Category: The Diocese Published Date Written by Admin
TO: All Parishes and Religious Communities in the Diocese of St. Catharines
FROM: Bishop Gerard Bergie
DATE: May 31, 2013
Dear Clergy, Religious and faithful of the Diocese:
All Pastoral appointments noted below take effect August 1, 2013 unless otherwise indicated
Retirements – Transfers out of the Diocese
Father Stanley Pietlock will be retiring from active ministry and residing in Toronto.
Father William Derousie will be retiring from active ministry for health reasons.
Fr. Gabriel Dias, O.C.D. will be returning to India.
Appointment of Pastors
Msgr. Vladimir Zivcic, V.G. - St. Julia Parish, St. Catharines
Fr. Michael Basque – St. Elizabeth Parish, Wainfleet
Fr. Julien Beaulieu – Paroisse du Sacre Coeur, Welland, Paroisse Immaculee-Conception, St. Catharines, Paroisse S. Antoine-de-Padoue, Niagara Falls, Paroisse S. Jean-de-Brebeuf, Pt. Colborne
Fr. Mario Fernandes, O.C.D. - St. Patrick Parish, Caledonia
Fr. Richard Kowalchuk – St. Joseph Parish, Grimsby
Fr. Mathew Pendanathu - St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, St. Catharines
Fr. Sunny Sebastian - St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Dunnville
Fr. Christopher Szczepanik - Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, Thorold
Appointment of Administrator
Fr. Ronald Pinto, O.C.D. – Our Lady of Lourdes (St. Mary) Parish, Hagersville, St. Ann`s Mission
Church, Walpole
Appointment of Parochial Vicar
Fr. Chad Grennan - St. Alfred Parish, St. Catharines
Special Assignment
Fr. Charles Moser - Full-time Chancellor, Catholic Centre
Seminarians
We have five seminarians studying for our Diocese: Ronald Angervil, Stephen Bruzzese,
Stephen Innamorati, Trevor Plug and Gregory Schmidt
New Clergy to the Diocese
Fr. Julien Beaulieu – retired military chaplain and priest of the Diocese of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière
Fr. Richard Kowalchuk – working in the Diocese of Thunder Bay since July 2000, priest of the Diocese of
St. Catharines
Fr. Ronald Pinto, O.C.D. – member of the Discalced Carmelites Karnataka – Goa Province
Additional Appointments, announced on June 7, 2013
With the approval of his Religious Superior, Fr. John Vickers, C.S.C. has been appointed pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in St. Catharines. I also wish to thank Father Lui Santi, C.PP.S. for his faithful service to St. Alfred Parish for the past two years. Father Lui will be accepting a new appointment to a parish in Toronto that is staffed by the Precious Blood Fathers. I am grateful to the Fathers of Holy Cross and Precious Blood for their ongoing support and ministry in our diocese.
We welcome Fr. Michael Wastag, O.Carm. to the Diocese of St. Catharines. Fr. Wastag is presently serving in New Jersey; he is scheduled to arrive at Mount Carmel Spiritual Centre on July 1, 2013. We are very fortunate to have this Centre in our diocese and the ministry of Carmelite priests.
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Last Updated on Thursday, June 13, 2013
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Category: Q & A: Common Questions About Religious Life Published Date
Prayer is one of the best ways to listen for God’s call. As you sit in silence...in God's presence...is your heart stirred? Do you feel the Holy Spirit tugging at your "insides?"
How Do I Know For Sure If God Is Calling Me To Religious Life As A Priest or Brother?
The answer to this question is not easy, but here are five things that may help:
Pray!
Prayer is one of the best ways to listen for God’s call. As you sit in silence...in God's presence...is your heart stirred? Do you feel the Holy Spirit tugging at your "insides?" Are thoughts of serving God’s people as a religious person present?
Category: The Call Published Date
Starting with his seventh-grade teacher, people had been telling Chase Hilgenbrinck that he should become a priest. He was flattered, of course, but he really didn't think priesthood was for him. He wanted to play soccer. The way he describes it, Hilgenbrinck's call to the priesthood came gradually. It is not like he woke up one day and God told him to become a priest. At first he resisted. He did not want to be a priest. All he could think of were the negatives. To begin with, he'd have to give up soccer.
Category: Director's Blog Published Date Written by Fr. Paul McDonald
1 . One who considers a personal relationship with an important and vital part of life. He shows evidence of working toward deepening his relationship with God. Prayer is a priority in his life.
2. One who has the ability and willingness to talk about his faith and experience of God in his life. The way he lives gives witness to his faith, He shows some current involvement in his local parish.