The attached letter outlines the plans for this upcoming year.

This week we kick off the Bishop’s Appeal along with all other parishes and missions throughout our Diocese. The 2021 Appeal theme, Spirit of Hope – Healing & Reconciliation, encourages us to create a path of accompaniment and relationship with Indigenous peoples. With the help of the Holy Spirit and through your generosity we can support the need for healing & reconciliation.

Please find attached a memo from Bishop Gary about recent updates to BC’s mask mandate. To summarize: masks are now required for all activities inside church buildings, including worship services, for all people born in 2012 or earlier (ages 9 and up).

The Bishops of Canada, as a tangible expression of their commitment to walk with the Indigenous Peoples of this land along the pathway of hope, are making a nation-wide collective financial commitment to support healing and reconciliation initiatives for residential school survivors, their families, and their communities.

A new statutory holiday announced by the federal government in June, was created in response to one of the 94 Calls to Action released in 2015. The chosen date of Sept. 30th coincides with Orange Shirt Day, and is an opportunity to promote awareness about the residential school system and its continuing legacy, as well as an opportunity for us to move forward together in a spirit of hope. In addition to the stat holiday, #everychildmatters - a movement centered around Orange Shirt Day - is growing into Truth and Reconciliation Week for 2021. From Sept. 27th to Oct.1st, a full week of educational programming - including videos created by Indigenous storytellers, and conversations with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and survivors - along with artistic and cultural performances, will be shared online. Registration is FREE to the general public; please click on the title for more information.

Towards an even wider “We”: Dreaming as one human family. Click the title for Pope Francis' prayer. https://migrants-refugees.va/world-day-of-migrants-refugees/

by the Catholic Bishops of Canada to the Indigenous Peoples of This Land

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria is seeking an Administrative Assistant to act on behalf of the Judicial Vicar and the Marriage Tribunal in a confidential and professional manner. Click the title for the full job description.

We are seeking a full-time Computer Technician to assist and support Island Catholic Schools and the Roman Catholic Diocese by installing, maintaining and repairing computers and networks. As a computer technician you must be well-versed in computer systems, software and IT infrastructure. The ideal candidate will be able to work diligently and accurately and will possess excellent problem-solving ability. The goal is to install and maintain high quality networks and computer systems. Click title for the full Job Description

Message from the Chancery: Mask mandate, proof of vaccination and worship services

September 1st marks the beginning of the Season of Creation, an annual ecumenical celebration of prayer and action for our common home. During the Season, which runs til the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4th, Christians around the world are called to renew their relationship with the Creator and with creation through celebration, conversion and commitment. There is an attachment story about Abraham's Tent, and why it was chosen as the Logo, "A home for all", posted below in June 2021.

On Sunday, August 15, 2021, over 200 people from Indigenous and Catholic communities gathered in the church hall at Our Lady of the Rosary for an evening of truth, reconciliation, healing, and affirming the path of friendship. Ha-Shilth-Sa, Canada's oldest First Nations newspaper, wrote an article about the gathering which you can read by clicking the title. There is more about this story also on the diocesan website here: https://www.rcdvictoria.org/special-announcements/truth-reconciliation-healing-and-affirming-the-path-of-friendship

The Pastoral Care Outreach Training series will again be offered online this fall. Nine free sessions will be held via Zoom on Saturday mornings from 9:30 – noon, starting on September 25 and running til November 20, 2021 (with a break on October 9 for Thanksgiving). Through our Baptism we are called to be loving brothers and sisters to all, and to care for the vulnerable, the sick and the marginalized. These sessions will help participants to gain knowledge and skills to actively live this calling, either as volunteer visitors to the sick and shut-ins, or as caregivers for their family members. Participants will require a phone number and email address; a computer, tablet or smartphone with speakers, microphone and webcam; and a reliable internet connection. To register, please contact your parish office. For further information, please email moiraking@shaw.ca

BC mask mandate and worship services

Restart Step 3 GENERAL AND LITURGICAL DIRECTIVES - updated

Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) has launched a global fundraising effort to support the response by Jesuits and Jesuit organizations in Haiti following the devastating impacts of the earthquake of August 14th 2021.

Bishop Gary Gordon's statement in response to the disclosure of more than 160 unmarked graves on the site of the former Kuper Island Indian Residential School

As we enjoy these happier days, we continue to pray for the many people and places which are still suffering the devastating effects of this pandemic. With God’s help, may they soon find peace and healing so that our global joy may be complete.