12 March 2008

Dear Pastors, Lay Pastoral Animators and Parishioners,

Holy Week is around the corner.  It is hard to believe that Lent is nearing an end.  With Ash Wednesday being so early this year, time seems to be pushing spring along, and sometimes it feels like gasping for air.  Let us all stop a moment and breathe deeply of God’s love and mercy as experienced in this holy season of Lent.

Chrism Mass.  As usual, the Chrism Mass for this archdiocese will be held on Tuesday next, March 18th, at 7:30 p.m.  I encourage you all to come to the cathedral and join us in this beautiful liturgy.  I recall the time when the Chrism Mass would be held on Holy Thursday morning, but now this Mass can also be celebrated on other days of Holy Week. As a celebration, it highlights the relationship between the bishop and his priests and People.  At this Mass, I will bless the three holy oils used in parishes throughout the archdioceses: Oil of the Sick, Oil of Catechumens (also called sacred oil), and Sacred Chrism.  These oils are used in several of the Church’s sacraments. 

Maurice Marion.  On February 16th, I ordained Maurice Marion to the order of deacon, at Our Lady of Peace Parish, Peace River.  This was a joyful event, which drew the faithful from many parts of the archdiocese and beyond.  I anticipate ordaining Maurice to the priesthood at some time during the summer.  I will notify your parishes once a date has been set.

Father Cyrille Rigobert Ogbabo.  Father Cyrille, from the Central African Republic, has recently arrived in the archdiocese and will be serving among us for the next few years.  He will offer pastoral assistance to a few parishes during the summer while priests are on vacation.  I expect to give him a pastoral assignment in early September.

Returning to Spirit.  During the first week of March I attended a Returning to Spirit workshop at Star of the North Retreat Centre in St. Albert.  This is a program that was devised for the purpose of bringing about healing and reconciliation between Native people who have been affected by the residential school experience, and non-Natives in Canadian society.  The program has three parts to it: one week (5 days) for Natives only, one week for non-Natives (“Church people”, they call it) and one week that brings together those who have done the previous weeks, for reconciliation.  This program was designed in large part by a Native, Marc Pizandawatc.  The workshop that I just attended reached out to include Church people from other Christian Churches – up to now, the program has been largely Catholic. 
            I can honestly say that this was a very informative session for me.  While its direct application is to the Indian Residential School issue, I can see where it applies to many real-life situations.  It is my hope that in time, we might bring this program closer to our part of the country.  There has already been one Native week in Peace River, a couple of years ago.  I am convinced that it would be a blessing to one and all in the archdiocese.

Archbishop’s Dinner.  We’ve already had one dinner, held in High Prairie.  The Peace River dinner is coming up in a couple of days.  The experience so far has been very positive.  I look forward to the evenings in Peace River and Grande Prairie. 

Sacrament of Confirmation.  Please note the following updated list of parishes where the Sacrament of Confirmation will be held this spring:

Holy Week.  We are coming up to the week we call “holy”.  In these days we celebrate the deepest mystery of our Christian faith, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It should remind us that our lives are filled with the paschal mystery.  I will be in Fort Vermilion for the triduum services this year.  I will remember you all during those days, and ask God to bless each and every one of you with Easter blessings.

          
Sincerely in Christ the Redeemer,

+ Gerard Pettipas, C.Ss.R.
Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan