Welcome Back to St. Ann Parish
June 12, 2020
St. Ann Parish is doing everything we can to prevent the spreading of the virus. Although we can’t guarantee that no one will contract the virus in the church, with your help, by following the guidelines below we can reduce the risk to an acceptable level. To that end you are asked to:
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Stay home if:
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you feel ill or tired or achy
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you have a high temperature
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you have a cough
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you have lost your appetite
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you are short of breath
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you have excessive sputum
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Use hand sanitizer before entering the church
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Follow the guidance of the ushers and sit only where directed
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Exercise social distancing (6 feet or 2 meters) at all times
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Avoid touching your face
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Avoid touching others
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Listen carefully and follow the instructions of the presiding priest and ushers especially regarding the reception of Holy Communion and orderly exiting the church after Mass.
Please note that if you are sick or your health is compromised you are not obligated to attend Sunday Mass.
June 10, 2020
Dear parishioners of St. Ann’s,
It is with great joy that I inform you that we will be reopening this Friday June 12. It has been a very difficult three months of lockdown but with praise and thanksgiving to Our Lord Jesus Christ we now have the opportunity to resume weekday and weekend Masses. There are a few changes to note:
• Masks are encouraged but not mandatory.
• Hand sanitizer is provided at the entrance to the church.
• Pews will be marked with black tape as to where people are to sit. People who do not live in the same house are to sit 2 meters (6 feet) apart side-to-side and back-to-front. This means that only every second pew will be used.
• Spots marked with black tape in the middle aisle indicate where people are to stand when approaching for Holy Communion.
• The church is permitted to seat at 30 percent capacity. That is approximately 60 people for St. Ann’s. Because it would be near impossible to seat more than 50 people in the church at 6 feet apart, I will be offering an extra Mass on Sundays to accommodate the need for more space.
• It is important that we do not have more than 60 people at any one Mass, so I am requesting that people spread out their Mass attendance between the four weekend Masses: 5:00pm Saturday, 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am Sunday.
• There will be no collection or bringing up the gifts during Mass. People will be able to place their offering in a basket at the end of Mass at they depart. E-transfers will continue for those who prefer this method.
• Parishioners are asked not to congregate at the end of Mass and to depart the church in a manner that respects the distancing requirements.
• There will no be coffee Sunday, Children’s Liturgy or Youth Ministry for the time being.
• If any other relevant information is received from the Diocese it will be forwarded to you.
I am requesting the aid of a small group of volunteers to implement these diocesan guidelines. It would be a big help to have at least one usher per Mass to help seat people, to supervise the collection, and to help wipe down pews after Mass.
The weekday and weekend Mass schedules remain the same, with a 8:00am Mass added on Sunday morning. The Holy Hour on Monday evening at 7:00pm is back on as of this coming Monday June 15. Office hours resume Wednesday and Friday 9:00am-2:00pm.
I look forward to seeing all of you again very soon!
In Christ,
Fr. Chad Grennan, Pastor
May 31, 2020
Dear parishioners of St. Ann’s,
We have now reached the conclusion of the Easter Season with the great Solemnity of Pentecost, the day on which the risen Lord Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to His disciples:
On the day of Pentecost when the seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, Christ's Passover is fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, manifested, given, and communicated as a divine person: of his fullness, Christ, the Lord, pours out the Spirit in abundance. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 731)
This was not the first time they received the Holy Spirit, and it would not be the last: the Holy Spirit continuously sanctifies the Church, and moves every believer’s soul with His inspirations. We receive special outpourings of the Spirit at our Baptism and Confirmation. Pentecost makes clearer how much God the Holy Trinity wants to be in communion with us:
On that day, the Holy Trinity is fully revealed. Since that day, the Kingdom announced by Christ has been open to those who believe in him: in the humility of the flesh and in faith, they already share in the communion of the Holy Trinity. By his coming, which never ceases, the Holy Spirit causes the world to enter into the "last days," the time of the Church, the Kingdom already inherited though not yet consummated. (CCC, 732)
All of us, without exception, are invited into the fellowship of the Holy Trinity! God invites us to be in communion with Him, which He makes real through the Holy Spirit. May we continuously say yes to His invitation.
I refer you to the Bishop’s latest memo (May 29) on the parish website (https://www.stannfenwick.com). While there is no firm date for reopening parishes, discussions have begun. I pray that you are well and it is my great hope to see you all very soon. Please continue to pray for me as I do for you. May Our Lord and Our Lady protect you.
In Christ,
Fr. Chad Grennan, pastor
April 18, 2020
Dear parishioners of St. Ann’s,
The Lord is risen, He is risen indeed! We sing Alleluia as we joyfully contemplate and celebrate Our Lord’s Resurrection from the dead. He has definitively conquered death and has given us a share in His life! We have reason, then, for great hope: He is risen and He is with us. Almighty God is alive and is so close to us, so there is no need to fear: “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31). We celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday this weekend, and we read in St. Faustina’s Diary (she who was known as the apostle of Divine Mercy):
When I look into the future, I am frightened,
But why plunge into the future?
Only the present moment is special to me,
As the future may never enter my soul at all.
It is no longer in my power,
To change, correct or add to the past;
For neither sages nor prophets could do that
And so, what the past has embraced I must entrust to God.
Embracing the present moment, trusting in Divine Mercy, with God’s grace we will walk as His beloved children “[o]ffering You each day this heart/Burning with love for your greater glory” (St. Faustina, Diary).
I wish all of you a very Happy Easter. I pray for you daily. As this lockdown continues let’s continue to pray for each other and remain close to Our Lord and Our Lady. May God bless you.
In Christ,
Fr. Chad Grennan
March 30, 2020
Dear parishioners of St. Ann’s parish,
Several questions have arisen concerning church donations. The diocese has instructed us that people can either mail their cheques/contributions to the parish or keep their envelopes until the churches reopen. Donations for special collections (Good Friday/Holy Land and Development and Peace (Share Lent) will also be accepted. We are also arranging for donations to be made through e-transfer. This may take a few days but we will post a notice when this is available. If there are any questions regarding this, please email the church office and we will get back to you promptly.
People can also donate here by specifying the parish: http://www.saintcd.com/donate-now/. Donations should not be left in the mailbox at the church because it is not secure.
Thank you for your great generosity and may Our Lord and Our Lady keep you,
Fr. Chad Grennan, pastor
March 26, 2020—UPDATED
Dear parishioners of St. Ann’s parish,
I want to extend my greetings to all of you and to assure you of my continued prayers. Your spiritual and physical well-being are most important. I look forward to seeing you all again very soon. Please pray for me. Our Lord and Our Lady will be our sure supports. I remain available at the parish if you wish to contact me by phone (905-892-6123) or email (frchadgrennan@gmail.com). Here are some items of note:
• The church will remain closed for the time being. The Cathedral in St. Catharines has limited hours. See March 26 memo from Bishop Bergie.
• All weekend Masses and all weekday Masses have been cancelled until April 18, 2020.
• Holy Week liturgies have been cancelled.
• Cancellations include Holy Hour and Stations of the Cross; gatherings of all other parish groups have also been cancelled.
• The confessions scheduled for March 28, 10:00am to 2:00pm have been cancelled across the diocese. The Sacrament of Confession is available by appointment.
• Please remember to pray, pray, pray daily. The power of prayer is immense and indescribable. Let us not forget to pray for each other. You may also wish to use daily this Spiritual Communion prayer below.
May God bless abundantly each and every one of you,
Fr. Chad Grennan, pastor
Spiritual Communion
My Jesus
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.