Dear Parishioners,

It is our great pleasure to announce to you the arrival of Father Jacques Breton’s first published children’s book: The Wonderful Story of Our Lady of the Cape!  The English version is now available!

This wonderful hardcover picture book is written by our own Father Breton and illustrated by parishioner Madame Martineau! Father recounts the wonderful story of all the miracles, virtues and marvels that took place at Notre-Dame-du-Cap many years ago. Father’s book shows us just how Canada is indeed the work of God! A work that comes about through the hands of Our Lady! Consider buying this wonderful hommage to our Blessed Mother of Canada: Our Lady of the Cape written by a Canadian F.S.S.P. Priest!

We are selling the English and French copies of this book at a cost of $20 a copy! 

For more information visit our bookstore.

In 2020, restorers working on the altar dedicated to Saint Joseph made an unexpected discovery. Removing the fabric lining the tabernacle in order that it might be cleaned, they found the early votive offering pictured here.

That discovery immediately caught the interest of many and the wish for some knowledge about both the votive donor and the owner of the engraved heart-shaped silver medal.

The powerful protection of the saint in whose care it was originally confided has ensured that even after research, the ex voto offering signed L. Joseph Fauteux, today continues to benefit from the discretion its donor sought for it when many years ago it was carefully hidden out of sight in the tabernacle.

The donor is most likely to have been Louis Joseph Fauteux, born in 1853 near Mirabel in Saint-Benoît, Quebec. A builder of churches, monasteries and other buildings in Quebec and Ontario, he passed away in 1941. The identification of Sister Anne Marie whose name is engraved on the medal however, remains hidden.

Entrusted to the safekeeping of Saint Joseph, the votive offering has been placed in a specially created reliquary and affixed to the wall very near the saint’s altar, beneath the statue of Saint Anne and the Virgin to allow those who so wish to view it.

Indulgences for the Poor Souls

An indulgence is the remission before God of the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven in sacramental confession.  The faithful if well disposed and within certain specified conditions, receives the indulgence by virtue of the Church which, as minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.

On all the days from November 1 through November 8 inclusive, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray even if only mentally for the departed.

Also, on All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2) a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit any parish church or public oratory and there recite one Our Father and one Credo.

[Note:  Because of the current COVID 19 pandemic, the Plenary Indulgence applicable to the poor souls (obtained by those who visit a cemetery and pray for the deceased, even if only mentally), and which is normally established only on the individual days from 1 to 8 November, may be transferred to other days of the same month, until its end. These days, freely chosen by the individual believers, may also be separate from each other]

Conditions for both indulgences:

1. Only one plenary indulgence can be granted per day.
2. It is necessary to be in the state of grace, at least by completion of the work.
3. Freedom from attachment to sin, even venial sin, is necessary; otherwise the indulgence is only partial.
4. Holy Communion must be received each time the indulgence is sought.
5. Prayers must he recited for the intentions of the Holy Father on each day the indulgence is sought.
6. A sacramental confession must he made within a week of completion of the prescribed work. (One confession made during the week, made with the intention of gaining all the indulgences, suffices.)

Dear faithful,

I would like to thank-you for your prayers over the past week. The Motu Proprio of Pope Francis took us all by surprise but things at St. Clement’s are proceeding as per usual. We are fortunate to have an Archbishop who is understanding and supportive of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter. The US and Canadian Bishops have been largely supportive of the FSSP and seem to be generally taking the stance that the new Motu Proprio is not directly dealing with Societies of Apostolic Life like ours. However, let us continue to pray that our apostolates be secure. I would invite you to pray especially to St. Joseph, who has been named special Patron of the North American Province of the FSSP.

You may remember that I was away in the United States for a special meeting of the FSSP in Pennsylvania. At this meeting the North American District of the FSSP was elevated to the status of a Province. At the parish level, FSSP communities will not see much change. The differences will primarily be administrative: a Provincial Superior has ordinary power, whereas a District Superior does not. The Province will be able to handle things such as priest assignments, without having to refer them up to the Superior General. Overall, it makes the administration of the FSSP in North America operate locally through the principle of subsidiarity. This change is a great testament to the growth of the FSSP in North America, especially at a time when many religious orders are consolidating existing provinces rather than forming new ones.

