Diocese News and Blogs

It’s a happy day for the Diocese of Victoria – Bishop Gary received his first Covid-19 vaccine dose this morning!  We haven’t beat this virus yet, but every time someone gets their shot, we’re one step closer to the day when we can get back to the liturgical gatherings, activities, visits and community we’ve all been missing.

Are you curious about the ethical issues around the Covid-19 vaccine?  Is it okay for a Catholic to get vaccinated?  The short answer is yes! 

Here’s a great summary from The Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories:

https://www.cccb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020_12_02_Letter-to-the-faithful-on-Vaccines.pdf_English.pdf

More background from the Canadian Council of Catholic Bishops:

https://www.cccb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/CLARIFICATION-CCCB-Statement-on-COVID-19-Vaccine-Choice-9-March-2021-EN.pdf

And the official word from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith:

https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20201221_nota-vaccini-anticovid_en.html

Please continue, in the words of Dr. Bonnie Henry, to be kind, to be calm, and to be safe!

Donate

We know that COVID-19 and the resulting economic slow down has effected many of you personally. Given that financial uncertainty is greater than ever we understand that some of you will no longer be able to give to the parish at your regular level and those on automatic debit may need to cancel their contributions. If you need to cancel or change your automatic payments, please contact the parish office at 250-479-7413 or at email: 

sjtwparish@rcdvictoria.org

To make it convenient for those that are able to contribute there are new online and remote options now available:

Canada Helps online donation platform - To support ministry at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, click on the following link to connect to our location on the CanadaHelps website and make an online donation by credit card or gift of securities:

Donate Now

(immediate electronic tax receipt issued by Canada Helps)

E transfers:

a) Go to your on-line banking site

b) Select Transfer/pay bills

c) Select e-transfer (or electronic transfer)

d) Follow the steps outlined by your bank

e) Send funds to:

sjtwparish@rcdvictoria.org

No password is needed

f) Any special instructions may be added to  notes/memo area.

Credit Cards:

Complete the attached Payment Authorization Form for Credit Card Donations and email to the parish office or contact the parish.

Payment Authorization Form for_Credit Card Donations

Pre-authorized Debit:

Complete the attached PAD Agreement Form and email to the parish office or contact parish.

PAD Agreement

We are very grateful that you are part of our Catholic parish family.  May God bless you and your families.

Online Marriage Preparation Course

During this time, we are offering our Marriage Preparation Course fully online, and couples will be able to work through the program at their own pace. The cost is $125 per couple, and the price also includes an online individualized couple assessment as well as a liturgy planning guide.

For more information, go to: https://bit.ly/3hzgRGW OR find the course on Eventbrite. You may also find the information on the Diocese website.

Questions? Contact Louis Melendez at lmelendez@rcdvictoria.org  OR 250-479-1331 ext 237.

GRATITUDE IN CHALLENGING TIMES

The 9-10 Club soup kitchen sends our heartfelt thanks to the generous parishioners of the Diocese of Victoria:  first to St. Andrew’s Cathedral, who 37 years ago this month gave us a home; then to all the parishioners of Greater Victoria, who have helped in your own way. You have given us your time – as volunteers, your wisdom, your monetary support, and most recently your home baked goods for our pandemic takeout meals. We cannot overstate our gratitude to you!

Because of the pandemic, we can no longer invite our diners inside to eat and now provide a take-out service.  We look forward to the day when we may welcome back into our home those who depend on us for sustenance. In the meantime, though twice as costly, with your continued financial support, our takeout service will carry on providing hearty meals until that joyous day!

If you are able to, please donate either online through Canada Helps, https://www.canadahelps.org/

or by sending a cheque to:

9-10 Club Serving Soup to the Hungry, 740 View Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1J8.

Thanks!