The Annunciation by Fra Angelico 1450
VOLUME 30 NO. 1
BULLETIN
BOARD
Happenings around
the diocese
p. 11
Published by the Office
of Religious Education
for the Diocese of St.
Catharines 4 times yearly
and distributed free
throughout the diocese.
Articles, letters, photos
and announcements are
welcome. All items will
be considered. Direct
correspondence to the
Office of Religious
Education, P.O. Box 875,
St. Catharines, Ontario,
L2R 6Z4, email-offreled@
saintcd.com, FAX 905-6842185—or call Rose Marie
905-684-0154. Past issues
of Vineyard are archived
at www.saintcd.com
NEXT ISSUE
MARCH 2017
Where
Faith
Lives
A Detail from the Adoration of the Shepherds by Hugo van der Goes circa 1480
THE JOURNAL OF THE DIOCESE OF ST. CATHARINES
www.saintcd.com
Jesus is the Prince of Peace
The
VINEYARD
DEC
2016
Most Reverend Gerard Bergie
Photo by Denis Cahill
by MOST REVEREND GERARD
BERGIE
“For a child has been born for
us, a son given to us; authority rests
upon his shoulders; and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
(Isaiah 9:6) This passage from the
Prophet Isaiah reaches its fulfillment
in the birth of Jesus and this is what
we celebrate at Christmas. The last
title that is given to Jesus is ‘Prince
of Peace’. This is a significant name
because it teaches us that Jesus came
to bring peace to the world. The fruit
of sin is conflict and division; Jesus
shows us the way to unity and peace.
Jesus was born at a time that
historians call the ‘Pax Romana’
(Roman Peace). This was a period of
approximately 200 years in which the
Roman Empire reached its zenith and
its citizens lived in relative security.
The peace was maintained by
totalitarian leadership and military
force.
In that simple manger in
Bethlehem, Jesus brought another
kind of peace that did not need to
be enforced. It is rooted in freedom,
truth, and love. This is the peace
that our world hungers for and
desperately needs today.
We live in a culture that believes
that true freedom is found in the
ability to ‘live for self’. Jesus says that
true freedom is found when we ‘die
to self’. The more we give ourselves
to Christ and others the greater the
freedom. St. Paul expresses it this
way in his letter to the Galatians: “I
have been crucified with Christ;
and it is no longer I who live,
but it is Christ who lives in me.
And the life I now live in the
flesh I live by faith in the Son of
God.” (Gal.2:20) In living a life
of faith St. Paul experiences true
freedom and this brings him
great peace.
We live in the ‘Information
Age’ that constantly bombards
us with personal opinions. We
are told that all opinions are
equal and that everything is
relative. If we believe this then
there is no room for absolute
truth. In his homily to the 2005
conclave that would elect him
pope, Cardinal Ratzinger stated,
“We are moving toward a
dictatorship of relativism which
does not recognize anything as
for certain and which has as its
highest goal one’s own ego and
one’s own desires.”
Relativism is influencing
so many of the moral issues
we face today, especially our
understanding of marriage and
the family, gender ideology,
euthanasia and doctor-assisted
suicide to name a few. It can
even begin to influence theology
and our understanding of the
Church. Relativism leads to
confusion and conflict. It is
only when we embrace the
truth, Jesus Christ, that we will
experience true peace.
St. John tells us that God
is love and we see this in the
manger at Bethlehem. God so
loved the world that He gave
us His son to save us. God
became poor and vulnerable so
that we could be rich in grace
and secure in His love. To know
and experience God’s love is
a tremendous blessing. We all
need to be loved; however,
today there are so many people
“…looking for love in all the
wrong places.” To come to
Christ is to know God’s love that
satisfies so many of our desires.
The shepherds who were
summoned to the stable by an
angel experienced that love and
were filled with heavenly peace.
This gift of peace could not
have happened if Mary had not
said yes to the Angel Gabriel.
Her “Fiat, let it be done to me,”
changed the course of human
history. It ensured a peace that
would far surpass the Pax
Romana for all eternity. Mary,
Queen of Peace, gave birth to
the Prince of Peace, so that all
creation could live in peace.
The 100th anniversary of
the apparitions of Our Lady
of Fatima begins in 2017. The
message that Our Lady gave
to the three shepherd children,
Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco,
in Fatima Portugal was filled
with great hope. At that time
in history the ‘war to end all
wars’ was raging in Europe
and the Bolshevik revolution
was beginning in Russia. There
was great turmoil in the world
when the Angel of Peace first
appeared to the children in the
spring of 1916. These visitations
were a preparation for the six
apparitions of Our Lady of
Fatima the following year.
Pope Benedict XV had
fervently prayed to Our Blessed
Mother to intercede for the
end of the First World War.
Incredibly, eight days later, Our
Lady appeared in the Cova da
Iris, near Fatima Portugal. She
offered hope by proclaiming
a message of peace. She told
the children about the rosary’s
power to end wars, bring world
peace and convert sinners. At
all of the six apparitions Our
Lady told the children to pray
the rosary every day. She said
that our prayers can help to save
souls and bring peace to the
world because, in the end, her
Immaculate Heart will triumph.
I believe that the Fatima
message is just as relevant
today as it was in 1917. Our
world is facing many of the
same problems. In response to
acts of jihadist terrorism, Pope
Francis has acknowledged that
the world is facing a third world
war, “We must not be afraid to
say the truth, the world is at war
because it has lost peace.”
Many
other
things
contribute to conflict. Atheistic
communism,
secularism,
relativism,
immorality,
materialism and individualism
challenge world peace. People
continue to turn away from
God and embrace worldliness.
The need for the conversion of
sinners has not lessened over
the past 100 years. Our Lady of
Fatima has something to say to
us today.
I ask that as individuals,
families, parishes, and a diocese,
we embrace the Fatima message.
In order to do this we will need
to be reminded of what actually
happened in Fatima and what
Our Lady requested. Early in
the New Year I will provide
materials and suggestions that
will assist us in this task. May
I begin by suggesting that we
pray the rosary every day for
world peace.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace
and as we commemorate
his birth we are called to be
peacemakers. Let us use all the
means at our disposal to achieve
that peace in our own lives,
families, diocese and world.
“For a child has been born for
us, a son given to us; authority
rests upon his shoulders; and he
is named Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.”
Midnight Mass
84th annual broadcast from the
Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria
Bishop Gerard Bergie
and
The staff of the Diocesan Catholic Centre
wish all the faithful of the diocese
A Blessed Christmas and
a Peace-filled New Year
Christmas music by the Cathedral choir
conducted by Lucas Chorosinski
Begins at 11:30 p.m.
December 2016 The Vineyard
2
The Parable, the Painter and the Pope
by CRAIG E. MORRISON, O.Carm.
