FROM THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER to BEGINNING OF MAY
Reducing the number of Masses from four to three It has become increasingly obvious in the last few years, looking at the attendance, that the quality of our Saturday liturgies has suffered because of low attendance. When guests, visitors and summer cottagers leave for home and a number of parishioners go to the South, our attendance at St. Joseph falls to around 40 participants. That’s one of the reasons 7.00 p.m. Mass at St. Joseph will be cancelled after October 27, 2018. From March 26, 2017 the counting of attendance took place in all Parishes. Based on the results of counting, at the Deanery Meeting on April 26, 2018 in Chepstow, The Chancellor of the Diocese gave suggestion to four/five Parishes in Bruce-Grey Deanery to consider reducing the number of Masses, including Hanover and Port Elgin. Following the recommendation Holy Family Parish in Hanover decided to reduce two Masses on Sunday to one beginning of October 2018. We decided to reduce two Masses into one on Saturday beginning of November 3, 2018. This change will be made in two steps: First, we will begin with one Mass on Saturday at 5.00 p.m. in Southampton, and then, if the attendance exceeds the capacity of St. Patrick’s Church, then move to St. Joseph. Or, another option: this winter in Southampton, next winter in Port Elgin. * With this move we know that the St. Joseph has the capacity to accommodate all parishioners, eventual guests and visitors at the convenient time – 5.00 (or 5.15 p.m.) * We have the possibility to have Children’s Liturgy during this Mass – using our big Jubilee Hall or smaller basement hall. * After Mass we have enough time for Parish Dinner or social, that is important to build up the unity of the Parish and to work together. It is important to consider these possibilities and benefits, and put the good of the whole Parish before our conveniences. Especially it is important that we include little ones, children in our thinking and decision making; they are not only future of the Church, they are Church already. On the other side of this note, please find the letter from the Chancellor of the Diocese of Hamilton Monsignor Murray Kroetsch, which contains message to the Parishioners and approval to change Mass schedule for the winter. Schedule for Liturgical Ministers ends last weekend in October. New Schedule will include this change: on Saturday, November 3, 2018 we begin with one Mass on Saturday at 5.00 p.m. at St. Patrick. Fr. Franjo Sprajc, Pastor and Stewardship Committee: Rosalie Scarlett, Annemarie Kinsman, Elaine MacNeil, Gary Dorzek, Jacky Pope, Mike Rencheck, Carol Rencheck, Gloria Villamil
0 Comments
|
Father's Blog
Rev. Fr. Christopher Tracey
|