07/06/2024
(Pastoral Appointements)
Dear parishioners,
Many people over the years have presented me with compliments about certain talents and abilities that are put forward in my priestly ministry. I always welcome those compliments with humility, knowing that it is by God’s grace that I have them. However, if there is a secret I could reveal to you, it is that these talents and abilities have been possible and have flourished in my priestly ministry due to one pivotal virtue that I try to nurture in my priesthood : that is : obedience.
Now, obedience has a negative connotation in today’s world, and many are resistant to the idea of its existence. Part of it is because many have a wrong understanding of what is obedience. Many think that being obedient is answering “how high?” to a superior who asks you to jump.
What I liked about the French version of Ritual of ordination (to the diaconate and to the priesthood) is that the promise of obedience is presented this way : “Do you promise to live in communion with your bishop and his successor through respect and obedience?” Herein we see that the overall idea is to be in communion with the bishop, and not becoming a rogue priest that thinks of himself as the ultimate centrepoint. This communion with the bishop is lived in a dialogue, looking at the bigger picture of the diocese and the universal Church, and discerning to serve in the best way possible the People of God entrusted to us.
In my 22 years of ministry, I have put energy into living this communion with the bishop. At times it meant that I was asked for my opinion and ideas on various situations the bishops needed to make a decision for the good of the diocese. But it would be presumptuoous of me to think that I have the monopoly of wisdom and discernment. With life experience, I know that God is speaking to me through the discernment of other priests in the diocese.
I have been clear on this repeatedly and on numerous occasions since the time that I was given responsibilities of the parishes of Eganville, Pikwakanagan, and Cormac : I was hoping to stay here for as long as possible. I was even praying it would take a long time to get a new bishop for me to stay here, and I was lining up to ask the next bishop to keep me here.
Now, since the announcement of Fr. Tim Moyle’s retirement a few weeks ago, I’ve been dreading a call from our diocesan administrator. I even wrote to him in the hours following that announcement to express again my desire to stay here.
However, as I said, I don’t have the monopoly of wisdom and discernment. God does speak to me through others, and Fr. Holly who had to make the dreaded call was not alone in making the decision of asking me to move to another parish. In the weeks between Fr. Moyle’s retirement’s announcement and the time of Fr. Holly called me to ask me to move to St-Jean-Baptiste, I have had time to pray over the possibility that I would be asked to move somewhere.
Let’s be realistic : in the grand history of our diocese, me being appointed to Eganville, Pikwakanagan, and Cormac, is kind of a road accident : it defied all habitual ways of doing things. It was just a matter of time before the French-bilingual that I am would be sent back into a French or bilingual parish, and Fr. Moyle’s retirement has accelerated that happening : we have no spare French-bilingual priest.
And so, on August 1st, I will be transferred to St-Jean-Baptiste in Pembroke, the parish I was first assigned for my internship in 2000 after finishing seminary (and before ordination), and where I was also parish administrator for a brief period in 2011. There, like here, like everywhere else, I will be facing the challenges of low attendance and financial hardships : all parishes are in the same boat.
It has been a grace and a pleasure to be your parish administrator these last few months. I hope that, in the midst of the various challenges that I have presented you and the changes that I have brought forward, I haven’t rocked the boat too hard.
As we still have a few weeks before that transfer, we can look at having an informal get-together sometime around Sunday, July 21st. Thank you for your understanding. Please look at the bigger picture of our diocese and the necessity for this move to take place. Welcome Fr. Michael Lund, presently in Douglas, with the same open heart you have welcomed me. I will keep you in my prayers, and ask you to keep me in yours. God bless you all!
Father Réal
Pastoral Appointments / Nominations pastorales
Reverend George Ryan Holly, diocesan administrator, announces the following appointments:
Retirement
Reverend Timothy MOYLE retires from parish ministry on 30 June 2024.
The Diocese extends gratitude and appreciation to Father Moyle and wishes him good health in this new chapter of his priestly ministry.
Newly Ordained
Rev Mr. Lukas ČASTA, upon ordination to the Priesthood on 29 June 2024, is assigned as parochial vicar to St. Francis Xavier Parish, Renfrew and Most Precious Blood Parish, Calabogie.
Departure from the Diocese
Rev. Paweł RATAJCZAK, O.M.I., has been assigned by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate as Program Director of Queen of Apostles Retreat Centre in Mississauga, effective 1 September 2024.
The Diocese extends gratitude to Father Pawel for his priestly ministry in the Diocese of Pembroke.
Parish Administrators
Rev. James BEANISH is appointed administrator of St. Andrew Parish, Killaloe, and Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Brudenell, effective 1 July 2024.
