On July 22nd, the Archdiocese informed me that Fr. Prima Chika, who was supposed to replace Fr. Kevin on August 1st, will NOT be able to work at our parishes until he fills out the proper Work Visa papers with the government.  Over the last couple of years, Fr. Prima was on a Student Visa from Nigeria, which permitted him to work 20 hours per week, while studying full time at St. Paul University.  As soon as he graduated this Spring, his Student Visa was immediately null and void.  When Fr. Prima acquires a regular Work Visa to work in Canada, he will then be able able to take over Fr. Kevin's role as Associate Pastor at St. Monica and St. Andrew parishes, and not before.

In the meantime, I spent the last two days scrambling to call priests on the Archdiocesan ‘short list’ of potentially available priests to help us.  All of the ones I called were already helping other priests in our region who are on annual vacation leave.  Praise be to God, on July 24th, Fr. Jonathan Kelly (former associate pastor of our parishes) gratiously accepted to help us.  Since the pastoral team is responsible for two parishes, we need 2 full time priests and a part-time priest to function well.  At the moment, Fr. Kipling and I are on rotational annual leave over the month of August.  With the third priest (Fr. Primus) no longer available to us, and the second priest on vacation, this was leaving us with only ONE priest to look after both parishes, which is an unacceptable situation.  

While we have a ‘band aid’ solution for the month of August, the Archdiocese is ultimately responsible for the appointment of its priests and deacons throughout the Archdiocese.  They need to help us find a solution as we enter the Fall.  As you may recall, all of the priest moves were announced by the Archdiocese last month.  We were promised a full time priest to replace Fr. Kevin.  We no longer have a replacement due to an administrative oversight.  Between St. Monica and St. Andrew parishes, we have 2 assigned deacons and 3 priests that celebrate 5 weekday masses, 7 weekend masses, baptisms, weddings, funerals, 12 schools (10 elementary schools and 2 high schools), 7 nursing homes/senior homes.  Between both of our parishes, the average numbers of parishes filling seat on the weekend are about 1500.  By comparison, Holy Redeemer, the second largest parish in the Archdiocese, takes in about 2500-3000 people, and is responsible for 4 schools and 3 nursing/seniors homes.  They also have 3 priests and 2 deacons helping them.  If you do the math, our pastoral team at St. Monica and St. Andrew has been expected to do much more than the average parish in the region, with less resources.  We have now been deprived of a full time priest for the month of August.

Let’s all keep a close eye on this situation as we enter the Fall.  If the Archdiocese is unable to provide us with a priest in a timely fashion, some difficult decisions will need to be made.  Visiting priests (with letters of attestation from their bishops and faculties from our own bishop) can fill in for the third priest IF they’re available.  This is an option, but NOT a guarantee.  The sad reality is that we currently have a shortage of priests in the Ottawa-Cornwall area and many of the priests that are not assigned to parishes but are available for ministry could be helping other parishes.  This is what I discovered a few days ago as I began calling various priests.  There is a silver lining in this temporary predicament.   We DO have recourse to the deacons already assigned to us, who can provide us with a dignified Liturgy of the Word with distribution of the Eucharist at some of our weekend masses and the homes if our priests are not available.  I have already spoken to them yesterday, and they’re willing to serve in this capacity if needed.  I could also ask the Archbishop to send us more deacons to help us with the extra responsibilities, that are in keeping with their diaconal roles (in addition to preaching at mass, deacons can certainly do Baptisms, weddings and preside over funeral services).  May the Holy Spirit intercede in our current dilemma.

“The harvest is rich, but the laborers are few.  Pray to the Lord of the harvest, to sent out laborers into his harvest.” Mt. 9:37-38

Fr. Pierre, Pastor