News

The FSSP Has Renewed its Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Lourdes

For more information and photos on this important event in the life of the FSSP, please visit our international website at https://www.fssp.org/en/the-fraternity-has-renewed-its-consecration/
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Information on the novena itself can be found below:
The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter will be renewing its consecration of the FSSP and its apostolic works to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and entrusting all its intentions to her care. This consecration will take place on February 11, the feast of the apparitions of Our Lady at Lourdes. It will be preceded by a novena of preparation, from February 2 to 10. The faithful are invited to join the members of the FSSP in this Novena.
 
The Novena consists in a decade of the Rosary followed by the Memorare of St. Bernard.  No specific decade is designated for this novena; however you might want to consider praying the 5th Glorious Mystery, the Coronation of Our Lady, as it would seem most fitting to the apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes.
 
You will find above this message a link with the prayers and instructions and are invited to print this document for your family use. You will also find the prayer of consecration itself for Feb. 11.
 
United in spirit with the FSSP and your parish priests, let us try to prepare ourselves to make this consecration with a generous and trusting heart. 
 
Let us pray that this step will obtain for us the graces that we need and that Our Heavenly Mother will look upon us with kindness and gentleness, and grant us her merciful assistance.

Family Camp 2025

Dear Families of St. Clement Parish,

The St. Clement Family Camp team is organizing another wonderful week this summer at Dominus Vobiscum on Lac Maskinongé in the Quebec Laurentians from July 27 to August 2, 2025.

The cost of this volunteer-run camp is $900 per family for the week. This includes cabin accommodations, daily lunches, and activities including childcare during the parent morning conference.  

The deadline to apply is Thursday, February 21, 2025. Due to limited camp capacity, only 8 families can be selected and will be notified by March 16, 2025. Returning families are welcomed to apply.

If you’re interested to participate this summer, please fill out this Google Form:


Camp details
:

The camp offers daily morning Mass, supervised morning activities for children (catechism, sports, crafts), parent conferences and afternoon free time at the two beautiful private beaches. Canoes, row boats, beach volleyball, ping pong and pool tables, and bikes are available for all to use. After supper, all are invited for evening Rosary followed by fun activities including campfires, a treasure hunt, summer Olympics and a talent show or trivia night. The day ends with beautifully sung Compline at 9 PM.

Accommodation:
– Each family stays in their own cabin (capacity up to 10) with their own bathroom and shower.
– Families supply their own bed linens, sleeping bags and pillows.

Food:
– A full lunch is provided by a team of volunteer chefs.
– Each family is assigned their own refrigerator/freezer and dining table.
– Families share a large fully-equipped common kitchen in the central lodge to prepare their own breakfast and supper.
– The priest, seminarian, and camp staff join families for supper on a rotating basis

Attached are photos from previous family camps.

Family Camp – Throughout the Years PDF

Please contact with any questions.

We appreciate your prayers in making this camp a successful grace-filled week for everyone.

God bless,
The St. Clement Family Camp team

Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus

The litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus received the Church’s approval for private use by Pope Sixtus V in 1585, and public recitation by Pope Leo XIII in 1886. Powerful against the attacks of the evil one, its use is promoted especially for use in the month of January.  

Lord, have mercy on us. 
Christ, have mercy on us. 
Lord, have mercy on us.

Jesus, hear us. 
Jesus, graciously hear us. 
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us 
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, 
God the Holy Ghost, 
Holy Trinity, one God, 
Jesus, Son of the living God, 
Jesus, splendour of the Father, 
Jesus, brightness of eternal light, 
Jesus, King of glory, 
Jesus, sun of justice, 
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, 
Jesus, most amiable, 
Jesus, most admirable, 
Jesus, the mighty God, 
Jesus, father of the world to come, 
Jesus, Angel of great counsel, 
Jesus, most powerful, 
Jesus, most patient, 
Jesus, most obedient, 
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, 
Jesus, lover of chastity, 
Jesus, lover of us, 
Jesus, God of peace, 
Jesus, author of life, 
Jesus, example of virtues, 
Jesus, zealous lover of souls, 
Jesus, our God, 
Jesus, our refuge, 
Jesus, father of the poor, 
Jesus, treasure of the faithful, 
Jesus, good Shepherd, 
Jesus, true light, 
Jesus, eternal wisdom, 
Jesus, infinite goodness, 
Jesus, our way and our life, 
Jesus, joy of Angels, 
Jesus, King of Patriarchs, 
Jesus, Master of the Apostles, 
Jesus, Teacher of the Evangelists, 
Jesus, strength of Martyrs, 
Jesus, light of Confessors, 
Jesus, purity of Virgins, 
Jesus, crown of all Saints, 
Be merciful, spare us, O Jesus. 
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Jesus. 
From all evil, deliver us, O Jesus. 
From all sin, 
From Thy wrath, 
From the snares of the devil, 
From the spirit of fornication, 
From everlasting death, 
From the neglect of Thine inspirations, 
Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation, 
Through Thy Nativity, 
Through Thine Infancy, 
Through Thy most divine Life, 
Through Thy labours, 
Through Thine agony and Passion, 
Through Thy Cross and dereliction, 
Through Thy sufferings, 

