Office Hours:
Tuesday to Thursday: 9AM-12Noon; 1PM-4PM
Friday: 9AM-12Noon
Office Hours:
Tuesday to Thursday: 9AM-12Noon; 1PM-4PM
Friday: 9AM-12Noon
November 26, 2020
Dear Notre Dame Parishioners,
This afternoon, November 19, 2020, the BC Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry made an announcement regarding the suspension of in-person religious gatherings and worship services effective immediately until December 7, 2020. I would like to remind parishioners that last March 19, 2020, Most Rev. Stephen Jensen made a decision dispensing the people of the Diocese from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass until further notice.
I will continue to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (without congregation) for our daily intention and the sanctification of the people God in accordance with Canon 904 “Remembering always that in the mystery of the Eucharistic sacrifice the work of redemption is exercised continually, priests are to celebrate frequently; indeed, daily celebration is recommended earnestly since, even if the faithful cannot be present, it is the act of Christ and the Church in which priests fulfill their principal function.”
The 11AM Sunday Mass will be livestreamed via Notre Dame Parish Facebook account. Funerals and baptisms may proceed with a limited number of people and a COVID-19 Safety Measures. You can have a maximum of 10 people attend, including myself and those assisting in the Liturgy. Sacramental Preparations and other meetings are suspended until further notice.
Although we are limited to what we can do as a faith community, let us persevere in prayer during this difficult and challenging times. Let us use every means to strengthen our relationship with God.
Let us continue to offer prayers to God for the healing of those infected, for the suffering and afflicted, the safety of doctors, nurses, caregivers and for ourselves, that God will protect us from all harm.
Saints Jacinta and Francisco Marto, pray for us.
Fraternally yours in Christ,
Fr. Vener Sabacan
Pastor
Unfortunately, due to continued covid 19 restrictions we are still only able to have 50 people attend Mass. Because of these restrictions, we will have a lottery draw for the two Christmas Eve Masses and the one Christmas Day Mass – this gives everyone the same equal opportunity to attend.
If you wish to have your name entered for one of the Masses, you must phone (250-782-3456) or email (nddc@shaw.ca) stating which Mass you wish to have your name entered for (i.e. Joan Smith – 3 spots for 5:00pm) If your name is drawn, we will contact you by phone and get the names for the other spots at that time. WE WILL NOT BE TAKING NAMES BY WORD OF MOUTH – ONLY PHONE OR EMAIL. YOU CANNOT BOOK FOR ANYONE ELSE.
We will accept emails and phone calls until 4pm on December 6th. We will have the draw the week of December 7th and will contact you if your name was drawn. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SWITCH MASS TIMES, OR SUBSTITUTE NAMES, ONCE YOUR NAME HAS BEEN DRAWN, as there will still be people whose names were not pulled and they get the first opportunity at a spot if you
are not able to come.
PARISH UPDATE
I would like to thank everyone for being conscientious following the rules set out by the Provincial Health Minister and our Parish.
• Last May 19th, we have re-opened our doors for public worship. Weekend Mass attendance can be booked through phone call (250-782-3456) or email (nddc@shaw.ca) or you can drop by the parish office from 8AM to 12Noon (Monday to Friday), seats (pews) are numbered 1-50 for use, the rest are blocked off with ‘NO ADMITTANCE’ sign. The limit of 50 persons is still in force until further notice. Members of the same household may sit together.
Mass Times are:
Tuesday to Friday - 12:10PM
Saturday - 5PM and 7:30PM
Sunday - 9AM and 11AM
• Beginning the weekend of June 27/28, we will no longer offer the 5PM Sunday Mass. Please make note of this change.
• Since the limit on the number of persons who may gather remains in effect, the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass continues in Prince George Diocese.
• The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available by appointment only, Tuesday to Friday from 10AM to 11:30AM following physical distancing restrictions.
• Holy water is not available at the church entrance, but hand sanitizer is made available.
• We regularly disinfect commonly touched areas every after Mass. A thorough cleaning of the church is done every Monday and Friday.
• Collection baskets are not passed from hand to hand; baskets are placed at each side of the church.
• The offertory procession is omitted as well as the sign of peace.
• Communicants should maintain the recommended distance from each other as they walk in procession.
• Wearing facial mask (surgical and re-usable-washable) during Mass is permitted. However, PPEs (gloves of any kind, face shield, surgical gown) ARE NOT permitted inside the church. Parishioners not comfortable coming to church during this time SHOULD STAY HOME.
• We discontinued the livestream of Sunday Mass. Parishioners unable to attend Mass in person can tune in to Sacred Heart Cathedral Facebook Fan Page every Saturday at 6:30PM and Sunday at 10AM.
Please observe proper basic hygiene, e.g., regular handwashing and staying away from the church when experiencing covid 19 symptoms or if you have underlying health conditions that will put you at greater risk.
The following are the ways in which you can continue to support the temporal needs of the parish:
· E-mail Money Transfer Instructions:
1. Add recipient: Notre Dame Parish, DC
2. Email Address: nddcaccounting@shaw.ca
3. Message Example: Regular Collection or Special Collection or Haiti Sponsorship or Project or Corporal Works etc.
4. Parishioners are reminded that they DO NOT NEED a security question because the donation is automatically deposited into the designated Parish Account.
· Envelope/Cheque or Cash (do not mail cash). You can either mail to or drop by at the parish office from 8:00 AM – 12:00Noon daily or when you attend Sunday Mass.
Notre Dame Parish
908 – 104 Avenue
Dawson Creek, BC, V1G 2H7
Thank you for your cooperation and generosity.
