Heart to Heart: Issue #561
JOURNEY THROUGH ADVENT WITH MARY, is the theme of this year’s video series from the National Offices of Liturgy, and Evangelization and Catechesis at the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. The presenter this year is Archbishop Francis Leo, Archbishop of Toronto. He is filmed from the sanctuary of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Michael in Toronto. His reflections are on the Gospel passages for the upcoming Sundays, and are available the week previous. The First Sunday of Advent is available here. The Archbishop is a Marian scholar and a fine teacher. This is an excellent way to live Advent in preparation for Christmas!
THE CATHOLIC CEMETERIES OF THE DIOCESE OF HAMILTON hosts a MONTHLY MEMORIAL MASS at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Burlington on the second Tuesday of each month. The names of people interred in one of the Hamilton/Burlington area Catholic cemeteries during the previous month are read during the Universal Prayer, and their relatives receive an invitation to attend. The next Mass will be on Tuesday, December 10th, at 4:30 p.m. It is one of the great benefits of our Catholic cemeteries. All are welcome.
DWAYNE CAHILL, Manager of Administration and Finance at The Catholic Cemeteries Administration Office honoured Pvt. John McGovern, (Victoria Cross) in an article published in Catholic Cemetery, earlier this month. McGovern is one of 53 Victoria Cross recipients buried in Canada. On November 11th, 40 family members from Chicago returned to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Burlington for a commemorative service at McGovern’s grave. Members of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Royal Canadian Navy provided military honours. Waterdown’s Royal Canadian Legion was also present. An informative article, Dwayne, about a long-overdue recognition!
SALT AND LIGHT CATHOLIC MEDIA FOUNDATION has announced the appointment of Fr. Haig Chahinian as its new Chief Executive Officer effective December 1, 2024. Multilingual in English, French and Armenian, he holds a baccalaureate from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome! We wish him well in furthering the valuable communication ministry of Salt and Light!
ST. THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL in Hamilton is the venue for the 46th Annual Father Kennedy Memorial All-Ontario Catholic Junior Boys Basketball Invitational Tournament from January 31 to February 1, 2025. The tournament features eight competitive teams from the Golden Horseshoe and surrounding area. It is an exciting tournament and it has a long history! We wish the teams well!
WELCOME TO BISHOP MICHAEL BIRD, Bishop-Emeritus of the Anglican Diocese of Niagara, who is visiting Hamilton next week. Following his retirement, the Bishop and his wife moved to his retirement home in Barry’s Bay. In Hamilton for meetings, we look forward to his visit to Ardree, renewing our friendship!
THE CONSISTORY OF CARDINALS during which Pope Francis will create 21 new Cardinals including Cardinal-designate Francis Leo, conferring on him the Cardinal’s biretta, ring, and decree announcing the parish church in Rome entrusted to his care, takes place on Saturday, December 7th. On Sunday, December 8th, the Pope will celebrate Mass with the new Cardinals at St. Peter’s Basilica. The following day Cardinal Leo will celebrate Mass at Santa Maria in Traspontina for the Toronto delegation joining him for the journey. The Cardinal’s father, who left Italy in 1953 and emigrated to Canada will return to Rome with his son to witness the events, and to return to his family home for the first time since his departure. We pray that God will bless His Eminence Francis Cardinal Leo richly!
OUR LADY IMMACULATE, pray for us!
Ex corde, +Douglas, OMI