CATHOLIC FAMILY OF

PARISHES IN NORFOLK

St. Mary, Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs,

St. Bernard of Clairvaux, and St. Cecilia

Website: www.catholicfamilyparishesnorfolk.dol.ca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stbstcstmolqm

Pastoral Team

To reach a staff member, call your Parish Office and use the extension provided

Rev. Alan Dufraimont, Pastor adufraimont@dol.ca ext: 222 Rev.Olivet Okoro, ext: 223

Rev. Frank Murphy, Migrant Ministry, (Retired) Ian Duckworth, Family & Youth Minister iduckworth@dol.ca ext: 227 Kathryn Heemskerk, Pastoral Minister kheemskerk@dol.ca ext: 224

Deacon Andy Alway aalway@dol.ca Deacon Dave Callaghan dcallaghan@dol.ca ext: 237

Deacon John Doomernik jdoomernik@dol.ca Deacon Gerard Van Schyndel gvanschyndel@dol.ca ext: 236

Deacon Frank Chowhan (Retired)

Parish Team

Debbie Drinkwater, Administration Manager ddrinkwater@dol.ca ext: 240 Rick Hobbins, Coordinator of Property and Maintenance and Custodian-St. Mary

rhobbins@dol.ca ext: 249 Mary Zylstra, Finance Secretary mzylstra@dol.ca ext: 241

Barb Balog, Office Secretary bbalog@dol.ca ext: 0 Laurie Smith, Bulletin Editor and Scheduling Coordinator lsmith@dol.ca ext:225

Judy Wilkie, St. Bernard Custodian Bill Hasilo, Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs, Custodian

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Waterford 519 443-8607 St. Joseph, Simcoe 519 426-0820

École Sainte-Marie, Simcoe 519 426-4775

St. Frances Cabrini, Delhi 519 582-2470 Holy Trinity Catholic High School, Simcoe 519 429-3600

St. Cecilia, Port Dover 519 583-0224

Parish Offices

Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs &

St. Bernard 110 Adams Avenue, Delhi, ON N4B 1P7

Tuesday & Thursday 8:30 am-12:00 noon

1:00 pm-4:30 pm PHONE/FAX (519) 582-1312

www.olmstbern@dol.ca

St. Mary & St. Cecilia 211 Union Street

Simcoe, ON N3Y 2B3 Wednesday & Thursday

8:30 am-12:00 noon 1:00 pm -4:30 pm

PHONE/FAX (519) 426-0887 www.stmarycecilia@dol.ca

SUNDAY EUCHARIST

Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs 110 Adams Ave., Delhi

Saturday Vigil at 5:00 pm Sunday at 11:00 am

St. Mary 211 Union St., Simcoe

Saturday Vigil at 5:00 pm Sunday at 11:00 am

St. Bernard of Clairvaux 165 Thompson Rd, Waterford

Sunday at 9:00 am Spanish Mass Sunday at 7:00 pm

Easter Sunday to November 1

St. Cecilia 17 Lynn Park Ave.

Port Dover Sunday at 9:00 am

SACRAMENT OF

RECONCILIATION

St. Mary & Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs

Every Saturday 4:00 pm-4:30 pm St. Cecilia & St. Bernard

of Clairvaux Every Sunday 8:15 am or by

appointment

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

“We are a Eucharistic community forming faith-filled disciples of Jesus in loving service of God and neighbour

for salvation”

Easter Sunday—April 12, 2020

All masses and church activities are cancelled, please go to our website www.catholicfamilyparishesnorfolk.dol.ca

for detailed cancellations.

Outreach Resources The diocese has a webpage that will be continually updated with resources for the faithful http://dol.ca/outreach. Join us in the newly added “House of Prayer” initiative. Please promote this page to your parishioners and others to help them find online Masses, Catholic publications and activities for families, children and youth.

