St. Francis Xavier Parish, Renfrew
331 Plaunt St. South K7V 1N2 Renfrew, ON, Canada

WORD AMONG US: October edition may be found in the mail box just outside the office door. Payment may be placed in the secure mailbox or in the collection basket duly noted.

Parish Bulletin for Sunday, September 13, 2020

Parish Bulletin for Sunday, August 30, 2020

Parish Bulletin for Sundays August 16 & 23, 2020

CLERGY APPOINTMENTS Bishop Guy Desrochers, C.Ss.R., announces the following appointments, which take effect September 1, 2020, unless otherwise indicated. The Bishop wishes to thank all those who accepted an appointment, and all those who are welcoming another priest into the rectory in whatever capacity. ... Rev. William J. Kenney is retiring from active full-time ministry. He will be in residence at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Renfrew. Sincere thanks to Father Kenney for his years of dedicated service. Rev. G. Ryan Holly is appointed Chancellor. In addition, he is appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Pembroke; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, La Passe; and Our Lady of Grace Mission, Westmeath. The Bishop confirms Father Holly in the role of Judicial Vicar. Rev. Michael A. Smith is appointed Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia. He remains Pastor of Paroisse St-Jean-Baptiste, Pembroke. Rev. Scott J. Murray is appointed Director of the Liturgy Office and Diocesan Master of Ceremonies. He remains Pastor of St. Anne Parish, Mattawa. Rev. John P. Lacey is appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Renfrew, and St. Patrick Parish, Mount Saint Patrick. Rev. Justin B.J. Bertrand is appointed Administrator of Holy Canadian Martyrs Parish, Combermere, and St. Francis de Sales Mission, Latchford Bridge. Rev. Réal Ouellette is appointed Administrator of Paroisse St-Thomas-dAquin, Astorville; Paroisse Ste-Bernadette, Bonfield; and Sacred Heart Parish, Corbeil. Rev. Cyril Okebanama, S.M.M.M., is appointed Pastor of St. Theresa Parish, Temiscaming, and Our Lady of the Lake Mission, Kipawa. Rev. Peter G. Proulx is appointed Parochial Vicar at St. John Chrysostom Parish, Arnprior. Father Proulx will also be available to replace priests in parishes. Rev. Peter T. Do is appointed Parochial Vicar at Paroisse St-Pierre, Fort-Coulonge; Paroisse St-Charles-Borromée, Otter Lake; St. Elizabeth Parish, Vinton; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mission, Waltham. Rev. Mr. Michael F. Coyne, at the time of his ordination to the priesthood on September 8, 2020, will become Parochial Vicar at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Renfrew, and Most Precious Blood Parish, Calabogie.

Parish Bulletin for Sundays August 2 & 9, 2020

Parish Bulletin for Sunday, July 19, 2020

Parish Bulletin for Sunday, July 12, 2020

Parish Bulletin for Sunday, July 5, 2020

Parish Bulletin for Sunday, June 28, 2020

Parish Bulletin for Sunday, June 21, 2020

Further to Father Brennan's letter of June 10th and for clarification and people's peace of mind, please note that Archbishop Mulhall has stated that "the obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains suspended for all Catholic in this (Pembroke) diocese".

Parish Bulletin for Sunday, June 14 & 21, 2020

Parishioners are invited to join Fr. Brennan and Deacon Michael Coyne in the church for 8 a.m. morning Mass this Friday, June 12, 2020. Please advise others you know who may be interested. Please be sure to follow all protocols as appeared in earlier post.

My Dear People: It is with joy that the public celebration of mass will resume in our church this coming weekend June 13th-14th of June, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. After this lengthy deprivation from the sacraments, we give thanks to God that public worship will start again on the feast of Corpus Christi. What a beautiful feast to have as we return to Mass giving thanks to God that public worship will begin after this 13th week period of no public Masses. From the out...Continue reading

Parish Bulletin for Pentecost (Sunday, May 31st) and Most Holy Trinity (Sunday, June 7th)

Pentecost message from the CCCB Standing Committee for Relations with Movements and Associations.

WORD AMONG US: June editions of the will be left in the mail box just outside the office door. Payment for these may be placed in the secure mailbox or when the church reopens. We will do our best to replenish the supply available in the mailbox.

