Our Lady of Loretto Parish

07/17/2022

August 8, 2022 our Mass time will be at 11am.
Effective this date, our Mass time will be 11am for the foreseeable future.

Please let others know if you can.
Blessings.

04/10/2022

Mass times for Holy Week
Holy Thursday 7pm
Good Friday 3pm
Holy Saturday Vigil 7pm
Easter Sunday 1030 am

Masks are required.

03/04/2022

We will be having our last Mass with Father Chinedu on 6 March 2022.
Please join us for Mass and fellowship.

06/07/2021

With AHS regulations reverting back to 15% capacity, there is no need to limit family members or pre-register for Sunday Mass.

Join us at the chapel for 10:30 am Mass every Sunday. Masking and social distancing protocols are followed. Please sign in when you arrive for contact tracing.

If you would prefer to join via zoom, please contact the chapel for the weekly link.

05/06/2021

Due to the new public health restrictions from the province, we are expected to have only 15 people in person at the chapel for mass. As a result of this, we have decided that:

1. All 15 participants MUST call ahead at 780-237-1426 to register in order to attend. Please call on Fridays from 1:00pm. If I am unavailable to take the call, please leave your name, your phone number and the number of attendants. If we are already at capacity by the time you call, I will call you back to let you know. Individuals who do not register ahead will not be allowed to attend so that we keep within the allowed limit and adhere to the Public health orders and expectations from the Base Commander;

2. We are asking that a maximum of 3 people from a family register; and

3. Those who can are encouraged to join by Zoom.

Thank you for your understanding and we hope that this situation will improve soon and the restrictions relaxed or ended.

If you have any question, please call me at 780-237-1426.

Thanks.

Fr. Chinedu

06/23/2020

The Chapel will be open for Mass 28 June 2020!

Please see the guidelines below.

A DRAFT OF THE (SOP) RE-OPENING OF CHAPEL SERVICES

28 June 2020
Mass Time: 1030hrs
Our Lady Of Loretto Chapel (3 CDSB) Edmonton.

RE-OPENING OF CHAPEL GUIDELINES
1. The guidelines from the CA Army Chap SOP (Ref B), directives from the office of the Chaplain General (ref A), the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services (Ref C), and any subsequent directive from the Canadian Armed Forces shall be observed in Our Lady Of Loretto Chapel CFB Edmonto, as well as these internal protocols, which have been developed to ensure both the health and safety of our chapel members and the dignity of Eucharistic celebrations in accordance with ecclesiastical norms. These measures must be strictly observed.
2. This draft address(es) the concern for the potential spread of coronavirus within the Chapel community and the necessary steps we ought to take prior to, during, and after services to guard against the spread of Covid 19 in order to keep everyone safe.
3. To achieve the goal of keeping thsafe from Covid19, the Chapel office of Our Lady of Loretto, CFB Edmonton, shall ensure the following:

a. available information to members at the chapel on the prevention of the spread of Covid19;

b. cleaning and sanitizing the Chapel at least once between services;

c. Covid -19 visible physical distancing signs within the Chapel (Ref C);

d. availability of hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol for all at the Chapel entrance(s);

e. marked seating on pews to ensure social distancing;

f. sign in sheet for everyone that attend mass for contact tracing;

g. availability of personal protective equipment (PPE);

h. all hymn books removed from the pews;

i. no weekly bulletin; and

j. offering is collected in an opened basket.


4. The lay faithful should ensure the following are carefully observed:

a. hand sanitizing on entering/exiting the Chapel;

b. sign in for contact tracing before taking your seat;

c. making sure there is an empty pew between families for social distancing;

d. no socializing before and after mass;

e. members will be encourage to wear PPE during mass;

f. at the point of entry one family comes in after another for social distancing;

g. physical distancing must be maintained at all times during and after mass;

h. one person recording attendance and contacts;

k. infants and children should remain with their parents at all times;

l. each communicant should sanitize his/her hand before receiving communion;

m. there is no reception of communion by tongue. Communion should be received on the hand only;

n. there will be no kiss of peace (hand shaking/hugs) during mass;

o. there will be no singing along with the pianist during mass; and

p. one family comes after another for reception of holy communion.


