6
181 FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY THOUGHTS FOR SOWING HINDERED, YET LOVING He remained for two full years in his lodging. He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 28:30-31 Paul is speaking of his time in prison, two years in chains. Though most of us do not spend time behind bars, sometimes it seems that circumstances beyond our control are inhibiting our freedom. Other times, the bars are limitations of our own creation. When we are “in chains,” we tend to think that we can do something useful once we are free. Once we get to “the other side of this,” we’ll be able to love, give or serve. Paul is showing us another way. He is showing us that we don’t have to wait for our situation to improve – we can proclaim God’s goodness even while encumbered. We can continue to do our work and fulfill our purpose right now, chains or no chains. Sometimes the very act of loving, giving or serving right when we feel least able to do so is the key that fits the lock and sets us free. Kristin Armstrong From: Living Faith IN LOVING MEMORY Elizabeth Connelly It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Elizabeth Connelly (99 years), a long time, faithful member of our parish family. I first met her in my first assignment in 1973, when she was the principal of St. Andrew’s School in Rexdale. She went on to have a long and outstanding career as a principal with the TCDSB. Elizabeth moved into our parish in 2003 and was an active member. Due to this pandemic, funeral arrangements will be made at a later date. Where Do You Pray? by MELANNIE SVOBODA SND on April 27, 2020 In his book, Wrestling with God, Ronald Rolheiser says, “God has given us two churches:” Physical holy places/ holy buildings and the holy place within each of us. The first church consists of actual churches, cathedrals, temples, synagogues, mosques, shrines and such. The second church is where Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well where she could pray: that holy place within her. Many of us worship regularly in an actual churchperhaps our local parish. On occasion we might even go to a shrine or Cathedral. But many of you reading this, also pray in that holy-place-of-who-you-are. You can do this alone at your kitchen table, while strolling in a park, or even when lying alone in a hospital bed. But I would like to suggest two other “churches”: creation itself and our daily life. I suspect more people pray in the “Cathedral of Creation” than anywhere else. When they stand atop a mountain, gaze at a beautiful lake, or inspect the tiny green shoots coming up through the mud, they spontaneously express their wonder or gratitude to the God- Force-Power-Author responsible for such goodness. That is great prayer. St. Augustine wrote, “If one has an eye for it, creation is a sacrament.” A sacrament! That means that God’s grace can come pouring into us through a mountain, a daisy, a tree, a bee. Pope Francis would agree. He wrote, “Soil, water, mountains: Everything is a caress from God.” Often the beauty and mystery of creation leads us to connect spontaneously with the Author of All. Our daily life, to me, is another church in which we can pray. This means we pay attention to what is happening in our lives and we ponder those people, happenings, and situations. These can be major thingslike this pandemic we are experiencing right now, a troubled relationship, our personal health issues, a special family celebration, the fidelity of a loved one, worry about the future. Or these things can be smaller everyday things like sipping our morning coffee, folding clean laundry, filling our gas tank, working in the yard, doing a crossword puzzle, talking to a friend, reading a good book, going to bed. As Barbara Brown Taylor says, God speaks to us “in the language of our lives.” And so, let us pray: Creating God, thank you for all the places you have given us to nourish our prayer. The churches, chapels, and shrines that lift our minds and hearts to you with their vastness or coziness, their ornateness or simplicity, their silence or song. Thank you for that holy-place-of-who-we-are where we meet you dwelling within our very selves. Thank you for your marvelous creationfor its beauty and mystery, its power and fragility, its immensity and teeny-weeniness, its diversity and interconnectedness. And finally, thank you for the gift of daily life, those times of routine and interruptions, ambiguity and clarity, choosings and surrenderings, teachings and learnings, the expected and the surprising. And please, Beloved Author of All, give us the grace to find you present in the whole of our lives. Amen. Where do you pray? Have you ever been in a particular building (church, chapel, cathedral, synagogue, mosque, shrine) and the place itself moved you to prayer? Are there particular aspects of nature that nourish your prayer? Which of the four “churches” listed here (actual buildings, your inner-being, nature, your daily life) nourishes your prayer the most?

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Page 1: FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY · 2020. 6. 5. · FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY THOUGHTS FOR SOWING HINDERED, YET LOVING He remained for two full years in his lodging. He received

181 FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY

THOUGHTS FOR SOWING

HINDERED, YET LOVING He remained for two full years in his lodging. He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord

Jesus Christ. Acts 28:30-31

Paul is speaking of his time in prison, two years in chains. Though most of us do not spend time behind bars, sometimes it seems that circumstances beyond our control are inhibiting our freedom. Other times, the bars are limitations of our own creation. When we are “in chains,” we tend to think that we can do something useful once we are free. Once we get to “the other side of this,” we’ll be able to love, give or serve.

Paul is showing us another way. He is showing us that we don’t have to wait for our situation to improve – we can proclaim God’s goodness even while encumbered. We can continue to do our work and fulfill our purpose right now, chains or no chains.

Sometimes the very act of loving, giving or serving right when we feel least able to do so is the key that fits the lock and sets us free.

Kristin Armstrong From: Living Faith

IN LOVING MEMORY

Elizabeth Connelly It is with sadness that we announce the passing of

Elizabeth Connelly (99 years), a long time, faithful member of our parish family. I first met her in my first assignment in 1973, when she was the principal of St. Andrew’s School in Rexdale. She went on to have a long and outstanding career as a principal with the TCDSB. Elizabeth moved into our parish in 2003 and was an active member. Due to this pandemic, funeral arrangements will be made at a later date.

Where Do You Pray? by MELANNIE SVOBODA SND on April 27, 2020

In his book, Wrestling with God, Ronald Rolheiser says, “God has given us two churches:” Physical holy places/ holy buildings and the holy place within each of us. The first church consists of actual churches, cathedrals, temples, synagogues, mosques, shrines and such. The second church is where Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well where she could pray: that holy place within her. Many of us worship regularly in an actual church–perhaps our local parish. On occasion we might even go to a shrine or Cathedral. But many of you reading this, also pray in that holy-place-of-who-you-are. You can do this alone at your kitchen table, while strolling in a park, or even when lying alone in a hospital bed.

But I would like to suggest two other “churches”: creation itself and our daily life. I suspect more people pray in the “Cathedral of Creation” than anywhere else. When they stand atop a mountain, gaze at a beautiful lake, or inspect the tiny green shoots coming up through the mud, they spontaneously express their wonder or gratitude to the God-Force-Power-Author responsible for such goodness. That is great prayer.

St. Augustine wrote, “If one has an eye for it, creation is a

sacrament.” A sacrament! That means that God’s grace can come pouring into us through a mountain, a daisy, a tree, a bee. Pope Francis would agree. He wrote, “Soil, water, mountains: Everything is a caress from God.” Often the beauty and mystery of creation leads us to connect spontaneously with the Author of All.

Our daily life, to me, is another church in which we can pray. This means we pay attention to what is happening in our lives and we ponder those people, happenings, and situations. These can be major things–like this pandemic we are experiencing right now, a troubled relationship, our personal health issues, a special family celebration, the fidelity of a loved one, worry about the future. Or these things can be smaller everyday things like sipping our morning coffee, folding clean laundry, filling our gas tank, working in the yard, doing a crossword puzzle, talking to a friend, reading a good book, going to bed. As Barbara Brown Taylor says, God speaks to us “in the language of our lives.” And so, let us pray: Creating God, thank you for all the places you have given us to nourish our prayer. The churches, chapels, and shrines that lift our minds and hearts to you with their vastness or coziness, their ornateness or simplicity, their silence or song. Thank you for that holy-place-of-who-we-are where we meet you dwelling within our very selves. Thank you for your marvelous creation–for its beauty and mystery, its power and fragility, its immensity and teeny-weeniness, its diversity and interconnectedness. And finally, thank you for the gift of daily life, those times of routine and interruptions, ambiguity and clarity, choosings and surrenderings, teachings and learnings, the expected and the surprising. And please, Beloved Author of All, give us the grace to find you present in the whole of our lives. Amen. Where do you pray? Have you ever been in a particular building (church, chapel, cathedral, synagogue, mosque, shrine) and the place itself moved you to prayer? Are there particular aspects of nature that nourish your prayer? Which of the four “churches” listed here (actual buildings, your inner-being, nature, your daily life) nourishes your prayer the most?

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JUNE 7, 2020 Can you give examples or evidence that Jesus prayed in these four “churches”?

COMMUNAL WORSHIP Courtesy of Msgr Jim Hannah, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish

Parishioners have told me that they watch the Mass broadcast from St. Michael’s Cathedral or Loretto Abbey on TV. They acknowledge that they are very grateful that they are able to do this. However, they also say, “but it’s not the same.” My hope is that one of the things that will come out of this epidemic is that we all grow in our appreciation of being able to actually attend Mass as a community. That would be a tremendous gift and one that would enrich us all. The celebration of the Eucharist is a communal form of worship. It is not a private prayer. Private prayer is important for all of us because it is the way we nurture and develop our personal relationship with God. And there are unlimited ways to pray privately. You can read the scriptures, you can say formal prayers, you can say the rosary, you can just sit in silence before God, etc. etc. etc. And even when private prayers such as the rosary are said in a group, it is still private prayer. It is just private prayer being done by each individual while they are gathered together in the group. The Eucharist, however, is not private prayer even though some people treat it as if it is. Some people come and want nothing to do with anyone else around. They sit off by themselves as much as they can (easier to do at daily Mass than on Sunday). They don’t acknowledge the other people who are present. They say their own prayers while the Mass is in progress, come forward for Communion and then leave when Mass is over, not having interacted with anyone. And then of course there are those for whom the whole point of going to Mass is just to receive Communion. All the rest of the Mass is at best secondary to the main event which is to go to Communion. These people have failed to understand what the Mass is about. The Eucharist is the gathering of the community of faith to worship God as one community. God calls us to unite as a community of faith to give praise and thanksgiving, not as individuals but as the People of God who are God’s daughters and sons. In the celebration of the Mass, the Risen Christ is present in three different ways. He is present in the scriptures that are read to us, the Word of God. He is present in the Eucharistic prayer and the Communion that we all come forward to receive. But he is also present in the community itself that has gathered to worship together. With the Resurrection of Jesus, Christ united himself to his disciples through the gift of his Sprit making his disciples then, and us today, the Body of Christ in the world. Then, just as Jesus was commissioned by the Father to proclaim the Good News of God’s love to the world so has the Risen Christ commissioned us to take up the mission given to him by the Father. Every aspect of the celebration of the Eucharist is meant to nurture and strengthen us as a community, to go out to be the Body of Christ in the world today. Missing Mass these days is not just about missing the music or going to communion or seeing friends. Missing Mass these days means that we are all deprived of the opportunity to give

praise and thanks to God for all he has given us as his people. As well, we are also deprived of the nourishment we receive when we are gathered together as God’s people to hear his word, receive his life in the Eucharist and be strengthened by the faith of the people gathered around us. Hopefully, when we do return to Mass, every element of the celebration will be more important, more meaningful and have a sharper focus for us. The scripture readings will have more power to touch our minds and hearts as we hear them read. The singing of the hymns, antiphons and responses will be more vibrant as we give voice to our faith and our praise of God. And our responses, as a community, to the prayers will be louder, more heartfelt and vigorous. And we will be more grateful for the presence of those around us who invite us to share with them in their praise of God so that together we can go forth to proclaim the love of God for all people.

EASTER PEOPLE by Pat Marrin

“Stay with us, for it is

nearly evening and the

day is almost over”

(Luke 24:29).

Luke 24:13-35

Relative to their size, the impact of the Gospels makes

them some of the most potent texts ever written. The evangelists left us professions of faith so compact we are still unpacking them and finding new insights into God’s presence among us. The parables of Jesus are miniature Gospels. Luke’s story of the road to Emmaus is a summary of the entire journey the first disciples had to make to become the church.

Two disciples are escaping Jerusalem when they encounter a stranger who sets their hearts on fire by interpreting the Scriptures and opens their eyes at the breaking of the bread. Luke is describing the turning point from despair to hope as the first faith community assembled after the death of Jesus to celebrate Eucharist in his memory, and there they encountered the risen Christ.

