MESSAGES FROM OUR PASTOR, FR. JOHN VAN HEES
2021 financial report
The 2021 financial reports were distributed with the bulletins this weekend.
| 2021 FInancial Report |
Update: As of March 21, 2022, masks are now optional in the Church and Chapel.
Holy Rosary Parish
is Opening to Full Capacity on March 1, 2022
Greetings Everyone!
The Government of Ontario has announced that effective March 1, 2022, the following changes to the Covid-19 protocols will take place, provided that health and health care indicators continue to improve. The changes are as follows:
Therefore, the Diocese of Hamilton is making effective March 1, 2022:
We will be continuing the live stream until the mandate for wearing masks is rescinded then we encourage all our parishioners to return to the Sunday Liturgies. At that time, the dispensation from Sunday Obligation will be rescinded too.
I am excited to receive these changes and to see our parish return to its normal spiritual life. You are in my prayers, and I look forward to sharing our faith once again.
Sincerely Yours in Christ
Fr. John Van Hees
Pastor
The Government of Ontario has announced that effective March 1, 2022, the following changes to the Covid-19 protocols will take place, provided that health and health care indicators continue to improve. The changes are as follows:
- Capacity limits are lifted in all indoor public settings;
- Proof of vaccination requirements are lifted, with businesses being allowed to implement them voluntarily;
- Other protective measures, such as mask/face covering requirements will remain in place.
Therefore, the Diocese of Hamilton is making effective March 1, 2022:
- Churches, Parish Halls, and meeting rooms may open to full capacity.
- If attendees exhibit symptoms they should remain home.
- Masks must be worn by all those attending Mass, two years and older
- Hand sanitizers will continue to be available to parishioners at church entrances
- All church entrances can be used for entering and leaving the church
- Directors will no longer need to seat people or direct people when exiting but will assist wherever needed (i.e. greeting people, taking up the collection, directing the communion lines)
- All liturgical ministers (Deacons, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, Lectors, Altar Servers, and full choirs) may resume – vaccination is not required
- Hymnals will be placed in the pews and congregational singing is permitted (All parts of the mass.)
- Children’s Liturgy can resume but children will need to wear their masks
- The shaking of hands at the Sign of Peace and Communion on the Tongue are not permitted until the mandate for wearing masks is rescinded
- Communion ministers are reminded to sanitize their hands before and after distributing to the faithful
- The congregation will now come forward to receive communion (no receiving from the chalice)
- Reconciliations will be held in the Church confessionals on Saturdays from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm and Tuesdays after the 7 pm Mass.
We will be continuing the live stream until the mandate for wearing masks is rescinded then we encourage all our parishioners to return to the Sunday Liturgies. At that time, the dispensation from Sunday Obligation will be rescinded too.
I am excited to receive these changes and to see our parish return to its normal spiritual life. You are in my prayers, and I look forward to sharing our faith once again.
Sincerely Yours in Christ
Fr. John Van Hees
Pastor
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM FATHER JOHN
Merry Christmas Everyone
Fr. Hayden and I, and the staff at Holy Rosary Parish, would like to extend our prayers and best wishes to you this Christmas Season.
I pray that everyone is keeping well, especially during these difficult times.
Unfortunately, a parishioner unknowingly transmitted COVID to me, and this past week, I tested positive for COVID.
All the staff has tested negative and Fr. Hayden too, but we both have to quarantine because Fr. Hayden and I live in the same residence.
So sadly, we will not be joining you for the Christmas masses.
Yesterday, I was busy calling priests to see if we have coverage for all the masses, and I am so grateful to announce that we will be able to offer our proposed Christmas schedule.
Please extend a big thank you to Fr. Jim Petrie and Fr. Pierre Caouette, who will fill in for Fr. Hayden and me.
A big thank you to all our volunteers who will direct people, sacristans, Readers, Eucharistic Ministers, choirs, and disinfectors for all your efforts.
Please, everyone, be extra kind to our volunteers and express your gratitude. I am sure they will appreciate it.
May God continue to guide us and bless us, and lead us to the heart of his Son.
Sincerely yours in Christ
Fr. John Van Hees
Fr. Hayden and I, and the staff at Holy Rosary Parish, would like to extend our prayers and best wishes to you this Christmas Season.
I pray that everyone is keeping well, especially during these difficult times.
Unfortunately, a parishioner unknowingly transmitted COVID to me, and this past week, I tested positive for COVID.
All the staff has tested negative and Fr. Hayden too, but we both have to quarantine because Fr. Hayden and I live in the same residence.
So sadly, we will not be joining you for the Christmas masses.
Yesterday, I was busy calling priests to see if we have coverage for all the masses, and I am so grateful to announce that we will be able to offer our proposed Christmas schedule.
Please extend a big thank you to Fr. Jim Petrie and Fr. Pierre Caouette, who will fill in for Fr. Hayden and me.
A big thank you to all our volunteers who will direct people, sacristans, Readers, Eucharistic Ministers, choirs, and disinfectors for all your efforts.
Please, everyone, be extra kind to our volunteers and express your gratitude. I am sure they will appreciate it.
May God continue to guide us and bless us, and lead us to the heart of his Son.
Sincerely yours in Christ
Fr. John Van Hees
Holy Rosary Parish entering
Stage Three of Re-Opening
JULY 16, 2021
Dear Parishioners,
I hope you are well, enjoying the summer weather, and slowly spreading your wings as our province begins to loosen its restrictions. If you haven’t been back to church since the lockdown, I want to share with you the following changes to our liturgical practice as we enter Stage Three.
The following practices are not changed at this time:
We can easily accommodate 200 people in the church with social distancing. We have additional seating for 60 people in the parish hall, where sound and video of the Masses are displayed.
I would like you to consider coming back to mass. It is a joy to see children again and people praying together.
I look forward to seeing you soon, and please know you are in our prayers always.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. John Van Hees
I hope you are well, enjoying the summer weather, and slowly spreading your wings as our province begins to loosen its restrictions. If you haven’t been back to church since the lockdown, I want to share with you the following changes to our liturgical practice as we enter Stage Three.
- We may now resume the dialogue with individual communicants as they receive Holy Communion (The Body of Christ/Amen).
- Following diocesan consultation with medical advisors, the Bishop has given approval for the reception of Holy Communion on the tongue to now be permitted. However, those who wish to receive the Eucharist in this manner are to do so after all others have received Communion in the hand and are to receive Communion from the Priest. (We will start this at the Weekend Masses.)
The following practices are not changed at this time:
- One-way movement for church entry and exit is retained.
- All who participate in the liturgy are to sanitize their hands before entering the church, wear masks for the duration of the celebration and maintain physical distancing.
- Priests and Extraordinary Ministers of Communion must wear masks for the distribution of Communion.
- Music leadership is restricted to an instrumentalist and cantor only.
- The collection is to be received at the doors of the church, not during the Offertory.
- The dispensation from the Sunday Obligation remains in effect at this time.
We can easily accommodate 200 people in the church with social distancing. We have additional seating for 60 people in the parish hall, where sound and video of the Masses are displayed.
I would like you to consider coming back to mass. It is a joy to see children again and people praying together.
I look forward to seeing you soon, and please know you are in our prayers always.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. John Van Hees
june 2021 update from father john:
Dear Parishioners,
Recently, the Ford Government announced that the province would be moving into Stage One of the reopening process. This means on Saturday, June 12, our church will reopen for services at 15% capacity (100 people in the church and 26 people in the hall.) The adoration chapel will remain closed, and the parish office will return to regular office hours. Please note, the same protocols are in place for health and safety (i.e., masks, hand-sanitizing, spacing, and contact tracing, etc.) A big “thank you” when you come to church with your little slips of paper with your name and contact information.
Starting next week, we will begin our Summer Schedule for weekday masses. Baptisms will resume beginning in July.
Here is the mass schedule for this coming week:
Saturday, June 12: 5:00 pm, Reconciliation 5:40 until complete
Sunday, June 13: 8:30 am, 10 am, 11:30 am
Tuesday, June 15: 7:00 pm, Reconciliation 7:40 until complete
Wednesday, June 16: 9:00 am
Thursday, June 17: 9:00 am
Friday, June 18: 9:00 am
I want to express my deep gratitude for the support we received from our volunteers who helped us with the live-streaming of our masses during the shut-down. Their faith and generosity are greatly appreciated. We look forward to seeing everyone soon and thank you for your prayers and support.
God bless,
Fr. John
Recently, the Ford Government announced that the province would be moving into Stage One of the reopening process. This means on Saturday, June 12, our church will reopen for services at 15% capacity (100 people in the church and 26 people in the hall.) The adoration chapel will remain closed, and the parish office will return to regular office hours. Please note, the same protocols are in place for health and safety (i.e., masks, hand-sanitizing, spacing, and contact tracing, etc.) A big “thank you” when you come to church with your little slips of paper with your name and contact information.
Starting next week, we will begin our Summer Schedule for weekday masses. Baptisms will resume beginning in July.
Here is the mass schedule for this coming week:
Saturday, June 12: 5:00 pm, Reconciliation 5:40 until complete
Sunday, June 13: 8:30 am, 10 am, 11:30 am
Tuesday, June 15: 7:00 pm, Reconciliation 7:40 until complete
Wednesday, June 16: 9:00 am
Thursday, June 17: 9:00 am
Friday, June 18: 9:00 am
I want to express my deep gratitude for the support we received from our volunteers who helped us with the live-streaming of our masses during the shut-down. Their faith and generosity are greatly appreciated. We look forward to seeing everyone soon and thank you for your prayers and support.
God bless,
Fr. John
update on contact tracing:
Some Good News Everyone,
We have been informed by Halton Health that places of worship do not have to record parishioner’s contact information when they are participating at a particular mass.
Thank you for being so supportive with your slips of paper and contact information before the last shut down, but this new announcement will better improve arrival times in the church.
God bless and see you soon.
Sincerely yours in Christ
Fr. John
We have been informed by Halton Health that places of worship do not have to record parishioner’s contact information when they are participating at a particular mass.
Thank you for being so supportive with your slips of paper and contact information before the last shut down, but this new announcement will better improve arrival times in the church.
God bless and see you soon.
Sincerely yours in Christ
Fr. John