4. The presiding priest shall ensure the following during celebrations:

a. no altar server for social distancing reason;

b. no sharing of chalice (cup) during communion;

c. no giving of communion by tongue;

d. the priest shall wear appropriate PPE before distributing communion;

a. there will be no kiss of peace (hand shaking/hugs) during mass; and

b. making sure we observe the provincial limit on number for the gathering .


5. Attendance will initially be limited to 50 or fewer participants. Thank you for your faith in God, and for your anticipated cooperation for a smooth resumption of the new normal.


References: A. Chap Gen’s update #8 20 May 2020
B. Army Command SOP as part of BRP 18 June 2020
C. COVID-19 Information Guidance for Places of Worship Govt of AB

06/14/2020

We will continue to have Mass via Zoom. When this changes, this page will be updated. Take care a d God bless.

03/16/2020

The Chrism mass scheduled for April 7, 2020 has been cancelled.

03/13/2020

All Masses at Our Lady of Loretto Parish CFB Edmonton have been cancelled indefinitely due to COVID-19.

Considering the quick evolution of Covid -19 Pandemic, following the directions given by the Government of Canada, the Chief of Defence Staff, and Military Personnel Command, the decision has been made to suspend immediately and indefinitely all gatherings in the CAF military chapels. That said, cha...

02/26/2020

Ash Wednesday

Rend your hearts as our ever-patient God invites us to do. Fast but do not draw attention to your fasting. There is a wonderful harmony to these paradoxes as the same tradition that teaches us to perform acts of contrition also teaches us to not despair over our sins. We are being invited to let go of our sins so that we no longer have to carry them around with us. Have you ever had the experience of letting go of something and then receiving an unexpected gift in return? Or had a moment in which you achieved clarity of thought about a situation that had caused you many anxious moments? During this period of Lenten preparation there can be much value in patiently waiting to see the grace of God appearing in our lives. This time of preparation is a time to prepare our interior lives and reflect on those aspects of our lives we often forget, given our busy schedules. Le us go forward today with conviction. Consider the gifts God has in store for us if only we will let go of that which is preventing us from experiencing them in our innermost self.

02/16/2020

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today's Gospel, Jesus warns us that he has not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. Just because God loves us, does not mean he has to do what we want him to do. We can't manipulate God or guilt-trip him into doing what we want. It's humbling for us to realize that we are not entitled to his favour. God chooses to help us with perfect freedom from a place of pure love. The law that he gave to us was not meant to limit us, but to ensure we use our freedom in a way that is good for us and others. Love requires freedom, and freedom means we have to respect the other person's ability to say "no" to us. If we truly desire to be in a mature relationship with God, then we need to respect this freedom and ensure we use our freedom in a way that gives God glory, which will strengthen our relationship with God and others. Today as we celebrate the Eucharist, a sacrifice made freely on our behalf, let us repent of the times we've trespassed against God and our neighbour, and embrace the gift of God's law and the true freedom it leads us to.

02/09/2020

Jesus is calling us, his disciples, to stand up and be counted, to be like salt. Hold on I wonder, why salt? I ask The Bride, my better half of 35 years, to remind me of the purpose of salt. Jennifer gives me one of those "you're kidding" looks, and explains that salt acts as a preservative, but also enhances texture and, most importantly, the flavour of the food. Then our Lord calls us to be light in the world, to "shine before human beings". Okay, now I think I know where Jesus is going. As Christians, we are called to live intentionally and differently. Our faith calls us to be in the pew on Sunday, and also much more. Being salt and light doesn't sound difficult, but nor is it easy. It means we, who love God and follow Jesus, must make space in our busy lives for daily prayer and quiet reflection. It is here that we listen and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to our mind and heart. Then, when we feel the nudge to say hello to the stranger, help our elderly neighbour, visit the sick and give to the less fortunate, we are mindful that our good deeds are because of God's love for us and through us. We give all credit and praise to our Father in heaven.
Harry McAvoy, Newmarket Ontario