UPDATED April 18

Greetings to all,

Thanks to all for a beautiful weekend of Holy Masses at the ERCFP. Thank you to the volunteers for the tech, hospitality, and cleaning.  Although this is a difficult time, it is also an opportunity to love the Lord even more.  Jesus suffered and dies for our sake and was victorious over sin and death through His resurrection. Jesus can also transform this time into the best.

We have a choice before us, either we choose to go into an abyss of darkness and hopelessness, or we can ask the Holy Spirit to inspire us with a deeper closeness to the Lord.  I invite all to use this time effectively by reaching out to others with a message of hope.  This means on social media, phone calls, email etc. Let the positive message of Easter radiate through all your conversations. Encourage one another with the hope that can only be found in Jesus.

Thank you for your faithfulness to the Gospel and the command of Jesus, "Go make disciples ... I am with you!."

Fr. Graham

Message from April 16th

Starting Monday Morning April 19

With the announcement of the premier's further restrictions of the "Stay at home order" in effect for churches on Monday (another praise the Lord thing that our weekend masses were not shut down) we will not have in-person masses available. By the directive of Bishop Fabbro, our public masses will return to Livestream masses only.

We will still have the facility to have funerals, limited to 10 in attendance, which includes the presider.  

Further details are given in the Bishop's letter below.

The staff wants to thank you for your continued support and patience.  We truly desire to have our churches open but understand the need to keep people safe.  We continue to plan for a future full of hope. I am incredibly grateful for the staff's diligence, dedication, and love for the Lord and His people.

Let us appeal to St. Joseph and our Blessed Mother, for an end to this pandemic.  

We will update you soon with further devotions and online opportunities during this difficult time.

Sincerely in Jesus our Lord and savior,
on behalf of the Parish Team,

Fr Graham Keep

April 16, 2021, 5:17 pm

This afternoon, Premier Ford announced that places of worship will be locked down as of 12:01 a.m. Monday, 19 April 2021. In the past when we had such restrictions, it was decided that such a limit of ten people is impossible to be carried out in a fair manner, with the question: who gets invited? The number ten includes the presider.

Therefore, in keeping with the directive of the provincial government and our previous practice, all churches in the Diocese of London will be closed to the public effective Monday with the following exceptions:
1.                   Masses should be celebrated in the churches to pray for the needs of our people. Where possible, these celebrations may be live-streamed or recorded and up-loaded. One person may participate in the celebration to proclaim the reading(s) and Psalm, along with one instrumentalist and one cantor. Deacons do not assist at these Masses.
2.                   Baptisms should be discouraged until the lock-down ends, but may be celebrated in danger of death.
3.                   Celebrations of First Communion are deferred until the lock-down ends.
4.                   Confessions should be discouraged until the lock-down ends, but may be celebrated if the pastor determines a serious need; to be determined on a case-by-case basis; to be celebrated only by appointment.
5.                   Confirmations are to be deferred until the lock-down is lifted, but may be celebrated in danger of death.
6.                   Weddings may proceed with the maximum number of ten people.
7.                   Funerals may be celebrated with the maximum ten people allowed.

Parish and other diocesan offices are to be closed effective Saturday, 17 April. Staff (clergy and lay) may report to work only for what is essential. Pastors are expected to monitor this. Notice has been that government agents may inspect offices at any time.

Halls may be opened only for essential social and mental health services (e.g., addiction services, blood-donor clinics, child care). Restrictions imposed by the government are to be followed. All sacramental preparation, RCIA and catechetical sessions shall be deferred or moved on-line.

I realize these new restrictions will be a hardship for many, especially as access to the sacraments is once again curtailed. I want to express my gratitude to you for the sacrifices you are making during the pandemic, and also to emphasize that we need to be strong in our commitment to follow all health and safety measures to do our part in stopping the spread of COVID-19.

Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph, may God protect us and keep safe all our health-care workers and those on the front lines who serve us.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

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