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Like many parishes throughout the Diocese of Saint John, the people of St. Croix Parish (St. Andrews-by-the-Sea and St. Stephen churches) have taken seriously Bishop Christian Riesbeck’s call to promote one tool of evangelization, offering a second Alpha in the parish this winter. - Across Canada and throughout the world, diocese are reorganizing and amalgamating parishes. As the impossible math of too many parishes, not enough priests and not enough parishioners strikes home, many are asking the question, what’s a parish for? - As Perseverance, the latest probe on Mars, gears up to send to Earth high-definition images, video and audio of its surroundings, one papal astronomer said he hoped the fresh new discoveries will inspire future explorers.

During the pandemic, Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception are responding to local and global concerns through prayer and advocacy. Technology enables them to participate in online retreats and conferences. Amid restrictions, the Sisters continue to connect, celebrate and give thanks. Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC of the Diocese of Saint John gives his message for Lent 2021. The Bible in a Year Podcast with Father Mike Schmitz took the world by surprise when it climbed to the top of Apple.com’s Podcast Chart, beating out new services, television networks and other mainstream sources. Now well into February the Ascension Press podcast maintains a rating of 4.3/5 and sits at number 7 on the chart.

The CCCB has produced a video series Journey through Lent, which includes an introduction to the liturgical Season and reflections on the Gospel readings of each Sunday in Lent.
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La CECC avons produit une série de vidéos intitulée Cheminer ensemble durant le temps du Carême, qui comprend une introduction au temps liturgique et des réflexions sur les Évangiles de chaque dimanche.

Lent is a season of hope – it means new springtime, renewal. We need hope now more than ever to help us face the challenges of these days. During Lent we may be tempted to focus on the negative – on all we have had to give up – but that is not the aim. We do penance to bring about our conversion. In recognizing our sinfulness, we are reminded that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners to give us the promise of everlasting life! (see Romans 5:8) Lent is therefore a time to give God permission to help us turn away from the things that prevent us from living a truly fulfilled life and embrace the victory Jesus has won for us. It is his promise of new life to us.
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Le Carême est une saison d'espérance. Cela signifie un nouveau printemps, un renouveau. Nous avons plus que jamais besoin d’espérance pour nous aider à relever les défis de ces jours. Pendant le Carême, nous pouvons être tentés de nous concentrer sur le négatif : en songeant à toutes les choses dont nous avons dû nous priver. Mais ce n'est pas notre objectif. Nous faisons pénitence pour provoquer notre conversion. En reconnaissant notre condition de pécheurs, nous nous rappelons que Jésus est mort pour nous alors que nous étions encore pécheurs pour nous donner la promesse de la vie éternelle! (voir Romains 5, 8.) Le Carême est donc le moment d’accorder la permission à Dieu de nous aider à nous détourner des choses qui nous empêchent de vivre une vie pleinement épanouie et à embrasser la victoire que Jésus a remportée pour nous : sa promesse d'une vie nouvelle pour nous.

“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem” (Mt 20:18) Lent: a Time for Renewing Faith, Hope and Love
« Voici que nous montons à Jérusalem... » (Mt 20, 18) Le Carême : un temps pour renouveler notre foi, notre espérance et notre charité

Following from the December 2020 Canadian Bishops' ethical considerations and the December 21, 2020 Note on the morality of using some anti-Covid-19 vaccines issued by the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, this news post provides a supplemental explanation and a table comparing the ethical profile of available COVID-19 vaccines.

These are the Diocese of Saint John guidelines of Lenten observance for the faithful. The liturgical season of lent begins February 17.
Le temps liturgique du Carême commence le 26 février. Les normes qui suivent s’appliquent aux fidèles du diocèse de Saint John pendant le Carême.

Lent affords a perfect opportunity to grow closer to St. Joseph. Father Donald Calloway, MIC [Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary] has written a resource for this, Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of our Spiritual Father. This book is designed to be a self-guided retreat and may be followed on an individual basis or as a part of a group. A small Canadian start-up hopes to help to bridge the COVID-19 vaccine divide between rich and poor nations. The liturgy is not a spectacle to be observed but a prayerful event where Christians encounter Christ's presence in their lives, Pope Francis said. Throughout the Catholic Church's long history, people have been tempted to practice a private or "intimist Christianity" that failed to recognize the importance of the liturgy in spiritual life, the pope said. Norms for Lenten observance / Normes pour le carême

«Cette célébration répond à un appel clair que le Pape François a adressé à toute l’humanité pour construire un présent de paix dans la rencontre avec l’autre», a souligné le cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot MCCJ, Président du Conseil Pontifical pour le Dialogue Interreligieux. «En octobre 2020, cette invitation est devenue encore plus vivante avec l’Encyclique Fratelli tutti. Ces rencontres sont un moyen de parvenir à une véritable amitié sociale, comme nous le demande le Saint-Père», a-t-il ajouté.

The Holy Father will mark the International Day of Human Fraternity in a virtual meeting on 4 February, the date set by the United Nations General Assembly for this new annual occasion. The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue offers a website for this special day: www.HumanFraternityDay.org.

