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The Government of New Brunswick has moved the Fredericton and Saint John regions of the Diocese into the “Red Level” of their recovery plan. Public Masses are to be celebrated outside only. Please see the Diocesan protocols, as well as the latest GNB mandatory order especially article 32(e).
We are called to reflect the light of Christ in the world. In this challenging time let us be true witnesses and examples of His light. This temporary disruption is an opportunity to go ever deeper in personal and family prayer, and with the graces received, to safely reach out to neighbours suffering physically, emotionally, and spiritually in these difficult days.

Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC of the Diocese of Saint John has written a letter to priests and faithful on the Year of Saint Joseph, and an addendum with resources for how to participate more fully in the Year of Saint Joseph. These can be found in this issue of The New Freeman, starting on pages 6 and 7. Mary-Anne Ruggles, Catholic Christian Outreach Connect leader, gives an update on faith studies at the University of New Brunswick via the Instagram account, campusministry @unb. As the newest and youngest member of the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) at St. Anthony’s Parish in Bloomfield, PEI, Joanie Chislett hopes to carry the rich legacy of the organization forward to future generations. The 38-year-old mother of two says the decision to join in January 2020 was a long time coming.

Pope Francis invites Catholics around the world to deepen their appreciation, love and faithful witness to God and His Word - especially on the third Sunday in ordinary time (January 24, 2021) which is “dedicated to celebration, to reflection and proclamation of the Word of God; so that believers can understand the inexhaustible wealth which comes from this constant dialogue of God with his people."
Le Pape François invite les catholiques du monde entier à approfondir leur appréciation, leur amour et leur témoignage fidèle de Dieu et de sa Parole - en particulier lors le troisième dimanche du temps ordinaire (24 janvier 2021) qui est «consacré à la célébration, à la réflexion et à la proclamation de la Parole de Dieu; afin que les croyants puissent comprendre l’inépuisable richesse qui provient de ce dialogue constant de Dieu avec son peuple.»

Saint Joseph is needed now more than ever to intercede powerfully for our Church, country, and families. On December 8, 2020, Pope Francis decreed a “Year of Saint Joseph”, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as patron of the universal Church.
As your Bishop I invite you to enter this Year of Saint Joseph with fervency, participating in any number of the special prayers and practices available to us. An Addendum with ideas for the parishes and faithful on how to participate more fully in this Year of Saint Joseph is attached to this letter for your consideration.

Nous avons besoin plus que jamais de saint Joseph pour intercéder puissamment pour notre Église, notre pays et nos familles. Le 8 décembre 2020, le Pape François a décrété une « Année de saint Joseph », pour commémorer le 150 e anniversaire de la proclamation de saint Joseph comme patron de l'Église universelle.
En tant que votre Évêque, je vous invite à participer avec ferveur en cette Année de saint Joseph, en participant aux nombreuses prières et pratiques spéciales dont nous disposons. J’ai joint en annexe à cette lettre des idées pour les paroisses et les fidèles sur la manière de participer plus pleinement à cette Année de saint Joseph.

Recognizing "the gifts of each baptized person" — women and men — Pope Francis ordered a change to canon law and liturgical norms so that women could be formally installed as lectors and acolytes. This January youth leaders with the Diocese of Saint John are gearing up to offer Youth Alpha at the Diocesan level. While various Youth Alphas have been offered locally in different regions, this will be the first offering at the diocesan level. For anyone who has ever thought they might have been happier as a monk or a nun, living the contemplative life, this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is your chance to try it out.

Ahead of the beginning of Lent, on Wednesday, 17 February, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has published a note detailing how Catholic priests are to distribute ashes.
La Congrégation pour le Culte divin et la discipline des Sacrements a fait paraître mardi 12 janvier une note sur le déroulé particulier du mercredi des Cendres, dans les circonstances sanitaires exceptionnelles du moment.

