Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church

Something magical has happened at the church. Miles of lights (small exaggeration) have appeared completely encircling the church yard and the beautiful brick home beside it. The glow is a welcome sign to anyone who would like to stop by. Gatherings will be much different this year with travel and family restrictions but the reason we celebrate remains the same as it has for centuries. Thank you to Shaun and Wanda Beitel for this gesture that the community (and beyond) will enjoy over the Christmas season.

Something magical has happened at the church. Miles of lights (small exaggeration) have appeared completely encircling the church yard and the beautiful brick home beside it. The glow is a welcome sign to anyone who would like to stop by. Gatherings will be much different this year with travel and family restrictions but the reason we celebrate remains the same as it has for centuries. Thank you to Shaun and Wanda Beitel for this gesture that the community (and beyond) will enjoy over the Christmas season.

Thinking of Madeline today in church. She always sat in the third pew from the front on the east side (the same pew Adolph and Gloria Neumann always occupied years back). Bonnie made an arrangement using her favourite flower - purple iris - sitting on top of the piano along with Madeline’s reading glasses. Miss you dearly.

Our parish family is a little smaller this morning. Madeline Ivens passed peacefully yesterday at the age of 93. We picture her gardening and relaxing in her beautifully kept yard at the south end of Main Street, Spring Valley with Johnny, and thinking now of the joyful reunion with John and Colleen. We’ll miss you.

Important Information in this week's bulletin regarding resuming Masses at Claybank and Spring Valley.

Madeline Ivens.

Thinking of Madeline today in church. She always sat in the third pew from the front on the east side (the same pew Adolph and Gloria Neumann always occupied years back). Bonnie made an arrangement using her favourite flower - purple iris - sitting on top of the piano along with Madeline’s reading glasses. Miss you dearly.

Our parish family is a little smaller this morning. Madeline Ivens passed peacefully yesterday at the age of 93. We picture her gardening and relaxing in her beautifully kept yard at the south end of Main Street, Spring Valley with Johnny, and thinking now of the joyful reunion with John and Colleen. We’ll miss you.

Important Information in this week's bulletin regarding resuming Masses at Claybank and Spring Valley.

Since March 21 masses have not been held at our little church. We miss the wisdom and advice from our spiritual leader, Father JR, and we miss seeing our fellow parishioners. But as a sign of faith and hope for better times ahead, Shaun Beitel rang the bells 19 times today as he has every Sunday since the pandemic restrictions were imposed. And today we feel especially blessed because the bells also welcomed another generation of Beitel’s to our church, Wren Lyla Beitel, newborn daughter of Nolan and Brittney. Our current times may be uncertain but the celebration of life continues. We are truly blessed.