Diocese of Montreal

COMMUNIQUÉ No. 9 — May 12, 2020

INFORMATION to Pastors, Parish Pastoral Teams and Religious Congregations

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, dedicated to evangelization in the diocese of

Montreal, here is some useful information regarding projected activities:

 

1.    While Quebec is currently starting a gradual “deconfinement”,

Greater Montreal is facing a more difficult situation resulting in additional

delays. Despite this, we are actively developing plans to implement

various stages of church-related “deconfinement.”

 

The Assembly of Quebec Catholic Bishops (AÉCQ) is leading this

process in co-operation with other religious leaders and in discussion

with government and public-health authorities. Things could reopen

soon, at least outside of Montreal. Moreover, the measures adopted

elsewhere can eventually be applied here, and we will be in a position to

fine-tune the process by following developments in other regions.

 

A working group, led by Fr. Jean-Chrysostome Zoloshi, has been set up

to receive practical ideas regarding “deconfinement.” You can send him

 

your suggestions  ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ). He is in direct

contact with the AÉCQ secretariat. Archbishop Lépine, a member of the

AÉCQ executive, is following developments very closely.

 

We are expecting to receive an approved protocol from the AÉCQ in a

few days. It will serve as the basis for our diocesan orientations and

strategies. As in other spheres of public activity, we can expect that a

Public Health announcement will then be made. This usually entails a

period of preparation enabling the concerned groups to implement the

necessary measures beforehand.

 

Now is the time for us to prepare, even if the time for our

“deconfinement” has not, as yet, arrived. By the beginning of June, we

hope to communicate to pastoral teams and others involved in the

Church, some information concerning:

 

A.    The gradual resumption of our activities, particularly liturgical

celebrations:

 

a)    The stages of “deconfinement” envisaged,

b)    A provisional timetable,

c)    An overview of concrete guidelines that will make this possible.

B.    The gradual return to work for pastoral and support staff, especially

in the parishes:

a)    Occupational health and safety practices,

 

b)    Pre-planned holiday/vacation time this summer,

c)    Salaries for pastoral and support personnel, taking into account the

end or the extension of the financial support measures introduced by the

Federal Government and considering the financial situation of parishes.

C.    An overview of pastoral activity in the Church for Fall 2020 and

Winter/Spring 2021:

a)    Given the postponement of many celebrations of Christian initiation,

  weddings and funerals,

b)    Given the suspension of most catechetical activities and the

continuation   of some through virtual activities, to various degrees, in

the parishes,

c)    Given the possible prolongation of the pandemic, the concerns of

parents, the situation of pastoral and catechetical leaders, some of

whom are more "at risk,"

d)    It is anticipated that, for some parishes, a “completion” of the

activities related to the year 2019-2020 calls for postponing and even

rethinking both the traditional start of the activities of 2020-2021 as well

as the nature and the form of these very activities. To do so, a

neighbourhood approach – which necessitates collaboration among

parishes in the same area – should guide the initiatives we adopt.

Together with his diocesan councils and in co-operation with the different

pastoral areas, the Archbishop is working to create realistic scenarios to

address various situations.

2.    Thursday May 14: Day for Human Solidarity and Dignity of the

Person

I would also like to draw your attention to two convergent initiatives being

held May 14: one to promote fraternity and the other, dignity of the

human person.

 

a)    Day of prayer, fasting and charitable work for humanity: Pope

Francis invites all believers of all religious traditions and people of

goodwill to join spiritually in a day of prayer, fasting and works of charity

to ask for divine assistance so that humanity can overcome the

pandemic caused by the coronavirus.

b)    Mass for Life: Archbishop Christian Lépine will preside on May, 14,

at 8 a.m., a special Mass to celebrate the dignity of life, the family and

the most vulnerable among us, including their loved ones and their

caregivers. This Mass will be celebrated in conjunction with the National

March for Life (www.marchforlife.ca), which would have taken place that

same day. Mass will be celebrated in camera (privately) at Mary Queen

of the World Cathedral and can be watched live

(https://seletlumieretv.org/messe/).

 

3.    Communication to nourish hope

a)    Archbishop Lépine is publishing his most recent pastoral letter, titled

“The Primacy of Spiritual Life.” It will be posted soon on the diocesan

website: https://www.diocesemontreal.org/en/covid-19.

b)    Parishes that use the Weekly Parish Bulletin service

(http://www.semainierparoissial.com/paroisses_.html ) can continue to

publish their bulletin online. Parishes are urged to use all means of

communication available to them to keep parishioners informed of the

latest parish news, find the schedule for online celebrations, and receive

messages from their pastor and the Archdiocese.

Much remains unclear, and many concerns may yet arise. For some

time now, we had undertaken the project “Working together for the

missionary transformation of our Church.” Like many construction sites

throughout Quebec, we might think that this one, too, had stopped or

 

has been put on hold. In faith, we can attest that, very much to the

contrary, the Lord, undoubtedly by challenging us, gives it unexpected

impetus, making it all the more pressing. The Resurrection that we have

just celebrated has strengthened us in our conviction: the Lord is present

and active among his people.

In this hope, may He help us to remain patient and to persevere!

 

+Alain Faubert, VG 

Auxiliary Bishop of Montréal