La Semaine annuelle de prière pour l’unité chrétienne sera célébrée du 18 au 25 janvier 2021 sur le thème « Demeurez dans mon amour et vous porterez du fruit en abondance » (Jean 15,5-9). Les ressources, en français et en anglais, peuvent être téléchargées gratuitement à partir du site web canadien pour la Semaine de prière pour l’unité des chrétiens.

The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be celebrated 18 to 25 January 2021 on the theme “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit” (John 15:5-9). The resources in English and in French can be freely downloaded from the Canadian website for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

The position of Controller for the Diocese of Saint John will be a combination of roles, with some administrative duties as well as the traditional duties of the Controller position. Reporting to the Manager of Finance and Administration and the Episcopal Vicar for Temporal Affairs, this position plays a key role within the Finance Department team.

Former Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick and now chancellor at St. Thomas University hopes to promote education on campus and beyond. STU campus minister Vivien Zelazny discusses the silver linings of extending campus outreach online. Communion and Liberation (CL) choirs in Montreal and Toronto continue concerts online to support the Aid to the Church in Need’s Lebanon campaign. Deacons bringing Church to the people in the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Government debate continues regarding Canada’s legally-sanctioned euthanasia system.

We have just been advised by the Province of New Brunswick that the entire province is moving to the orange level. In this level, a maximum of 50 persons can gather at Mass, and 25 persons for other physically distanced gatherings. Please note that masks/face coverings are mandatory for all activities. Be assured that the dispensation from the Holy Obligation to attend Mass on Sunday is still in effect.
This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord. Just as the God the Father confirms Jesus in His identity as the beloved Son of God, He affirms us in our identity and dignity as His own sons and daughters called to holiness and mission. As faithful, you continue to demonstrate great understanding and charity in this time of disruption. Your ability to maintain and foster the faith is a true testimony and witness to Christ’s presence among us. As always, we entrust to Him all those who are ill and those on the front lines caring for them.

Today is a day to be amazed by the Mother of God. At the beginning of the year, let us implore from Mary the grace to be amazed at the God of surprises.
Mary is the Queen of peace, who triumphs over evil and leads us along paths of goodness, who restores unity to her children, who teaches us compassion. Let us together pray these words to Our Lady: “We fly to thy protection, O Holy Mother of God”.
Aujourd’hui c’est le jour de s’étonner devant la Mère de Dieu. Au début de l’année, demandons-lui la grâce de l’étonnement devant le Dieu des surprises.
Marie est la Reine de la paix, qui vainc le mal et conduit sur les voies du bien, qui rétablit l’unité entre ses enfants, qui éduque à la compassion. Disons-le tous ensemble à la Vierge : “Sous ta protection nous cherchons refuge, Sainte Mère de Dieu”.

Winners of the annual Christmas drawing contest. Joy to the world: At Christmas time, we celebrate the joy of Jesus’ birth, there are ways to retain that joy all year long. A Christmas like no other. As Catholics across the diocese prepare to celebrate Christmas, every person is well aware that things will be different this year. As faithful there are many ways in which we will need to be patient and flexible as we come to mass over the Christmas season. Magi: men of mystery. As mysterious to the three wise men as the light that appeared in the western heavens, so too is the mystery surrounding these magi who followed that star to Bethlehem and bore gifts for the newborn Jesus.

A note from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith states: "Due to the situation of the ongoing pandemic, 'all vaccinations recognized as clinically safe and effective can be used in good conscience with the certain knowledge that the use of such vaccines does not constitute formal cooperation with the abortion from which the cells used in production of the vaccines derive.'" On 2 December 2020, the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories issued a letter on the ethical considerations surrounding an anti-COVID vaccine. It remains imperative that Catholics make clear their moral objection to vaccine development derived from abortion, and to advocate with their governments for ethically produced vaccines.We address a special appeal to our Catholic brothers and sisters in the biopharmaceutical industry. Allow respect for the sanctity of human life from conception onward to find expression in work that leads to the replacement of morally illicit cell lines with ethically sourced ones. Please be assured of our prayerful support of this good and necessary endeavour.

