Dear St. Joe’s parishioners,

On this Third Sunday of Easter and on the seventh Sunday that we reflect and pray in the stillness of our homes or with our immediate family, we are sharing with you some pastoral resources and a parish update. Thank you to parishioner Raphael Amato for offering this weekend’s reflection on the Road to Emmaus; the reflection is available as both a video recording, as well as in full text format. And thanks to Jamie Loback for preparing the resources below:

Pastoral/Liturgical Resources:

• Third Sunday of Easter – April 26, 2020 – Liturgy of the Word for use at home
• READINGS FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
• READINGS FOR CHILDREN – Third Sunday of Easter
• Third Sunday of Easter – 2020 – Prayers of the Faithful

Parish Update:

• We are saddened by the news that parishioner John Kroetch died on April 21, 2020. We are including below the obituary, which appeared in the Ottawa Citizen on April 24, 2020, and ask that you keep John and his family in your prayers:
  • “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of John “Jack” Kroetch, aged 80, on April 21, 2020, in Ottawa. John was the devoted husband of the late Rosa Nonone and cherished father of son John Martin and daughter Andrea (Michael). He was much loved and will be sorely missed by his siblings Ed, Catherine, Donna, and Rick, as well as his many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. John is predeceased by his parents, John and Mary, his sister Margaret, and his brothers Martin, Tom, Lorne, Don, and Brian. John was a kind, generous, gregarious, and loving man, and his charismatic personality cultivated lasting friendships wherever he went. He took pride in the many years he served the Church and the community in both Canada and Peru, and in his subsequent career as a social worker. John had a keen sense of awe in the mystery of life and a remarkable ability to make the most out of it. John will be greatly missed and forever remembered in the hearts and memories of those fortunate to have known him. A celebration of life ceremony will be held at a later date when it is safe to gather. The family would like to thank all the team at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, Section B2, for the care they showed John in his last days. In lieu of flowers, a donation to St. Joe’s Supper Table would be appreciated.”
• St. Joe’s Supper Table Food Bank: Over the past three weeks, Ryan Mitchell, with help from Marsha Wilson, served a total of over 150 Sandy Hill residents on Thursdays and Fridays at our 151 Laurier Avenue East food bank. This Friday, Ryan also delivered food hampers to the homes of 16 residents. On Thursday, April 30, 2020, Ryan will assist with a pop-up food bank initiative in Strathcona Heights, working with partners in Sandy Hill, and operating the Link2Feed Database in order to provide the Ottawa Food Bank with the information and numbers that they need.
• The St. Joe’s Women’s Centre asked me to share this message with our parish community:

  

  “Dear Parishioners, Supporters and Friends of St. Joe’s Women’s Centre, First and foremost, all the staff at St. Joe’s Women’s Centre, hope that you are doing well and staying safe in these uncertain times. Some tips to help you cope during this time:

  • Take breaks from watching, reading or listening to news stories. – Staying informed is important but giving your mind a break is equally important.
  • Take care of your body. – Walk, stretch, meditate, get adequate sleep.  Make time to unwind. – In these stressful times it is important to be gentle with yourself. Be sure to give yourself time for self care.
  • Connect with others. – Phone calls, facetime, social media. Connect with others often to prevent feelings of isolation and loneliness.
  • Joe’s Women’s Centre, although closed, continues to support our participants and community. In-office supportive counselling sessions have become online sessions, phone call check in’s and email support. Meetings with City representative and public health have become phone conferences and zoom meetings. Our Food Cupboard, Baby Supplies & Pet Food Program may be closed but we have ensured these items have been donated to initiatives who have the capacity to deliver to our participants and those vulnerable. In emergency situations, staff have delivered essentials to those in need. For those that are alone and isolated, a friendly face and wave is immeasurable. We are grateful for your thoughts and prayers during these difficult times. If you or someone you know is in need of support, please contact us at jclark@st-josephs.ca.  Stay Safe & Stay Strong, Jennifer Clark, Executive Assistant.“
• Are you isolated or do you know of a parishioner who is feeling alone? Andrew Pump is here to give parishioners who would like to chat a call. Please email: apump@st-josephs.ca.
• Sunday offering for April 19, 2020: $5,625. Thank you for your continued generosity! If you normally use Sunday envelopes for your offering and would like to continue giving during the lockdown, please consider using Canada Helps. You may choose the Parish fund of your choice through this form: http://www.st-josephs.ca/about/donations/ 
• Sharing prayer requests: I would like to encourage you to share your prayer requests with our St. Joe’s faith community using the “comments” form on the bottom of this page. Please consider submitting your prayer request through this interactive form. All comments submitted to the parish site are initially placed in a moderation queue. I will check this queue twice per day (in the morning and evening), and your prayer will be published below shortly thereafter.

Thank you for all your feedback on these efforts to keep St. Joe’s connected!

Peace,

Christopher Adam
Parish Executive Director