Parish Schedule
Masses
St. John the Baptist Church,
Saturday 5pm & Sunday 9 am
Thursday & Friday - 12:10pm
At:16 Port Severn Road North, Port Severn
Our Lady of Mercy Church
Sunday 11am
At: 2590 Honey Harbour Road, Honey Harbour
Other Sacraments & Times of Prayer
At: St. John the Baptist Church, Port Severn
Confessions: Fridays - 11:30am - 12pm
Saturdays - 4:15pm - 4:45pm
Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament
with Benediction
Fridays - 11:00am - 12:00pm
Bible Study – Fridays 1pm- 2:30pm
Our Lady of Mercy Parish Office
P.O. Box 126
2596 Honey Harbor
Honey Harbour, ON P0E 1E0
Phone - 705 756-2311
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.ladyofmercyhoneyharbour.ca
A Letter from the Bishop Daniel Miehm
Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough
April 10, 2025
Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy in Honey Harbour and St. John the Baptist in Port Severn,
As Holy Week dawns, I extend to you my prayerful best wishes as we celebrate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
On my recent visit to the parish on Sunday, April 6, I shared with you the decision that was recently made to twin the two parishes of Our Lady of Mercy in Honey Harbour and St. James the Great in MacTier. Such twinning arrangements exist elsewhere in the Diocese of Peterborough, and they work well for small communities, reducing the financial burden on individual parishes and allowing for their longer-term stability.
In view of this, these two parishes will henceforth be served by one priest. I shared with you the plan that the rectory in Honey Harbour would be sold, while the new pastor would live at St. James in MacTier. Since Our Lady of Mercy Church is closed for over half the year and the Honey Harbour community is very tiny in the winter, MacTier presented as the better location for the pastor to reside.
To be clear, this is not a case of one parish being reduced to a mission of the other, but rather a linking of two individual parishes. The assets from the sale of the rectory will remain with Our Lady of Mercy Parish. Those proceeds will be of great help in meeting the future capital needs of the churches in both Honey Harbour and Port Severn.
I shared with you my decision that a new pastor should be assigned for this new parish arrangement, rather than appointing either Father Charles Orchard from Honey Harbour or Father Collins Okafor from MacTier. I understand your disappointment at losing Father Charles, who has led Our Lady of Mercy Parish very ably in his brief tenure. Nonetheless I believe that new leadership is called for to launch this new pastoral arrangement, and I am confident that the priest I have assigned will be well-suited to this task. I will announce his name along with the other clergy assignments for the Diocese of Peterborough in the next few weeks. He will arrive at the end of June.
As I said last weekend, there will be some impact on the Sunday Mass schedule in both parishes as the pastor will be called on to serve four congregations in the busy summer season. I know there will be some inconvenience for parishioners, but I trust that people will work together and strive to adapt to the new situation with patience and goodwill.
Be assured of my commitment to work together with the new pastor and both communities to ensure that this twinning arrangement proceeds as smoothly as possible. I am convinced that this new configuration presents the most secure path forward for both parishes. May God continue to guide, strengthen and pour out abundant blessings on all those who cherish these parishes as places of spiritual nourishment and Christian community.
Yours in Christ,
†Most Reverend Daniel J. Miehm
Bishop of Peterborough
Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough
April 10, 2025
Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy in Honey Harbour and St. John the Baptist in Port Severn,
As Holy Week dawns, I extend to you my prayerful best wishes as we celebrate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
On my recent visit to the parish on Sunday, April 6, I shared with you the decision that was recently made to twin the two parishes of Our Lady of Mercy in Honey Harbour and St. James the Great in MacTier. Such twinning arrangements exist elsewhere in the Diocese of Peterborough, and they work well for small communities, reducing the financial burden on individual parishes and allowing for their longer-term stability.
In view of this, these two parishes will henceforth be served by one priest. I shared with you the plan that the rectory in Honey Harbour would be sold, while the new pastor would live at St. James in MacTier. Since Our Lady of Mercy Church is closed for over half the year and the Honey Harbour community is very tiny in the winter, MacTier presented as the better location for the pastor to reside.
To be clear, this is not a case of one parish being reduced to a mission of the other, but rather a linking of two individual parishes. The assets from the sale of the rectory will remain with Our Lady of Mercy Parish. Those proceeds will be of great help in meeting the future capital needs of the churches in both Honey Harbour and Port Severn.
I shared with you my decision that a new pastor should be assigned for this new parish arrangement, rather than appointing either Father Charles Orchard from Honey Harbour or Father Collins Okafor from MacTier. I understand your disappointment at losing Father Charles, who has led Our Lady of Mercy Parish very ably in his brief tenure. Nonetheless I believe that new leadership is called for to launch this new pastoral arrangement, and I am confident that the priest I have assigned will be well-suited to this task. I will announce his name along with the other clergy assignments for the Diocese of Peterborough in the next few weeks. He will arrive at the end of June.
