Bishop of Pembroke Michael Brehl informed his diocesan faithful in an Aug. 6 letter that due to an “unexpected and urgent crisis” in the form of a priest shortage, Sunday Mass will be temporarily suspended at 10 churches in the Pontiac Deanery starting in September.

He added that “it is important to remember that we are NOT closing these parishes.”

Starting on the weekend of Sept. 5 and 6, Mass will only be offered, for a time, at four of the 14 houses of worship in this western Quebec church subdivision: St. Alphonsus in Chapeau; Église St-Pierre in Fort Coulonge; St. John the Evangelist Church in Campbell’s Bay; and Holy Name of Mary Church in Quyon.

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Meanwhile, the houses of worship affected by the suspension are as follows:

·    St. Paul the Hermit Church – Sheenboro;

·    St. Joseph Church – Saint Joseph’s;

·    Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church – Waltham;

·    Église St-Charles-Borromée – Otter Lake;

·    St. Elizabeth Church – Vinton;

·    Église Ste-Anne – Île du Grand Calumet;

·    St. James the Greater Church – Portage;

·    Église de l’Immaculée Conception – Bryson;

·    St. Edward Church – Bristol;

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·    Église St-François d’Assise – Lac des Loups.

Brehl explained in his letter that scheduling challenges had begun to mount in recent weeks, with Fr. Michael Goring beginning health leave and Fr. Christian Kahlue departing the diocese on Aug. 5.

Fortunately for the balance of August, several retired priests and even full-time pastors have stepped up to maintain the liturgical schedule and perform other essential services.

“We are very grateful to both the priests and lay collaborators who have made this possible,” wrote Brehl. “However, with the beginning of September and the full schedule which will engage all the active priests, it will no longer be possible to count on their generous assistance.”

Brehl explained that he arrived at his decision after consultation with the Priests Personnel Committee. They concluded that no other viable solution was deemed possible, even in the short term, as there “will only be two resident active priests to serve the 14 parishes and missions of the Pontiac Deanery.”

This “unexpected and urgent critical situation” has arisen at a time when the Pembroke diocese is engaging in long-term pastoral and strategic planning. Regional and parish consultation meetings occurred from January to June, and this process will continue amid this adversity.

Brehl advised all members of this Catholic community to attend Mass in their “cluster,” continue supporting their parish with donations and actively engage in the long-term planning process, which will culminate in an official proposal being presented to the diocese and him. He added that “The priests who will be appointed to provide the pastoral care of all 14 parish communities will be announced as soon as possible.”

However, he also signalled in his letter that changes are coming.

“We know that change is necessary and we will not be able to return to the previous schedule,” wrote Brehl. “This is true for the whole Diocese, and not just for the Pontiac Deanery. For this reason, the priests and people in the other four deaneries will also be working together with the steering committee to prepare a long-term proposal for the future for each deanery, and for the whole diocese.”

Father Michael Smith, the parish priest of Fort Coulonge, Waltham, Vinton and Otter Lake, told CTV News that it is unlikely that Mass will again be celebrated at all 14 churches.

“Some people will say it’s long overdue. It doesn’t make any sense to be trying to maintain 14 buildings with some, in some cases, very small congregations,” he said.

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Smith further suggested that the Pontiac Deanery and Pembroke diocese may become more robust by making this decision.

“We’ll take this one day at a time,” Smith said. “I really am convinced that the deanery and also the diocese will eventually end up in a better place. We may have fewer parishes, but we’ll have more vibrant parishes, and that’s the goal.”