Fr. William Lawrence, FSSP has been named our first Provincial. He has been priest for many years with much experience in teaching at the seminary. He was also a former pastor of our parish in the Diocese of St. Catharine’s and so is a bit more familiar with the needs of Canada. Fr. Deprey has been appointed “Delegate for Canada”, a sort of regional superior working on behalf of the Provincial. This will entail more work for me. The Province has also divided the territory into regions with Deans overseeing the needs of priests in a grouping of apostolates.

While our new Provincial wants to see the FSSP grow, he is also conscious of the need for more priests in our present apostolates, as we are a bit short staffed. We currently have 12 priests working alone, which is not good for the priest. The FSSP emphasizes community prayer and community life in our rule. Please pray that we have more ordinations to the priesthood so that those who are alone can get an assistant soon.

I have some sad news to report – it has now been confirmed that Fr. Breton is being transferred to Québec City. He is to begin his new assignment on August 1st. I would like to thank him for all his years of hard work at St. Clement’s. It has truly been a blessing to have him as an assistant. Fr. Breton’s dedication to parishioners of all ages, whether it be in terms of sick calls, confessions, activities with youth, has been outstanding. Despite all the hard work and the crunch of time management he always seems to keep his peaceful smile and energy. He will be sorely missed by both the priests and parishioners. We wish him God’s blessings and promise him our prayers as he takes on his new assignment.

Unfortunately our Superiors are unable to send us a replacement priest at this time. So there will be only two priests at St. Clement’s for the next while. Please understand that this will mean some modifications to our schedule so that the priests can pace themselves and so attend to all of our duties. At the same time please pray that, if a priest does become available somehow, that our Superiors send him to St. Clement’s as a 2nd assistant.

As we approach the Feast of St. Ann, a co-patroness of our parish, let us entrust all of our needs to the Lord through her intercession. St. Ann, the mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus, is patroness of unmarried women, housewives, women in labour or who seek pregnancy, grandmothers, mothers and educators. She is also a patroness of horseback riders, cabinet-makers and miners. As the mother of Mary, this devotion to Saint Anne as the patron of miners arises from the medieval comparison between Mary and Christ and the precious metals silver and gold. Anne’s womb was considered the source from which these precious metals came. Saint Anne is also said to be a patron saint of sailors and a protector from storms. She will undoubtedly assist us in the storms of life, if we beseech her intercession.

Saint Ann, pray for us!

Be assured also of our prayers.

God bless,

Fr. Erik Deprey, FSSP
Pastor
St. Clement Parish

The North American District of the FSSP was elevated to the rank of a Province on July 1st. The very first Provincial Chapter meeting took place July 1-9.  The FSSP continues to invite you to pray for the needs of the FSSP in North America.  You are also invited to pray the prayer of the Confraternity of Saint Peter. You may download the prayer sheet via the PDF link below.

Orationes pro opportunitate Capituli Provincialis Americæ Septentrionalis

(above photo by Danny Beauchamp)

When the current provincially-imposed lockdown in response to COVID-19 is lifted and all Saint Clement parishioners are once again able to return to a normal worship schedule, they will be able to fully appreciate the talents of those who have worked on their behalf to restore both the side altars and church statuary.

Two days before Christmas, thanks to parishioner-generosity, volunteers ensured the return to its place in the sanctuary of the restored altar dedicated to Saint Joseph: a fitting response to the proclamation made a few days before by Pope Francis of the Year of Saint Joseph, Patron Saint of the Universal Church to run from 8 December 8^th 2020 to December 8^th 2021.

The same papal proclamation reminded the world of the feast of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady celebrated on the 8^th of December. While restoration work on Our Lady’s altar is still ongoing, Saint Clement parish was able to respond with the installation high on the West transept wall of the newly restored statue of Our Lady.