As I finish up this article, the holy
doors of the four major Roman basilicas
are now closed. During this Jubilee Year
of Mercy St. Peter’s welcomed various
members of the Church community—a
jubilee for families, for parishes, even
a jubilee for choirs. On March 20-21,
2016, Rome was overwhelmed by
throngs of young people—a jubilee for
youth. In early November Pope Francis
welcomed prisoners for a jubilee Mass
in St. Peter’s. But Pope Francis saved
his favourite group for last: a jubilee
for the homeless and socially excluded.
At every opportunity during this year,
Pope Francis spoke about the icon he
chose for the Year of Mercy: The Good
Samaritan, the one who showed mercy
to a person in need and in doing so also
shattered the social norms of his own
day.
Jesus creates the parable of the
Good Samaritan in response to a
Judean lawyer’s question, “Who is my
neighbour?” The lawyer had asked
Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal
life?” When the answer to his question
included “…love your neighbour as
yourself,” the lawyer asked: “Who is
my neighbour?” He sought a precise
definition of the term ‘neighbour’ so
that he could be sure that he was in
compliance with the rules, but Jesus,
circumventing the lawyer’s focus on
definitions, launched directly into the
parable. (Luke 10:30-37)
Jesus sets his parable on the
road from Jerusalem to Jericho. This
geographical location provides two
critical insights for grasping the
meaning of Jesus’ story: the wounded
man is a Judean and the Samaritan is a
foreigner travelling in Judean territory
(his hometown, Samaria, would be over
50 km away). A Judean and a Samaritan
would normally not have any contact
with each other, as the alert Samaritan
woman reminds Jesus in the Gospel of
John. (John 4:9) A social wall of mutual
contempt divided the wounded man
and that Samaritan. A relationship
between them was unimaginable.
But Jesus could imagine it and in his
parable that divisive wall collapses.
The wounded Judean, who is
near death, does not see a foreigner, a
non-Jew, or a despised Samaritan. He
sees only a caregiver. The Samaritan
traveller does not see a Judean, or an
enemy, or the wall that divides them.
He sees only a person in desperate need.
Suffering and vulnerability put these
Practice
the
two enemies in relationship. Through
his parable, Jesus invites us into a world
where the socially excluded Samaritan
reached out to a wounded Judean, his
enemy, who was in great need. The
parable shattered the social divisions
of first century Palestine to allow God’s
mercy to burst onto the scene.
Vincent van Gogh painted The
Good Samaritan in May 1890 during
the last few months of his life. A mental
breakdown in February of that year
had left him debilitated and confined to
the asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole
in France. He had endured years of
medical treatment for his mental illness,
his seizures, and his hallucinations.
He certainly knew what it meant to
be socially excluded because of his
disease. In his masterpiece, I think Van
Gogh sees himself as the wounded
man, carried so many times by ‘Good
Samaritans’ who cared for him when
his mental illness was acute.
Van Gogh retells the parable
through his own experience of
personal suffering and social exclusion.
He depicts himself embracing the
Samaritans in his life who had broken
through the disease that walled him
off from others. Saints of every age,
like Mother Teresa or Dorothy Day,
imitate the Samaritan. They see only
the person. They do not see skin colour,
social status, or even mental challenges.
Seeing nothing that could separate
them from others, they live with Jesus’
dream of the Good Samaritan parable
fully realized in their lives. Pope
Francis too followed the Samaritan’s
example when, to close the holy year,
he welcomed the socially excluded to
celebrate the Jubilee Year Of Mercy
with him.
When Jesus finishes his parable,
he asks the lawyer, “Which of these
three, do you think, was a neighbour
to the man who fell into the hands of
robbers?” The lawyer answers, “The
one who showed him mercy.” Jesus
then urges him, “Go and do likewise.”
The holy doors around the world
are now closed, but the doors of our
hearts remain open to Jesus’ words
that spur us to bring God’s merciful
love into our own world each day, a
love that Jesus imagined in the Good
Samaritan parable and that Vincent van
Gogh brilliantly cast across his canvas.
Craig E. Morrison, O.Carm., teaches
Bible and Aramaic at the Pontifical Biblical
Institute in Rome. He wrote 4 articles
for Vineyard during the Year of Mercy February, April, June and December, 2016.
Works
of
The Good Samaritan by Vincent van Gogh 1890
Mercy
Corporal Works of Mercy
• feed the hungry
• give drink to the thirsty
• clothe the naked
• bury the dead
• welcome the stranger
• visit the imprisoned
• heal the sick
Spiritual Works of Mercy
• counsel the doubtful
• instruct the ignorant
• admonish sinners
• pray for the living and the dead
• comfort the afflicted
• forgive offences
• bear patiently those who are ill
This is the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It is only open during a jubilee year
declared by a pope. The Holy Door was open through the Jubilee Year of Mercy. The last
time it was open was for the Great Jubilee Year declared by Pope John Paul II in 2000.
The Vineyard December 2016
3
Year of Mercy ends but acts of mercy continue
by FR. DON LIZZOTTI
The experience of having the
Holy Door of Mercy at the Cathedral
of St. Catherine of Alexandria during
the Holy Year of Mercy has been
remarkable. Throughout the year
groups and individuals made the
pilgrimage to enter the Holy Door, pray
for the intentions of Pope Francis, pray
for the souls in purgatory and their
own personal intentions. Groups came
from many parishes, Catholic Women’s
League, RCIA, youth groups, Knights
of Columbus, les Filles d’Isabelle and
the French parishes.
From September to November
2016 the Catholic school chaplains,
under the leadership of Krista Wood
(NCDSB chaplaincy leader) and Terri
Pauco (NCDSB Religion & Family
Life Consultant) arranged for Grade 4
classes to come from all the Catholic
schools. They came on Tuesdays and
Thursdays to make a pilgrimage
through the Holy Door, learning about
the history and beautiful architecture
of the historic Cathedral. They then
completed pamphlets on what they
saw and learned. Their pilgrimage
ended with a brief prayer service.
The children certainly enjoyed their
experiences as so did the chaplains and
teachers.
We were surprised at the number
of people and even groups who came
from outside the diocese to make a
pilgrimage through our Holy Door as
well as the ones in their own diocese.
A book was kept for people to sign as
they entered. It contained 44 pages of
individual signatures and 49 pages of
groups.
The
closing
ceremony
on
November 20, 2016, was as memorable
as the opening of the Holy Door last
December 8, 2015. The church was
again full and during the Holy Hour the
congregation followed the procession
with the Blessed Sacrament out the
During the closing celebration of the Year of Mercy on November 20, 2016, the congregation
On December 8, 2015, Bishop Gerard Bergie
followed the Eucharistic procession out of the Cathedral. Seen here are people returning
solemnly opened this door at the Cathedral
for the last time through the Holy Door.
Photo by Denis Cahill
of St. Catherine of Alexandria and
designated it as a Holy Door for the Year
of Mercy. Individuals and groups passed
through the door during the year to pray
for special intentions and receive blessings.
