Pastor’s Note

Upcoming election
I would encourage everyone to form your conscience about who to vote for in the upcoming election based on your Catholic worldview. The Canadian Catholic Bishop’s conference explained aspects of this in their 2019 voting guide.

They explained, “While Christian beliefs do not constitute a political platform, they can be seen as a prism through which to analyze and evaluate government policies, laws, and programs. The principles of respect for life from conception to natural death and of the dignity of the human person should influence how Christians assess a party’s position on key moral issues.
Choosing life also means being always concerned for the weakest among us – physically, economically, and socially. It likewise implies the protection of the most fundamental human rights, including the right to religious freedom and freedom of conscience.”
They also cite the importance of solidarity and dialogue with “social partners” including “indigenous peoples” among many points.
You can read the full statement at
https://www.cccb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2019_Federal_Election_Guide.pdf

Note about Masks and health concerns about Covid
Please be attentive to continue to follow the province of Ontario’s directive in union with Bishop Daniel Miehm about hygiene and mask wearing in the Churches. Be attentive to wearing your mask correctly covering the nose and chin. You can help older people, or people with physical difficulties to make sure they are wearing their mask correctly. We are aware that some people have medical reasons they can’t wear a mask, so they opt for a face shield. I ask everyone to be accommodating to people who have such difficulties. In other public spaces, such as restaurants, they are trying to be so accommodating.
If one still has difficulties in enclosed spaces with people, you may take the option of watching a Sunday Mass streaming on the internet and attend a Mass during the week as my own parents did for a long time over the last few years.

St. Mary's Parish Community