Pastor’s Corner - September 27, 2020
Dear parishioners,
The sun is shining gloriously as I write this, so let’s all just remember, if the rains comes back, that on
Friday, the sun was shining!
I announced two weeks ago, I believe, that Theresa was leaving us. I’m now very pleased to be able to
announce what follows. Effective October 1 st , Lorna will assume Theresa’s position as pastoral assistant,
and Marianne is coming back to us to resume her position as receptionist. I thank them both, on behalf
of all of us, for their enthusiastic acceptance of these roles, for the greater benefit of us all. Both of
them, might I add, are accepting a shortfall in income, to help us out in our difficult financial situation.
The rest is mostly repetition of things I’ve shared with you previously, but there are nonetheless a few
developments so please read attentively. Also, even though I run the risk that some of you will stop
reading me since much of what I write is repetition, I’ve come to accept that repetition is not only a
good thing, it’s a necessary thing.
Project Advance is in full swing, and we are receiving pledges and donations. I checked just before
writing this: we are now at 86% of our parish goal! I remind you that everything we contribute above
and beyond our parish goal comes back as a rebate to the parish. I remind you also of the fact that all
monies gathered through Project Advance this year will be devoted to ministries of evangelization and
of help to those who have been adversely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Those who have
donated previously should have received everything that you need to donate through the mail. Those
who haven’t donated previously can drop off a donation at the parish office, or in a clearly indicated
envelope with your name and address on it in the collection box in the church, or again online at our
parish Project Advance website. Just go to www.projectadvance.ca/stmarysvan. I remind you again of a
further incentive for giving: the funding for our “All Were Filled” food distribution programme comes
from Project Advance!
Speaking of All Were Filled, I need to mention two slight but important changes to our process for
receiving requests for boxes. The first, we are now accepting requests until Monday at 5:00 p.m. for
delivery the following Friday. The second, effective October 1, when you call the parish office to
request a box, the extension you need to dial will be no longer “0”, but rather “6”. We are
experiencing an enormous reluctance to request this help. I totally understand this. Because of Covid-
19, there are many people presently in need who have never in their lives had to ask for help of any
kind. That makes it difficult to do so. Might I just say there is no ceiling, no limit to the number of boxes
that are available for distribution. Therefore, I can assure you that you’re depriving absolutely no one by
requesting a box.
We are, as I previously mentioned, in the “Season of Creation” proclaimed by Pope Francis, and which
runs from September 1 st until the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4th. A golden opportunity to
focus on something other than the pandemic, to re-read, or perhaps read for the first time, Pope
Francis’ beautiful writing on this topic, “Laudato Si”, or go the websites devoted to this season. There
are very many. I suggest two: “Season of Creation” and “Global Catholic Climate Movement”. You can
also find the special prayer composed for this season by googling “Season of Creation 2020 prayer”.
Let me be so bold as to refer you again to the video that I prepared and in which I try to offer very
down-to-earth advice as to how to find peace, serenity, and hope in this time of pandemic. You can find
it on our Youtube page. Just go to Youtube, then click on “search”located at the top of the page, and
type in “St. Mary’s Parish – Vancouver. You’ll find it there. Look for “Be Still and Know that I am God”.
Perhaps some people are wondering whether, and when, we will open up the remaining three Sunday
masses for attendance. We are currently experiencing a bit of difficulty putting together teams of ushers
to cover these three masses. But also, with the consistent rise in the number of new cases, and given
our recent, isolated incident of the presence of Covid-19 at St. Mary’s parish, I consider it ill-advised to
open up three new occasions every Sunday for the possible transmission of the virus in our parish.
Therefore, we will hold off on opening up new masses for attendance until we have sufficient ushers to
do so, and until we have some kind of assurance that the overall situation is, if not improved, at least
stable.
We are encountering a problem at our 11:15 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Sunday masses. Since we opted to
distribute communion to the people standing outdoors during these two masses, the number of people
standing outdoors is increasing steadily, which creates two problems. The first is that while they are
distancing as best they can, as the numbers grow, and the rain makes people want to be under the
overhanging roof, distancing will be impossible. We simply cannot allow this to happen. The second
problem is that this close gathering of people in front of the church is very public, very visible. It’s only a
matter of time before someone reports us to the public health authorities. To try to correct this
problem, we will distribute communion outdoors just before mass begins inside the church, and ask the
people outdoors to please leave immediately after they have received communion. Others will probably
arrive during mass, but in smaller numbers. We will distribute communion to these people at the usual
time. If this fails to resolve the problem, I see no alternative but to stop distributing communion
outdoors at these masses. Let’s just hope this works.
My closing prayer this week is again is that God keep us all safe and well. Fr. Guy