Visit of our Bishop, Steven Lopes

On Saturday May 5 and Sunday May 6, The Most Reverend Steven Lopes, Bishop of the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter made his first visit to our community here in Victoria.  On Sunday, there were four young people who received the sacrament of Confirmation.

First gathering of the Canadian clergy and ordinands

May 18-20, 2017, we hosted the first gathering of our Canadian clergy.  In the absence of Bishop Lopes, who was attending his stepfather’s funeral, our Vicar General, Fr Timothy Perkins joined us from Houston.  A splendid, collegial and informative gathering.  The group:

Front row: Murray O’Coin (Keristos Ne Korah:Kowah [Christ the King], Tyendinaga, Mohawk Territory), Fr Lee Kenyon (St John’s, Calgary), Fr Doug Hayman (Annunciation, Ottawa), Fr Don Malins (Blessed John Henry Newman, Victoria), Fr Peter Switzer (Port Alberni), Msgr Peter Wilkinson (Blessed John Henry Newman, Victoria), Michael Trolly (Annunciation, Ottawa).  Back row: Fr Tim Perkins (Ordinariate Chancery, Houston, Texas), Fr David McLeod (St Benedict, Edmonton), Fr Kipling Cooper (Annunciation, Ottawa), Fr Carl Reid (Blessed John Henry Newman, Victoria), Fr Richard Harris (Our Lady of the Sign, Fredericton Junction, NB; and St Bede, Halifax), Fr Jim Tilley (Good Shepherd, Oshawa), and Fr Michael Shier (Our Lady of Walsingham, Vancouver).
Missing: Fr John Hodgins (St Thomas More, Toronto – who was present, but missed the photo); Dn Adrien Martens (St John’s Calgary), Fr Jonathan Gibson and Fr John Wright (Calgary)

Bishop Lopes Visit, May 20, 2017

It is with regret that we announce the death of Bishop Lopes’ stepfather, Abilio Dias on May 12.  Quite understandably, this affects the Bishop’s travel plans so that we must cancel the announced Solemn Mass on May 20.  We hope soon to be able to welcome Bishop Lopes to Victoria.

On Saturday, May 20, 2017, 0ur Bishop, The Most Rev. Steven J. Lopes will be making his first visit to Victoria.  Please join us for a Solemn Mass in the Ordinariate Form, celebrated by the Bishop, at 9:30AM.  Location: our host parish of Our Lady of Fatima at 4635 Elk Lake Drive.  A reception in the main parish hall will follow.

“Not I, but Christ in me.” Fr. Michael Birch: may he rest in peace.

On November 26, Fr Michael, priest, friend, confessor, died peacefully at home.  He will be truly missed, not only by our small community, but also by those in parishes where he frequently celebrated the Divine Mystery of the Mass, not least St Andrew’s Cathedral in Victoria and St Peter’s in Nanaimo.  I am late in posting this news, as we are all still adjusting to his suddenly “not being there.”  His engaging, often challenging sermons; his irrepressible sense of humour; his dedication to his family…

A much overdue post about Holy Week in Oaxaca, Mexico 2015

HOLY WEEK IN OAXACA complete

Confirmation at Pentecost

May 15, 2016 – the Solemnity of Pentecost, we welcomed into the Catholic Church, Milan Pavlic.  When her parents, Serbian Orthodox, moved to Vancouver Island years ago, there was no Orthodox Church nearby, so Milan was baptized Anglican.

She and her husband Rick, a cradle Catholic, have two daughters.

Easter Day 2016

Easter Day, in addition to the celebration of Our Lord’s Resurrection, we also received Jane Morris into the Catholic Church.  She originally comes from the same area of England as Sr Carole Barker, who, along with Virginia Malins, was one of her sponsors for her Confirmation.  Welcome Jane!

Habemus Episcopum!

Candlemas, The Presentation of the Lord, February 2, 2016 at the Co-cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston, Texas, the first bishop of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter was ordained in a standing-room only service.  The entire service was broadcast by EWTN, and we are anticipating the availability of DVD’s in the weeks ahead.  In the meantime, here is a link to a well-written article in the National Catholic Register: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/first-anglican-ordinariate-bishop-ordained-it-means-were-here-to-stay/

Divine Worship – The Missal

On Saturday, December 5, 2015 Fr. John Laszczyk graciously invited us to introduce Divine Worship – The Missal to the wider Catholic community in Victoria.  A choir comprised of members from both communities, augmented by an ecumenical representation of other singers in Victoria, was under the direction of our choir director, Scott Vannan.  They supported the Liturgy with a splendid representation of that part of our patrimony.

Feedback was positive, so much so that some asked if we might do this monthly.  Something possibly to consider, with Fr. John’s blessing, at some point in the future.

The Liturgy of the Word begins

Msgr Peter Wilkinson delivers the homily

The Communion of the faithful

Visit by Bishop Gary Gordon

Sunday, October 25, 2105: The Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity, The Most Rev. Gary Gordon, Bishop of Victoria joined us as our guest preacher in his first visit to an Ordinariate community.  As always, his marvellously constructed sermon, about the truly astounding depths of God’s mercy, “Take heart; rise, He is calling you”, gave us both great comfort, but also a challenge as we approach the Year of Mercy.