Vancouver, 18 March 2020
Dear Parishioners and friends:
On March 16, 2020, the Province of BC issued an order prohibiting all public gatherings of more than 50 people, this included religious gatherings and on March 17, 2020 a public health emergency was declared.
Therefore, public Sunday and weekday Masses are cancelled.
The priests will privately celebrate Mass daily, for the sick, deceased and other intentions as requested.
We will review our emergency provisions regularly in accord with the requirements of the public health officials and we will provide updates as required.
| A Prayer in time of epidemic |
| Almighty God, who forgives the sins of your people and heals all their faults, you who calls yourself: The Lord, our healer and who sent your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to bear our sickness, look upon us who stand humbly before You. We pray to You in this time of epidemic and need, remember Your love and kindness that You have always shown to Your people in times of tribulation. Just as You graciously looked upon Aaron’s atonement and stopped the plague that broke out, just as You accepted David’s sacrifice and commanded the destroying angel to withdraw his hand, accept also today our prayer and sacrifice and show us mercy. Keep this disease away from us, allow those affected to be healed, protect those who have been preserved from it so far by Your goodness, and do not let the epidemic spread any further. Amen. |