How slow they had been to understand that the Christ had to suffer to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. How blind their hearts had been to the mystery of his death as the source of their new life. How obstinate the Apostles were to the witness of the women sent by angels to evangelize them. From the end of one story had sprung the start of a new one, Good News for the whole world. Jesus has overcome sin and death and given creation a new divine destiny.

Luke’s literary skills are evident in this use of an important appearance story to describe the much larger experience of the whole church. It has been handed down to us to emphasize the centrality of the liturgy in the life of the church. We invoke Jesus’ presence when we gather to read the Scriptures and share the meal he gave us as a sign of

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181 FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY his gift of himself. We are also reminded that Jesus often appears in ways that we do not always recognize, and that only by inviting strangers to walk with us and share our table will we know him.

The risen Jesus is with us, in the Word, in the meal and in the community, but also in the stranger, the outcast, the alien and the poor. If we welcome them will encounter him, and our hearts will burn within us and our eyes will be opened to God’s presence and power in our parishes and faith communities. This is what it means for us to call ourselves Easter people.

From: National Catholic Reporter

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, Keep me faithful in serving You. May my focus be on you this day, And especially in the midst of my trials. May I never flee from my responsibilities. Your love for me is beyond imagining. And You have said that we will never be alone. You have even given us a visible sign, Of your presence in this world, A sharing in Your very Life, Through the Sacrament of the Eucharist. And while I cannot receive You now, I look forward to receiving You when that day comes. Please come spiritually into my heart. Thank you for Your love. I always want to be in Your presence. Lord Jesus, Let me never be separated from You. Amen

ALL CHURCHES AND PARISH

OFFICES, THROUGHOUT THE

ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO ARE

CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL

FURTHER NOTICE.

A "PARISH BLAST"!

A blast is a notice/information sent to all parishioners for whom we have a current email address (presently 425). This email parishioners to receive updated information, such as, the weekly parish bulletin, COVID 19 information, etc, even if they are unable to attend Mass on a particular weekend, or, as we are now experiencing and emergency situation. Although we have some email address from families recently registered, we have many more parishioners who have been registered for quite some time and have no email addresses for them. If you are not sure whether your email address is on file here at the parish office, we invite you to just email us with your full name, address, & your email address to [email protected] and we would be most happy to include you in our records and for future "Parish Blasts"!

PARISH’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY (September 20, 1950)

As you have heard, many substantial public events

across our province have been cancelled such as, The

Stratford & Shaw Festivals the CNE. With all the unknowns

about how the coming months are going to play out

regarding the Re-opening or Phasing In of businesses and

even churches, it is with disappointment that we have to

cancel our plans to celebrate our 70th Anniversary in a

formal way. We will have the 75th to look forward down the

road. However, we still wish to create our “Memorable

Parish Passages”, although now in digital form. For how this

will be done, I’ll let Diane from the Pastoral Council, fill you

in on the details.

MEMORABLE PARISH PASSAGES

You may recall back in early February we announced the idea of creating a collection of our memories associated with our community of St. Margaret of Scotland, our "Memorable Parish Passages" booklet for our 70

th Anniversary.

Unfortunately, we will be unable to celebrate as we had planned in September. However, we should not let this event go unrecorded.

We would like to continue with this idea of creating our “Memorable Parish Passages” but doing so in digital form.

I would like to encourage everyone to make a contribution to our Memorable Parish Passages. This is an opportunity to salvage memories and to archive historical moments in the seventy years of the existence of our parish community.

While we are all staying home, I would like to ask that you consider taking sometime today to write down your reflections. Then, email your contribution to the parish by July 1

st. We will put these together on our St. Margaret's

website acknowledging our 70th Anniversary on Sept.

