Author: Charlotte Padilla

His Grace was recently interviewed on Salt and Light’s SL Hour radio program. The eight-minute interview starts at the 31:21 mark. The topics are healing, reconciliation and a possible visit by the Holy Father.

https://slmedia.org/blog/is-the-pope-coming-to-canada

Please click on the below to see the letter from the Archbishop:

one page campaign info Nov 2021

The Archdiocese is reviewing the Together We Serve Annual Appeal, introduced in 2014,  and developing a plan to “relaunch” it in 2022, after two years of challenges. The Archdiocese would like to hear from donors, potential donors and former donors to understand: who gives, why they give or why they stopped giving, and what the Archdiocese can do to improve the campaign.

To complete the quick online survey:  Enter this link into your browser:  www.surveymonkey.com/r/TogetherWeServe

Survey deadline is November 12, 2021

Thank you.

Here are the links to two videos: One is the announcement of a papal visit. The second is His Grace’s announcement of Catholic Social Services Sunday.  Here are the posts on the Archdiocese website.

CSS Sunday

YouTube: https://youtu.be/eItG3krBClI

Facebook: https://fb.watch/8VurfEvAfC/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CVi9lmHDsuL/

Papal Visit Video

YouTube: https://youtu.be/kkfFTZyAEdI

Facebook: https://fb.watch/8VupOK-N0S/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CVixUTNDUj2/

Here is a radio interview that took place on October 27th with Father Mark Blom and Fernie Marty, an elder at Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples.

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-52/clip/15874905

We’re sharing links to the local content in the Edmonton Archdiocese. Archbishop Smith launched that process last Sunday leading up to the 2023 Synod on Synodality. He also recorded a video explaining the process and introducing our synod project coordinator, Eugenia Kowalczyk (synod@caedm.ca). Please share as widely as possible on your websites and social media. The hashtags for sharing on social media are #Synod and #ListeningChurch. If we can help further, we’re happy to do so

Opening of Synod with Archbishop Smith

YouTube: https://youtu.be/UwWbrcYNrYQ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/695499890555936/posts/4006152139490678/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CVOVyKUDxxv

Introduction to the Synodal Process

YouTube: https://youtu.be/xKK8i_UJJSM

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/695499890555936/posts/4006152252824000/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CVOV-WYDkH5

Texts, photos and videos from the Synod 2021-2023 websites

https://www.synod.va/en.html

Thank you.

Here is the link to His Grace’s video regarding the statement of apology by Canada’s bishops: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK_mGxQhkHQ

His Grace also references the nation-wide financial commitment to healing and reconciliation. Here is that link: https://caedm.ca/PastoralScene/entryid/927/bishops-financial-commitment-toward-reconciliation-and-healing

Thank you.

2021_09_24_Pastoral Letter to the Faithful re. mandatory COVID-19 vaccination2021_09_23_

Questions to help form our conscience in the context of COVID-19 vaccination

The Archdiocese believes the health and safety of everyone in our church and the Archdiocesan facilities is the top priority for the Archdiocese, the pastor, parish staff and volunteers, especially during this time of pandemic.  As a result, the following measures are to be implemented as of this date:

Places of worship:

• Masks are mandatory and are to cover the nose and mouth. The only mask exceptions are for children under two years of age and those with medically certified exemption.
• Church capacity is limited to 1/3 of fire code capacity
• Two metres of physical distancing must be maintained between households, or two close contacts for those living alone

Liturgical Guidelines on Mass:

• Attending Mass is on a first come, first served basis
• No contact tracing information will be collected
• Priests, deacons, and lectors must always wear a mask unless speaking or proclaiming
• Altar servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, the cantor, and instrumentalists/musicians must wear a mask at all times
• As mentioned above, two metres of physical distancing must be maintained between households, or two close contacts for those living alone
• Congregational singing is suspended at this time
• Only 1 cantor/soloist is allowed
• The cantor/soloist must wear the mask while singing/chanting and must be located away from the congregation and the instrumentalists/musicians
• The use of the mask is required when singing/chanting
• Singing by the cantor/soloist will be limited to the following:  Entrance antiphon or unfamiliar hymn, preparation of the altar, Communion, recessional
• Instrumental music may replace singing
• The offertory procession will not resume at this time to avoid unnecessary contact with the vessels.  Its resumption will be decided by the end of October 2021

Distribution of Holy Communion:

• Priests/deacons/Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must wear the mask during the distribution of Holy Communion.  Hands must be sanitized prior to the distribution
• Mask use is mandatory for all the faithful.  Parishioners who are not able to wear a mask for medical reasons can be exempt from this regulation except when receiving Holy Communion
• All parishioners must wear masks when lining up for the distribution of Holy Communion, including those receiving Communion on the tongue or a ‘blessing’
• The communicant removes the mask in front of the priest/deacon/Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion to receive Communion and must put it back on after consuming the consecrated host.
• Communion is only given under one species – the consecrated host
• Communion on the tongue continues to be offered
• If the Ordinary/Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion comes in contact with the Communicant in the distribution, hands are to be sanitized with a quick-drying, alcohol-based hand sanitizer before continuing to distribute Holy Communion

Archdiocesan Guidelines for Social Gatherings:

• No social gatherings are permitted in parish halls and facilities
• In-person meetings and faith-based meetings, which are not social gatherings, are allowed to continue with attendance limited to 1/3 of the room’s fire code occupancy, i.e. RCIA and sacrament preparation
• Masks must be worn at all times

Weddings and Funerals (effective Monday, Sept. 20):

• Indoor wedding ceremonies and funeral services are permitted with up to 50 people
• Indoor wedding and funeral receptions are prohibited

Baptisms:

• Attendance at baptism is allowed for up to 50 people
• Proper physical distancing and the use of masks are required during the celebration of the rite

Reminders:

• Parishes that have livestreaming capabilities are encouraged to continue with livestreaming Masses for those who are not comfortable with returning to Mass in person
• The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass continues for dioceses in the Province of Alberta
• Hand sanitizing remains in effect along with proper hand hygiene
• Please make every effort to implement respiratory etiquette, i.e., coughing or sneezing into bent elbow, promptly disposing of used tissues in a lined garbage bin

Thank you.