My dear parishioners,

It has been a tough journey, having been deprived of the Eucharist and public celebration of Mass for several weeks. Thank you for your patience and perseverance. We are now excited to welcome you back into your spiritual home.

When you return to the church, while many things will remain the same there will be a number of temporary changes as to how we participate and celebrate Mass.

As we prepare to return to Mass, we would like you to know that we are taking every precaution to protect the health and safety of everyone who comes into our church. However, there can be no guarantees of complete protection from infections as there will always be risks of contracting viral infections in large gatherings of people.

In light of this, the dispensation of the faithful from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains in place until decreed otherwise by the Bishop. While it is vital and necessary for our spiritual nourishment, no one is obliged to attend Holy Mass when this dispensation is in effect. Therefore, I encourage anyone who is not feeling well or if you fall into an at-risk category or vulnerable to the virus, to refrain from attending public celebration of Mass at this time and make use of our online Masses.

After carefully and prayerfully considering the viability, practicality and strenuous volunteerism to implement the required safety measures to reopen our church, a decision has been made that at this time there will be two public Masses on the weekend: Saturday at 5:00 pm and Sunday at 11:00 am. At this time we have adopted a policy FIRST COME FIRST SERVE. The live-streaming Mass will be held at 9:00 am on Sunday morning for those who do not wish to attend the public celebration of Mass. The live streaming of weekday Masses from Tuesday – Friday will take place at 9:30 am.

As it is so important to provide a safe environment for all worshipers, I request everyone to pay close attention to all the protocols and guidelines that have been put into place by the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie. Kindly read the guidelines and protocols in its entirety before returning to the church. I encourage everyone to follow the procedures and work together to provide a safe and healthy environment for all those in attendance.

Thanking you in advance for your diligent cooperation which will allow us to celebrate safely.

Your brother in Christ!

Father Alex Saurianthadathil

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Church Reopening Process

General Guidelines

Practical Guidelines for Reopening

Self Assessment

Pope Francis appointed the Most Reverend Bishop Marcel Damphousse as Coadjutor Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall. He plans to begin his new responsibilities as coadjutor Archbishop on June 16, 2020. We congratulate Bishop Damphousse and wish him the very best!

As do many other people, I wish to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts and sacrifices being put forward by our first responders, health and spiritual care team and all other healthcare workers in our hospitals, nursing homes and home care settings...

Dear friends, During this time of quarantine, as the world is still in shock over the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis invites us to embrace the Lord in order to embrace hope. Let's come together as people of faith, hope and love...

As all Masses and church functions remain cancelled, the preparation and reception of First Holy Communion is postponed to a later date. Please look for the updates in the future communications. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Dear friends, The whole world has been devastated by this very serious crisis due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. As Cardinal Thomas Collins rightly said: 'We are going through the valley of tears.' In this challenging time...

At a press conference given today, Ontario Premier Doug Ford ordered the mandatory closure of all non-essential services and workplaces, in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. These measures will come into effect on Tuesday March 24th at midnight and will be maintained for at least 14 days. This includes all parish properties: church, hall, office, rectory. The Diocesan centre will also be closed as of Tuesday, March 24th at 4:30 pm.

As the COVID-19 Pandemic continues to evolve, Bishop Marcel Damphousse urges everyone to follow all guidelines and directives provided by our governments and our public health authorities. Therefore all Sunday and weekday Masses remain cancelled until further notice. Bishop grants all the faithful of the Diocese a dispensation from their Sunday and Holy Days obligations.

As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, following the directive of Bishop Damphousse, all Masses and church functions at St. Gerard Majella Church are cancelled until further notice.

Our success once again, depends on your support & participation. Bake Sale- we need donations of baking of all kinds. You shall be receiving a phone call concerning donations to our sale in the coming weeks. Raffles - we need prizes for our raffle table. If you can obtain a prize from a local business or are able to donate one yourself that would be greatly appreciated. Tea Sandwiches – once again we will ask parishioners to donate items to make our famous tea sandwiches. There will be a sign up poster in the entrance of the church. Your response is a great help. Thank You for your continuous and generous support!

Inviting all ladies interested in enriching their faith to join us for our bible study on PRAYER. Beginning after 7:00pm Mass on Ash Wednesday, February 26th with the following 5 weeks being held on Thursdays (March 5, 12 & 19 and April 2 & 9) in the Parish Hall from 7:00-8:30pm. (no session March 26th)

Will be available for pick up in the parish entrance starting Saturday, Feb 1, 2020 and Feb 2 and for the following weekends of Feb 8 & 9, and Feb 15 & 16. Please take a moment to pick up your receipt. INCOME TAX RECEIPTS Thank you for your generosity!!

The Donation Envelopes for 2020 will be available to pick up. Envelopes have been labelled with your name, address and phone number. If this information is not correct, please contact the office to fix it as it will be used for your income tax receipt as well. This is also a good time to use the Pre-Authorized Donation (PAD) system. If you do not have a box of envelopes and would like one, then please contact the office to receive your envelopes. Do not use 2020 envelopes before the New Year. Thank-you for your support and generous donations!

2020 CWL memberships are being accepted now. Envelopes available on back pew shelves. New members welcome!

Please send an email to gmajella@shaw.ca So we can have your email address on file. If you would like to receive the bulletin through email, please include that in your email.

St. Gerard Majella has purchased a GIFT for YOU!! Enjoy a free subscription to formed.org - an incredible online gateway to the best Catholic content, all in one place! With FORMED, you can: • Prepare for Sunday Mass by watching an insightful five-minute video by renowned Catholic teachers • Enjoy a movie with your family that is both nourishing and entertaining • Enrich your marriage with the award winning video series Beloved: Finding Happiness in Marriage Help your children grow in character and embrace the beauty and wonder of the Faith FORMED provides amazing content 24/7 for you to grow in your faith. It’s FREE and EASY to Register! Here is what you need to do….. CLICK HERE

Offering a votive candle in memoriam, as a sign of gratitude, or as a request for saintly intercession has been an integral part of religious rituals within almost every faith of the world. The burning light of the vigil candle stand is a symbol of hope, faith, gratitude, and a tangible reminder of the connection with our departed family members and friends. Lighting a candle in memory of a loved one is a great gesture of our love for them. In the month of November, we pray especially for the holy souls who have died and gone before us. We encourage everyone to consider purchasing a memorial candle in honor of your loved ones. Each candle costs $150.00. Your memorial candle will be lit for 6 months. There is also an option of memorial labels where the names of your loved ones can be printed. If you are interested in purchasing a memorial candle in honor of your loved one, please call the parish office as soon as possible.

We invite all parishioners to consider “St. Gerard Majella Church” when choosing a charitable institution for Memorial Donations in the death announcement in the local media to honor a loved one who has passed. This form of financial support and heartfelt gesture would truly bless and enrich the life of St. Gerard Majella Church. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated!

Registration is for children 4 years(for JK) and 5 years (SK) before December 31, 2019. Both Kindergarten classes are full day programs. There is also on-site before and after school daycare. Call the School at (705)945-5533. Call us … we would be pleased to give you a tour of our school.

It is so heart-warming and a special joy to see young families taking part in the Holy Mass and engaged in the life of the parish. We welcome crying babies! It is a sign that the church is young and alive. We have a committed, caring and energetic team organizing the Children’s Liturgy Program every Sunday. We encourage parents to bring your children to participate in the Liturgy of the Word with children during our Sunday 11:00 a.m. Mass.