Dear People of the Diocese of Thunder Bay:

Official Lockdown Notice from Bishop Colli (PDF)

It is regretful that I must inform you that due to the announcement of the Premier of Ontario and the Ontario Health Authorities, we must cancel all our public Masses from Boxing day, Dec. 26, 2020 until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord January 10, 2021. This is all due to the rising number of cases of Covid-19and the pandemic in our province.

Our priests will still celebrate their private Masses for the intentions of their parishioners, but our churches and church offices will be closed for the lock down of 14 days. People are reminded that they are still dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass during this pandemic.

I ask that you please pray together as a family and that you observe the directions of our health authorities for everyone’s safety. Please pray for those working in our hospitals and health care institutions and for our first-responders. Keep your family safe and also those around you. You can follow Christmas Mass and Sunday Masses on the internet with Bishop Colli at www.dotb.ca.

We recognize that this lock down is for the good of all people. We do all of this now, so that next year, with the hope of this vaccine and our working together, we will be able to celebrate together once again in 2021.

Merry and Holy Christmas to all – be safe and pray for and end to this pandemic in our land.

Sincerely,
+Fred J. Colli
Bishop of Thunder Bay