20th. Remember this is our parish, our community and even

though we are in a unique situation let's try to make the best of this event and not miss the opportunity to monument our shared experiences at St. Margaret's. Thanks, on behalf of the committee

Diane Dibacco

How your gift to ShareLife is making a difference during COVID-19

Did you know that donors to ShareLife like you are already making difference? Thanks to your support, ShareLife-funded agencies are on the front lines of this pandemic. The poor and marginalized people they serve are among severely impacted in a time of crisis. Many of you typically contribute during our ShareLife Sunday collections. Since we don’t know yet when parish life will resume, I encourage you to please donate securely online to ShareLife or drop off your

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JUNE 7, 2020 donations to the parish office mail slot. We are grateful for the many people who have already done so! Your generosity testifies to God’s presence among us, even while our parishes are closed.

2020 GOAL $150,000 DONOR 850 RESULT TO DATE: $39,212 (87)

2019 RESULTS $148,555 DONOR 821 Please give generously.

MESSAGE FOR PARISHIONERS FOR SUPPORT OF PARISH OFFERTORIES

Dear Parishioners,

I hope and pray that you are staying healthy – both physically and spiritually. Please let me know if the parish can help you during these difficult times. No doubt you are aware that our parish relies on the support of our parishioners to operate – parish salaries, programs and ongoing operating costs (heating, water, electricity, etc.) – are funded through the generosity of our parish community. It will be a challenge for our parish to maintain operations without the weekly offertory collection. In response to many requests that I have received from parishioners, here are the ways that you can continue to support our parish at this time: Drop off or mail your regular weekly offertory

contribution to the parish office. Contribute to our parish offertory by credit card. Please

follow the link https://www.archtoronto.org/covid19/Pages/support.aspx. Select the region your parish is from the map. Then select your parish in the drop down menu. You can make a one time or recurring contribution to your parish's offertory or other special funds.

Contribute through pre-authorized giving. Download form https://www.archtoronto.org/covid19/Documents/PAG%20Authorization%20Form-fillable.pdf or ..\PAG DATA\PAG Form.pdf which can be printed and completed. Return the completed form and a voided cheque to your parish office. Or e-mail the form and a scanned copy or photo of a void cheque to [email protected] for processing. Contributions are withdrawn from your bank account on the 20

th of each month.

You can contribute to the offertory via online banking. To do this, the archdiocese will need to send you a unique account number. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. In the body of the email provide:

Your name Address Parish name Municipality You will be emailed account information which you can use to set up the Archdiocese of Toronto as a payee in your on-line banking. Your gift will be forwarded to our parish. You can make a one time or recurring gift to our offertory. If you have questions please contact the Development Office at the Archdiocese of Toronto, (416) 934-3400 ext 540 or [email protected]

Thank you for your many contributions to our parish community. I miss seeing all of you at the Mass and I pray daily that we will be able to gather together again soon.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Andrew Macbeth

CATHOLIC CEMETERIES & FUNERAL SERVICES RE-OPENING OF GATES

Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services (CCFS) is committed to serving our bereaved families and working to ensure their health and safety. We are equally committed to an focuased on the health and safety of our employees.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, CCFS has been adjusting its operations and levels of public interaction in an effort to do our part to slow the transmission of this virus. Please direct any inquiries to our Central Business Office at: 416-733-8544.

While our cemetery gates remain closed during our regular operating hours, the gates will be opened for family visits on the cemetery grounds only. Our hours of operation for families visiting will be as follows: Monday – Saturday: 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Sundays & Statutory Holidays: 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Our mausolea remain closed until further notice. Entry to the cemetery and mausolea during regular operating hours will only be provided to those attending a funeral or burial, those with a scheduled appointment and for essential deliveries. Physical distancing requirements and attendee number restrictions are in place at all time s in keeping with provincial directives.

COVID-19 NOTICE

Dear Parishioners of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish and St. Eugene's Chapel,

In order to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus and so as to comply with the Government of Ontario's new regulations requiring that all non-essential workplaces be closed, we are sorry to inform you that the church and the parish office must remain closed until further notice. This is a deeply painful, but necessary, decision for our faith community. However, we are still here for you during this difficult time. You can still leave a voicemail at the parish office: (416) 485-7781. Or you can email us at: [email protected]. We will return your message as soon as possible. Visit www.archtoronto.org/covid19 for updated information from the Archdiocese of Toronto and for links to view the Daily Mass online. Please be sure to consult our own parish website: https://stmargaretofscotland.archtoronto.org for important information and links. Please continue to pray for those sick and those caring for them. Be assured of our daily prayers for you.