Through Thy death and burial,
Through Thy Resurrection, 
Through Thine Ascension, 
Through Thine institution of the most Holy Eucharist, 
Through Thy joys, 
Through Thy glory, 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, 
Spare us, O Jesus. 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, 
Hear us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, 
Have mercy on us, O Jesus. 
Jesus, hear us. 
Jesus, graciously hear us.

Let us pray:
O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast said: Ask and ye shall receive, seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you; mercifully attend to our supplications, and grant us the gift of Thy divine charity, that we may ever love Thee with our whole heart and with all our words and deeds, and may never cease from praising Thee. Make us, O Lord, to have a perpetual fear and love of Thy holy Name, for Thou never failest to help and govern those whom Thou dost bring up in Thy steadfast fear and love; who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.

Novena and Consecration to the Holy Family

The families of St. Clement Parish are invited to participate in a novena and Consecration of our parish families to the Holy Family which will take place on Sunday January 12, Feast of the Holy Family. The novena begins on Friday, Jan. 3rd. More information can be found below. We would like to thank the St. Clement’s Knights of Columbus (Council #17725) for promoting this initiative at the parish.

Novena and Consecration to the Holy Family EN

We would like to thank the St. Clement’s Knights of Columbus (Council #17725) for promoting this initiative at the parish.

A special Christmas message from Fr. Deprey

+JMJ+

My fellow parishioners,

A few months ago, after having unlocked the church for a baptism on a Saturday afternoon, someone entered in, went to a pew and started praying.  I assumed it was someone coming for the baptism that afternoon; I didn’t realize it was an unbaptized man, who, intrigued by the church, tried the door, entered, and, inspired by a lofty sacred space, began to pray.  Keep in mind the church is usually locked at that time.  After praying for a long while he approached me with questions, and I soon realized he wasn’t there for the baptism; but that he was in search of truth.   I invited him to return for Mass the next day, which he did, and fortunately a seasoned parishioner noticed he needed help on how to follow Mass and promptly sat next to him to provide assistance.  Long story short, this young man is now taking Fr. Debow’s convert catechism class, making friends, and preparing for baptism this Easter!  God provided for this wandering soul, and the charity of a parishioner drew him more into our parish community.  Deo Gratias! 

This is one of many beautiful stories unfolding at our parish. We are blessed beyond measure that so many are seeking the truth and beauty of the faith and are drawn to St. Clements itself as they turn their hearts towards the Incarnate Lord.

Thomas à Kempis once said, “the loftier the building, the deeper the foundation must be.”  This is applies of course to our spiritual life, that it must be deeply rooted and strong if it is going to last; but it also applies to all that supports it, such as the sacred liturgy and the church building itself.

As a parish community, we highly value, truth, beauty and goodness. Since 2012, we have invested considerable time, money, and talent to restore the interior beauty of our church.

Now the time has come to protect this restored beauty from the ravages of wind, rain, and snow.

As many old buildings require restoration and protection, it will come as no surprise that we are needing to significantly update our roof. We are currently installing a new metal roof because the shingles had been constantly twisting off in windstorms, creating the danger of expensive water damage to our interior enhancements.

Thank you for your generous support of this important project. To date, we have received $237,055. The projected cost to install the metal roof is $375,000; however, our engineer has advised us that we need to install additional reinforcements to the roof structure (the purlins) which will cost a further $52,500.  This work is necessary to secure the building envelope and cannot be deferred. 

As many of you wish to give before the end of the fiscal year, we hope you will consider making a charitable donation toward this important project for the protection of our church interior.

This is not just about a building, as our parish community is much more than that. This is about ensuring our community can continue to grow, thrive and honour our Lord in a protected and beautiful space.