As I said last weekend, there will be some impact on the Sunday Mass schedule in both parishes as the pastor will be called on to serve four congregations in the busy summer season. I know there will be some inconvenience for parishioners, but I trust that people will work together and strive to adapt to the new situation with patience and goodwill.
Be assured of my commitment to work together with the new pastor and both communities to ensure that this twinning arrangement proceeds as smoothly as possible. I am convinced that this new configuration presents the most secure path forward for both parishes. May God continue to guide, strengthen and pour out abundant blessings on all those who cherish these parishes as places of spiritual nourishment and Christian community.
Yours in Christ,
†Most Reverend Daniel J. Miehm
Bishop of Peterborough
Our Parish Bulletin
4th Sunday of Easter, May 11, 2025
Parish Masses & Schedule
4th Sunday of Easter
Saturday, May 10, 5pm – For the repose of the soul of Gloria Cousineau
by Louis and the family
Sunday, May 11, 9am –- For the repose of the souls of Cheryl Voisin
and Lucy Gendron by Joan Dupuis
Weekday Masses
Thursday, May 15, 12:10pm – For the People of the Parish
Friday, May 16, 12:10pm
Holy Hour/Confessions – Friday, May 15, 11:00am-12:00pm
Friday Faith Study – Understanding the Mass! – Friday, May 16, 1-2:30pm
5th Sunday of Easter
Saturday, May 17, 5pm – For the repose of the soul Grant Cadeau
by Don Cadeau and family
Sunday, May 18, 9am –- For the repose of the soul of Martin Quenneville
by Bev Quenneville
Offertory Collections – $1015.00 - Thank you for your generous support!
Bishop Miehm has named Fr. Jithin Jose, CMI as the Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy, Honey Harbour/St. John the Baptist, Port Severn and St. James the Great Parish, Mactier/St. Anne’s, Fenn’s Point.
As the Bishop announced, the two parishes will be served by one priest, who will live in Mactier. Fr. Jithin is a Carmelite priest and is currently the Associate pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish, Peterborough.
The Bishop has assigned me - Fr. Charles Orchard, as Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Port Hope, ON. I continue under Mother Mary’s care as I serve!
My parents live in Cobourg, ON – a 10 minute drive from this parish.
These pastoral assignments begin on June 25, 2025. A list of all of the Diocesan Priest Appointments can be seen on the Bulletin Board.
A time of transition in our Parish
In the summer we all look forward to having time to share meals with family and friends. I normally like to visit families in the summer but due to my upcoming move and the time required to prepare the Rectory for sale, moving the parish office to Mactier, meeting with your new pastor and my new parish, I am sorry that I will not be able to accept meal invitations this year, but will continue to be blessed to visit with you before and after Masses. Fr. Charles
From Our Bishop
“PEACE BE WITH ALL OF YOU.” POPE LEO XIV stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome yesterday and echoed the words of Jesus on Easter night. It took the Cardinals just four ballots to achieve this historic result, the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as the first-ever American pope. Hailing from Chicago, Pope Leo will also bring a broad international perspective to his ministry as the Vicar of Christ, based on his years of service in Peru, Rome, and as the worldwide Superior of the Augustinian Order. Bishop William McGrattan, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement on the CCCCB website, which includes some helpful background on our new Holy Father. Let us pray for Pope Leo XIV, that the Holy Spirit may guide him as he shepherds the Universal Church!
“ABOUND IN HOPE!” is the theme for this year’s National Family and Life Week, being celebrated in dioceses and parishes across Canada from May 11 to 18. The theme is a powerful message drawn from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans and aligns with this Jubilee Year of Hope. You can see all the material and resources on the Canadian Bishops’ website. Family and life are intricately linked: it is in our family that we first experience love and learn how to love – love is what gives hope, so celebrate the importance of family in the coming week. And how appropriate that it begins on Mothers’ Day, as we thank God for all the loving care of our mothers.