All are invited to join in praying a Pentecost Novena to the Holy Spirit from this Friday, May 22 to Saturday May 30 (Vigil before Pentecost) with the same intention as that of the holy monk of the book In Sinu Jesu: "Johanninise [make like the Beloved Apostle John] the souls of our priests and bishops. Please, Lord, grant a Sacerdotal Pentecost. https://eucharisticadorationcanada.com//Novena-to-the-Holy

Parish Bulletin for Sunday, May 17 & 24, 2020

Day of Prayer for Humanity Dear fellow believers and brothers and sisters in humanity, Our world is facing at the moment a great danger that threatens the lives of millions of people around the world due to the growing spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While we reaffirm the role of medicine and scientific research in fighting this pandemic, we should not forget to seek refuge in God, as we face this severe crisis. Therefore, we call upon all peoples around the wo...rld to pray according to each ones, respective religious convictions, to observe fast and to do good deeds to end this pandemic. May each of us, wherever we are, and according to the teachings of our own respective faith traditions and philosophies, seek divine help to rescue ourselves and the entire world from this adversity, to inspire scientists to find a cure for the virus and to save the whole world from the health, economic, and human repercussions of this serious pandemic. As part of its efforts to realize the objectives of the Document on Human Fraternity, the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity proposes Thursday, 14 May 2020 as a Day of prayers, fasting and works of charity for the good of all humanity. In this regard, the Committee invites all religious leaders and peoples around the world to respond to this call together; to beseech God, the Almighty to safeguard the entire world, to help us overcome this pandemic, to restore security, stability, health, and prosperity, so that, once this pandemic-crisis is over, our world may become a better place for humanity and for human fraternity than ever before. (Adapted from the Communiqué of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity)

This year marks the 5th anniversary of the publication of Pope Francis encyclical Laudato Si On Care for Our Common Home. To celebrate and recognize our continued call to care for creation, the Vatican is sponsoring Laudato Si Week to be held May 16-24, 2020. Parishioners may wish to incorporate the following prayer designated for use during this special week of remembrance:

MOTHERS DAY - MAY 10, 2020 WE ASK GODS GRACIOUS BLESSINGS ON ALL MOTHERS AS THEY DAILY... STRIVE TO LIVE OUT THEIR VOCATION OF MOTHERHOOD

There come times in the lives of all believers when things get very dark, when they have to accept even though they cannot understand or make sense of whats happening. Its at such times that we really need strong faith, but its precisely at such times that our faith fails us. Its easy to convince ourselves that we have a strong faith when things are going well. When a crisis arises we discover what kind of faith we have, or if we have any faith at all. By faith here I ...Continue reading

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER BURSARY The annual recipient of the SFX Parish Bursary of $500 will be chosen by the Parish Pastoral Council applications may be found at your high school online site.... applications will be reviewed by the Pastoral Council; students from either Renfrew High School who are seeking higher education may apply. The criteria for recognition of an appropriate recipient will be based on: the involvement of the applicant in our parish community; their witness to our Faith in their school and or the Renfrew community; the applicants intentions as to their future education. Please return completed applications to your online high school site.

MESSAGE TO THE CATHOLIC FATHFUL OF PEMBROKE May 6, 2020 On the feast day of Saint François de Laval, patron saint of the Bishops of Canada, Pope François made public his decision to appoint me Bishop of Pembroke.... I gave my "yes" without hesitation and wholeheartedly when the Apostolic Nuncio informed me of the decision taken by the Holy See. Having lived more than thirty years in the Redemptorist community, I have learned to trust the decisions of my superiors when I am asked to move or take on new challenges. I had had the opportunity to travel the roads of your beautiful region several times when I was preaching or when I celebrated "Evenings with Saint Anne" in several churches to make her known and loved. And these trips have already allowed me to meet some priests, religious men and women, and lay people living in this diocese for which I have recently been given responsibility. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I know that you have been waiting for a long time for the announcement of the appointment of your new Bishop. Being a native of the Gatineau Valley, I can at least reassure you that I will not feel like a stranger in your midst. I am looking forward to getting to know you and having the opportunity to fraternize with you as time goes by. But above all, I look forward to working with you, hand in hand despite COVID-19, in the great work of evangelization that the Lord has entrusted to us, each according to his own vocation and according to the talents and riches that he has deposited in each one of us to build up his Church. The next few weeks will be spent preparing for my insertion into my new diocese. In the near future, I'll give you more details about the date of my official installation. Until then, I look forward to meeting you soon and to celebrate together, in a modest way no doubt, this joyful and family-friendly event. Receive my blessing +Guy Desrochers, C.Ss.R. Bishop-designate of Pembroke Diocese