Photo by Denis Cahill
main door and re-entered the church
through the Holy Door for the last
time during the Year of Mercy. When
the last person entered, Bishop Bergie
closed the doors with a bang.
After Benediction of the Blessed
Sacrament, Bishop Bergie and concelebrating priests began Mass. At the
end of Mass Bishop Bergie read the
prayer for the Closing of the Year of
Mercy and the Magnificat was sung
before the final blessing.
It was a beautiful and prayerful
celebration gathering people from
throughout the diocese to end this
amazing year. Bishop Bergie did
remind all present that although the
Holy Year of Mercy has ended, our acts
of mercy must continue just as God’s
mercy continues to bless us.
Bishop Gerard Bergie closed the Holy Door with a loud bang at the end of the Eucharistic
procession to conclude the Year of Mercy.
Photo by Denis Cahill
Catechists in the Diocese of St. Catharines from parishes and Catholic Schools were invited
to a Prayer & Commissioning Service in this extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy at the
Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Catharines, September 25, 2016. Seen here
are Cathedral’s rector, Fr. Don Lizzotti, pastoral assistant, Mercedes Demkowitz, and
secondary school chaplain Stephanie Jarrett at the social following the commissioning
service.
“Let the Church always be a place
of mercy and hope, where everyone
is welcomed, loved, and forgiven.”
~Pope Francis
The Faith Formation Team for the Niagara Catholic District School Board created a Grade
4 Faith Festival as part of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. They passed through the Holy Doors
at the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Catharines, and learned about the
history of the diocese. The NCDSB is extremely grateful to everyone who helped make
this very valuable program come to life for the students.
December 2016 The Vineyard
4
future
seParated &
divorced Ministry
helPs heal broken lives
The Catholic Church, which
always upholds the dignity
of marriage as a lifelong and
exclusive covenant, recognizes
the reality of separation and
divorce. In an effort to reach out
to those who have undergone
the pain of a broken marriage,
the Church has a separated and
divorced healing ministry.
This support group seeks
to make God’s love visible
by extending compassion to
those who are separated or
divorced, by striving to create
greater awareness that their
anguish can become a source
of new personal and spiritual
growth for themselves and a
source of grace for the whole
community, while always
affirming Catholic teachings
and values on marriage and
family life.
This
separated
and
divorced healing ministry is
an organization under the
authority of the Diocese of St.
Catharines. It is a peer support
group run by lay volunteers
with financial support from
the diocese and kind assistance
from the Carmelite Fathers.
The meetings are geared
toward a Catholic community
but open to people of all
denominations. The group has
a social dimension; however,
it is a support group and not a
cathedral cWl Marks
80th anniversary
Members of the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria CWL received service award pins at the 80th
anniversary celebration of the league. (l-r) back row: Fr. Donald Lizzotti, CWL spiritual advisor; Deacon
Maurice Prindiville; Jane Dulong (55 years); Joyce DiAngelo (15 years); Doris Konst, (15 years); Jocelyn
Malangis (new member); Andrea Piller (new member); Bishop Gerard Bergie; front row: Linda Marie
O’Hagan, president; Janet Madere (45 years); Jacqueline Messinger (40 years); Mary Honsberger (30 years);
Flo Rahal (25 years); Louise Sandmoen (20 years); Suzanne Fraser (5 years). Absent: Anita Caskenette (60
years); Anna Babiasch (45 years); Elizabeth Smith (40 years); Mary Cullen (30 years); Margaret Kretz (30
years); Bernice Johnston (15 years); Audrey Doucette (new member).
resPect
for
life Mass
Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord
Saturday March 25, 2017, 10 a.m.
Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria
Presider: Bishop Gerard Bergie
Catholic Women’s League, Knights of Columbus,
Daughters of Isabella and other groups
are invited to send representatives
and carry banners in the procession
Reception to follow in the parish hall
hosted by the diocesan CWL
Information: Elise & William Mathie 905-684-7569
Diocesan Respect Life Committee
catholic
education
discussed at congress
dating service or a counseling
agency. Those who attend
meetings
are
encouraged
but never pressured to share
their personal experiences.
Through personal sharing,
people are supported and
reassured that they are not
alone and that others have
felt and experienced the same
challenges. The meetings will
usually feature a video or
guest speaker, with time for
discussion and/or questions.
The group meets every second
and fourth Monday, September
to June, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Mt.
Carmel Spiritual Centre, 7020
Stanley Avenue, Niagara Falls.
For information contact 905356-4113,
905-684-0154
or
separatedanddivorced@saintcd.
com
st. catharines right to life
Annual Diocesan
of
by KRISTA WOOD
In May 2016, Catholic
stakeholders from across the
Niagara region participated in
a series of conversations about
how to best serve Catholic
families today and in the
future. A Catholic Education
Congress was held over several
days at secondary schools of the
Niagara Catholic District School
Board (NCDSB). It brought
together a diverse range of
supporters, from students and
parents to staff and clergy,
to explore the importance
of Catholic education, and
how they are collectively
called to work together as a
home-school-church triad to
strengthen Catholic education.
The
Congress
was
moderated by Fr. Thomas
Rosica, CEO, Salt & Light TV,
Toronto. He shared his unique
perspective and participants
were provided with the
opportunity to work in smaller
groups to discuss Catholic
education.
The Congress was created
based on a recommendation
from the Niagara Catholic
Alliance
Committee
to
explore Catholic education in
Niagara. The NCDSB Parent
Involvement
Committee
secured funding for the project,
which had the full support of
committee co-chairs—Bishop
Gerard Bergie; Fr. Paul MacNeil,
trustee chair, NCDSB; and John
Crocco, director, NCDSB.
With the first phase of the
Congress completed, the second
tier will focus on building
community within local parishschool communities.
In the second phase,
principals and pastors were
asked to establish a triad
committee
within
each
parish family to consider the
feedback from the first phase
and develop plans to build
and strengthen the triad. The
triad, at the minimum, was to
include pastor and principal(s)
to serve as co-chairs, school
council member(s), student(s),
and school staff. It could also
include pastoral assistants,
youth ministers, parish group
representatives,
community
members,
parents
and
parishioners.
The
Advent
meeting of Faith Formation
included an address by Bishop
Gerard Bergie exploring a new
triad model and the importance
of the partnership. A working
lunch with the parish-school
families followed.
Local
committees
are encouraged to design
sustainable ways to make
lasting connections that will
continue to support and
strengthen Catholic education
throughout the Diocese of St.
Catharines and asked to share
summary reports on these
initiatives with sub-committees
in early spring for collation for
the third tier.
The third tier gathering
will be held May 25, 2017, in
conjunction with the Festival
of Families. It will bring
together parishioners, clergy,
community members and
NCDSB staff to celebrate the
achievements of the past year
with a vision of looking forward
to strengthening joint efforts in
support of Catholic education
in Niagara.
