St. Joseph The Worker Parish
Parish Office Regular Hours
Tue - Friday: 8:30am - 3:30pm
Sat, Sun, Monday: Closed
Message from the Chancery: Directives for the restart of Mass
Our churches prepare with joy to reopen to celebrate the Sacred Liturgy together! Please see the Restart General Directives and Restart Liturgical Directives: Restart-Directives- Restart Directives May 27 2021 and Restart-Liturgical-Directives -- Restart Liturgical Directives May 27 2021. Each parish must take responsibility for following these directives, and make the appropriate adaptations for their individual communities based upon size and available resources. These documents will also be available on the Diocesan website at: rcdvictoria response to COVID-19
Thanks,
Margaret Gwyn
Executive Assistant to the Bishop and the Chancellor
Diocese of Victoria
Mass Live-Streamed on Saturday
Mass will continue to be live-streamed on Saturdays, alternating between St. Joseph the Worker (6:00pm) and Sacred Heart (4:00pm)
Please click here for the link to livestream Masses
Bishop Gary Gordon's Statement of Apology and Commitment
Bishop Gary Gordon, on behalf of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria, has issued a statement of apology for the harm caused due to our complicity involved in the operations of the residential schools. He also expresses our commitment to the process of healing, reconciliation, and education regarding this tragic history.
Click Here to read Bishop Gary Gordon's Statement.
Bishop Gordon's Statement regarding Residential School in Kamloops
Bishop Gary Gordon has issued the following statement in light of the discovery of the remains of 215 children at the site of the former residential school in Kamloops.
Click Here to read the statement.
Bishop's 2021 Pentecost Letter
Bishop Gary Gordon has issued a letter of hope to all the faithful in the Diocese on the occasion of the upcoming season of Pentecost, reminding us that the Holy Spirit can come through the smallest cracks of closed doors to fill the hearts of all people of good will seeking light in times of darkness.
Click Here to read the Bishop's Letter.
CCCB - Resources
The CCCB collaborated with Salt+Light to produce and broadcast a special program entitled “A Catholic Response to Bill C-7”. The English and French programs are available on the Salt+Light website at the following links:
EN - https://saltandlighttv.org/blogfeed/getpost.php?id=100539
FR - https://seletlumieretv.org/blogfeed/getpost.php?id=25325
| Mon | No Mass |
| Tue | No Mass |
| Wed | 6:00pm |
| Thu | No Mass |
| Fri | 9:00am |
| Sat | 6:00pm |
| Sun | 11:00am, 6:00pm |
Click on link below to register to our parish:
TO REPORT SEXUAL ABUSE TO AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY
Click on button below
Fr. Alfie's Vlog//Blog
Here is the link to the latest edition of Fr. Alfie's Table, featuring Frittata!
Click Here to Watch
Please note that you can access all Fr. Alfie's past cooking episodes on youtube by clicking on the green bar at the top of the page under the title "Fr. Alfie's Table".
Sing along Songs
Here is a chance to sing along with Kathy Lokhorst from Christian Rocks Choir during social distancing. Check daily for the newest hymn.
Click here to Access Kathy's Playlist
Bible In A Year
Shawn Taylor, one of our musicians, invites you to follow this very uplifting podcast. Click below to listen to the latest episode of "The Bible in a Year" (with Fr. Mike Schmitz).
https://ascensionpress.com/pages/biy-registration
A Message from Society of St Vincent De Paul Vancouver Island
The needs of the less fortunate in our own local communities here in Victoria are very real… every day is a struggle for some. The simple things we take for granted are truly a luxury for others.
Support through:
- Cash & cheques using BLUE ENVELOPES inside your Church Donation Envelope box
- Through the online portal Canada Helps
- Through our SVDP website:
https://www.ssvpvancouverisland.ca
TAX ASSISTANCE IS HERE!!!