+Bishop Daniel
Liturgy Notes - Vestments and Visuals: All things in the liturgy have a sacramental character. They help point us to the heavenly realities which surround us in our worship. The church building itself is a sign of the Church, pointing us to the beauty of heaven, surrounding us with heavenly light flowing through the stained-glass windows, and safely gathering us in its rock-solid walls; and moving us forward, a great ship at sea, like the Ark of Noah. The sanctuary in particular reflects the heavenly reality of the Eucharist which unfolds there throughout the Mass, being the place where the most beautiful materials and images will be seen. It is a little elevated so that we can all see the sacred action of bringing ordinary bread and wine to the altar, participate in the great Eucharistic prayer in which the gifts are offered up to God on high and become the Body and Blood of Christ, and then join in procession to the altar to partake of the heavenly banquet. The priest, who is ordained to be the head of the assembly of believers, is specially vested for his role as the one who will preside over the prayer of the people gathered in the church. His outer garment, called the chasuble, is intentionally broad to express the fullness of the Church, composed of innumerable members of the mystical Body of Christ. The chasuble is only worn for the Eucharist, and not for any other sacraments. Under the chasuble he wears a stole, also worn by the Deacon, which is a sign that their ordination permits them to preach on behalf of the Church. The stole is a reminder that they may not teach simply what they think or what they like, but have a duty to the people of God to teach what the Church teaches. And in solidarity with all the baptized, the Priest and Deacon wear the white alb underneath, as do the servers, a sign of the white garment of baptism in which we are all united as members of the Christ’s holy Church. Someone once mused that we should all wear white baptismal robes when we attend Mass. Not practical, perhaps, but we should strive for the purity of heart granted to us in our baptism, when all stain of original sin was washed away, and we should always long to be clothed in love as we participate in the Sacred Mysteries at every Holy Mass. (©Padre Piccolo)
Fr. John Mark Missio - Archdiocese of Toronto
St. Patrick’s Church, Kearney, ON - Northern Jubilee Pilgrimage Site
From May 1 to October 31, welcoming pilgrims daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM with Special Pilgrimage Programs – July 1 to 15. In preparation for our grand Jubilee celebration, we invite the faithful to deepen their devotion through: Holy Hour with Eucharistic Adoration & Confessions
Parish Jubilee Mass – Wednesday, July 16, 11am with Bishop Daniel Miehm
Pastor - Fr. Charles Orchard
Bookkeeper - Kristen Penfold
Organist - Sharon MacNeice
Finance/Property Council
Wally Berko
Nestor Baryliuk
Ray Bergie
Gerry Scholz
Mark Vanlangenhove
Screening Committee
Pam Berko
Jenny Leduc
“FORMED”- ONLINE CATHOLIC VIDEOS
To gain access to all of FORMED’s content, follow these simple steps:
1. Go to https://signup.formed.org/
2. Click the "Sign Up" button at the top of the page
3. Select the "Sign up as a parishioner" option.
4. Search for Our Lady of Mercy Parish Honey Harbour, ON and select this parish.
5. Type your name and e-mail. You're now registered!
You will receive a welcome email, which provides you with the option of watching some intro videos that can help you navigate the platform with more ease. Formed can also be viewed/listened to on your smartphone!
E-Transfer
You may send your Offertory/Donations to our parish
in an easier and a more direct way through E-Transfer.
Name: Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Tel: 705-756-2311,
Email: [email protected]
Please Consider Planned Giving Options
Preauthorized Offering Plan (POP) – (You may request a POP Form to fill up from the parish)
Regular Planned Giving annual increase in offertory based on Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Bequests through your last will and testament
Securities – Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds, GICs
Life Insurance
You may send your Offertory/Donations to our parish
in an easier and a more direct way through E-Transfer.
Name: Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Tel: 705-756-2311,
Email: [email protected]
Please Consider Planned Giving Options
Preauthorized Offering Plan (POP) – (You may request a POP Form to fill up from the parish)
Regular Planned Giving annual increase in offertory based on Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Bequests through your last will and testament
Securities – Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds, GICs
Life Insurance
Pope Francis-Bishop Daniel Miehm-Fr. Charles Orchard
Weekend Masses:
Saturday 5 P.M.
Sunday 9 A.M
Weekday Masses: Wednesday-Friday 12:10pm
(please confirm by reading this weeks' bulletin)
Confessions: Fridays 11:30 - 12pm, Saturdays 4pm - 4:30pm
Weddings & Baptisms: Please Call the office
Weddings & Baptisms: Please Call the office
Masses
Reopens for Sunday Mass on the long weekend in May
Reopens for Sunday Mass on the long weekend in May
Address:
Our Lady of Mercy Parish
P.O. Box 126
2596 Honey Harbour Rd.
Honey Harbour, On P0E1E0
Fr. Charles Orchard - Parish Priest
Telephone: 705-756-2311
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.ladyofmercyhoneyharbour.ca/
Our Lady of Mercy Parish
P.O. Box 126
2596 Honey Harbour Rd.
Honey Harbour, On P0E1E0
Fr. Charles Orchard - Parish Priest
Telephone: 705-756-2311
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.ladyofmercyhoneyharbour.ca/