More information about
the third tier will be provided
as the time draws closer. In the
meantime, please keep the work of
those participating in the Catholic
Education Congress in your
prayers.
St. Catharines
Right to Life Dinner
Saturday February 25, 2017
Holiday Inn Parkway Convention Centre
St. Catharines, Ontario
Reception 5 p.m. Dinner 6 p.m.
Guest speaker: Stephanie Gray
Tickets: 905-684-7505
The Vineyard December 2016
diocese
5
celebrates
58th
anniversary
Fr. Paul MacNeil, pastor of Our
Lady of the Scapular, Niagara
Falls, was the M.C. for the evening. Bishop Gerard Bergie is seen here during the 58th diocesan anniversary Couples from St. Alexander, Fonthill, (l-r) standing - Margaret &
The
Roman
Catholic celebration with (l-r) Fr. Ed Jankowski (retired) who observed his 60th Thomas Hendrie (60 years); seated - Edward & Violet Augustyn (50
years); Muriel & Ivan Roden (60 years).
year of priestly ordination and Fr. Philip English 25 years.
Diocese of St. Catharines was
established November 9, 1958.
To celebrate its 58th anniversary
there was the annual solemn
Mass at the Cathedral of St.
Catherine of Alexandria on
November 25, 2016, the feast
day of its patroness.
Bishop Gerard Bergie,
presider at the Mass, was joined
by clergy, seminarians, religious
sisters and laity from parishes
across the diocese. Fr. Donald
Lizzotti, rector of the cathedral,
was Master of Ceremonies.
During his homily, Bishop
Bergie made many references to
the difference between building
on a solid rock foundation
or sand. (Matt 11:25-30) He
pointed out that the diocese
has been built on rock, not
sand and that our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ along with
our patroness, St. Catherine of
Alexandria, provide the needed
solid foundation. The clergy,
religious and laity are the
roof, the bricks, the doors and
whatever else is needed. He
said that both the diocese and
married couples present have
weathered many storms over
the years.
Unfortunately many storms
today are also hitting society,
families and life in general
because in some instances
these are built on sand, not on
Christ. Bishop Bergie said that
he was blessed to be shepherd
of a diocese built on such a
strong ‘rock’ foundation with
clergy and laity collaborating
with him. “May we give thanks
tonight for the gift of our faith
in Jesus Christ, our true rock,
our foundation.”
During
the
Mass
a
Recognition & Blessing of
Faith Commitment ritual was
held. Married couples from
numerous parishes celebrating
significant 2016 anniversaries
Brenda & John Coleman (50 years) from St. Vincent de Paul, Niagara- Eileen & Abramo Gazzola (60 years) from Our Lady of the Holy Rosary,
Thorold.
on-the-Lake.
francophone parishes in the
diocese. Sr. Norma Brisson,
Sr. Madeleine Garant and Sr.
Giséle Pilon have provided
faithful ministry here for many
years.
Before and during the Mass
both prayerful and joyful music
was provided by a combined
diocesan choir, led by music
director and organist Lucas
Chorosinski and conducted
by Timothy Marrie. Other
instrumentalists were a trumpet
William and Elise Mathie, 50 and a violin.
years.
The celebration continued
renewed their marriage vows
and were given a special
blessing by Bishop Bergie and
the priests. Later they received
an anniversary certificate as
well as a prayer card provided
by the Serra Club St. Catharines.
Congratulations
were
also extended to Fr. Edward
Jankowski, celebrating 60 years
of priestly ordination, and to Fr.
Philip English, celebrating 25
years. The Les Soeurs du SacréCoeur were congratulated on
the 200th anniversary since
their founding in France for
their contributions to the
CLERGY ANNIVERSARIES 2016
25 years
50 years
55 years
60 years
60 years
60 years
65 years
Fr. Philip English
Fr. Mel Stevens, SFM
Fr. Anthony Inneo
Fr. Gerald Cormier, CSC
Fr. Edward Jankowski
Fr. Ben Vanco
Bishop John O’Mara, bishop emeritus
(40 years as bishop)
at Club Roma, St. Catharines,
with a delicious banquet.
Master of Ceremonies, Fr.
Paul MacNeil, called upon Fr.
Charles Moser, chancellor, to
lead guests in the Prayer for
Pope Francis and Grace. He
also asked all present to join in
a toast to the jubilarians.
Besides the anniversary
couples at the meal, clergy,
diocesan staff and many pastors
with additional parish guests
contributed to this joyous event
with their presence.
Bishop Bergie concluded
with words of gratitude to
all who were involved in
making this annual diocesan
anniversary special. He also
expressed
his
admiration
and encouragement to all of
the married couples for their
fidelity to their commitment to
one another, to their families
and to the church, promising
prayers and support as they
continue their journeys together
in love and the love of Jesus
Christ.
For additional photos see
pages 6 & 7.
Living together is an art, a patient,
beautiful, fascinating journey. It does not
end once you have won each other’s love...
Rather, it is precisely there where it begins!
Pope Francis
But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be
afraid; for see—I am bringing you good
news of great joy for all the people: to you
is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11
6
December 2016 The Vineyard
congratulations
to all o
Couples from St. Stephen, Cayuga, (l-r) Philomena & Brendan Daly (50
years); Arthur & Josie O’Neill (40 years).
Couples from Our Lady of the Scapular, Niagara Falls (l-r) standing –
Marina & Frank Fohr (40 years); seated – Patricia & Daniel Mancuso (50
years).
Couples from Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
Pizzacalla (60 years); Anna Marie & Emilio R
Thoms (55 years); Carla & Sergio Dottori (50 y
(l-r) Michael & Kim Kuchar (25 years) from Sts. Peter & Paul, Welland,
Elly & Theo Olthof (50 years) from the Cathedral of St. Catherine of with Yvonne & David MacNiven (25 years) from St. Martin, Smithville.
Alexandria, St. Catharines.
Edward & Betty Ann Yuhasz (50 years) with pastor Fr. Richard
Kowalchuk, Star of the Sea, St. Catharines.
May God
to bles
Fr. Christopher Gillen, St. Patrick, St. Catharines, with parishioners Glen Couples from St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Catha
(l-r) James & Barbara Gardner, Katherine & A
& April Greschuk (25 years).
Couples from St. Alfred, St. Catharines, (l-r) Angela & Joseph Borg (50 years); Joseph & Nicoletta Vendettelli (50 years);
Lawson & Yvonne Baron (60 years).
Couples from St. Joseph, Grimsby, (l-r) standing - George & Tere
& Walter Loik (50 years); Nellie & Gerry Schouten (50 years)
7
The Vineyard December 2016
our anniversary couPles
Connie & Peter Parry (40 years) from St. George, Crystal Beach.
Carmen & Norma Armenti (50 years) from St. Thomas More, Niagara
Falls.
y, Thorold, (l-r) standing – Helen & Joseph
Raimondo (25 years); seated – James & Mary
years); Dan & Milena Cappellaro (50 years).
d continue
ss you
arines, celebrating 50 years of marriage were
Alcide Michaud.