Yours in Christ Fr. Andrew (Andy) Macbeth, Pastor Fr. Allan Lapay, Associate Pastor

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181 FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY

HOW TO MAKE AN ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

Since Public Masses are cancelled until further notice, below are some recommendations on how to make a "spiritual communion" and either into a time of prayer on the Lord's Day. The recommendations can be adapted based upon personal and family needs. • Gather with others in your households and begin a time

of prayer with the sign of the cross • Take time to read and reflect upon the readings from

Sunday Mass. You can find the readings at http://readings.livingwithchrist.ca. A daily televised Mass, including for Sundays, is available through Salt & Light Catholic Media Foundation (www.saltandlighttv.org) as well as through VisionTV and online at www.DailyTVMass.com. This provides an additional opportunity to pray for those who are suffering as well as for our health care professionals tending the sick.

• Share prayer intentions quietly or aloud. • Pray the Lord's Prayer. • Pray the following prayer of spiritual communion (see

below). • Close with the sign of the cross.

Spiritual Communion Prayer My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy

Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to

receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment

receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my

heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite

myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from

You. Amen

~~ Prayer by St. Alphonsus Liguori

THANK YOU TO OUR PARISHIONERS WHO

CONTINUE TO GIVE MONTHLY OR WEEKLY

DONATIONS.

MANY OF OUR CHURCH EXPENSES CONTINUE

ALTHOUGH MASSES ARE CANCELLED.

WITH MASSES BEING CANCELLED ACROSS THE COUNTRY THE DAILY MASS EACH DAY

ON TELEVISION AND THE INTERNET

VISION TV Sunday – 8:00am

Monday – Friday - 8:00am & 12pm Saturday – 8:00am & 9:30am

SALT & LIGHT Sunday – 11:00am & 10:30pm

Monday – Saturday – 6:30am, 11:00am, 3:00pm 10:30pm

yesTV Sunday – 10:30am

Monday – Saturday – 1:00pm

Internet www.dailytvmass.com & www.youtube.com/dailytvmass

Check your local listings for FaithTV and JoyTV

UPDATE FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO

MAY 27, 2020

The decision to close our parish churches on March 24, 2020, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic was a very difficult one and we recognize the tremendous spiritual sacrifice of the faithful during this time. We also want to do all that we can to minimize the potential spread of Covid-19 in our community.

We know that you have questions and are anxious to return to your local parish. This update will let you know where we are at present and what we’ve been doing to prepare for the days ahead.

Q. How is the Archdiocese of Toronto preparing for re-opening? A. Four archdiocesan task forces have been addressing the following pandemic-related issues: 1. Re-opening of churches; 2. Re-opening of offices; 3. Financial implications and related issues; and

4. Best practices that can be implemented post-pandemic.

We are also working closely with the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario (ACBO) to offer dioceses and churches a consistent approach to re-opening across the province. All this work has been done in consultation with health and safety experts.

We’ve held virtual town halls with our clergy and staff, to keep them appraised of our plans along the way. Pastors have been communicating directly with the faithful in a variety of ways – through the parish website, by mail, text, phone and through social media.

Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, has provided regular updates to the faithful. These and other Covid-19 related resources can be accessed by visiting: www.archtoronto.org/covid19. You can subscribe to receive these updates if you’re not already receiving them.

Q. Why not re-open the churches now? A. Throughout this process, we have been part of conversations and meetings with all levels of government to advocate for reopening places of worship as soon as it is safe to do so. We’ve also discussed the unique nature of our worship spaces, how we plan to create a safe environment for the faithful and we’ve shared our draft plans for re-opening.

While we would all like to re-open right away, we must do so thoughtfully and responsibly, as we do everything possible to ensure the safety of all. As Cardinal Collins wrote in his May 7 statement to the faithful, “We should also recall that we Christians defend the sanctity of human life from the first moment of conception until natural death: in a time of pestilence, that commitment of ours requires us to follow the reasonable norms designed to protect the lives of those around us.”

