Heart to Heart: Issue #565
NATIONAL CATHOLIC HEALTH CARE WEEK takes place from Sunday, February 2 to Saturday, February 8, 2025. The special week celebrates Catholic health institutions and organizations across Canada united in a 400-year healing mission inspired by a Spirit-led calling to care for all with compassion and humanity in body, mind and spirit. This year’s theme, “CARING FOR OUR COMMON HOME”, celebrates the interconnectedness of all creation and inspires us to work toward environmental sustainability and human health and well-being in our homes, workplaces, and communities. In Canada, Catholic healthcare serves over 5 million Canadians each year and employs over 88,000 people – something to celebrate! Learn more by registering here for a free webinar (in English) on February 6th, 1:00-2:30 ET.
REDEMPTORIST TV has produced a new work by Father Mark Miller, under the title: LIVING WHILE DYING. It focuses on the challenge of loneliness when aging. The ambitious goal of the organization is to reach every Catholic and non-Catholic who would benefit from their prayerful/musical/creative programming. Check out the website here.
DEACON ED MACINTOSH, from Kitchener, received the King Charles III Coronation Medal earlier this week, honouring his long service with young people, beginning in St. Albert, Alberta. The honour refers to his service as Padre for Cadets and other members of the Canadian Armed Forces. Congratulations Deacon Edward and his family on this distinction!
FRANK CAPPELLI, DIRECTOR OF OUR MISSION CO-OPERATIVE PROGRAM, has submitted his annual report. Last year, we hosted 40 mission participants and received donations from our parishioners of over $400K – a remarkably generous response indeed! Thanks to parishes who participate in the co-op program. Your generosity goes a very long way. For 2025, we have received 75 applications for 40 available parishes. It reveals the real need for our financial support in missions worldwide. A huge “thank you” to Frank for his faithful and generous service in support of the missionary Church!
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS from our Chaplaincy centres throughout the Diocese gather at Mount Mary Immaculate Retreat Centre, tonight through Sunday for a time of retreat and renewal during this Jubilee Year. Pilgrims of Hope is the theme of the retreat. This year’s retreat has been organized by the Newman Chaplaincy team at the University of Guelph. Please pray for the young people who are making the retreat!
ST. JOSEPHINE BAKHITA CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL in Milton will be blessed in February at a ceremony at the school. It is one of three Catholic schools to be blessed during the current school year in the Halton Catholic District School Board. Children are blessed to have such beautiful facilities and such committed staff to welcome them every day!
MR. BEDE HUBBARD, long-time Associate General Secretary of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), died last week following a brief illness. The funeral will be in Ottawa in February. Well-known among the Bishops of Canada for his prolific writing and his attention to detail, Bede supported the work of six General Secretaries including now-Cardinal Frank Leo and, many years earlier, “yours truly”. May God give him the reward promised to good and faithful servants!
CHANCERY STAFF gathers next week to wish Gagan Gill joyful blessings as she begins maternity leave preparing for the birth of her second child, and to mark staff birthdays in January!
OUR LADY OF THE ANNUNCIATION, pray for us.
Ex corde, +Douglas, OMI