Newly arrived from Syria and parishioners at St. Andrew, Welland,
Fouad & Ghada Al Makhoul (30 years).
Victor & Judy Sincich (50 years) from St. Patrick, Niagara Falls.
Roger & Linda Tessier (50 years) from St. Kevin, Welland.
esa Styrna (25 years); Vera & Bill Slattery (40 years); seated - Grace
Julie & John Mein (40 years) from Sacred Heart, Niagara Falls.
Couples from St. Helen, Beamsville, (l-r) standing – Nellie & Jeff Van Den Elzen (50 years); Anita & John Pierosara (50 years);
seated – Bill & Sandra Mactaggart (25 years); Rolando & Maria Cipro (50 years); Anna Carmela & Silvestro Sgambato (50
years).
Special thanks to Yamen Al Nasser and Debbie Giguere for their photography work at the
dinner and Samantha Giguere for her assistance in organizing the photo shoot.
8
Decembre 2016 The Vineyard
honneur
à nos
Out of the Cold
In the Niagara area
couPles fidèles
par RAYMOND CHARTRAND
Le dimanche 6 novembre
dernier a eu lieu à l’Église
Sacré-Cœur de Welland la fête
des anniversaires de mariage
et de jubilés pour les paroisses
catholiques francophones de la
péninsule du Niagara.
Lors
de
la
messe
dominicale présidée par le curé
de la paroisse, monsieur l’abbé
Julien Beaulieu, nous avons
honoré quatorze couples dont
huit de Welland - Gisèle et Gerry
Bujold (60 ans), Rita et Robert
Godbout (60 ans), Raymonde
et Gilles Poulin (50 ans), Rita
et Roch Fortier (50 ans), Exodia
et Léo Lefebvre (50 ans), Lise et
Raymond Gagné (50 ans), Lise
et Ronald Laroche (40 ans) et
Réjeanne et René Lauzon (25
ans); trois de St-Catharines Hectorine et Denis Lanteigne
(50 ans), Yolande et Camille
Laferrière (50 ans), Monique
et Alphone Touzin (45 ans);
Irène et Gilles Therrien (60 ans)
de Port Colborne, Georgina
et Jean-Guy Couture (50 ans)
de Thorold et Muriel et Denis
Gauthier (25 ans) de Wainfleet.
Après
l’homélie
de
circonstance, les jubilaires ont
renouvelé leurs promesses de
mariage et l’abbé Beaulieu,
dans un geste symbolique, a
béni leurs mains.
La
célébration
fut
agrémentée par le chant
de la chorale dirigée par
Mme Huguette Brauweiler
accompagnée par Mme Joan
Glabb au piano et à l’orgue.
Suite à la cérémonie, les
convives étaient invités à
la salle paroissiale pour un
banquet en leur honneur,
préparé par Mme Laurette
Deblois assistée de Mme
Jeannette Gilbert.
Félicitations à Mme Brigite
Lagacé et à toute son équipe de
bénévoles pour avoir si bien
organisé la fête et y avoir créé
une atmosphère de beauté et
de joie.
will resume assistance to those in need
November 2016 – March 2017
Shelter information can be accessed anytime by dialing 211
Out of the Cold – St. Catharines
November 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017
Hot meal/overnight shelter 6 p.m.
Sunday:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Westminster United Church
180 Queenston Street
Silver Spire United Church
366 St. Paul Street
Cathedral of St. Catherine Catholic Church
67 Church Street
St. George Anglican Church
83 Church Street
St. Alfred Roman Catholic Church
272 Vine Street
Knox Presbyterian Church
53 Church Street
Queen St. Baptist Church
57 Queen Street
Out of the Cold: 905-641-2249 or 905-984-5310
***************************************
Niagara Falls Community Outreach
(Soup Kitchen & Emergency Shelter)
November 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017
Lawrence Avenue Christ Church
Dinner 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
1st Sunday:
2nd Sunday:
3rd Sunday:
4th Sunday:
5th Sunday:
St. John Anglican
Fallsview Brethren in Christ
Holy Trinity Anglican
Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints
Ecumenical Partners
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Glengate Alliance Church
Our Lady of the Scapular Catholic Church
Saint Paul Catholic High School
Dutch Reform Church & Stamford Lane United Church
Saint Michael Catholic & Stamford High Schools
St. Andrew United Church
Out of the Cold: 905-354-1640
Les couples de la paroisse Saint-Antoine de Niagara Falls qui ont été
honorés au banquet d’anniversaires diocésain figurent de gauche à
droite, debout: - Clément & Hélène Trudeau (40 years); Jean-Claude &
Nicole Royer (50 years); Guy & Lynne Cayen (25 years); assis:- Patricia
& Donald Borrowman (55 years).
***************************************
Harvest Kitchen – Welland
November 2016 – March 2017
Hot meal (no overnight)
905-788-0744
Sunday: 5 p.m.
Central United Church
12 Young Street
Wednesday: 5 p.m.
St. Kevin Catholic Church
307 Niagara Street
Monday: 5:30 p.m.
Sacré-Coeur Catholic Church
72 Empire Street
Thursday
1st & 3rd Thursdays 5:30 p.m.
2nd Thursday 6 p.m.
Hope Centre
570 King Street
Tuesday: 5:30 p.m.
Hope Centre
570 King Street
4th & 5th Thursday 5 p.m.
Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church
300 Chaffey Street
Your St. Vincent de Paul stores need you to
Shop
Volunteer
Donate
Pray
enjoy our excellent prices
your time at a local conference
your gently used items
for the success of our missions
36 Jarvis Street, Fort Erie 905-871-0203
5970 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls 289-296-3807
67 Queenston Street, St. Catharines 905-684-2042
51 East Main Street, Welland 905-788-3413
Support your parish or local conference of the
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Emergency Shelter - Hope Centre - 24 hours
570 King Street 905-788-0744
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
Matthew 25:35
9
The Vineyard December 2016
syrian
by MARGARET JONG
A meeting was held at the
Diocesan Catholic Centre on
December 1, 2016, for diocesan
and parish refugee committees.
Bishop Gerard Bergie opened
the meeting with a prayer and
a reflection about the diocese’s
remarkable achievements with
sponsorship as we put our faith
into action, answering the call as
Christians to reach out to those
in most need.
He spoke of Advent as
a time of patient waiting, remarking that patient waiting is
a necessary virtue for anyone
involved with refugee sponsorship—most especially the refugees waiting for a new home, but
also sponsoring groups who are
raising money and waiting for
news of their applications and
families’ arrivals, and everyone
waiting for faster action from
government agencies.
The new Canadians that
have been welcomed in the diocese are doing very well and the
refugee sponsorship endeavours
are yielding much good fruit.
