Current Messages

The Church celebrates the Holy Season of Lent to prepare ourselves for the Easter Mystery. The structure of this holy season with its particular liturgical celebrations, such as Ash Wednesday, the Scrutinies for those seeking entrance to the Church through baptism at Easter, Palm Sunday and the Holy Week liturgies are meaningful and familiar. Though Lent may continue in a predictable pattern, circumstances in the world change from year to year. Each Lent, though familiar, is unique because we are experiencing life differently this year than the preceding one.

Last year we were in our first pandemic lockdown for Lent and Easter. For many, the loss of our Lenten liturgies and the powerful Easter celebration was particularly hard. We do not know at the present time how our Lent and Easter will unfold this year. There are contingency plans for different scenarios but much remains uncertain. What is certain, however, is our traditional Lenten preparations of prayer, fasting and charity, which serve as a preparation for Easter in this holy season of repentance and a means of renewed commitment to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

This year, Lent will be different than our usual experience. I encourage each and everyone of us to rely on our traditional practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving with renewed vigour this Lent. You may consider offering the fruits of these practices in ways that support those struggling in the pandemic, especially those who are most vulnerable due to age, health, lack or resources or other reasons. No matter our particular circumstance, we can pray with and for those in need and in our fasting and charity, perhaps we can find ways to use the fruits of those practices to lend a material hand to those who need it.

Pope Francis in his encyclical Fratelli tutti, writes: “life, for all its confrontations, is the art of encounter. I have frequently called for the growth of a culture of encounter capable of transcending our differences and divisions” (n.215). I had a meeting with Carl Nicholson, the head of the Catholic Centre for Immigration. Carl shared with me the history of CCI’s origins in Ottawa and the foundational support from the Filles de la Sagesse and the Soeurs de la Charité without whom CCI would not exist. Today, CCI in its three locations, welcomes and supports refugees and other newcomers to Canada, helping them settle in our beautiful city. CCI supports newcomers through, to mention a few examples:

• mentorship programs
• assistance getting accreditation with professional bodies
• help finding housing and work
• aid in accessing health care
• finding the spiritual support they need.

CCI is an example of the Christian practice of welcoming the stranger and caring for those in need, creating those places of encounter between people of which Pope Francis so often speaks. It is beyond the scope of this Lenten message to catalogue all the ways CCI helps those in need: I encourage you to see for yourself by visiting their website. Carl shared with me that many of the hundreds of volunteers come from our Catholic parishes and this is a powerful witness. When it is possible, you might consider helping where you can, to welcome and assist newcomers to our city.

The liturgical season of Lent is fast approaching. On February 17, the Church will begin the holy season with Ash Wednesday. For many of the faithful, this is a sacred day when a visit to the church is desired to celebrate Mass and receive the ashes. We hope that by this date, the lockdown will be lifted and we will be able to regain the freedom to return to our churches in greater numbers, always respecting the restrictions and precautions to ensure health security for all. This year, the imposition of ashes can only be done by sprinkling ashes on the top of the head (not on the forehead). This is a form permitted by the Roman ritual. I invite the priests to consult the Ash Wednesday liturgical directive sent by email from the Chancery on January 28th for all the details.

If access to our churches will be limited to 10 people, we will have to invite people to attend mass virtually, if possible. The imposition of ashes, although significant, is not meant to be of outmost importance. I would like more emphasis to be placed on the importance of conversion through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. So let us be prepared for all possibilities. The number of cases of infection seems to be decreasing in our region, but the increasing number of infections with the variant virus could quickly reverse the trend. Let's be careful!

For several weeks now, I have been receiving requests for clarification on the subject of vaccination. I have taken my time to answer these questions because it is a complex
reality and it is important, in my position, to offer the faithful of our Diocesan Church statements that are truthful and clear. It is important to note that there is a lot of information circulating in social networks on this subject. Experts in the field of health seem to contradict each other on different aspects of the question. In addition, there are positions based on conspiracies, both political and religious. There is enough material in the media to confuse even the most learned.

My message today does not seek to enter the debate and argue one side or the other. I
have, however, taken the time to consult with a few reputable, local Catholic doctors
to shed some light on the situation and to help me formulate a directive that might
unite us as a Church rather than divide us. I already see too many messages that sow
fear and doubt and consequently division and judgment.