Rev. Daniel JANULEWICZ, O.M.I., is appointed administrator of St. Mary Parish, Wilno, and St. Casimir Parish, Round Lake, for a period of at least one year, effective immediately.
Rev. William KENNEY is appointed administrator of St. Michael Parish, Douglas, St. Pius V Parish, Osceola and Sacred Heart Mission, Cobden for a period of one year, effective 1 August 2024.
Rev. Michael LUND is appointed administrator of St. James the Less Parish, Eganville, Nativity of Our Lady Mission, Pikwàkanagàn, and St. Ann Parish, Cormac, effective 1 August 2024.
Rev. Cyril OKEBANAMA, S.M.M.M., is appointed administrator of St. Anne Parish, Mattawa, Ste Bernadette Parish, Bonfield, Sacred Heart Parish, Corbeil and St-Thomas-d’Aquin Parish, Astorville, effective 1 July 2024.
Rev. Réal OUELLETTE is appointed administrator of St-Jean-Baptiste Parish, Pembroke, effective 1 August 2024.
Rev. Michal PAJAK, O.M.I., is appointed administrator of St. Hedwig Parish, Barry’s Bay for a period of at least one year, effective 1 September 2024.
Rev. Fortunatus RUDAKEMWA is appointed administrator of St-Thérèse Parish, Témiscaming and Our
Lady of the Lake Mission, Kipawa, effective 1 August 2024.
Rev. Christopher SHALLA will continue to assist with coverage in parishes as his health allows.
7 June 2024
Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
***
Le P. George Ryan Holly, administrateur diocésain, annonce les nominations suivantes:
Retraite
Le P. Timothy MOYLE prend sa retraite du ministère paroissial le 30 juin 2024.
Le diocèse exprime sa gratitude et son appréciation au père Moyle et lui souhaite une bonne santé dans ce nouveau chapitre de son ministère sacerdotal.
Nouvellement ordonné
Le diacre Lukas ČASTA, après son ordination à la prêtrise le 29 juin 2024, sera vicaire paroissial à la
paroisse St. Francis Xavier, Renfrew, et à la paroisse Most Precious Blood, Calabogie.
Départ du diocèse
Le P. Paweł RATAJCZAK, O.M.I., est nommé par les Oblats de Marie Immaculée comme directeur des
programmes au Queen of the Apostles Retreat Centre à Mississauga, à compter du 1er septembre 2024.
Le diocèse exprime sa gratitude au père Pawel pour son ministère sacerdotal dans le diocèse de
Pembroke.
Administrateurs de paroisse
Le P. James BEANISH est nommé administrateur de la paroisse St. Andrew, à Killaloe, et de la paroisse Our Lady of the Angels, à Brudenell, à compter du 1er juillet 2024.
Le P. Daniel JANULEWICZ, O.M.I., est nommé administrateur de la paroisse St. Mary, Wilno, et de la
paroisse St. Casimir, Round Lake, pour une période d'au moins un an, avec effet immédiat.
Le P. William KENNEY est nommé administrateur de la paroisse St. Michael, Douglas, de la paroisse St. Pius V, Osceola et de la mission Sacred Heart, Cobden, pour une période d'un an, à compter du 1er août 2024.
Le P. Michael LUND est nommé administrateur de la paroisse St. James the Less, Eganville, de la mission Nativity of Our Lady, Pikwàkanagàn et de la paroisse St. Ann, Cormac, à compter du 1er août 2024.
Le P. Cyril OKEBANAMA, s.m.m.m., est nommé administrateur de la paroisse Sainte-Anne, Mattawa, de la paroisse Sainte-Bernadette, Bonfield, de la paroisse Sacré-Cœur, Corbeil et de la paroisse Saint-Thomasd'Aquin, Astorville, à compter du 1er juillet 2024.
Le P. Réal OUELLETTE est nommé administrateur de la paroisse Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Pembroke, à compter du 1er août 2024.
Le P. Michal PAJAK, O.M.I., est nommé administrateur de la paroisse St. Hedwig, Barry's Bay, pour une période d'au moins un an, à compter du 1er septembre 2024.
Le P. Fortunatus RUDAKEMWA est nommé administrateur de la paroisse Sainte-Thérèse, Témiscaming et de la mission Our Lady of the Lake, Kipawa, à compter du 1er août 2024.
Le P. Christopher SHALLA continuera d'assurer le service aux paroisses dans la mesure où sa santé le lui permettra.
7 juin 2024
solennité du Sacré-Cœur de Jésus