Eleven Syrian families, with
the guidance of Marilyn Nabilsi, diocesan refugee co-ordinator, have arrived safely to their
sponsoring parishes, and nine
other family applications are
in process. Twenty parishes are
refugee sPonsorshiP uPdate
Community is very important to Syrian people and the
families have been quick to establish a strong network with the
other recently arrived families in
the area. This in turn is bringing
sponsoring parishes together,
and has added new spirit and
vitality to the whole diocesan
community.
The first sponsored family
arrived in the diocese in February 2016. Fr. Gerard Power, O.
Carm., pastor, St. Patrick, Niagara Falls, happily reported that, as
the end of the 12-month sponsorship period approaches, the family is thriving and will be ready
for financial independence; both
parents are working, one fulltime and one part-time, and their
daughter is doing well in school.
Paul Turner, committee
chair at St. Kevin, Welland, said
that their sponsored family arrived in August; they are awesome people who immediately
became part of the parish family.
Agnes Richard, committee
chair at St. Patrick, Caledonia,
said that they have worked hard
to overcome many challenges
with their family of six that arrived in June. She was pleased
to report that the father of the
family now has a job in his field,
and they are settling in well. The
children have been singing O
Canada and Christmas carols
St. Thomas More, Niagara Falls, sponsored two Syrian families. Standing (l-r) are: Hadia Al Makhoul, Carol
Al Nasser, Johny Al Nasser, Leen Al Nasser, Amal Al Makhoul, Yamen Al Nasser; seated - Jorjit Groug,
Taofik Al Makhoul, Bassem Al Nasser.
of St. Catharines with a commitment for on-going support.
The diocesan refugee ministry committee brought an abundance of blessings to the diocese
during the Year of Mercy. They
have truly put their faith into
action, and so far, have saved
the lives of more than 70 of their
brothers and sisters in great
need. Please consider supporting the on-going work by making a financial donation.
Cheques can be made payable
to the Diocese of St. Catharines,
noting Diocesan Refugee Ministry;
they can be sent through the parish
or by mail to P.O. Box 875, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2R 6Z4. Donations can also be made by credit card
through the diocesan website (&
CanadaHelps) at www.saintcd.com Star of the Sea, St. Catharines, family from Syria (l-r) Mania Atiya &
Wael Kadmous with daughter Mia.
Because you give…
The Good News of Our Lord is
shared with our brothers and
sisters in remote and isolated
missions across our vast land.
St. Andrew parish in Welland sponsored a Syrian family. They are
seen here during the diocesan anniversary celebration dinner held
November 25, 2016, at Club Roma. Seated (l-r) parents Fouad & Ghada
Al Makhoul, son Mark; standing – daughter Tala and sons Kenan and
Nader. Fouad & Ghada were celebrating their 30th anniversary.
with them.
Ed Wethli and Jennifer Allison of Ananias Mission from
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, made
the long journey to be at the December meeting. They spoke of
their recent visit to Lebanon and
shared stories of the plight of refugees. They are working tirelessly to raise awareness and money
for the St. Catharines diocesan
sponsorship efforts. They have
fully funded the sponsorship of
five families, four of whom arrived in October 2016. Ananias
Mission recently contributed another $10,000 US to the Diocese
Your support will help Presentation of Mary Sister Diane Lajeunesse to lead
worship at Sacred Heart mission in Big River First Nation, Saskatchewan.
PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO SUPPORT THE MINISTRIES OF CATHOLIC MISSIONS IN CANADA.
Here is my gift of:
$20
$50
$100
$200
Cheque (made payable to Catholic Missions in Canada)
$_________
Visa
Mastercard
AMEX
Credit Card No._____________________________________Expiry__________
Name_____________________________________Signature______________________
Fr./Sr./Br./Dr./Mr./Mrs./Miss/Ms.
Address________________________________________________________________
City_________________ Province__________Postal Code____________
Phone_______________________ Email ________________
VIN_0616
now actively taking part. Most
recently, St. Mary and St. Thomas Aquinas parishes in St. Catharines have committed to work
together to sponsor a young Syrian couple and their four daughters.
Syrian refugees, now new
Canadians, are integrating well.
Parishes report that most of the
families are well educated and
are entrepreneurial. Many were
forced to leave behind professional careers and small businesses in Syria; they are eager to
work, to learn English and regain
something of what they lost.
“With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.”
—Colossians 3:16
Mail to: Catholic Missions In Canada
201 – 1155 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M4T 1W2
Tel: 416-934-3424 Toll-free: 1-866-YES-CMIC (937-2642) Website: www.cmic.info
CMIC-Ads-August2015.indd 75
Aug 27 9:38 AM
10
December 2016 The Vineyard
develoPMent & Peace
by FRANK FOHR
Development & Peace is
celebrating its 50th anniversary
in 2017. It was established by
the Canadian Conference of
Catholic Bishops (CCCB) in
1967 in response to Pope Paul
VI’s challenge that Catholics
needed to be more involved in
helping the poor and hungry in
the world.
In his encyclical Populorum
Progressio, Pope Paul stated,
“The hungry nations of the
world cry out to the peoples
blessed with abundance. And
the Church, cut to the quick by
this cry, asks each and every
man to hear his brother’s plea
and answer it lovingly.” The
CCCB was also responding to
Vatican Council II, which said
that the laity needed to play a
more active role in the Church.
As a result, Development
& Peace was created as a
democratic organization run by
lay members.
To mark the up-coming
anniversary, Bishop Douglas
Crosby, Diocese of Hamilton
and president of the CCCB,
issued a pastoral letter titled
Toward the Future, United in
Faith and Trust. The letter issued
in the name of all Canada’s
bishops, extends “…deepest
gratitude, congratulations and
encouragement,” and states
that bishops “today continue
to support the vision, mission
and mandate…to assist the
poor and the oppressed people
of the world in their struggle
for justice and to educate
Canada about the problems of
underdevelopment.”
A special project for the 50th
anniversary is the Solidarity
Quilt Project.
Each diocese in Canada has
designed a quilt piece that is
added to the quilt as it moves
across Canada, half from the
east coast and the other half
from the west. The two halves
will eventually come together at
the end of March in Hamilton.
The quilt will be in the Diocese
of St Catharines the week of
March 8-15, 2017.
The quilt piece for St.
Catharines has been designed
by local Catholic artist Kevin
Sloggett and is currently being
celebrates
assembled by Development &
Peace members. A special Mass
will be held at the Cathedral of
St. Catherine of Alexandria, St.
Catharines, on March 12 at 11:30
a.m. During the week, the quilt
will move around the diocese
visiting one church in each
deanery and a secondary school
event will also be held March 9.
The pastoral letter goes on to
recount the many initiatives and
achievements of Development
& Peace over the years and
encourages all Catholics, clergy,
consecrated persons and laity
to support the on-going work of
Development & Peace.
The
diocesan
council
of Development and Peace
continues to promote the
Share Year Round program,
which
provides
stable
funding throughout the year.