From the desk of Father Alan:

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ and friends! A Blessed Easter to all of you during this difficult time. Our hope in the resurrection of Christ, tells us that, ”this too shall pass", the coronavirus, as the Lord Jesus brings us hope through his love. We were hoping to place Palm Branches, outside, at the doors of our churches for Passion Palm Sunday, April 5, but after some reflection and instruction from Bishop Fabbro, that was not allowed. Fear of another way for the virus to spread as people come to the church. Our Pastoral Team, Family of Parishes Pastoral Council and other volunteers are proceeding with a phone call to all 2,725 households, parishioners, in our Catholic Family of Parishes. Simply to say, we are praying for YOU and wish to support you in this difficult time of isolation. If you need anything, please phone the office and we will return your call. Our Parish Team, the Administration Staff, are working from home and keeping the books up, trying to pay the bills. Fathers Olivet Okoro, Frank Murphy and myself, with one of the Deacons gather, in our home, for Sunday Eucharist, and for Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord's Supper. Easter Sunday Mass, April 12, will be at 11:00 am, in our home, with no more than 5 people. This mass will be live streamed, available on Facebook and our Website. We invite you to watch and pray with us. We will be united in spirit, in our love for our God, the Risen Christ, sharing God's tremendous healing power over our families, community and world. For me personally, this quiet time, isolation, has strengthened my prayer. Bishop Dabrowski writes in his letter to all clergy and I quote: "A major theme in his book (Pope Frances) 'Encounter with Christ', speaks about our relationship and friendship with Christ. If we don't nurture a friendship with Christ, in turn we are unable to share the joy of that friendship with others.....Our friendship with Jesus must be at the epicenter of our lives." Here is a challenge and invite from Pope Frances and Bishop Dabrowski, to all of us, to deepen, nurture and feed our love for God, our relationship with Jesus. Following is an article written by John Pavlovitz, entitled, "You Don’t Need to Open the Churches by Easter." It is excellent and a great affirmation of whom we are as Catholic Christians. Do not be offended by his words. It is not saying that the Mass/Church is not important but rather....We are the church, and the church is alive and well when we live out our faith in service to others. A Blessed Easter to all of YOU, from all of us in leadership in the Catholic Family of Parishes in Norfolk.

We will be live streaming on Facebook and on our website our Easter Sunday

Mass from the residence of Fathers Olivet and Alan, this Easter Sunday April 12 at 11:00 am.

You Don’t Need to Open the Church by Easter

JOHN PAVLOVITZ

The President said that he wants all churches to be open by Easter. That isn’t necessary.

He doesn’t know what the Church is, or he’d speak differently. It isn’t him alone, of course. Many people who talk about the Church miss what’s always been true—even many

Christians. The Church has never had anything to do with geography. It was never a building, never a fixed, physical location you

visited for an hour on Sunday. That’s far too small a space to fit the vast and sprawling life it produces.

The Church has always been the people who gather together to do the work of compassion and mercy and love and justice, regardless of where and when they gather. They are living, breathing, animated sanctuaries who house divinity.

In these terrifying, draining, disorienting moments, the Church is doing what it was always supposed to do: Exhausted healthcare workers are on the front lines, boldly living out sacrificial love of strangers.

Courageous first responders are daily placing themselves in harm’s way to care for their neighbors as themselves. Grocery store employees are working tirelessly to fill ever-emptying shelves so that hungry people can have their daily

bread.

Faith communities, nonprofits, and charities are rallying people and marshaling resources and redirecting energies to continue to love the least of these.

Heroic teachers are feverishly finding creative ways to shepherd well the children in their care, without physical proximity.

Emotionally and physically taxed parents are contenting with a swirling storm of fierce worries and unabated terrors, while being a calm, steady, gentle reminder to their children that they are beloved and they needn’t fear.

These are not all people of faith, but many are—and those people are being the Church now as much as ever, with the embodied hymns of and exhaled prayers and walking sermons that rise up in the brutal trenches of this life, when the

compassionate love of Jesus is incarnated in their work and their words.

These things cannot be relegated to one place for one hour, they are the expansive holy ground of hospital rooms and store aisles and makeshift closet computer workspaces and dining room tables and wooded paths. They are the tiny yet

mighty acts of goodness that no worship service can create or contain. Whatever the work of Jesus was and is, doesn’t require permission to begin and it is not beholden to any politician’s

decree and it isn’t waiting quietly in a building to be unlocked and released—which is the greatest news for people of faith and morality and conscience who feel burdened to heal and feed and encourage and unite. That is happening in

these very moments.

And that’s the beautiful truth of these dark days: even in the middle of a terrifying pandemic, even when schedules are interrupted, even when chaos is ever-present, even when people are scattered, even when buildings filled with chairs

and pews and class rooms are closed—the Church is still the Church and love is still love.