This is about people like that young man, who was inspired to pray in a lofty sacred place – who recognized a house of God.

Please mark your contribution as “New Roof”, either here or via cheque or Cash on Sunday in the regular collection.  E-transfers can be sent by following the instructions found here .  Funds raised for this project will not be subject to the diocesan tax (13%).

I thank you for all that you give to our parish. Our community is blessed to have so many who are highly invested in many ways.

I wish you and your family a Blessed and Merry Christmas.

In Christo,

Fr. Erik Deprey, FSSP
St. Clement Parish

“Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the wilderness the paths of our God … and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh together shall see, that the mouth of the Lord hath spoken.” (Isaiah 40: 3-5)

10th Annual Golf Day Results: Thank-you to all our sponsors and donors !

Our 10th annual golf event fundraiser on August 13th was a huge success!
We had 167 people at the dinner with 98 golfers and raised $32,357 after expenses. Deo gratias!

Thank you for all your support – to all the volunteers, to those who contacted sponsors, to all the sponsors, to those who provided auction items, to those who made financial donations, and to all who were able to join us for the day.

We would like to especially thank the many businesses and professionals who were sponsors for the tournament and all the donors who contributed to this year’s silent auction. These are identified in the programme below :

PDF format:  Template Golf Pamphlet 05-08

Powerpoint format:  Golf Pamphlet 05-08

May God reward you for your generosity and support of the parish !

 

1st Communions BBQ sign-up

 

Triduum Schedule

Holy Thursday
7:30 pm Solemn High Mass with Adoration at the Altar of Repose until Midnight.

Good Friday:
Stations at 2:00 pm
Solemn Liturgy at 3:00 pm

Holy Saturday:
9:00 pm Easter Vigil (fulfills Sunday obligation)

Easter Sunday:
8:00 am Low Mass

10:30 am Solemn High Mass
(the 5:30 pm Mass is cancelled)

Norms for Lenten Observance (Archdiocese of Ottawa)

The liturgical season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 14. The following are guidelines of Lenten observance for the faithful in the Archdiocese of Ottawa:

• Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence from meat.

• all other Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence from meat.

Fasting binds all persons who have completed their 18th birthday through those who have completed their 59th year, unless prevented by poor health.

On days of fast, one full meal is allowed. Two other meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to one’s own needs. Eating between meals is not allowed although fluids may be taken.

Abstinence from meat binds all persons who have completed their 14th birthday, unless prevented by poor health.

The consumption of meat is not allowed on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays of Lent (in the Archdiocese of Ottawa).   The Archbishop mandates this observance for the spiritual well-being of the faithful.

Removing Holy Water from fonts during the season of Lent is not permitted (CDF Prot. N. 569/00/L March 14, 2000).

The covering of crosses and images from the Fifth Sunday of Lent may be observed.

Lent is a penitential season and, as such, religious practices such as daily Mass, the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Stations of the Cross, works of charity and justice, and acts of self-denial are highly encouraged.

Update Regarding the Parish Hall Capital Campaign

As so many of you remarked, the St. Elias Centre was a very nice venue for a parish dinner celebrating the 150th anniversary of our beautiful church, our spiritual home since 2012.

As nice as this venue was, in the future we hope to be able to host this type of celebration on Old St. Patrick Street in our own parish hall.

This past July our parish launched a capital campaign to raise $900,000 over three years, beginning this year, toward the building of our hall. Without including the proceeds from the dinner, we have received about $165,000 in pledges from about 45 donors. This is a good start, but we need to reach $900,000 in pledges by the end of December.  Although we don’t require all the money by that time, we do need your pledges now. The reason for the December deadline is that early in 2024 we can meet with the archdiocese for approval of a mortgage. Then we would be able to finalize our hall design and begin the construction process.  

We presently have about 500 donors to our parish. We know that regular donations vary widely according to the means of each individual. But, when averaged out, everything counts, and each donation makes a difference. To put the campaign in perspective, if our 500 donors pledged, on average, an additional $50 per month above and beyond their normal contributions, realizing that some will give more and some less, we would attain our goal of $900,000 to qualify for the mortgage. But we will never really know until we see your pledges of support.

If you have not done so already, we would ask that you consider making a pledge using the pledge form below. Please determine how much you can give above and beyond your normal contributions.

Parish Hall–capital campaign–Pledge Form (PDF)

Remember that your donations are eligible for a significant tax credit.

Our parish has a great future and together we can meet our campaign goal.  May God reward you for your generosity!