Participants in Share Year
Round are automatically given
membership. Currently there
are 82 contributors to Share
Year Round in the diocese
and Development & Peace
would like to increase this to
100 contributors in the 50th
anniversary year.
One way to support the work of
Development & Peace is to become a
50
member. If you want to be involved
in the work of Development & Peace,
membership allows you to vote at
diocesan and provincial meetings, or
participate in exposure trips to visit
the partner organizations. If you
don’t want to be an active member,
your membership still helps in
advocacy work because when
speaking to government the voice is
stronger if we can speak on behalf of
more members. During this Jubilee
years
Year of Development & Peace,
lifetime memberships are being
offered for free. Become a member on
the Development & Peace website at
https://www.devp.org/en/50years or
by mailing in one of the membership
cards available in most parishes.
Soup’sOn!
Lakeshore Catholic: Akayla Brown, Rachel Khairallah serve up roasted
butternut squash soup at the 2016 SOUP’SON!
by JOE BARKOVICH
The 15th annual fundraiser for a social justice scholarship is
being held January 27, 2017, at St. Kevin, Welland.
Tickets for the popular event are available from the parish
office Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and before/after weekend
Masses. As in previous years, there are three soup sittings: 11 a.m.,
12 noon and 1 p.m.
The event involves soup preparation teams from local high
schools, Niagara College and a Welland small business.
The menu, and the soup prep teams that make the soups are:
Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School, Grimsby, (Chef Ray
Poitras) Coconut, Carrot and Ginger; Lakeshore Catholic High
School, Port Colborne, (Chef Joe Fabiano) Minestrone; Notre Dame
College School, Welland, (Chef Christopher Begin) Butternut
Squash; Niagara College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute
(various chefs) Algonquin Succotash; Confederation Secondary
School, Welland (Chef Mathieu Cyr) both French-Canadian Fava
Bean and French-Canadian Pea; Eastdale Secondary School,
Welland (Chef Roland Pouliot) Corned Beef & Cabbage.
Rite of Election
the First Sunday of Lent
March 5, 2017
at 2 p.m.
Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria
Presider: Bishop Gerard Bergie
Gifts of Stock
Do you want to make a donation to your parish
or the diocese…and save on taxes? Gifts of
stock are exempt from capital gains taxes. Do it
now to have it included in the 2016 tax year. For
information contact Peter Michaud, business
manager, 905-684-0154 ext. 222.
Catechumens and candidates who have
been journeying in the RCIA program in
parishes across the diocese will gather with
their sponsors, families and friends.
Catechumens will inscribe their names in the
Book of the Elect
Candidates will also be recognized
A social will follow
11
The Vineyard December 2016
THE BULLETIN BOARD
Coming Events
CWL Retreat: St. Catharines
Diocesan CWL will host the
annual retreat April 5-8, 2017,
at Gethsemane Ministries,
84008
Wellandport
Rd,
Wellandport, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30
p.m. Cost: $30 (includes
lunch). The presenter is
Anne Jamieson, director
of catechesis, Diocese of
Hamilton, who will speak on
the theme Mary, Responding
in Faith. To register contact
parish CWL president by
February 28, 2017.
PORTUGAL & SOUTHERN
SPAIN (August 16-28, 2017):
mark the centenary of the
Fatima apparitions and meet
Spain’s 16th century saints en
route
in Andalucia; the pilgrimage
led by Fr. Peter Rowe will
take you to LIsbon, Fatima,
Cordoba, Ubeda, Baeza,
Granada, Ronda, Arcos, Jerez,
Cadiz, Seville, Huelva, Evora
-- for detailed information
and to secure your spot,
contact
Ineke
Brinkman
(905/988-9100, x2; ineke.
[email protected])
On-Going
Catholic Organization for
Life & Family (COLF):
Globally, as well as in every
human heart, a great battle
rages between good and evil.
How can we train children so
that they are able to choose?
The prevailing individualism
and moral relativism are
huge challenges for parents
who care about transmitting
the true meaning of freedom,
autonomy and responsibility.
In its 2015 message to families,
Parents, Will Your Children
be Happy?, COLF presents
a reflection of conscience,
examining the human and
Christian virtues parents
should strive to inculcate…
always depending on their
best ally-the Holy Spirit. For
information on how to order
or to obtain a workshop
guide, go to www.colf.ca
Emotions Anonymous (EA):
A support group for anyone
with the desire to become
well emotionally. EA is a 12step organization that meets
weekly with the purpose of
working towards recovery
from emotional difficulties.
Meetings are held Tuesdays
at Mt. Carmel Spiritual
Centre, Niagara Falls, 7-8
p.m. For information contact
Fr. Chris 905-356-4113 or
www.emotionsanonymous.
org
Franciscan Third Order
Fraternity (ofs): Are you
called to a Franciscan
vocation? Attend a meeting
for information. In the
Welland area, meetings are
held 1st Sunday of each
month, St. Kevin, 2 p.m.
Contact
Louise
Cowan,
ofs, 905-732-4063; in the St.
Catharines area, meetings
are held 3rd Sunday of
each month. Contact Leona
Watson, ofs, 905-937-0227.
information and registration.
Marriage
Preparation:
Engaged couples planning
to be married in the Catholic
church are expected to take a
marriage preparation course
or an Engaged Encounter
weekend.
Parishes have
the 2016 schedule with
Hotel Dieu Shaver Gift information about dates and
Shop: The Hotel Dieu Shaver places or www.saintcd.com
Rehab Auxiliary Gift Shop
(905-685-1381 ext 84361) Marriage Tribunal: If you
offers spiritual items and are considering remarriage in
unique giftware that includes the Catholic Church at some
jewelery, purses, seasonal point, or hoping to enter
gifts, pashmina scarves, photo a marriage with someone
frames, framed wall art, china previously married, you
pieces, vases, jewelery boxes, should speak to a priest or
stuffed animals, etc. The stock contact the diocesan Catholic
changes regularly making it a Marriage Tribunal in St.
wonderful place to shop for Catharines, 905-687-8817 or
any family member. Open [email protected]
Monday-Friday 10 a.m. –
7 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, Natural Family Planning:
Holidays 1-4 p.m.
For
information
contact
Chris & Lena Turner (Serena)
Jericho House: Located in 905-643-3375 or Joan Kenny
Wainfleet, Jericho House is (Billings) 905-680-4154.
an ecumenical and interfaith youth leadership, justice Our Lady of the Holy
(social and ecological) and Rosary Shrine: Open yearspirituality centre rooted round, 4706 Miller Road,
in the Catholic tradition. Port Colborne, situated in a
It provides programs and rustic wooded area providing
experiences in a respectful, a special place where people
supportive and inclusive can gather to reflect or enjoy
environment. It also provides solitary prayer. From Mayhospitality to individuals and October the rosary is recited
groups who wish to facilitate Thursday at 7 p.m. followed
their own programs. It is by Mass. The shrine has large
ideal for retreats, conferences, grounds, a meeting room
workshops,
seminars, and gift shop; donations of
luncheons
and
other gently-used religious articles
occasions. For information are gratefully appreciated.
contact 905-834-0553 or www. The facilities are available
jerichohouse.org
for retreats and gatherings.