Every day is Easter for those who are willing to see it. There is always life breaking through, always restoration happening, always resurrection taking place, always glorious rebirth happening, always miracles in our midst.

If people who claim Christianity really want to care for our neighbors and we’re really committed to loving the least and we’re truly burdened to heal the wounds of the world, we’ll keep the religious buildings closed for as long as the doctors

and scientists tell us to. We won’t worry about timetables or deadlines because they are of little use.

The Church doesn’t need to be open by Easter. The Church is already open.

Hallelujah and Amen.

From the desk of Deacon Gerard To the parishioners of our Catholic Family of Parishes of Norfolk, As with everything in our world today Covid 19 has turned it upside down. We have had a very successful season at the St. Vincent soup kitchen this year serving at least 600 meals (3394 altogether) more meals than last year when the crisis of Covid 19 hit and we had to change our methods to take out meals only. At that time we were serving an average of 56 meals per day. Since the change over we have served 11 days and the average has risen to 78 meals per day. Normally at this time of year we close down and the Anglican Church and the Salvation Army take over until we start up again in October. This year with Covid 19 we have decided to continue until at least June hoping the other facilities will be available by then. The problem is that some of our cooks and servers have made other commitments assuming we would be finished by mid April. Cooking hours are 8:15 to 11:15am and server hours are from 9:45 to 11:15 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays. We are limiting the number of folks in the kitchen to 3 and practising social distancing during this time. The servers ladle and package the soup, away from the kitchen and keeping social distancing. There is no contact with the public and no one is allow up in the hall except cooks and servers. All of the bulk food purchasing is done by myself with my partners so there is no need to shop at the stores for any major item. If you feel you could help even one day in the month of May it would help the volunteers I have now from having to double their duties for the extended month. I am looking for 4 cooks and 4 servers at the moment. For more information please email me at gvanschyndel@dol.ca. May God bless you all and keep you safe, and together we will get through this difficult time, Deacon Gerard

Father Alan Dufraimont Father Olivet Okoro, Father Frank Murphy

Deacon Andy Alway, Deacon Dave Callaghan

Deacon Gerard Van Schyndel Deacon John Doomernik, Deacon Frank Chowhan

Ian Duckworth, Kathryn Heemskerk, Debbie Drinkwater, Mary Zylstra,

Barb Balog, Laurie Smith Rick Hobbins,

Judy Wilkie, Bill Hasilo

Spirit of New Life, draw us into the confusion and new understanding of Jesus’ Resurrection. Surprise us with laughter at the discovery of new joy. Fill us with gratitude that you are ever and always with us. Move us to dancing

with delight at the gift of Easter life after death. Amen. Alleluia!

St. Vincent de Paul

St. Vincent de Paul is in need of FOOD, non perishable foods, for our food banks so we can continue in this difficult time to meet the needs of those who have less than us. We are collecting this for our four parishes and the Food Banks they organize. We have two DROP OFF places. St. Mary's Church, boxes for the food are behind the church and hall, at the door between the church and school, north side. Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs boxes are in the Car Port between the church and office. DROP OFF will be only WEDNESDAYS in April, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. DROP OFF's are April 15, 22, and 29. Thanks.

We Commend to your Prayers:

We pray for all the sick of our Parishes: Daphne Jarman, Nikki Buckborough, Ruth Lampman, George DeBlock, Paul VanLondersele, Bertha Cloet and Edward McCarthy.

We pray for all the faithful departed including: Laurens Maisson, Ernie Verbraecken, Caroline Bultinck, and Arthur Vanhamme

Prayer Line: 519 426-0788 ~ jeanninekowalsky@gmail.com or 519 582-243l

The Sanctuary Lamp will burn in all 4 churches in The Catholic Family of Parishes

in Norfolk for the intentions all our parishioners.

Easter Sunday

All Masses and intentions are cancelled.

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — Peter is an eyewitness: The Lord is risen (Acts 10:34a, 37-43).

Psalm — This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad (Psalm 118). (1) Second Reading — All who are baptized, set your hearts in heaven (Colossians 3:1-4) or

(2) Second Reading — Christ our Passover is sacrificed; therefore let us celebrate (1 Corinthians 5:6b-8). Gospel — Three witnesses, Mary, Peter, and John; each

responds to the empty tomb (John 20:1-9) or Matthew 28:1-10 (or, at an afternoon or evening Mass, Luke 24:13-35).