If you are or know someone that is low-income & need assistance with your 2020 tax preparation, the St. Vincent de Paul's Social Concern office has experienced volunteers to help.
https://www.ssvpvancouverisland.ca/support-programs/view/3-tax-preparation
Please reach out directly to our Conference President Stephanie Peters at stephanie.jm.peters@gmail.com or 250-514-7853 with any questions or if you are curious about becoming a member.
SCAMS - BEWARE: via email and text messages
Please find attached a copy of the Memo circulated last November from the Chief Financial Officer regarding Fraud.
/files/docs/Fraud_memo_2020.pdf
Please note that fraudulent email and text scams continue to circulate globally, masking the true identity of the scammer. Several versions of the correspondence have appeared alleging that the Bishop and/or Pastor needs assistance/funds and therefore require contact and banking information and/or direct purchase of “credit/play/google cards or ebay vouchers”.
These scams serve as a sad reminder that individuals, churches and charities are often the victims of fraud. The Bishop, clergy and/or staff members do not directly solicit funds. All donations for legitimate parish and diocesan activities are made through traditional verifiable methods (parish, Diocese, and/or charitable organization), NOT individuals. Please do not share personal banking information with anyone or any organization without verifying the authenticity, appropriateness and validity of the request, or call the Diocesan Finance Office at 250-479-1331. If you have been the victim of a financial scam, you are encouraged to make a report to the police.
Please find below an example of the latest scam circulating, which claimed to be from the Bishop (via a fake alias email address) …..
Subject: You there?
Great! Here's what I want you to do for me because I'll be busy for the rest of the day. I've been working on incentive and I aimed at surprising some of our diligent staff across the diocese with vouchers this week. I want to handle this personally and it should remain confidential until they all have the vouchers as it's a surprise.
I need you to get 25 qty of eBay voucher $100 value on each ( total $2500 ). You should get them at any store around. After you get them, scratch the back to reveal the voucher codes and take a clear picture of each card and send each picture separately to me here, So I can easily assign them to the individual's email. Please keep the physical cards and receipt for reference.
Alternatively, you can as well order for them from Amazon online and have it forwarded to my email here. You will be duly reimbursed for this.
Can you get this done?
There are no major parish events scheduled for the next 7 days.
More EventsDiocese News and Blogs
New Vision With New Neighbours
A new article has just been posted on the Diocesan blog about the plans for the St. Joseph’s School property in Chemainus. The text of the article is copied below, or you can find the article online at:
rcdvictoriadiocesanblog/new-vision-with-new-neighbours
The Year of St. Joseph
If you’ve been following our News posts, you’ll know that we’re in the middle of a special week for Life and the Family and a special month of prayer to our Mother Mary, for an end to the pandemic. Well, this year is special too: back in December, Pope Francis proclaimed the Year of St. Joseph, beginning on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8th), and continuing to the same feast in 2021.
https://www.rcdvictoria.org/news/the-year-of-st.-joseph
Join Pope Francis in prayer for an end to the pandemic
May is always a month dedicated to our Blessed Mother Mary. This year, Pope Francis is encouraging Catholics across the globe to mark the month in a special way, with a “marathon” of prayer for an end to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Each day in May at 9:00 am Pacific Time, Vatican News will broadcast a recitation of the Rosary from various Marian Shrines around the world. The broadcasts can be viewed on line at: https://www.vaticannews.va/en.html
Bishop Gary hopes that Catholics in the Diocese of Victoria will participate. “This is a very worthy initiative,” he says, “an amazing learning and praying experience at the beginning of the day to create an awareness of our global interconnectedness as brothers and sisters.”
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry!
Image: Window in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Langford, BC
It’s a happy day for the Diocese of Victoria – Bishop Gary received his first Covid-19 vaccine dose on April 14th! 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:
More background from the Canadian Council of Catholic Bishops:
And the official word from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith:
Click here for official word from Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
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:
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 button to connect to our location on the CanadaHelps website and make an online donation by credit card or gift of securities:
(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.
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
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!