MOST REV. GUY DESROCHERS, C.Ss.R., V.G NEWLY APPOINTED BISHOP OF PEMBROKE DIOCESE

My dear faithful of the Diocese of Pembroke, It is a great joy for me to extend a warm welcome to His Excellency the Most Reverend Guy Desrochers, C.Ss.R., as the newly appointed Bishop of Pembroke. Bishop Desrochers, a priest of the Redemptorist Province of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, has been serving as the Auxiliary Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall. He is well known to many pilgrims who have benefited from his ministry at the Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. The Diocese of Pembr...oke has been blessed with this gift of a new shepherd. I am thankful to Bishop Desrochers for his generous acceptance of this episcopal mission. I ask that you pray in thanksgiving to the Lord for His goodness and that you begin praying for the intentions of your new Shepherd and Bishop. May the Lord continue to bless the Church of Pembroke in this Easter season. With prayers for Bishop Desrochers and for you, my dear people. In Christ, +Michael Mulhall Archbishop of Kingston Apostolic Administrator of Pembroke

The program to follow along with from home for Fridays Consecration of Canada to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, in time of pandemic 1 May 2020 (livestream link for YouTube posted below)

Here is the link to Sunday Mass at St Mary's Cathedral: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPhfrIo4CfM&feature=youtu.be

Here is the link to the Consecration Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl94WtmaoZM&feature=youtu.be

A parishioner recently recommended a book called The Hope of Glory by Jon Meacham. One of his reflections is his acknowledgement that St. Paul says.now we see through as a glass dimly the story of Christianity begins with confusion, not with clarity, with mystery, not with certainty. Hes referencing here the puzzlement of Mary Magdalene and the two women with her who saw the empty tomb and then the incredulity of the disciples when they related what they had found. ... Remember the women went to tell the disciples about the risen Lord who were locked in a room afraid to come out because of fear. Sound familiar? Are we now not unlike those disciples because of Covid-19? It was not until they saw the empty tomb and Jesus appeared to them that their fear turned into joy. We too have seen the Risen Lord, not physically like the disciples, but in each other as we are temples of the Holy Spirit through our Baptism. During this pandemic I have noticed the care and concern we have for each other. Last week I was walking downtown and I saw a woman speaking to a mentally challenged person asking how she was and if she could do anything for her. That was Christianity in action! Every day I hear of the care and concern we have for each other. Just today I met someone who said she was making masks for people. Let us continue to support each other and pray for each other, especially first responders, doctors, nurses, support staff in our hospitals, homes for the elderly, Hospice, all who work in the food industry, pharmacies and countless other people who look after our needs. Pope Francis has encouraged us to pray the Rosary during the month of May. Many have been doing this for a while. As well, Pope Francis has published two prayers to Our Lady specifically focusing on the pandemic. These prayers may be found on our Facebook pages for both parishes. I encourage you to fulfill this request in your families during the month of May. May Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and our mother intercede for us during this pandemic to give us peace and patience as we practice self-distancing and support each other in whatever way we can. Fr. Kerry Brennan

LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS to the Faithful for the Month of May 2020 Dear Brothers and Sisters, The month of May is approaching, a time when the People of God express with particular intensity their love and devotion for the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is traditional in this month to pray the Rosary at home within the family. The restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to appreciate all the more this family aspect, also from a spiritual point of view. For this r...Continue reading

St. Francis Xavier, together with other local churches will be ringing the church bells 22 times at 5 p.m. in solidarity with our fellow Canadians in Nova Scotia. May God bless and comfort all those who are mourning.

Parish Bulletin for Divine Mercy Sunday (Sunday, April 19, 2020)

Alleluia, He is Risen!!!!!