Posts by Catholic Parishes of Penticton

Revealing the Mystery and the Beauty of the Mass

Blessings everyone!  Follow our weekly reflections revealing of the parts of the Mass, how they inspire us to worship and bring us to community. The Mass is the most important prayer for Catholics.  It is a time set aside to pray and come humbly before our God in prayer and worship. We may come to the Church feeling happy, sad, angry, joyful, anxious, busy or at peace.  We may come alone, with friends or with family.  We may even come…

Funeral for Honorato Augusto Marques

The family of Honorato Augusto Marques of Penticton, BC is saddened to announce his passing. Augusto passed away peacefully on February 4, 2026 at McKinney Place in Oliver. His Funeral Service will be held in St. Ann’s Church on Saturday, February 14 beginning at 10:30am. A reception in St. Ann’s Hall will follow the Funeral Service and Burial at the Cemetery. Augusto’s obituary can be found on the Providence Funeral Homes website.

Funeral for Father Jim Ratcliffe

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Nelson, British Columbia, has lost a beloved priest with the peaceful passing of Reverend James “Jim” Ratcliffe of Kelowna on Monday, February 2, 2026, at Sun Pointe Village. Father Jim’s obituary can be found on the Springfield website. A prayer service will be held at Immaculate Conception Church on Wednesday evening, February 11, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 10:30 AM at Immaculate Conception Church.…

Why Should Bill C-9 be Withdrawn?

Core Arguments for Withdrawal (Summarized) Here’s why many believe Bill C-9 should be withdrawn — especially to protect religious freedom: ✅ 1. It Risks Criminalizing Faith-Based Speech Without the religious-expression defence, quoting scripture or teaching doctrine honestly could be legally risky. ✅ 2. Creates Legal Uncertainty Faith communities may curtail religious teachings out of fear of misinterpretation or legal complaint. ✅ 3. Threatens Charter Freedoms Freedom of religion and expression are fundamental rights in Canada’s Charter — and critics believe…

Did You Miss Our Advent Retreat?

Brother Jeff led our parish community in an Advent Reflection focused on the Word. There were 2 sessions to choose from: an evening at St. John Vianney or a morning at St. Ann’s. If you missed it, you can watch a video recording of the first session at St. John Vianney:

Father Neil’s 2025 Christmas Letter

As we approach Christmas, we celebrate the astonishing truth that God comes close—closer than our fears, our failures, and our anxieties. Emmanuel enters the ordinary places of our lives and asks a courageous question of each of us: Will you make room for Me?

Christmas Hamper Campaign 2025

Planning is underway for our annual Christmas Hamper Campaign, and we are confident we will be able to fulfill the requests we receive with your continued help. We are blessed with the support you have given to St Vincent de Paul Society, and we hope you will join us again as we work towards filling and delivering Christmas hampers and gifts to those in need. Once more we are asking for volunteers and have posted our work schedule on the…

Bishop Gregory Update

We wish to provide an update on the health of our beloved Bishop Gregory Bittman. While the recovery process has been longer and more complex than expected, Bishop Gregory remains deeply rooted in faith and prayer. He continues to draw strength from the love and prayer support of the diocesan family.