Donations to the Parish during COVID-19:
E- Transfers–may now be sent to our Parishes:
For St. Martin of Tours: email to Stmartintours.vegreville@caedm.ca
For Holy Heart of Mary, Viking and St. Gregory the Great, Holden: email to hhmary@telus.net
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
In an effort to slow and mitigate the COVID 19 pandemic Archbishop Smith communicated to us on March 16 that all parishes will be closed to public masses until further notice. As much as possible parish offices will continue to be open to serve the needs of parishioners. As your pastor, I wish to accompany you through this difficult time as much as I can while being conscious of the guidelines provided by Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer. I pray that the Lord protects us and particularly those who are vulnerable or care for the sick.
Each week you are invited to contribute in the Sunday Collection and offer the fruits of your labor to our Lord in thanksgiving. In the absence of Sunday mass, our parish will suffer financially. As good stewards, it is important to realize that many of the everyday expenses to run our parish will continue.
I know that these are financially challenging times. You may have lost your job, or your business viability may be threatened. Your savings may have been diminished by market conditions. And I understand that your primary financial responsibility is to your own home and family.
I write today to ask that you also remember your spiritual home, our parish. In prayer, I invite you to consider how you can continue to support our parish operations, to the extent possible during this extraordinary time. A suggested guideline to follow when considering what to give to support the parish is to consider giving back your first hour of your weekly wage – the first fruits. In the current circumstances it maybe less than just a few weeks ago.
In the midst of these unprecedented times, we are blessed to have various ways to continue to support our parish in the absence of the Sunday Offertory. I invite you to review the following methods available to our parish and to pray how you might be able to help.
- For parishioners who would like to send donations for Holy Heart of Mary, Viking and St. Gregory the Great, Holden please mail your Church Offerings to: Holy Heart of Mary, Box 274, Viking AB T0B 4NO.
- If you would like to donate using a credit card, please visit the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton website(caedm.ca) and click on the Donations button to find “Donate to your Parish.
- If you wish to mail your donation envelope in weekly or monthly to the parish office, the church address is St. Martin of Tours Parish, 5437-43 Street, Vegreville AB T9C 1C8
- If you would like to drop your donations off at the office, please do so. Gyna is in the Church Office on Mondays from 10:00-1:00 pm. And Barb is in the Church Office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and Fridays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact your parish office 780-632-3272. Leave a message and Father Vu or one of us will return your call. You may also call the Archdiocese Development Office at 780.469.1010.
Please be assured that you are always in my prayers. If there is any way I can be of service, please do not hesitate to call me at the parish office. If no one answers, please leave a message and your call will be returned. In an emergency call 780-632-7454
In Gratitude,
Father Luan Vu.
Pastor
All celebrations of Baptism, First Eucharist, First Reconciliation, Confirmation and RCIA are postponed until the Chief Medical Officer has advised that the pandemic has ended.
Sermon Reflection Questions: moved to Bulletins/Calendars Link