Fr. Vener Sabacan
Pastor: Rev. Venerando Sabacan
Secretary: Pauline Bates
Office Volunteer: Yvonne Becotte
STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL
President: Rev. Venerando Sabacan
Chairperson: Alex Reschny
Publicity Coordinator: John Vetter
Secretary: Pauline Bates
Diocesan Appeal and Ministry Sign-up/ Renewal: Yvonne Becotte &
Carol Handfield
Parish Events: Jeannette Shaw
Fundraising: Gregg Apolonio
President: Rev. Venerando Sabacan
Secretary: Pauline Bates
Members: Greg Apolonio, Yvonne Becotte, Christina Kinnear
School Council Representatives: Pauline Gerwien
Parish Pastoral Council Election is postponed until September 2020
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Rev. Venerando Sabacan
Gloria Juell
Leeanne Williams
President: Rev. Venerando Sabacan
Pauline Gerwien
Glenda Macarat
Alex Reschny
MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE
Doug Becotte
Lou Duperron
Rodger Sarauer
"People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, 'let the little children come to me; do not stop; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.' And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them and blessed them." Mark 10,13-16
The group meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 3:00PM-4:00PM at the Notre Dame Church basement (from September to May).
All children are welcome from ages 3-11 years. Bring your children and meet new friends as they journey in faith together.
Children's Liturgy is every Sunday for children ages 4-7.
Coordinator: Leeanne Williams
“Remember that you are never alone, Christ is with you on your journey every day of your lives! He has called you and chosen you to live in the freedom of the children of God. Turn to him in prayer and in love. Ask him to grant you the courage and strength to live in this freedom always. Walk with him who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life”!
St. (Pope) John Paul II
Youth Group (for Grades 6 and up) meets every Monday at 7:00PM beginning December 3rd 2018 at the Notre Dame Parish Basement. Please invite your classmates and friends for an evening of fun and faith-filled activities.
Coordinators: TBA
Celebrating the Word is a process model for faith sharing groups that is designed to replicate the Emmaus encounter. Most of us can identify with the plight of those two disciples. We know their experience. We have been there. And we need a place and a process that will allow us, as a faith community on a regular basis, to make connections between our life stories and the Gospel Story. As with those two disciples, we are assured that when we come together in faith and trust to make connections between our life stories and the Gospel Story, we too will come to experience the presence and power of God's own Spirit: " Were not our hearts burning within us when He opened the scriptures to us."
The Group meets every Tuesday morning from 10:30AM-12Noon at the Church meeting room from September-June
Symbolon: The Catholic Faith Explained
We might be familiar with different aspects of the Catholic Faith. But how does it all fit together? And what difference does it make for our lives? Symbolon: The Catholic Faith Explained opens up the "big picture" of the Catholic Faith in a way that helps us know it, live it, and articulate it to others.
Day and Time: TBA
TBA
Chapter 1 : Introducing the Old Testament
Chapter 2: The Peoples and Lands of the Old Testament
Chapter 3: Archaeology and the Old Testament
Chapter 4: Literary Tools for the Old Testament Study
Chapter 5: The Pentateuch
Chapter 6: Genesis 1-11 Preface to Israel's Story
Chapter 7: Genesis 12-50 The Patriarchs
Chapter 8: The Exodus from Egypt
Chapter 9: The Covenant and Journey to Canaan - Exodus 19 through Numbers
Chapter 10: The Israelite Possession of Canaan - The Books of Joshua and Judges
The Eucharist is the center of Christian life for the Church and the outstanding means whereby the faithful may express in their lives and manifest to others the mystery of Christ. It is at the heart of all parish life, making the liturgy committee and its ministry among the highest priorities in any parish.
The primary role of the liturgy committee is to focus on the full range of the parish's liturgical life and to represent the consensus of the community in matters related to that liturgical life. It has a mandate to ensure that celebrations are planned in such a way that they lead to a conscious, active and full participation of the faithful both in body and in mind, "as demanded by the very nature of the celebration and to which the Christian people have a right and duty by reason of their Baptism". The actual details of planning liturgical celebrations should be left to those people whom we have engaged for specific liturgical ministries in our parish (Readers, Extra-ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers, Music, Art & Environment, Hospitality, School Mass and Children's Liturgy).
Membership: TBA
"For it is in the liturgy, especially in the divine sacrifice of the Eucharist, that 'the work of redemption is accomplished', and it is through the liturgy especially the faithful are enabled to express in their lives and manifest to others the mystery of Christ and the real nature of the true Church" Sacrosanctum Concilium#2
"Catechesis is the education in the faith of children, young people and adults which includes especially the teaching of Christian doctrine imparted, generally speaking, in an organic and systematic way, with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life." Catechism of the Catholic Church#5
"Christian charity truly extends to all, without distinction of race, creed, or social condition: it looks for neither gain nor gratitude...Just as Christ, then, went about all the towns and villages, curing every kind of disease and infirmity as a sign that the kingdom of God had come (cf. Matt. 9:35ff; Acts 10:38), so also the Chur
"Christian charity truly extends to all, without distinction of race, creed, or social condition: it looks for neither gain nor gratitude...Just as Christ, then, went about all the towns and villages, curing every kind of disease and infirmity as a sign that the kingdom of God had come (cf. Matt. 9:35ff; Acts 10:38), so also the Church, through her children, is one with men of every condition, but especially with the poor and the afflicted." Decree
(Ad Gentes) on the Mission Activity of the Church #12
President: Barbara Frost
CWL Meeting: 1st Wednesday
of the Month at 1PM-Parish Meeting Room
Grand Knight: Greg Apolonio, Jr.
KofC Meeting: 1st Tuesday
of the Month at 7PM
Notre Dame School-Knights' Room