SEEDS OF FAITH

There is a brevity, a certain terseness, in the scripture readings for Easter Sunday. Peter’s speech in Acts is built of

direct, pointed sentences. Paul’s letters are based on straightforward creed-like statements. Even the Gospel story only

briefly recounts what will turn out to be one of the most remarkable events in human history—the resurrection of Jesus

from the dead. Advertising agents call these encapsulated points of information “bullet points.” Scripture scholars call

them kerygmata, or “kernels” of our faith. Actually, “kernels” or “seeds” are good terms for these statements, since

throughout the Easter season, we will hear in the Acts of the Apostles, the Letters of Paul, and the Gospel accounts of the

days following the Resurrection exactly how these kerygmata began to flower, how they continued to grow through the

life of the early church. May these Easter “seeds” of faith serve a similar purpose for us, too, so that the life of the Risen

Christ will flourish in us and through our witness in the coming days.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Ps 16:1-2a, 5, 7-11; Mt 28:8-15

Tuesday; Acts 2:36-41; Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22; Jn 20:11-18 Wednesday: Acts 3:1-10; Ps 105:1-4, 6-9; Lk 24:13-35

Thursday: Acts 3:11-26; Ps 8:2ab, 5-9; Lk 24:35-48 Friday: Acts 4:1-12; Ps 118:1-2, 4, 22-27a; Jn 21:1-14 Saturday: Acts 4:13-21; Ps 118:1, 14-21; Mk 16:9-15

Sunday: Acts 2:42-47; Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; Pt 1:3-9; Jn 20:19-31

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord April 12, 2020 When Christ your life appears,

then you too will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:4 Courage dear heart. In this time of confusion interiorly and exteriorly, God desires to capture our hearts and to be the peace that the world does not know. C.S. Lewis

We will be live streaming our Easter Sunday Mass from the residence of Fathers Olivet and Alan, this Easter Sunday April 12 at 11:00 am on Facebook and our website.

April 19, 2020 Second Sunday of Easter (or Sunday of Divine Mercy)

GET REAL! Those of us who flatter ourselves that we have a “realistic” view of the world may listen to the first reading today and

say, “Get real!” when we hear Luke’s account of the early, Elysian days of the Christian movement. All seems to be rosy, lots of wonders are performed, everyone shares selflessly, they eat together in “exultation,” and the Lord added to their

numbers? Well, who wouldn’t be attracted to a group like this? From the wind that swept through the upper room at Pentecost as the Spirit of God blew over the face of the waters in Genesis, and the fire that appeared over each disciple as the light appeared at the dawn of creation, Luke’s intent in Acts is to show a new creation, a restoration of creation’s

original goodness through the working of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who continues to make us into the Body of Christ. We may occasionally, like Thomas in the Gospel, say, “Get real!” but our ultimate reality in the Spirit is to work

continually to make our Christian community a new creation, one in which others will find God’s joy and beauty.

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — All who believed were devoted to the teachings of the apostles, the communal life, the breaking of the

bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42-47). Psalm — Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting (Psalm 118).

Second Reading — God has given us an undiminished inheritance, safeguarded for us in heaven (1 Peter 1:3-9). Gospel — The risen Christ comes to his disciples with peace and the Spirit. The absent Thomas doubts

(John 20:19-31).

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Acts 4:23-31; Ps 2:1-9; Jn 3:1-8

Tuesday: Acts 4:32-37; Ps 93:1-2, 5; Jn 3:7b-15 Wednesday: Acts 5:17-26; Ps 34:2-9; Jn 3:16-21

Thursday: Acts 5:27-33; Ps 34:2, 9, 17-20; Jn 3:31-36 Friday: Acts 5:34-42; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Jn 6:1-15

Saturday: 1 Pt 5:5b-14; Ps 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17; Mk 16:15-20

Sunday: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-11; 1 Pt 1:17-21; Lk 24:13-35

God of Peace, calm our fears with your presence and send us forth into a world longing for your peace. In the midst of uncertainty and doubt, may we be bearers of peace above all else. Amen. Alleluia!

Second Sunday of Easter (or Sunday of Divine Mercy)

April 19, 2020 “Blessed are those who have not seen

and have believed.”