From the Vineyard

From the Vineyard

Newsletter No. 105 - May 22, 2020

I RELEASED A LETTER EARLIER THIS WEEK ABOUT THE RE-OPENING PROCESS FOR OUR CHURCHES in the Diocese of Peterborough.  And our Re-Opening Committee met for the first time on Thursday for a good initial discussion of what steps will be taken to relaunch parish life and the celebration of the Sacraments.  A committee of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario has been working to draft guidelines and recommendations, and we are eagerly awaiting the results of their work.  Members of that ACBO Committee are in close contact with provincial government officials and are drawing together resources from various Church jurisdictions.  Ultimately, we are working together with the primary concern for the safety and wellbeing of all who worship in our churches.   

A NEW WEBSITE FOR THE CANADIAN CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS was launched this week, and the results are impressive!   The project to replace the previous, aged website was long and arduous, since the site contained over 6000 pages of web content in both official languages.  Technology had also evolved with the advent of smartphones and tablets, leaving the old site cumbersome and antiquated.  The new website is much easier to navigate, more visually appealing, and just better all around.   It is a good step forward in this ever-changing digital age and will certainly serve the Church in Canada very well. 

THE WORK OF THE CCCB GOES ON IN THIS TIME OF PANDEMIC, including its interfaith dialogues.  I was on a videoconference this week with organizers of the Hindu-Catholic Dialogue which I co-chair, trying to put plans in place for our summer meeting.  And as with many such summer events, we are not sure if we will be able to meet in person or only virtually – but we are determined to meet, nonetheless, to carry on the good work that has been done in this Dialogue since its inception in 2012. 

IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN IT YET, CHECK OUT THIS MESSAGE OF HOPE from English-speaking Catholic musicians.  You will recognize the names of many of the artists who came together virtually to sing the very popular song by the St. Louis Jesuits, Be Not Afraid.  I came across it on Facebook a couple of weeks ago, made available through Salt & Light Media.  You can view the video here. This COVID-19 pandemic has stirred many such inspirational musical endeavors!

MASS FOR THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Peter-in-Chains will be broadcast on YourTV Peterborough this Sunday.  The homilist this week is Fr. Tom Lynch and I hope that you will join us in prayer either on TV, Facebook or through this YouTube link.  Thank you to YourTV Peterborough and special thanks to Marcus Ferguson for his dedication to the taping and broadcasting of the Sunday Mass each week.

                                                                                                                                            Fraternally,   † Daniel

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