THE TOWER OF ST. BENEDICT CHURCH IN MILTON IS UP! The corner of Yates and Louis St. Laurent will never be the same! The footings for the new church have been poured. Father Jim Petrie has returned home from a stay in the hospital. As he recuperates at home he will be able to keep a close eye on the developments!
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Date posted on May 10, 2019
The Diocese of Hamilton formally announces the purchase of Mount Mary Immaculate Retreat Centre, a property currently owned by The Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, located in Ancaster, Ontario. The Diocese will take official possession of the property at the end of May 2019.
Continue readingA CHILD’S VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE CATHEDRAL will be launched on the Diocesan website on May 9, 2019. It is the work of teachers and students from the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and was created during a visit to the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King earlier this year. The Virtual Tour uses the latest technology and provides verbal explanations by the students to the various points of interest in the Cathedral. Father David Wynen, Rector of the Cathedral, Dr. Anne Jamieson, Director of the Catechetical Office, Monsignor Murray Kroetsch, and I were given a “sneak preview” earlier this week. It will be a popular visit!
Continue readingMESSAGES OF CONDOLENCE to Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and to Bishop Julian Winston Sebastien Fernandes, Bishop of Badula and President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka, have been sent from the Diocese of Hamilton and from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops! A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at Canadian Martyrs Parish, Hamilton, next Friday, May 3rd, beginning at 7:30 p.m., to pray for all who have been affected by this horror! “May the souls of all who suffered such a tragic death, through the mercy of God, rest in peace! May those who mourn their loss experience the loving and strong support of the Christian community, indeed all people of good will, world-wide!” (from the letter to Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith)
Continue readingHAPPY EASTER! THE TOMB IS EMPTY! After a time of penance and prayerful renewal, and following the rich celebrations of the high holy days of our faith, we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He is Risen! We rise with him! This is our profound hope! May the hope of the Resurrection bring abundant joy which blesses family, friends, co-workers, indeed all you meet every day!
Continue readingHOLY WEEK BEGINS WITH THE PALM SUNDAY CELEBRATIONS! Holy Week precedes the great Feast of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday! It includes the last days of Lent and the beginning of the Easter Triduum (Thursday of the Lord’s Supper, Friday of the Passion, and Holy Saturday). The Easter celebrations begin in the darkness of Saturday evening with the Easter Vigil – “the mother of all vigils”, according to St. Augustine! May these holiest of days draw us all closer to the Lord and to one another!
Continue readingVOCALFEST 2019 IS A MUSICAL “EXTRAVAGANZA” of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board. Drawing together vocal groups from the six Catholic High Schools in the Hamilton area at the Bishop Ryan Performing Arts Theatre, the young people literally “sang the day away”!!! Energy and enthusiasm abounded as the singers cheered each other on and encouraged every singer and every group – a true celebration of the students and the music that inspires them! Next week, BR Xpression, under the direction of music teacher Dave Tabone, presents another of their sensational evenings of music and fun. It is the culmination of a lot of commitment and hard work by the students! Don’t miss it!
Continue readingTHE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION is being celebrated throughout the Diocese these days. Tonight I travel to St. Mary Parish in Owen Sound, and tomorrow I will celebrate at St. Patrick Parish in Burlington. On Sunday morning I am at Holy Cross Croatian Parish in Hamilton, and in the afternoon at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Stoney Creek. Next week I celebrate the Sacrament with young people from St. Catherine of Siena Parish at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. It is always a joy to meet the young people who are so well prepared for the celebration. Please continue to pray for this year’s Confirmandi in our Diocese!
Continue readingMARCH 25th IS THE SOLEMNITY OF THE ANNUNCIATION, patronal feast of the Diocese of Hamilton. A Mass will be celebrated at noon at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King. Following Mass, invitations have been extended to a luncheon in McNally Hall where the Diocesan Campaign, One Heart, One Soul, will be officially launched. The final version of the campaign video will be presented at that time. Fourteen Parishes have offered to participate in the “Pilot Wave” of the Campaign, and will launch their own efforts in April. Three additional waves over the next two years will allow every Parish in the Diocese to participate! We pray for Our Lady’s intercession for this historic diocesan initiative!
Continue readingONE HUNDRED AND FORTY CATECHUMENS were inscribed into the Book of the Elect at ceremonies at the Basilica of Our Lady and the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King over the past two weekends. They are preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) which will be celebrated in their Parishes at the upcoming Easter Vigil. Both events were very moving opportunities to meet others who have made the same choices about their faith. Thank you to the RCIA Teams and the Pastors of Parishes for your participation in this year’s Rite of Election!
Continue readingMELISSA FARRELL IS THE NEW PRESIDENT of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton! The long awaited announcement was made yesterday by Dr. Tom Stewart, President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health System and Sonny Mondavi, Chair of the St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton Board. She will assume the new position on April 29, 2019. Ms. Farrell currently serves as the Assistant Deputy Minister, Acute and Emergency Health Services, within Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. She is widely recognized as an expert in health system funding, quality improvement, and performance management. We celebrate her appointment and wish her well!
Continue readingTHE ANNUAL BISHOP’S CHARITIES DINNER DANCE, sponsored by Councils from the Knights of Columbus in the Hamilton area, takes place at Carmen’s Banquet Hall tomorrow evening. It is always a joy-filled evening – a time to celebrate our faith and support some very good works! Thanks to the Grand Knights and their Councils who so generously show their support for the Bishop and for the charities that will benefit. Thanks to the patrons who are so dedicated in their support. Thanks to the Parishes and parishioners who have purchased tables. May the weather cooperate this year!
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