JANUARY 17, 2021
Every year, Christians around the world are invited to celebrate a Week of Prayer for the unity of all Christians
Every year, Christians around the world are invited to celebrate a Week of Prayer for the unity of all Christians, to reflect on scripture together, to participate in jointly-organized ecumenical services, and to share fellowship.
The international resources for 2021 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity have been prepared by the Monastic Community of Grandchamp in Switzerland, a group of religious sisters from different church traditions brought together by a common vocation of prayer, community life and hospitality and by their commitment to Christian unity.
The 2021 theme – Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit (John 15:5-9) – calls us to pray and to work for reconciliation and unity in the church, with our human family, and with all of creation.
Drawing on the Gospel image of vine and branches, it invites us to nourish unity with God and with one another through contemplative silence, prayer, and common action.
Sunday, January 24, 2021, 3:00 p.m. the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism calls for a moment of prayer to be held on Zoom or YouTube.
In order to participate, kindly Register here >>
JANUARY 17, 2021
Sunday of the Word of God. January 24, 2021
Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter, Motu proprio “Aperuit Illis”, published on September 30, 2019 established that, “the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God”.
To access online resources designed for and individuals, religious communities, discussion groups and families desiring to meditate and understand, to celebrate and bear witness to the mercy of God, visit the Canadian Bible Society.
JANUARY 10, 2021
Closure of Churches: Measures tightened to curb spread of COVID-19
The Archdiocese of Montreal has advised all Montreal parishes, missions, and religious communities to close all places of worship, suspending gatherings for the celebration of Mass effective Saturday, January 9, 2021.
This follows Wednesday’s announcement by the Quebec government to return to stricter province-wide conditions of confinement, beginning January 9 through to February 8, 2021. Funerals will be permitted, but limited to a maximum of 25 people in attendance.
Online Masses are permitted exclusively.
For more details on how the new measures will affect other areas of parish and sacramental life, ministries and services, you may consult the diocesan website.
JANUARY 09, 2021
Pope Francis opens 2021 with a call to fraternity:
“See in the other a brother or sister”
The first Pope Video of 2021 is centered on human fraternity. The Holy Father calls for people of different religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs to return to the essential: love of neighbor.
The message chosen is in response to all the challenges facing humanity: the Holy Father asks that we open ourselves to each other and unite, as human beings and as brothers and sisters, “with those who pray according to other cultures, other traditions and other beliefs.”
“When we pray to God following Jesus, we come together as brothers and sisters with those who pray according to other cultures, other traditions and other beliefs.
We are brothers and sisters who pray.
Fraternity leads us to open ourselves to the Father of all and to see in the other a brother or sister, to share our lives or to support, to love, and to know each other.
The Church values God’s action in other religions, without forgetting that for us Christians, the wellspring of human dignity and fraternity, is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We believers must return to our sources and concentrate on what is essential. What is essential to our faith is the adoration of God and love of neighbour.
Let us pray that the Lord may give us the grace to live in full fellowship with our brothers and sisters of other religions and not fight each other, and praying for one another, open ourselves to all.”
DECEMBER 13, 2020
Year of St. Joseph
In a new Apostolic Letter entitled Patris corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis describes Saint Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows.
The Letter marks the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To celebrate the anniversary, Pope Francis has proclaimed a special “Year of St Joseph,” which began December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and extends to the same feast in 2021.
The diocese has created a spiritual help‑line to offer support during the pandemic: 1‑888‑305‑0994.
Our Archdiocese has also set up a web page designed to provide ongoing relevant information amid current COVID‑19 concerns, including the latest guidelines, related articles and spiritual resources >>>
