There are new worship restrictions province-wide effective immediately. Stay-tuned for information from His Grace later this week on updated measures.
From the Alberta government website for places of worship:
Mandatory, additional restrictions for hot spot regions – Effective May 5
For funerals:
https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx
Livestreamed Masses are now being hosted at https://grandinmedia.ca/livestream/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/archedmonton/videos/
In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and following upon the counsel of Alberta Health Services, the Board of Trustees of the Lac Ste Anne Pilgrimage Site has unanimously taken the decision to hold the 2021 pilgrimage virtually, as was done in 2020. The pilgrimage this year will not take place in person.
The theme of hope is central as Archbishop Richard Smith shares his letter the Muslim communities of the Edmonton area as they mark the holy month of Ramadan. “We live not only for the moment but for eternity, we are concerned not with the fulfilment of self-centred and transient desires but with allowing God to fulfil His will in us,” Archbishop Smith writes in his April 16 letter. “This is the basis or our hope both as Christians and Muslims.
“The Lord is Risen!” is the acclamation of all Christians at Easter.
Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith said there’s a risk of taking for granted the message of extraordinary, sure hope that is contained in those words.
Over the past year as we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re looking for signs of hope. However, it is nowhere near the explosive potential in those words “The Lord is Risen”. All that Christ asks of us is that we have faith in Him and the untold power of his love.
Rev. Stephen Hero, a former associate pastor and vocations director who grew up in Edmonton and spent nine years as rector of St. Joseph Seminary, has been appointed as the new bishop of Prince Albert, Sask.
The announcement was made in Rome on March 25.
“I’m being sent now to these people to evangelize,” Father Hero said. “I’m seeing myself as a missionary, working with a whole bunch of other good people there, trying to preach the Gospel.
"I see my role then to help build up the Catholic Church there, to help people come to faith in Jesus Christ through the Word, through the salvation of the sacraments, and to be one with each other and with Christ.”
The current Bishop of Prince Albert, Albert Thevenot, has announced that he will be retiring. The diocese has scheduled a news conference for 9:30 a.m. March 25. More information will be available on the Facebook page of the Diocese of Prince Albert.
Read the full story on GrandinMedia.ca
In this short video, Archbishop Smith responds to the new legislation of Bill C-7 in Canada which expands euthanasia and assisted suicide to those without foreseeable death.
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis announced that the Church would celebrate a special year dedicated to St. Joseph beginning on December 8, 2020 and continuing through December 8, 2021. In the Archdiocese of Edmonton, a time dedicated to St. Joseph will officially begin on March 19, and conclude with the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2021. In preparation for March 19, the Archdiocese will join St. Joseph Seminary in the recitation of a Novena to St. Joseph starting on March 10. Three special Masses will be presided by Archbishop Smith at St. Joseph’s Basilica.
Holy Week which leads to Easter is the heart of the liturgical year. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, the Archdiocese of Edmonton offers the following guidelines for Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum.
Parishes are taking all necessary precautions to keep everyone safe. If you are healthy and able, and if your home parish has space for you, it is best to attend these liturgies in person.
The Archdiocese is encouraging the faithful, who cannot attend in-person in their own church, to participate in the live-streamed celebrations presided over by Archbishop Richard Smith during Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum as a sign of unity. The livestreamed Archdiocesan liturgies will be broadcast on YouTube and Facebook at St. Joseph’s Basilica.