Une note de la Congrégation pour la Doctrine de la Foi: Il est «moralement acceptable d'utiliser des vaccins anti-Covid-19 qui ont eu recours à des lignées cellulaires de fœtus avortés dans leur processus de recherche et de production». Dans le cas de la pandémie actuelle, «tous les vaccins reconnus comme cliniquement sûrs et efficaces peuvent être utilisés en restant conscient que le recours à ces vaccins ne signifie pas une coopération formelle avec l'avortement dont sont issues les cellules à partir desquelles les vaccins ont été produits». Le 2 décembre 2020, les évêques catholiques de l’Alberta et les Territoires Nord-Ouest ont publié une lettre au sujet des questions d’éthique entourant un vaccin contre la COVID-19. Il reste impératif que les catholiques expriment clairement leur objection morale au développement de vaccins dérivés de l'avortement, et qu'ils plaident auprès de leurs gouvernements en faveur de vaccins produits de manière éthique. Nous lançons un appel particulier à nos frères et sœurs catholiques de l'industrie biopharmaceutique. Faites en sorte que le respect du caractère sacré de la vie humaine dès la conception s'exprime dans vos travaux par la substitution de lignées cellulaires produites de manière éthique aux lignées cellulaires moralement illicites. Soyez assurés de notre soutien dans la prière pour cette entreprise juste et nécessaire.

Durant la saison de Noël, nous accueillons dans nos églises des gens qui se sont absentés de la Messe pendant quelque temps. Parfois, lorsque ces gens assistent à la messe pour la première fois depuis des semaines, des mois, ou même des années, ils peuvent se sentir un peu incertains. Revenir à la messe après une période d’absence, peut représenter un défi à la fois physique et spirituel. Ces gens ont un profond désir de retrouver l’esprit de communauté et la stabilité, ainsi que de rencontrer ou de retrouver, ce Dieu qui se soucie profondément de nous, qui nous rejoint par amour et qui nous révèle son véritable « visage » en Jésus : vrai Dieu et vrai homme. Rappelons-nous que l'hospitalité exprime par nos gestes ce que nous ressentons dans le cœur, alors que nous cherchons à évangéliser et à offrir la consolation pendant cette période difficile.

The Christmas season always draws to our churches people who have been absent for a while. As people approach Mass for the first time in weeks, months, maybe even years, uncertainty may accompany them. Returning to Mass, after being away, may be both physically and spiritually challenging. People are longing for a sense of community and stability, and for the opportunity to encounter or re-encounter the God who cares deeply for us, speaks to us out of love, and reveals His “face” in Jesus – true God and true man. Let us remember that hospitality is not a measure of what we do but a condition of the heart, as we seek to evangelize and provide consolation during a difficult time.

It is not too late to reconsider Canada’s approach to euthanasia and assisted suicide, in order to ensure an ethical response, one that promotes the inherent dignity of each human person when faced with the profound questions surrounding what it means to be human, the quality of life, human suffering, death and dying.”

Il n’est pas trop tard pour reconsidérer l’attitude du Canada concernant l’euthanasie et le suicide assisté, afin d’assurer une réponse conforme à l’éthique, qui favorise la dignité inhérente de chaque personne humaine lorsqu’elle fait face aux questions profondes qui entourent la signification de l’être humain, la qualité de vie, la souffrance humaine, la mort et le mourir. »

During his homily for this year’s Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 9, 2020, Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC of the Diocese of Saint John alluded to this saying, “our life in Christ is an adventure of love, and what an adventure it has been this past year for me, for all of us.” As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thanked faith communities for helping Canadians struggle through nine long months of COVID-induced uncertainty and isolation, he also urged a group of 250 clergy and faith leaders from a wide range of religions to do more over the home stretch while vaccinations roll out. Praying to God in times of joy and sorrow is a natural, human thing to do because it connects men and women to their father in heaven, Pope Francis said.