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Re-Opening - stage 3 update
Having reached the third stage of Alberta's COVID recovery plan, we have received word from the Diocese that almost all previous restrictions have been lifted for the celebration of Holy Mass. This will have a number practical effects for our parish, including the following highlights:
- There is no longer a seating capacity limit for Masses; those who desire more space from others will be accommodated as is possible. Also Mass times will continue to be as follows:
- 5:00pm - Saturday Evening (Vigil)
- 10:00am - Sunday
- Registration for Mass and contact tracing are no longer required.
- People are asked to exercise charity and kindness in respecting the comfort level of people regarding physical distancing, physical contact, masking, cohorts, and other considerations. Masking is no longer mandatory.
- Baptisms, weddings and funerals can now proceed in a fashion similar to pre-COVID times.
- Servers, lectors, ushers, sacristans, and musicians may resume their liturgical ministries, without number limits.
- The liturgical procession before and after Mass may resume.
- The sign of peace may now be offered with one another by a bow, not by a handshake.
- Reception of Holy Communion in the traditional manner, on the tongue, is now allowed to resume.
- Communion is only to be given under one species – the consecrated host. The Precious Blood will only be available to the celebrant and concelebrants.
- Parishes may resume hosting social functions in the parish halls such as hospitality after Mass or parish picnic or gathering.
- The parishes are free to resume in-person meetings.
For more information, please click the links below. - There is no longer a seating capacity limit for Masses; those who desire more space from others will be accommodated as is possible. Also Mass times will continue to be as follows:
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Keeping the faith at home
- Daily Practices for Individuals and Families
- Pray the Angelus
- Pray the Angelus three times per day. (7am, Noon, 7pm, or when you wake up, at noon, and when you go to bed.
- Click here for a 4-page booklet of prayers for Parishioners of Sacred Heart during the COVID-19 pandemic. The booklet includes instructions for praying the Angelus.
- Daily Rosary
- Many times, and especially after the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, the Church has commended the practice of praying the Holy Rosary daily as an excellent spiritual practice.
- For help praying the Rosary, go here.
- Pray a Novena
- A novena is made up of nine days of prayer and meditation usually to ask God for special prayer requests or petitions. You might desire to pray for a loved one, for protection from illness, for healthcare and emergency personnel, for those out of work or hurting in our economic crisis - for all of these, and many more petitions, there's a novena to be prayed.
- To find a novena to pray, click here.
- For a novena specifically dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.
- Liturgy of the Hours / Divine Office
- Join in the official liturgical prayer of the Church, praying the Psalms and other prayers along with millions of other Catholics, both lay people and religious.
- Lectio Divina
- Prayerful reading of Sacred Scripture, that deepens one's love and unity with Jesus Christ by slowly reflecting and "chewing" on His word.
- Daily Readings from the Holy Bible
- Catholics are encouraged to read from Sacred Scripture every day in order to deepen their faith and grow in their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Below are two helpful guides for reading that you may find helpful:
- Pray the Angelus
- Consecrate Yourself or Your Family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Personal or family consecration to the Sacred Heart, in which the individual or family, is dedicated to Christ so that he might reign in the hearts of all its members.
- Prayer of Personal Consecration
- Rites of Family Consecration
- Personal or family consecration to the Sacred Heart, in which the individual or family, is dedicated to Christ so that he might reign in the hearts of all its members.
- Daily Practices for Individuals and Families
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Formed.org - Growing in faith at home
- Formed.org
- Formed.org Masses: Live and Recorded.
- As many of you already know, this service, which contains thousands of movies, video series, children's films, audiobooks, podcasts, and e-books, is free for all parishioners.
- If you have not yet signed up for a free account, please go here for help: https://sacredhc.ca/formedorg
- Formed content is available on many platforms: iOS, Android, desktop computers, connected TV (TVOS and ROKU) and XBOX.
- Some Recommendations:
- Faith At Home
- Resources for Lent:
- Lenten Reflections: https://watch.formed.org/lenten-reflections
- Short Bible Study on Salvation: https://watch.formed.org/lectio-salvation-with-dr-michael-barber
- A Lenten Study on Prayer: https://watch.formed.org/into-the-desert
- A Lenten Study on Mercy: https://watch.formed.org/a-lent-to-remember
- Recommendations for the Family:
- Mary of Nazareth: https://watch.formed.org/mary-of-nazareth
- Joseph of Nazareth: https://watch.formed.org/joseph-of-nazareth-the-story-of-the-man-closest-to-christ
- Mother Teresa: https://watch.formed.org/mother-teresa-1
- Pope John Paul II: https://watch.formed.org/pope-john-paul-ii-1
- St. Giuseppe Moscati: Doctor to the Poor: https://watch.formed.org/st-giuseppe-moscati-doctor-to-the-poor
- Bible Studies: https://watch.formed.org/bible-studies
- For Children: https://watch.formed.org/kids-1
- For Youth/Teenagers: https://watch.formed.org/youth-programs and https://watch.formed.org/books-kids-and-teens
- For learning more about the Catholic Faith:
- Symbolon Series: https://watch.formed.org/symbolon-the-catholic-faith-explained
- Various Faith Formation Series: https://watch.formed.org/faith-formation
- E-Books: https://watch.formed.org/books-being-catholic and https://watch.formed.org/books-explore-the-faith
- Audio/Podcasts: https://watch.formed.org/talks-being-catholic and https://watch.formed.org/talks-explore-the-catholic-faith
- Good Literature
- E-Book Fiction: https://watch.formed.org/books-fiction
- Audiobooks: https://watch.formed.org/audiobooks
- Audio Dramas: https://watch.formed.org/audio-dramas
- These are a few recommendations, but they only scratch the surface of what's available. There are so many more excellent things to watch, read and listen to on Formed.org than what I've listed above. Check it out.
- Formed.org
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Other resources for growing in faith
The Institute of Catholic Culture is an adult catechetical organization, faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, and dedicated to the Church’s call for a new evangelization. All their online resources are available with free signup. The Institute offers both live (online) events, recorded video talks, and self-paced free courses on the Faith.
St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that God always brings good out of evil. That's why the Dominicans of the Eastern Province in D.C. have launched a live streaming Quarantine Lectures series. They'll keep it going until the quarantine is lifted, offering Catholic wisdom for the 21st Century.Go here to watch or register for free.- Aquinas 101
- For those who want to delve deep into the Catholic Faith, there’s no better place to start than with the rich philosophy and theology of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor. Aquinas 101 introduces you to his thought in bite-sized chunks. Sign up for free, or just watch the video series on Youtube.
- Word on Fire
- Bishop Barron's organization, Word on Fire, has produced all sorts of excellent videos and retreat content for people to browse at their leisure.
- Ascension Presents
- Ascension Press has numerous podcasts, videos and articles to grow in the Faith.
- Aquinas 101