Overpainted white in the 1960’s like all other statues in the church, the one of Our Lady was skillfully and beautifully painted by Brushworks a parishioner-owned company specializing in the restoration of church statuary.

The treatment of Our Lady’s statue as well as that of the one of Saint Joseph completed earlier in the year by Brushworks was made possible by generous parishioner donations.

The work to restore the side altars is being undertaken by Atelier Plantagenêt who carried out the restorative treatment of the high altar.

It is parishioner support that has made such restorations possible.  The cost of restoring the side altars was budgeted at $24, 800 (plus applicable taxes). As of the end of December, parishioner response to the project appeal had raised $29,345.00 thereby exceeding the goal.

Thank you for your generosity!

The Apostolic Penitentiary issued a Decree granting plenary indulgences for the year of St. Joseph proclaimed by Pope Francis. The special year will last from 8 December 2020 to 8 December 2021, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church, as well as the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady.

The Apostolic Penitentiary also issued a decree granting special indulgences for the duration of the special year to celebrate the anniversary and “to perpetuate the entrustment of the whole Church to the powerful patronage of the Custodian of Jesus.”

During this period, the faithful will have the opportunity to commit themselves “with prayer and good works, to obtain, with the help of St. Joseph, head of the heavenly Family of Nazareth, comfort and relief from the serious human and social tribulations that besiege the contemporary world today.”

Devotion to St. Joseph

The decree signed by Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, the Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, and the Regent, Fr. Krzysztof Nykiel, notes that devotion to St. Joseph has grown extensively throughout the history of the Church, “which not only attributes to him high reverence after that of the Mother of God his spouse but has also given him multiple patronages.”

At the same time, the Magisterium of the Church continues to discover “old and new greatness in this treasure which is St. Joseph, like the master in the Gospel of Matthew who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.”

Therefore, the gift of indulgences granted through a decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary by mandate of the Holy Father “will be of great benefit to the perfect attainment of the appointed purpose.”

Conditions for the plenary indulgence

The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions) to Christians who, with a spirit detached from any sin, participate in the Year of St. Joseph on these occasions and manners indicated by the Apostolic Penitentiary:

–       The plenary indulgence is granted to those who will meditate for at least 30 minutes on the Lord’s Prayer, or take part in a Spiritual Retreat of at least one day that includes a meditation on St. Joseph. “St. Joseph, an authentic man of faith, invites us”, the decree reads, “to rediscover our filial relationship with the Father, to renew fidelity to prayer, to listen and correspond with profound discernment to God’s will.”

–       The indulgence can also be obtained by those who, following St. Joseph’s example, will perform a spiritual or corporal work of mercy. St. Joseph “encourages us to rediscover the value of silence, prudence and loyalty in carrying out our duties,” the decree notes.

–       The recitation of the Holy Rosary in families and among engaged couples is another way of obtaining indulgences, in order that “all Christian families may be stimulated to recreate the same atmosphere of intimate communion, love and prayer that was in the Holy Family.”

–       Everyone who entrusts their daily activity to the protection of St. Joseph, and every faithful who invokes the intercession of St. Joseph so that those seeking work can find dignifying work can also obtain the plenary indulgence. On 1 May 1955, Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of St. Joseph “with the intent that the dignity of work be recognized by all, and that it inspires social life and laws, based on the fair distribution of rights and duties.”

–       The plenary indulgence is also granted to the faithful who will recite the Litany to St. Joseph (for the Latin tradition), or the Akathistos to St. Joseph (for the Byzantine tradition), or any other prayer to St. Joseph proper to the other liturgical traditions, for the persecuted Church ad intra and ad extra, and for the relief of all Christians suffering all forms of persecution. Because, the decree notes, “the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt shows us that God is there where man is in danger, where man suffers, where he runs away, where he experiences rejection and abandonment.”