Fr. Erik Deprey, FSSP
November 26, 2023

Capital Campaign for a Parish Hall : Letter to Parishioners

My fellow parishioners,

We have launched our Capital Campaign to raise funds needed to build a new parish hall here beside the church.

As you know, we have considered several options for a hall. You will recall the plan presented in 2019 to retrofit 17 Myrand Avenue to create a grand banquet room by combining the 2nd and 3rd floors.

Since that time, conditions have changed. Our parish has grown tremendously, to the point where the anticipated capacity of a retrofitted Myrand Avenue building was deemed too small to meet our needs. Instead, the building will be restored to its original vocation as the clergy residence and parish offices.

Moreover, following consultations with the Archdiocese, we have determined that a more cost-effective option is to build a new parish hall on the west side of the church where the rectory is currently located. This will provide greater capacity to meet our needs and allow easy access for all. We now have a draft design for the building prepared by an architect.

The projected cost of construction is $3.5 million. While this may seem like a daunting figure, we are confident that the strong financial position of our parish and the anticipated continued growth in revenues will enable us to succeed. We will finance three quarters of the cost through a mortgage from the Archdiocese and some of the savings currently on deposit with the Archdiocese. For the remainder, we will need to launch this Capital Campaign to raise $900,000 over the next three years.

As a healthy growing parish, we need a place to come together outside of Mass and enjoy social activities at a time when such opportunities for faithful Catholics are sorely lacking. Our proposed parish hall project will be a major undertaking, but I know we can meet the challenge just as our parish community has met all the other challenges it faced in its 50-year history. Your patience with this process has been most appreciated.

I want to assure you that we will give you ample opportunity to examine the details of the parish hall design and how the cost can be financed. At the entrance to the church, you will see the architectural rendering of the draft design, financial details related to the hall construction, and other information about the Capital Campaign, including more copies of the pledge form. Please pick up this information as you leave the church, take it home and review it. I invite you to communicate your questions and comments using the e-mail address provided in the attached pledge form.

Attached is the campaign pledge form as well as information on the available tax credit for donations and how the tax credit actually reduces the cost of your donation. I would ask that you carefully consider making a pledge to contribute over the three years to enable us to achieve our goal and finally make a parish hall a reality.

More detailed information can be found on our dedicated Capital Campaign website:

https://www.saintclement.ca

And any questions on the project itself should be directed to the following project email:

God bless you and thank you for your support and prayers.

In Christo,

Father Erik Deprey, FSSP
Pastor

Results: Ninth Annual Golf Day

Our golf event fundraiser on August 17th was a huge success!  We hosted 161 for dinner, including 91 golfers, and raised $28,223 after expenses. Thank you to all who supported this important fundraising and social event for our parish. A special thank-you to our volunteers and organizing committee. Also, we encourage you to support those businesses listed in our program who were sponsors or donors of silent auction items.  These are identified in the program below :

Golf Sponsors 2023

The details of this year’s event may be found in the attached poster here.

In addition, the page below outlines specific ways in which people helped ensure the success of this year’s event, especially by soliciting financial support from businesses and by soliciting or donating items for the silent auction:

How to Help Solicit Support

The golf day was an enjoyable social event for our parish and an important fundraiser. With your help next year, we can continue to raise many thousands of dollars annually.  Please consider how you can assist the golf committee to ensure its continued success.

Update on parish hall and related projects

October 20, 2022

Subject: Update re: parish hall and related projects

Dear parishioners,

Many of you will recall our plan presented in the summer of 2019 to retrofit 17 Myrand Avenue to meet our needs for a parish hall. The main component of that plan was to create a banquet room on the 2nd floor by effectively combining the 2nd and 3rd floors. Since that time, we have worked with our architect, engineers, and consulted with the Archdiocese with a view to making that plan a reality.

Concurrently the parish has grown substantially. Since 2019, God has blessed us with an increase of around 30% in the number of parishioners. Attendance at our three Sunday Masses now averages 700-750 faithful. Collections have also increased considerably, enabling the parish to be in a very solid financial position.

Considering the significant increase in the size of our parish, the planned retrofit of the Myrand Avenue building with a maximum capacity of only 220 persons in a banquet room on the 2nd floor is not adequate. Additionally, the professionals hired in designing and providing us with a cost estimate for such an undertaking priced the project at approximately $2.5 million. Accordingly, and after consultation with the Archdiocese, our steering committee decided not to spend that amount of money for a church hall that wouldn’t meet our needs.

