For the past many years a Priest, the Pastoral Associate/Sacristan and volunteers from the Cathedral of the Holy Family have been going to Sherbrooke Community Centre for the Celebration of the Eucharist (Mass) on Fridays at 10:00am. It has been a faithful commitment to provide this service for the Catholic residents who live there and they are always very grateful to attend.
Presently, Fr. David or Fr. Deyre come to the Sherbrooke Chapel to be the Celebrant. I attend each week to prepare for the Eucharist, with assistance from a volunteer Sacristan Assistant and I also prepare and lead the music. The Holy Family volunteers meet me in the Chapel at 9:30 am. After a short meeting and handing out the resident list, we pray a Sherbrooke Volunteer Prayer together and then the team goes to Sherbrook’s four floors and villages to accompany Catholic residents from their room to the Chapel. There are two volunteer teams who alternate every other Friday.
Presently Sherbrooke has 35 Catholics and 8 non Catholics (receive a blessing) who attend Mass. Many of the residents are in wheel chairs and some can walk and need to be accompanied and guided by a volunteer. Some people who live close to Sherbrooke attend Mass and sometimes people from Holy Family Parish attend as well.
When you enter the Sherbrooke Community Centre parking lot, you can see a large sign saying, “Sherbrooke Community Centre is sponsored by Anglican, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic and United Churches.” Presently there are 261 people who live there and it is an Ecumenical Community of people from many denominations. Spiritual Care has a full-time Chaplain as well as a part-time Chaplain on staff. There are 9 churches who alternate leading a Sunday Worship Service at 2:30 pm in the Chapel. For many years, the Cathedral of the Holy Family has been committed to coming every Friday at 10:00 am to celebrate the Eucharist.
I always enjoy going to Sherbrooke Community Centre to Celebrate the Eucharist with the people as they respond in prayer and thanksgiving to our loving God.