Click the above title for a series of questions and answers about the Communications Committee

A group has been formed which will be known as ST, BASIL’S GREEN TEAM. It will be under the auspices of the Parish Council as the the message of Spirituality, Education and Action will embrace the whole parish. Our application to join the Green Church Network has been sent to the headquarters in Laval, Quebec . All Ministries will be contacted to seek their input and ask how they could advance the greening of St. Basil’s. Individual parishioners are invited to contact anyone on the Green Team for their suggestions (contact Margaret Bott – 613 820 9595 or margbott@rogers.ca). Our first initiative is to eliminate the use of bottled water at St. Basil’s and in our personal lives.

St. Basil’s Roman Catholic Church is looking for a choir director starting in September 2017. This position is a part time assignment and is paid by the service. Please click the title to see more.

Help us move towards a Green Church! St. Basil's Garage Sale is September 30th (10 AM to 2 PM) - Rain Date October 1st. You can choose to have a table for $5.00 or to donate your unwanted items that are in good condition. Click the title for the full story!

This exhibition of 22 photographs featuring members of the L’Arche Ottawa community is the fruit of a formation program Henrietta Kelemen undertook in 2016-2017 called “Growing in the Mission”. Participants spent intentional time reflecting on the Mission of L’Arche, their personal mission in life and the intersection of the two. In response to the challenge of “announcing” the gift of L’Arche to the wider community, she chose to capture a different facet of community life in her photography. Henrietta sees the phrases that appear beneath the photographs as describing the essence of the Mission of L’Arche becoming a reality, as L'Arche members transform each other in the mutuality of community life, sharing their gifts with each other. Henrietta Kelemen occupies the position of Community Life and Volunteer Coordinator with L'Arche Ottawa. Meet Henrietta and members of L'Arche Ottawa in the Narthex over coffee following the 10 am Mass on Sunday, September 3.

On Saturday, September 9th, from 3 to 5 pm, the L’Arche Ottawa community will celebrate its 45th anniversary in St. Basil’s Parish Hall. Parishioners of St. Basil's are invited! Join friends and family of core members and assistants, founders and community supporters as we reflect on the shared journey that took physical root in September 1972 at St. Basil’s parish. Were you aware that the second L’Arche community in North American began in the former Basilian Fathers residence on Broadview? “Alleluia House” contributed to the momentum that led to the creation of L'Arche communities across Canada and worldwide. St. Basil’s parishioners were the first to welcome community members into their spiritual family. The core members and assistants of L’Arche Ottawa residing in 6 homes, 5 of which are within walking distance of St. Basil’s parish, look forward to receiving parishioners. The reception starts at 3 pm, and concludes with the celebration of the Eucharist at the regular 5:00 pm Mass. This event is one of the highlights in the L'Arche Ottawa calendar year.

John Watters from the Knights of Columbus presenting a cheque to Constable Sherry Jordan of the Ottawa Police Service.  Constable Jordan is the co-chair of the Ottawa Police Special Olympics committee.

On Sunday, June 25, 2017,St. Basil's Parish will pay tribute to Heather Reid for her twenty-four years of service to our community as Director of Music, and as Former Chair of the Liturgy Committee. Click title to read more...

IMPORTANT: To see the lyrics and hear the hymn please click on the title. There is then a link to click on to hear an MP3 recording. Parishioner Bob Czerny has composed a hymn that offers a very human perspective on the anguish of those who were closest to Jesus after the Crucifixion. Bob and his wife Kathy joined St. Basil’s in 1977 and have participated in many ministries and activities. Bob is a Sunday fixture – he has led the music at the 9 a.m. Mass since the early 1980s with his 12-string guitar and several mates. “I’m not sure what inspired me to write the hymn,” says Bob, “but the Stations of the Cross paintings probably contributed. Although the original set were quite abstract, they conveyed the human drama so powerfully. “It struck me that as believers, we don’t have the experience that Mary and the others had in the aftermath of the Crucifixion. They did not know that the Resurrection was around the corner. They did not anticipate joy. I figured there is something to be gained by speculating on how they felt. Besides the mother of Jesus, I chose to focus on Mary Magdalen, Peter and Thomas. And I already had the melody – I had written it years earlier to accompany Shakespeare’s text that starts ‘Fear no more the heat of the sun.’” Bob thanks Kevin Burns for recording him; Fr. John Pungente SJ for putting the lyrics on the igNation blog site; Denise Trottier for permitting the use of her father’s painting; and Gerard Lewis for putting the hymn on the web site. “My apologies for the voice quality,” he adds; “I’m OK for live performance, but recording shows all the warts. I hope someone else will do a better job with it!” Lyrics found on Home Page/Pastor's Welcome

The Renovation Campaign Benefit Concert lifted the spirits of a large audience on the afternoon of Sunday, April 2. The event, featuring the National Capital Concert Band under the direction of Maestro Rocco Romeo and the lovely Tzietel Abrego, raised $3,300 for the renovation campaign as we kick off the $50,000 second phase of the Campaign at St. Basil's Parish. For a taste of what you missed, here's a sound clip of this excellent concert band and the glorious voice of Ms. Abrego. Thanks to the Renovation Campaign organizers of this benefit concert aided and abetted by our tireless Knights of Columbus!  We are indeed a blest community.

During the months of April and May 2017, the CWL of St. Basil's will be collecting donations to be given to St. Joseph's Women's Centre. A box will be placed in the narthex to receive donation of items such as shampoo, soap, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs and brushes. Click the title of this article for the full details.

Just a quick reminder that the first parent/child preparation session for First Communion/Reconciliation is Sunday, January 15th at 6pm.   Please click the article for more information regarding dates to remember along with other details.

Too early to register your little one for kindergarten? Absolutely not! Click title for more!

The Mass Schedule for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is as follows: Christmas Eve: 4:30 p.m. Family Mass 7:30 p.m. Evening Mass 10:00 p.m. Evening Mass Christmas Day: 11:00 a.m. Christmas Mass

Click on the article to see more information about joining the CWL at St. Basil's that is open to all women of the Parish.

Click the News Item to find out how you can help!

The Pope Video is a global initiative developed by the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer) to assist in the dissemination of the Holy Father’s monthly intentions related to the challenges the humanity faces. The latest video and the history of videos since January 2016 is available at http://thepopevideo.org/ (One video for each month)

Just a year ago, on 17 August 2015, the Al Dabei family arrived in Ottawa. Nabil, Manal, Bashar, Julie, Saly and Karim left war and hopelessness behind and started on a road of increasing independence, self-reliance and integration into Canadian life as our neighbours and friends. They brought with them an innate warmth and hospitality, a strong faith and sense of family, an openness and determination to learn, and an entrepreneurial spirit that bodes well for their future success.

Structural Report For The Wood Slats on the Bell Tower of St. Basil’s Church (Click title to see link for report)

Constable Jordan is the co-chair of the Ottawa Police Special Olympics committee. She stopped by to thank the Knights and St. Basil's for our ongoing support for the Special Olympics. (Click on title for photo)