A universal saint

In addition to these, the Apostolic Penitentiary grants a plenary indulgence to the faithful who will recite any legitimately approved prayer or act of piety in honor of St. Joseph, for example, “To you, O blessed Joseph” especially on “19 March, on 1 May, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, on St. Joseph’s Sunday (according to the Byzantine tradition) on the 19th of each month and every Wednesday, a day dedicated to the memory of the saint according to the Latin tradition.”

The decree recalls the universality of St. Joseph’s patronage of the Church, noting that St. Teresa of Ávila recognized him as “a protector for all the circumstances of life”. Pope St. John Paul II also said that St. Joseph has “a renewed relevance for the Church of our time, in relation to the new Christian millennium.”

For the sick

Amid the ongoing Covid-19 health crisis, the gift of the plenary indulgence is also extended to the sick, the elderly, the dying and all those who for legitimate reasons are unable to leave their homes.

They too can obtain the plenary indulgences if they are detached from any sin and have the intention of fulfilling, as soon as possible, the three usual conditions and recite an act of piety in honor of St. Joseph, offering to God the pains and hardships of their lives.

The role of priests

The Apostolic Penitentiary encourages priests to pastorally facilitate the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance and the administration of Holy Communion to the sick with a willing and generous spirit.

To download the prayers, click on the link below:

Prayers of Protection with the Blessing of the True Cross  EN LT FR 2020

The careful work involved in revealing details hidden by years of over-painting, correcting old, imperfect repairs and addressing areas of loss now complete, restoration of the altars dedicated to Our Lady and Saint Joseph has moved to its final stage of colour application.

This beginning of the final stages in the restoration means that the altars should soon be ready to return to their place in the sanctuary at Saint Anne where any small, final touches can be carried out.

With the approval of the Archdiocese, the work to restore the side altars is being undertaken by Atelier Plantagenêt who carried out the restorative treatment on the high altar.

The restoration of the two side altars is budgeted at $24, 800 (plus applicable taxes). To date, parishioner generosity has raised $ 16,460 towards the cost of the restoration. You can help meet the projected cost by contributing to the Side Altar Restoration Fund.

Please use the yellow “Restoration” envelope clearly marked “Altar Restoration.”

Thank you for your generosity.

*Ottawa Health requires that Covid-19 protocols  be followed to enter the hall for this sale (i.e. masks before entering, social distancing).

Book and Religious Items Sale (Parish Hall) Nov. 14-15

Sat:  8:00-noon

Sunday:  8:00-2:00.

Used and new books                          Christmas items                   Calendars

Used and new items                           Gift cards                               Gift ideas

WE ACCEPT CASH AND CHEQUE ONLY

For all inquiries contact: .

Restoration of the sanctuary windows is completed ! The exterior glass and wooden frames also needed repair. We discovered that they had been installed backwards at some point in their history, perhaps when the exterior windows were replaced at some point.

The photo above shows the previous arrangement (in black and white);  the colour photos show how they are now arranged.  The PDF file here can show you in more detail on your computer:  Sanctuary Windows

This means we have restored them to their proper orientation, having the faces of the saints facing Our Lord, and Our Lord blessing us with his right hand, as is proper:

  Before:         

Restored:        

We thank you for your donations which helped pay for this restoration work.  May God reward you for your generosity !

Julian

Today (Sept. 20) begins the 9 days before the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel.  Please join us in reciting daily in your homes the Litany of St. Michael (attached).  I would ask that you pray especially for the protection of our parish and especially for the protection of the Blessed Sacrament reserved in our tabernacle.  An unsuccessful attempt was made this week to break into the church (the young man ripped out the exterior security keypad in the process then gave up) which is one of the reasons why I ask that you consider praying this for our needs here. God Bless you and keep you in these difficult times !