Pope Francis announced the establishment of a World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly as a reminder of the important role they play as a link between generations. The first celebration of this day will be July 25. Religious education must focus on leading people to a personal relationship with Christ and building a community of believers where the talents of each person are valued and where all go out to share the Gospel and serve the poor, Pope Francis said. Students of St. Pius X High School in Ottawa were treated to a very special virtual guest speaker on January 22 — alumni Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC of the Diocese of Saint John.

The 29th World Day of the Sick will be celebrated, as it is every year, on 11 February, the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Holy See has released the Holy Father’s Message which is entitled “You have but one teacher and you are all brothers” (Mt 23:8), which encourages a trust-based relationship with the sick and the nurturing of integral human healing. In his Message, Pope Francis writes: “…the commandment of love that Jesus left to his disciples is also kept in our relationship with the sick. A society is all the more human to the degree that it cares effectively for its most frail and suffering members, in a spirit of fraternal love. Let us strive to achieve this goal, so that no one will feel alone, excluded or abandoned.”

La 29e Journée mondiale du malade aura lieu le 11 février, mémoire de Notre-Dame de Lourdes, comme c’est le cas chaque année. Le Saint-Siège a publié le message du Saint-Père qui est intitulé « Vous n’avez qu’un seul maître et vous êtes tous frères » (Mt 23, 8), qui souligne une approche à l’égard du malade fondée sur une relation de confiance et favorisant une guérison humaine intégrale. Dans son message, le pape François écrit : « …le commandement de l’amour que Jésus a laissé à ses disciples se réalise aussi concrètement dans la relation avec les malades. Une société est d’autant plus humaine qu’elle prend soin de ses membres fragiles et souffrants et qu’elle sait le faire avec une efficacité animée d’un amour fraternel. Tendons vers cet objectif et faisons en sorte que personne ne reste seul, que personne ne se sente exclu ni abandonné. »

On this Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CICLSAL) provides their message and resources to celebrate the 25th World Day for Consecrated Life.

The Steepleview Apartment Complex is planned for the site of the former St. Vincent’s Convent and CYO on the Cathedral Block. Steepleview will consist of approximately forty apartments with a mix of subsidized units and market rent units for seniors, non-elderly singles, or families, depending on the demand. There would also be community rooms for social gatherings and meetings, and an early education centre.
If you are interested in affordable apartments for uptown Saint John, please complete this survey.

The pandemic has affected everyone, but nowhere are the effects more visible than among the poor. Evelyn McNulty, executive director of Romero House Soup Kitchen in Saint John said, “Pre-Covid we were a dine-in service, but of course we had to go to a take-out service, which really changed how we serve our food. Meals also had to be prepared in advance and boxed up, in order to serve people quickly and efficiently. Faith communities that have come together to demand action to address climate change before it is too late are happy that the federal government has put forward a plan that appears to address many of their concerns, but they say governments in Canada can still do a lot more. The end of our long COVID crisis may be in sight, but until we get there churches and faith leaders still have a job to do, Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam told over 1,300 faith leaders on a January 20, nationwide Zoom call.

GNB has announced a return to the 'Orange' level of their recovery phase for all regions of the Diocese as of midnight on Tuesday January 26th, 2021.
For Wednesday January 27th, the Diocesan orange level protocols from January 5, 2021 will apply: Maximum 50 Mass attendance (excluding those in active roles - priest, lector, cantor.
Maximum 25 for Funerals, Weddings, Baptisms.
No congregational singing (one cantor allowed, with 4m physical distancing).
Contact tracing required.

The Government of New Brunswick has moved the Fredericton and Saint John regions of the Diocese into the “Red Level” of their recovery plan. Public Masses are to be celebrated outside only. Please see the Diocesan protocols, as well as the latest GNB mandatory order especially article 32(e).
We are called to reflect the light of Christ in the world. In this challenging time let us be true witnesses and examples of His light. This temporary disruption is an opportunity to go ever deeper in personal and family prayer, and with the graces received, to safely reach out to neighbours suffering physically, emotionally, and spiritually in these difficult days.

Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC of the Diocese of Saint John has written a letter to priests and faithful on the Year of Saint Joseph, and an addendum with resources for how to participate more fully in the Year of Saint Joseph. These can be found in this issue of The New Freeman, starting on pages 6 and 7. Mary-Anne Ruggles, Catholic Christian Outreach Connect leader, gives an update on faith studies at the University of New Brunswick via the Instagram account, campusministry @unb. As the newest and youngest member of the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) at St. Anthony’s Parish in Bloomfield, PEI, Joanie Chislett hopes to carry the rich legacy of the organization forward to future generations. The 38-year-old mother of two says the decision to join in January 2020 was a long time coming.

Pope Francis invites Catholics around the world to deepen their appreciation, love and faithful witness to God and His Word - especially on the third Sunday in ordinary time (January 24, 2021) which is “dedicated to celebration, to reflection and proclamation of the Word of God; so that believers can understand the inexhaustible wealth which comes from this constant dialogue of God with his people."
Le Pape François invite les catholiques du monde entier à approfondir leur appréciation, leur amour et leur témoignage fidèle de Dieu et de sa Parole - en particulier lors le troisième dimanche du temps ordinaire (24 janvier 2021) qui est «consacré à la célébration, à la réflexion et à la proclamation de la Parole de Dieu; afin que les croyants puissent comprendre l’inépuisable richesse qui provient de ce dialogue constant de Dieu avec son peuple.»