Catholic Mission In Canada

I wonder if your ears ring as often as our parishioners speak about your outstanding gestures of generosity. Whenever we discuss the parish financial situation, I hear the same question: “What would happen to St. Augustine Roman Catholic (R.C.) Church if we did not get financial help from faithful Christian supporters?” Parish members know that they are expected to help in covering the financial cost of running their parish through church dues, collections, donations, fundraising and volunteering their services in different ways.

It is sad to face the reality of what is happening to our little parish. These past ten years, St. Augustine is becoming more and more an aging population, due to young families moving away or one parent working for months away from home, because of lack of work on the Lower North Shore. However, we try to look at the bright side of our parish.

Like many of the villages on the coast, the parish church is the centre of the village and the beauty of it, for us, is not the building, but so many villagers making it a true House of God.

So, how is this “Family House of God” being used?

I give special time and care to: prepare Baptism and administer the Sacrament of Baptism; work with parents and children for the Sacraments of Initiation; prepare couples for marriage and witness the Sacrament of Marriage; work with the liturgy leaders; bring Communion to the shut-Ins; and preside at wakes and funeral service.

I work with children and youth leaders and encourage the Children’s Choir by making a CD, which usually goes on sale in August. To keep our parish afloat, I work with fundraising leaders and the Finance team as well as administer the finance of the parish. My work as a pastoral animator is, “to draw the parish family into a greater participation in the life, mission and ministry of the Church.”

With the help of the Holy Spirit and helping hands joined in prayer and your constant and hopeful support, one is able to do wonders.

Sister Reine Driscoll, R.S.R., is pastoral administrator in St. Augustine parish in Northern Quebec, in the Diocese of Baie-Comeau.

Catholic Missions in Canada Magazine, Winter 2011