Considering that our parish has not only grown significantly, but also continues to grow with the grace of God, the steering committee determined that the better and more cost-effective option would be to build a new parish hall permitting venues for 350 to 400 persons. This can happen only on an expanded footprint on the west side of the church where the existing rectory is located. Such an undertaking will be more expensive than the Myrand Avenue retrofit, but we would almost double the capacity and it would provide easier (Universal) ground level access. We are optimistic that with the solid financial position of our parish and the anticipated continued growth in revenues, we will be able to finance the cost of a new hall. Once we have a draft design of a new parish hall prepared by an architect and its projected cost, we will provide it to you for review.

In view of the foregoing, the following steering committee decisions have been made:

1. The Myrand Avenue building will be returned to its primary function as the residence for our priests and will also provide rental office space for FSSP Canada. The main
floor will serve mainly as parish offices, with a section for FSSP Canada, and the second and third floors as the priests’ residence with accommodation for visiting clergy and seminarians. We are working towards having the building ready for FSSP Canada and for our priests by the spring of 2023.


The Myrand Avenue building requires some repairs to the exterior and upgrades to the interior. For example, we need to replace the eaves troughs that were causing water damage. Some of the upgrades for the interior include replacing old carpeting, repairing and restoring hardwood floors as well as renovating the main bathrooms on the ground and second floors. The overall costs for these repairs and upgrades will be approximately $225,000. These are not insignificant costs; however, once it is occupied, the rent collected from FSSP Canada will more than offset the normal operating costs of the building.

2. As part of the plan to move the rectory to 17 Myrand, our priests will no longer park on the east side of the church. Instead they, as well as the secretary and any additional staff working for the parish, will park on the small parking lot adjacent to the Myrand Avenue building. Although we largely resolved our Sunday parking problem by renting the Ste-Anne Medical Centre parking lot, further parking will become available with the removal of the old garage which is in peril of collapsing. In its place we will be able to provide paved parking that meets City requirements and thereby alleviate the shortage of weekday parking. In addition to removing the old garage, we will also be clearing trees to make way for the installation of new fencing on the east side of the church property. We will be sharing the cost of the fencing with Inner City Health, the new owners of the former John Howard Society property, and with the private owner of the neighbouring property. We estimate that the total costs for these property improvements, including the creation of additional parking will be approximately $112,000. Not only will this facilitate parking for those attending weekday Masses, it will also significantly improve the appearance of that property next to the Church. I must add that we are very grateful to the management of Inner City Health who agreed we can continue to use the former John Howard Society parking lot on Sundays.

3. When our priests vacate the current rectory and until such time as we build the new hall, we will use that building for meeting space for Sunday coffee, small social gatherings and for various parish groups.

Finally, I would like to thank our volunteers, our steering committee and all of you for your continued support. I ask that you continue to keep these projects in your prayers.

In Christo
Father Erik Deprey, FSSP Pastor

Epiphany Schedule

Feast of the Epiphany Friday Jan. 6th:
7:00 am Low Mass (followed by Exposition for 1st Friday)
12:00 pm Low Mass (Exposition then continues)
7:15 pm Benediction
7:30 pm High Mass

Death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Below you will find the official communiqué of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter on the sad news of the death of the Pope Emeritus, who has assisted our Fraternity so much over the years :

Fribourg, December 31, 2022

It is with sorrow that the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter learned today, December 31, 2022, of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who was on several occasions a providential support for our community. As Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he was instrumental in the founding of the Fraternity and even visited its seminary in Wigratzbad for Holy Week in 1990. After his election to the chair of Peter, the personal contact continued, especially with the private audience he granted to his founders and the Superior General on July 6, 2009: it was for us the occasion to thank him for the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum. A few months ago, from his place of retirement at the Mater Ecclesiæ monastery in the Vatican, he sent a private letter of encouragement to the Superior of the Fraternity of Saint Peter following the Motu Proprio Traditiones Custodes.

The priests of the Fraternity, together with the faithful who are close to it, will be ardently praying for the repose of his soul. Requiem Masses with the absolution will be celebrated in the apostolates entrusted to the Fraternity in order to “pray to God that through the Sacrifice offered for the soul of his servant, the Sovereign Pontiff Benedict XVI, and after having raised him in this world to the papal office, he may be admitted into the celestial kingdom in the company of all the saints.” (secret of the Requiem Mass for a Sovereign Pontiff)

Source: www.fssp.org

ST CLEMENT OTTAWA