McCloskey, just outside of Peterborough.  This week, Fr. John Perdue and I went there so that I could record my little piece, a welcome to all of those who will participate in the Virtual Vianney Fair.  Those who tune in will be able to view Vocation stories and testimonies, information from Religious communities and an original music video.  There will also be a Kids’ Corner to keep the young ones engaged.  My sincere thanks to Fr. John Perdue and the organizing committee for finding an ingenious way to keep the Vianney Fair going despite the pandemic restrictions.  Let us continue to pray for all those discerning a vocation to priesthood, religious life, the permanent diaconate and committed Christian marriage!

THE TRANSFER OF PRIESTS in our Diocese will take place on Wednesday, July 29.  This is about a month later than our usual timing, the date having been pushed back because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the various complications around reopening.  It is never a small matter for a priest to move or for a parish to welcome a new pastor, and the circumstances are particularly challenging this year.  We pray for all those priests and parishes who are preparing for changes in the coming weeks.  May everyone work together cooperatively and patiently in these times!

YOURTV PETERBOROUGH will continue to tape and broadcast the Sunday Mass from our Cathedral throughout July and August.  I am grateful for their commitment to this venture, especially as many people are not returning to church immediately in view of the various risks. I also thank the priests who will be the celebrants and homilists in the coming weeks.

I’VE KEPT FROM THE VINEYARD running a bit longer into the summer this year, because of these unusual and changing times.  But the time has come to put it on summer hiatus, mainly because I must put myself on hiatus.   I will be having cataract surgery in both eyes in the next couple of weeks, which will sideline me for a little bit, but I will be back on the job by the end of this month.  From the Vineyard will be back, certainly by September and earlier than that if the news cycle warrants it.  Have a safe and blessed summer everyone!

                                                                                                                                            Fraternally,   † Daniel

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