You may download the Litany by clicking on the link below, which will open a document in PDF format:

litaniae sanctum michael

+JMJ

Dear parishioners,

By now you have probably heard in the news that Ottawa Public Health is imposing the wearing of masks for those entering indoor public spaces throughout the Ottawa Area, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  This mandatory policy includes places of worship.  Ottawa Health expects the parish to inform parishioners of the policy with the view of fostering compliance; at the same time, the policy provides exemptions for certain people, such as those with pre-existing medical conditions such as, for example, “respiratory difficulties”.  There are exemptions as well for those working in areas where the public are not supposed to have access (i.e. sacristy, sanctuary, choir loft).  The policy is reported in this CTV News report:

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/masks-mandatory-in-indoor-spaces-in-ottawa-under-public-health-order-1.5011848

After a grace period, the policy will be reviewed on July 15^th by Ottawa City Council with the view of voting on amendments and/or bylaws regarding masks.  If you live in the Ottawa area now would be the time to contact your city councillor to suggest any constructive modifications or amendments which may be on your mind :

https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/mayor-and-city-councillors

We have been through a lot in the past few months and for many of us our patience has been tried to the limit; at the same time we don’t want anyone to get ill with COVID-19, especially the most vulnerable, and so are asked to wear a mask.   You will be facing a new challenge when going to the bank, grocery store, or any indoor space in the city.   At the same time we should be grateful that our Church is open for Mass and, despite the social distancing requirements, that we have access to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Confession, and Holy Communion.

How are we to manage our emotions in unsettling times like these, when things seemed to be getting back to normal until, suddenly, we realize they are not?  When news of this policy broke, I was advancing in my reading of a fine book published by Angelico Press called In Sinu Jesu – When Heart Speaks to Heart:  The Journal of a Priest at Prayer which was written by a Benedictine Monk who founded the traditional Silverstream Priory in County Meath Ireland.   It is a diary of sorts recording inspirations received during Eucharistic Adoration, and a book which encourages priests to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament every day in order to renew their love for Our Lord and build up their interior life.  The book is highly recommended by His Eminence Cardinal Burke, former head of the Roman Rota and Patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.  On p. 69 this monk shares an inspiration from Our Lord:

“Trust Me with all the events of your life.  I will not abandon you.  You are Mine and I will not forsake you.  The decisions of men are all in My hands.  Nothing will befall you that I do not permit.  I will give you My grace to accept the changing circumstances of your life.  It is I who am behind all that happens to you.  Nothing escapes My wisdom; nothing escapes My love; nothing escapes My omnipotence.  Trust Me, and be at peace.  I bless you with all the love of My Sacred Heart.  Do not be afraid.  Tell Me again and again that you trust in My merciful love for you.”

So as we try to process all these changes around us, and the inconveniences associated with them, let us all strive to supernaturalize them as best we can.   Because, in the end, Our Lord is the Lord of Heaven and Earth.  Our life is in His hands.  We have no better place to turn to than His Sacred Heart to help weather this storm and to be at peace within it.  We should trust in Him.

You remain in my prayers.

In Corde Mariae,

Fr. Erik Deprey, FSSP
Pastor

Because of the current COVID-19 virus emergency, the Confession needs to be handled differently.   On Sundays and weekdays we will have confession stations set up in front of the rectory.  If it rains, we will use tents (remember to bring an umbrella!).

Please consider joining us in the Rosary Crusade for and end to this COVID-19 virus crisis.  More information on this can be found on our website.

We will be posting our daily Masses here for you to view throughout the COVID-19 crisis !   We also have a new Schedule:

Monday to Friday:  7:00 am live-streamed Mass
Saturday:  7:00 am live-streamed mass
Sunday:  11:00 am live-streamed mass

Here is the link for our Channel:
St. Clement Parish Youtube Channel

The Readings for Mass can also be found on our website here: 
Daily Readings in English

Those of you unfamiliar with the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite Mass will find this video quite helpful as an overview of the Liturgy used at St. Clement Parish.  The Video was done by Fr. Calvin Goodwin, FSSP :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuKTXxKykbo

The Masses at St. Clement Parish will be recorded onto our Youtube site so that you can watch it later if for some reason you can’t see it live.

Keep this in mind as you plan your prayers at home with the family.

Take courage and may God bless you !  We are praying for you !