For information call Cathy
Marriage Encounter: For Kruger 905-732-7479 or visit
married couples looking www.rosaryshrineniagara.
to restore communication com
and rekindle romance, this
program is designed to help Retrouvaille: If your marriage
share
concerns,
feelings needs help, Retrouvaille
and expectations in a non- could be a lifeline. This
confrontational way. A very is a process designed to
private experience called heal and renew troubled
a weekend of discovery, marriages. The focus is on
leading to a lifetime of love. communication and provides
Visit www.wwme.org for couples an opportunity to
rediscover themselves and
their marriage relationship.
For information, in strictest
confidence, contact Joyce and
Larry Webb 905-664-5212
or
retrouvaille.hamilton@
cogeco.ca
Salt + Light TV: Salt + Light
is available in Ontario on
Rogers Digital Cable (395),
Cogeco Digital Cable (185 in
specific areas) and Mountain
Digital Cable (387).
For
information
visit
www.
saltandlighttv.org or call
1-888-302-7181.
Spanish Mass: Held at
St. Alfred, St. Catharines,
7:30 p.m. Saturday.
For
information call 905-9349703.
Vineyard on-line:
Go to
Vineyard on-line through the
diocesan
website–saintcd.
com
Warehouse
of
Hope:
Wanted—a few good men, for
a couple hours a month or so,
to help fill containers of relief
Hotel Dieu Shaver Rehab Centre
541 Glenridge Ave, St. Catharines
Warehouse
of
Hope
Recycling:
The Niagara
Warehouse of Hope is able
to recycle used electronics,
small appliances, stereos,
TVs,
computers
and
accessories (working or not).
Bring items Monday-Friday
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and place
them in the drop-off house at
the back of the warehouse
building, 46 Broadway Ave,
St. Catharines.
Mt. Carmel Spiritual
Centre
7020 Stanley Avenue
Niagara Falls, Ontario L2G 7B7
905-356-4113 FAX 905-358-2548
email: [email protected]
www.carmelniagara.com
2nd Tuesday
of each month
2nd Sunday
of each month
January 6-8
January 13-15
January 14
January 20-22
January 28
January 28
February 4
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
goods, mostly school desks,
chairs, mattresses, or boxes
and bags of small items. A
tow motor assists with the
heavy material and takes 2-3
hours to load a 40’ container
(about 12 containers a year).
No long-term or regular
commitment required—just
a few hours, once in a while.
Please consider volunteering.
The perks? Nice people to
work with, generous coffee
breaks, and the satisfaction
of helping the poorest of
the poor. For information
call 905-646-7237; if no one
answers leave a name and
number to get a call back.
February 14
March 1
Come Away Day
Presenters: Ministerial Team
Carmelite Spirituality
Presenters: Ministerial Team
Welcoming the New Year
Presenter: Kathryn McMorrow
12-Step Spirituality for Women
Presenter: Kathryn McMorrow
A Day With Therese of Lisieux
Presenter: Fr. Chris Kulig
Anger: The Misunderstood Emotion
Presenter: Kathryn McMorrow
St. Teresa of Calcutta
Presenter: Fr. Jay Comerford
Facing & Reducing Stubbornness
Presenter: Sebastian Fazzari
A Day With Br. Lawrence of the Resurrection
Presenter: Fr. Chris Kulig
Annual Valentine’s Celebration
Presenter: Fr. Michael Wastag
Ash Wednesday
Presenter: Ministerial Team
Refugee Centres
within the
Immediate opening in
coffee shop, gift shop
bingo, Nevada ticket sales
Eucharistic ministry
Diocese of St. Catharines
Contact Human Resources
905-685-1381 ext. 85302
FAX 905-687-3228
[email protected]
www.hoteldieushaver.org
Chez Marie
Refuge
16 Pelham Road
Casa el Norte
281 Central Avenue
Fort Erie, ON 905-871-4483
St. Catharines, ON 905-682-5795
12
k
of
December 2016 The Vineyard
c
Present cheque for bishoP’s charities
On Saturday October
22, 2016, the Knights of
Columbus of the Diocese of
St. Catharines hosted the 3rd
annual Bishop’s Charities
Dinner at Club Roma in St.
Catharines.
On November 26 the
Knights
of
Columbus
presented a cheque for
$10,000 to Bishop Gerard
Bergie. The bishop chose
three charities as recipients
of the 2016 Bishop’s Charities
Dinner.
The
Diocesan
Sponsorship Refugee Fund
received $5,000, Hospice
Niagara in St. Catharines
$2,500 and McNally House
Hospice in Grimsby $2,500.
Bishop Bergie expressed
his gratitude to the Knights
of Columbus for all of their Presenting the cheque to Bishop Gerard Bergie are members of the planning committee (l-r) Jean-Guy Couture, Al Craig, Charles
work in organizing this Johnston, Bill Amodeo and Don Mikulinski. Bishop Bergie distributed monies raised among the Diocesan Sponsorship Refugee
event that benefits so many Fund, Hospice Niagara in St. Catharines and McNally House Hospice in Grimsby.
charitable causes in our
diocese.
diocese
honours altar servers
Sixty-three altar servers from seventeen parishes across the diocese are seen here at St. Alfred, St. Catharines on November 15, 2016 where they were honoured for
their dedication to their parishes.
The Serra Club, St.
Catharines
hosted
the
Altar Servers’ Awards on
November 15, 2016, at St.
Alfred, St. Catharines for
63 altar servers from 17
parishes were recognized
for their outstanding service
in ministry at the 5th Altar
Servers’ Awards ceremony,
presided by Bishop Gerard
Bergie.
The
candidates
were chosen to receive the
Bishop’s Award for Service
by their parishes because of
their dedication, faithfully
and reverently serving at
weekend Masses and other
special liturgical celebrations
throughout the Church year.
In its four years of
existence, Serra Club, St.
Catharines has begun to fulfill
these objectives through the
following activities—praying
for vocations, corresponding
with seminarians of this
diocese to support and
encourage them, attend the
ordination of candidates to
the priesthood and permanent
diaconate, arrange the annual
altar servers awards, sponsor
and arrange the biennial
celebration of priesthood and
religious life dinner dance,
collaborate with the diocesan
vocation office, and attend
district
conferences
and
international
conventions
held in major cities around the
world.
Serra Club, St. Catharines
meets once a month for Mass,
a meal and a meeting. New
members are always welcome.
For information contact
Dino Sicoli, Serra Club of St.
Catharines (905) 835-8177
e-mail: [email protected]