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JUNE 7, 2020 Q. I understand the Province of Ontario has amended its Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, to allow for drive-in religious services. Can we have an outdoor Mass at my parish? A. The amendment was passed, however, it contains several restrictions which would not make the celebration of Holy Mass feasible. Parking lot Masses are not permitted in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Q. When will we re-open churches? A. That is the question on everyone’s minds. Unfortunately, we can’t give you a firm date at this time. We rely on the direction of the top health officials in our province who have expertise in pandemic planning. Once they indicate it is safe to do so, we will re-open churches when we are confident that parishes can provide a safe environment for the faithful. We are planning for a phased reopening, similar to what is being done in churches around the world.

Q. What will it look like when we reopen churches? A. The re-opening period will require a number of changes from our pre-pandemic operations. We anticipate that capacity limits will be necessary once churches re-open, beginning with smaller numbers and increasing as it is safe to do so. Physical distancing (2 metres/6 feet) measures will also be introduced and our desire to socialize as a faith community will be limited for a period of time. Enhanced worship space cleaning measures will also be required at and before every Mass. These require significant supplies and volunteers to ensure they are implemented properly. We are working with experts to finalize the specific measures that will be required.

Q. How about weddings, funerals and baptisms? What is the status of these sacramental celebrations? A. Weddings and baptisms can proceed at present but are limited by the guidelines of local health authorities to 5 people including the celebrant. Funerals continue with a limit of 10 people. We recognize these numbers create anxiety and frustration for many people. We anticipate as churches begin to reopen these numbers will increase. However at this time, we cannot give an indication of what those numbers will be and when they can happen.

Q. What about First Communion and Confirmation celebrations for children of sacramental age that are scheduled to take place around this time of year? A. These celebrations are not able to take place at this time. Whether these are rescheduled to the fall or to a date in 2021 is largely dependent on how soon we are able to return to church in greater numbers. We will continue to keep you informed as plans are finalized.

Q. What about candidates for Baptism or reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church that were scheduled to take place at the Easter Vigil? A. The Baptism of candidates or their reception into the Catholic Church can take place on an individual basis within the limits imposed by the health authorities, of 5 people,

including the minister. Alternatively, these liturgical celebrations should be the focus of attention when churches re-open.

Q. Where is Mass televised/offered online? A. While we recognize it is not the same as attending Mass at your local church, there are many opportunities to watch daily or Sunday Mass. Visit www.archtoronto.org/covid19 and click on “Watch the Mass” – you’ll find options for daily Mass with Cardinal Collins from St. Michael’s Cathedral as well as links to parish celebrations offered each Sunday (or in some cases more frequently). The daily televised Mass, produced by the National Catholic Broadcasting Council, airs on a number of networks including Salt & Light Catholic Television, YesTV and VisionTV. Consult your local listings or visit www.DailyTVMass.com for a full schedule.

While public Masses are currently suspended, priests across the Archdiocese of Toronto celebrate daily Mass – be assured that your parish priest is praying for you daily throughout this period of pandemic.

Q, How can I help? A. As noted, we will need significant volunteer assistance as we re-open churches. If you would like to offer your time and talents to assist at your local parish, please contact them and let them know you’d like to help and your availability. You can also visit: www.archtoronto.org/covid19 to learn about additional volunteer opportunities with local charities.

We’ve also been heartened by the many parishioners who have asked how they can continue to financial support their parish. A number of donation options are available including credit card, pre-authorized giving or dropping off your donation at the parish office. You can learn more about financially supporting your parish by visiting: www.archtoronto.org/covid19/Pages/support .aspx

Thank You We recognize this is a particularly challenging time for all. Thank you for your patience during this period of closure. Know that we are working tirelessly to prepare and create a safe environment for you and your loved ones. We want to welcome you back as soon as it is safe to do so! Please join us in praying for all those who are sick and those who have died during this time of pandemic. We also remember in our prayers those caring for the ill, our health care professionals and the countless front line workers labouring during these difficulty days. We will continue to keep you updated as plans evolve.

CHUCKLES FROM THE PEWS

Day 4 of Social Distancing: Struck up a conversation

with a spider today. Seems nice. He’s a web designer.