St. Simon and St. Jude

Bulletin

28-Oct-26

General Announcements

Fundraising & Events

Our After-Mass Social typically occur on the last Sunday of each month. It's a great opportunity to reconnect with fellow parishioners and meet new ones. All are welcome... bring a friend!

Our next social will take place after Mass November 29.

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Around the Archdiocese

200th Anniversary of the Archdiocese of Kingston
- Commemorative Icon
- Pilgrimage in the Archdiocese of Kingston

Prayers for Pope Leo XIV

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops joins the faithful across Canada and throughout the world in praying for the swift and complete recovery of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV following his surgery on 13 October 2026.

According to the medical statement released by the Holy See Press Office, the operation involved the removal of the lower lobe of the Holy Father’s right lung. Examination of tissue during the procedure confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma. The surgery was completed successfully and without complications.

The Bishops of Canada express their affection and spiritual closeness to the Holy Father and their gratitude to the medical team caring for him.

Recalling his message for the 34th World Day of the Sick, we entrust the Holy Father and all those who suffer from illness to the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Health of the Sick. May they receive the care, compassion and comfort they need, and may those who accompany them be strengthened in their service.

We invite the faithful to join in the prayer offered by the Holy Father himself in that message:

Sweet Mother, do not part from me.

Turn not your eyes away from me.

Walk with me at every moment and never leave me alone.

You who always protect me as a true Mother,

Obtain for me the blessing of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Driven to Volunteer

Senior Support Services-LLG is looking for volunteer drivers to help local seniors get to medical appointments, grocery stores, and other essential destinations. Mileage is reimbursed, and you get to decide how far and how often you’d like to drive. Even a small commitment of time can make a meaningful difference!

For more information or to become a volunteer call 613.342.3693 ext 2008 or email sdodgson@seniorsupportllg.ca.

The Sharing Table

Seeking New Volunteers

The Sharing Table is a volunteer group that provides a free meal once a month to anyone who wishes to attend. Meals are served on the fourth Sunday of each month at the Rideau Community Health Services Centre on Read Street in Merrickville. The December meal is held earlier in the month at Holy Trinity Anglican Church.

Each meal is prepared by a team of 5-6 volunteers. There are currently four teams, with each team serving three times a year. Approximately 20 people attend each meal.

Teams plan their own menus and serve a restaurant-style meal that includes salad, a main course, bread, dessert, tea and coffee. Expenses are reimbursed.

The Sharing Table is looking for more volunteers to form additional teams and provide meals more often. If you would like to help, please contact Sally MacInnis at 613.296.6266.

A Festival of Lessons and Carols

Call for Volunteer Readers

The Festival of Lessons and Carols is an ecumenical service of Scripture and song that dates to the late 19th century. A collection of nine Scripture lessons recount the Fall, the promise of a Messiah, the Incarnation, and the Great Commission to preach the Good News. A carol or other song reflecting on the lesson's message and a brief prayer follows each Scripture reading.

Date: Saturday, December 12
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Location: St. Ann Roman Catholic Church | 242 Main Street West, Merrickville ON

Nine volunteer readers are required to help deliver the word of God for this service. A short rehearsal will be held a week before the event.

For more information, or to express interest as a volunteer reader, contact Ricky.

Finance and Property - Fall Update

After four months of operating without the Rectory expenses, our preliminary budget review suggests that our regular weekly offerings are currently covering the day-to-day costs of running our parish.

Taylor Roofing has been awarded the contract to replace the Church roof following a competitive bidding process. Work is expected to begin in November, funded by the proceeds from the sale of the Rectory.

Future Cemetery improvements are also being reviewed.

Thank you for your continued support. A report is available at the back of the Church with more details.

Contributions via Cheque

As an increased fraud protection measure, BMO Bank of Montreal will be returning cheques that do not match the Parish’s official registered name: ST ANN PARISH.

Cheques bearing variations of ST ANN PARISH will not be processed. If you recently wrote a cheque to the parish, it may be returned to you with a request to issue a new cheque using our official registered name.

For Mental Health Ministry

Papal Intention for October

Let us pray that the mental health ministry be established throughout the Church, helping to overcome the stigma and discrimination of persons with mental illnesses.

November is the Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory

Help purify the holy souls of purgatory and prepare them to enter heaven. Join us in praying the Rosary at the Cemetery following Mass on November 1.

The Book of Remembrance will be available at the back of the Church beginning November 1. Please add the names of your deceased loved ones to the book and we will pray for them throughout the month.

Fundraising and Events Committee Chair Announcement

We are pleased to announce Keri Zarysky as the chair for our Fundraising and Events Committee. Please contact Keri if you have a fundraising idea or if you would like to join the committee.

Upcoming events this fall include:

November 21: The $30 Market
December 5: Christmas-in-Merrickville Chili Dog & Bake Sale

$30 Market

The $30 Market returns for another year. We are looking for donations that can be sold for $30. Examples include: toys, tools, crafts, gift baskets, Christmas / home decor, handmade items, Advent calendars, games/puzzles, gift cards. Please drop off donations at the back of the Church by Sunday, November 8.

Date: Saturday, November 21
Time: 10 am - 2 pm
Location: Royal Canadian Legion Merrickville | 229 Main Street West, Merrickville ON

Volunteers are needed for November 21. Roles and time commitment include:

Set up: 9 am (bringing items from the church to the Legion)
Sales: 10 am - 2 pm (at the Legion)

Please sign up at the Market display table.

For more information, see Teresa at the Market display table after Mass on Sundays.

200th Anniversary of the Archdiocese of Kingston

To know Christ and the power of his resurrection.

Phil 3:10

On January 27, 1826, Pope Leo XII erected the Diocese of Kingston and nominated Alexander MacDonnell as the first Bishop of Kingston. With this Papal act, Kingston became the second diocese in Canada and the first Roman Catholic diocese erected in the British Empire since the Reformation!

The Archdiocese will be celebrating its bicentennial from December 8, 2025, to December 8, 2026.

Learn more about the 200th Anniversary of the Archdiocese of Kingston.

Commemorative Icon

The Archdiocese of Kingston commissioned the writing of an icon to commemorate its 200th anniversary. A copy of the icon is hanging at the back of the Church. The faithful are invited to spend time before the icon, read and contemplate the images, and accept the invitation to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. A leaflet is available at the back of the Church for those who wish to learn more about the symbols, colours, and composition of the icon.

View the images and the readings of the six icons.

Pilgrimage in the Archdiocese of Kingston

The Archdiocese of Kingston has been granted a Plenary Indulgence from the Paenitentiaria Apostolica for the 200th anniversary year of 2026. There are five pilgrimage churches across the Archdiocese of Kingston where the faithful may visit to receive the plenary indulgence. These churches were selected for their historic significance within the four deaneries of the archdiocese. The churches are:

St. Michael the Archangel | 296 Church Street, Belleville
St. Joseph | 392 Palace Road, Kingston
St. John the Baptist | 38 Wilson Street East, Perth
St. Francis Xavier | 66 Church Street, Brockville
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception | 279 Johnson Street, Kingston.

Take a virtual tour of these pilgrimage churches. A brief history of each church is also provided.