All things considered, I feel it is important to trust the messages of our public health
authorities here in Canada and in Ontario. The main message is clear and it is based
on a multitude of scientific sources using the most current information available.

On the issue of the two vaccines being proposed by public health authorities, they are
safe and necessary to control the threat of the coronavirus. Might there be side effects
for some? Possibly yes. But the vaccines are deemed efficacious by our authorities
who have the expertise to make a judgment. The pandemic is serious and is causing a
death rate that has already affected too many of our families and fellow citizens,
especially among our vulnerable senior citizens as we have tragically witnessed here in
our archdiocese. The entire hospital system is affected; talk to the doctors and nurses
who are on the front line every day addressing the crisis. It is necessary for us, as a
Church and as a society, to cooperate to reduce the spread of the virus. I thank all
those in our parishes who have followed the protocols put in place by the
archdiocese. These new procedures have made our churches as safe an environment
as we can to provide us the opportunity to practice our faith in this time of crisis;
being able to go to Mass is essential.

As for the moral issue of receiving the vaccines, I believe it is important to say
something. Vaccines are sometimes developed and/or tested using cell lines derived
from either aborted fetal tissue or destroyed human embryos. Knowing this, many ask
me if we can in good conscience receive a vaccine developed and produced from this
unethical research. This is a serious dilemma.

The short answer to a complex question is that in this particular circumstance, it is
morally permissible to be vaccinated. We are in a global pandemic that has caused the
deaths of over two million people worldwide and which has left many others with
lingering adverse affects. Since we do not have completely licit (morally pure)
alternatives at this time, we can receive the vaccines we have available to us in Canada.
To add context to the short answer, I will let the experts shed some light on the
subject. I recognize there is a diversity of opinion within our Catholic Church. I refer
you, to two resources that summarize the thinking of specialists in moral theology
upon which I base my decision:

• Note on the morality of using some anti-Covid-19 vaccines (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican)
• Letter by the Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories

I pray today in a special way that the Lord may stir the hearts of all missionaries, clergy and lay faithful, within our archdiocese. May He instill a deep desire to serve and care for the people in the midst of this pandemic. Now is not the time to remain idle. Of course, there are many things we cannot do in the “normal” way, but it would be dangerous to believe that nothing worthy can be done.

I therefore call upon everyone to double in ardour with intercessory prayer, so that as
a Church, our generous charitable works may triple. There are new needs out there.
People hunger for food and spiritual nourishment. Missionary work in bringing Christ
to the people starts in helping them in their current and immediate needs.
Outreach during a lockdown might sound contradictory but I believe there are many
different and new ways to touch people’s lives. Allow the Spirit to guide you in your
efforts. Respond with the gift of faith and love.

+Marcel Damphousse
January 22, 2021

Here we are in 2021. Happy New Year! Everyone was relieved to see the end of 2020 marked by a pandemic that disrupted much of the normal life we had. But as we enter the New Year, we unfortunately realize that the devastation caused by the infamous corona virus is growing. Without a doubt, this reality frustrates us and shortens our patience.

Clergy and faithful have many questions. Some question the seriousness of the Coronavirus and think the precautions put in place are disproportionate, such as the current lock down containment. Some criticize the civil and religious authorities for the restrictions imposed on the Church, decrying the loss of our religious freedom. There are also questions about liturgical life, such as why it is not permitted to receive communion on the tongue at this time. Many are concerned about the safety of new vaccines and whether it is morally acceptable to receive a vaccine developed using stem cells from an aborted fetus.

Since opinions on these topics are very divided, both among the faithful and among clergy, you can imagine how easy it is to be divided and to criticize each other. Anxiety, fatigue, discouragement and loss of autonomy increase the amount of frustration and can create an untenable situation.

In light of this reality, I know it is important to support you during these difficult times and to encourage you in your pastoral efforts. We must not lose our raison d'être as disciples of Jesus Christ. We must manage this time of crisis in a serene and balanced way. God has never abandoned his people throughout the history of salvation. It is important, therefore, to be attentive to his presence and to tell ourselves that God has something to teach us.

I believe that it would be profitable as a diocesan Church to communicate a clear and common message to all. There is strength in unity. Dissension weakens us and sows the seeds of uncertainty and mistrust. I invite us all, therefore, to reflect on our interior disposition, our attitude and the message that we convey. Are we ready to unite with our sisters and brothers, our parish family and our pastor to foster peace, respect and charity? 

✠ Marcel Damphousse
Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall