Good Shepherd parish

Dear Parishioners,⁠
⁠
In order to do our part, even in a small way, to respond to Premier Ford's new directives and the directives from Bishop Fabbro, requesting us to stay home and not to gather unless necessary, we are moving temporarily to a reduced weekend Mass schedule beginning this coming weekend of January 16th & 17th. This will limit the number of those necessary to come in to the Church to make our livestreams happen (musicians, readers, livestreamers). I know this is difficult for all of us, and sacrifices will need to be made, but we have experiencing the funeral services of too many of our parishioners in the past 14 days from COVID-19. For the next 27 days remaining in the lockdown, our weekend Mass schedule will be as follows:⁠

⁠Sat. 5:00pm St-Jérôme (French)⁠
Sat. 5:30pm Ste. Anne ⁠
Sun. 8:30am Ste. Anne (Bilingual)⁠
Sun. 11:00am Good Shepherd ⁠

⁠
While we will be able to cross-post these Masses on our Facebook site, this is not possible on YouTube. If you prefer watching on YouTube you will need to go to the channel of the Church you are watching. At present, only Ste. Anne's and Good Shepherd parishes have a YouTube channel.⁠
⁠
Our French Virtual Café will be at 9:45am and our English virtual Café will be at 10:15am Sunday mornings.⁠
⁠
I believe this is a great opportunity to help us get to know one another as a future family of parishes. If you recall, this is a very similar schedule to last spring's Mass schedule when we were in that lockdown period. Please continue to pray for all of those affected by the pandemic and especially the sick and dying, and their families who grieve.⁠
⁠
With my gratitude and prayers, ⁠
Fr. Patrick

December 11th / 2020 

Dear friends. As I’m sure you have heard, the COVID-19 situation in our province has worsened and cases continue to climb in our region. Our region is moving to the Grey, or Lockdown, starting on Monday December 14th. Starting next week our Masses will be available entirely online, as we are unable to welcome parishioners in-person. Masses for this weekend (December 12th & 13th) will continue for those who have already registered. If you are already registered and now wish to join online instead, please do so. 

We always prioritize the health and safety of our community and we continue to follow the direction of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and the Province of Ontario when it comes to gatherings in our church buildings. 

I know this news will be upsetting to many who have found peace worshipping again in-person in our churches. As we gather together online, know that our community continues to grow and reach out as missionary disciples, even if we cannot see each other in-person at this time. We will continue to prioritize online ministry during this time. We invite you to worship from home and you can find details about our live-streamed Masses on our parish websites or Facebook pages. Joining in Mass from home is a great way to keep our Sunday’s holy. 

Stay tuned to our website and social media for more information about opportunities for private prayer and Confession times.

Let us continue to pray for all of those affected during this pandemic. While we all wish we could return to how things used to be, we know that the difficult actions we take now can help us make room for hope for a brighter and safer future. 
 

Wishing you peace during this time,

Fr. Patrick Bénéteau
 

P.S. Remember, the normal obligation to attend Sunday Mass has been dispensed by Bishop Fabbro until Easter 2021. This means you can feel comfortable joining in worship from home. 

December 11th / 2020 

With the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit moving into the Grey/Lockdown Level of Public Health measures on Monday, we must, unfortunately, make the changes effective Monday, as outlined below. Charity means we must make these sacrifices to help ensure our neighbours are safe. We must care for others in our communities and our fellow parishioners, even if it means we cannot gather for a short time.

We thank all levels of government for their flexible approach to implementing these public health restrictions and their continued vigilance to keep us safe. I would also like to thank you, the faithful of our diocese. Your dedicated efforts during the pandemic have demonstrated that we are able to provide safe spaces in our churches.

I have not made these changes lightly. These new measures will further restrict participation in the sacraments and call forth sacrifices from the faithful in the Windsor-Essex area who have been drawing spiritual nourishment from the sacraments. The severity of the pandemic, however, means we must do our part, out of love, to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. 

While Windsor-Essex is in the Grey/Lockdown level, the following directives take effect Monday and remain in place until the area is moved back to the Red/Control level:  

• Public Masses and services in our churches are suspended. The faithful are asked to continue to pray at home and watch Mass online. Priests should continue to celebrate Mass privately.
• Churches may open for private prayer, with a maximum occupancy of 10 people and with all other safety and cleaning protocols in place.
• Weddings and Baptisms may be celebrated without a Mass, but provincial occupancy restrictions, a maximum of 10 people, including the priest, must be observed.
• Funeral wakes or services may also be held in the church with the same restrictions, or in a funeral home, with the restrictions put in place there.

• Priests may hear Confessions, by appointment, or in church, provided gathering restrictions of a maximum of 10 people, including the priest, are observed.

This is a time for us to unite in prayer. May we soon be able to resume public worship in our churches without restrictions. May God comfort those who have lost loved ones and return to full health those who are ill. May God keep our frontline healthcare workers safe and give them strength to care for the sick.  

Most Rev. Ronald P. Fabbro, C.S.B.
Bishop of London