Heart to Heart

STUDENTS AT ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL in Hamilton used their artistic talents and their gift for writing to create prayer cards which encourage classmates to “pray always”. Supported by Chaplain Don Hall, the cards are available at his office. They can be used as bookmarks and the prayers easily said before classes. The creative initiative is another good example of the benefits of our Catholic schools, where young people are encouraged to nurture a “culture of prayer”! Well done.

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THE NEW ST. PATRICK CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL opened its doors on May 2nd, during Catholic Education Week! The process to build the new school took nearly six years from beginning to end! Mr. Pat Daly, Chair of the Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board addressed the children gathered in the gym for opening day celebrations. “You are the reason we are here today and why this wonderful Catholic school building exists. You deserve this! And we could not be happier that you are in the kind of facility that you can learn in, grow in, play in and just have a wonderful, wonderful Catholic learning experience.” The new school is the third building since opening on Hunter Street in 1855. An official blessing and opening is planned for the Fall.

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NATIONAL FAMILY AND LIFE WEEK, is celebrated from May 7-14, 2023. The week is sponsored by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and its Standing Committee for Family and Life. At the 10th World Meeting of Families, held in Rome last summer, Pope Francis proclaimed a special call to families worldwide. “Dear families, become missionaries in the ways of the world! Do not walk alone! … Announce with joy the beauty of being family! … Be families with big hearts! Be the welcoming face of the Church!” These words inspired the theme for this week: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (John 13:34). A Pastoral Toolkit has been sent to every Parish in the Diocese from our Family Ministry Office and is available on our Diocesan website. May families throughout the Diocese experience the blessing of the Risen Lord this week and always!

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THE ROBOTICS TEAM from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Secondary School in Guelph, along with its alliance teammates, placed FIRST in the FIRST ROBOTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS in Houston, Texas, on April 22nd! The team, FRC 2069 BeaverworX, was one of about 600 teams competing in the event. Throughout the weekend, the team competed in a number of contests to eventually reach the Einstein Arena and the elimination tournament. In the end, the team set a new scoring record in the first match of a best of three competitions. Their second match was won by one point in the final seconds. The championship title was a thrilling victory for the team. CONGRATULATIONS! A great story as we move into Catholic Education Week in Ontario.

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THE WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MASS was held last Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King. Over 300 hundred couples celebrated 25, 40, 50, 60 and 60+ anniversaries. Two couples among them celebrated 75th anniversaries! A blessing! Media coverage of the event was the best ever – perhaps reflecting public interest after the three-year COVID hiatus. Thanks to Teresa Hartnett and Sarah Lintott for the organizational success. Thanks to Father David Wynen and the Cathedral staff, and to the Pastoral Offices staff who assured the good order of the event.

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THE DOCTRINE OF DISCOVERY was the topic of a JOINT STATEMENT by the Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education and the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, issued on March 30, 2023, from Vatican City. A statement from the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops accompanied the Vatican Joint Statement. The Joint Statement affirms: “In no uncertain terms, the Church’s magisterium upholds the respect due to every human being. The Catholic Church therefore repudiates those concepts that fail to recognize the inherent human rights of indigenous people, including what has become known as the legal and political ‘doctrine of discovery’.” The statement emphasizes that the ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ is not part of the teaching of the Catholic Church and that the papal documents under scrutiny by some scholars have never been considered expressions of the Catholic faith. Read the statements here.

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HIS GRACE, THE MOST REVEREND FRANCESCO (FRANK) LEO, succeeds Cardinal Thomas Collins as Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto tomorrow, March 25th, Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. Appointed 14th Bishop (11th Archbishop) by Pope Francis on February 11, 2023, the new Archbishop was born in 1971 and ordained a Priest on December 14, 1996. Ordained a Bishop on September 12, 2022, he served as Auxiliary Bishop in Montreal until his appointment to Toronto. Because seating is limited in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Michael in Toronto, participation at the Mass of Installation is limited to “invited guests”. The event will be livestreamed. We wish the Archbishop long and happy service as Chief Shepherd of the Archdiocese and head of the Metropolitan Province of Toronto, which includes the Dioceses of Hamilton, St. Catharines, London, and Thunder Bay. Ad multos annos!

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A SECOND INFORMATION BROCHURE on the Synod on Synodality is now available at the parish churches of our Diocese. The new brochure provides fundamental information about the Synod, its goals and processes. This is the second of three brochures prepared to inform parishioners about the Synod on Synodality which is in the preparation stage now, and taking place in Vatican City this Fall, and the Fall of 2024.

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POPE FRANCIS CELEBRATES THE 10th ANNIVERSARY of his election as Supreme Pontiff next Monday, March 13th. The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development has initiated a special prayer initiative for the occasion. The faithful worldwide are invited to pray at least one “Hail Mary” for the Holy Father to mark the anniversary. As part of the initiative, a special “online” map will feature virtual lighted candles representing the prayers of the faithful who have registered. The map will be offered as a gift in support of his ministry. If you wish to register, please use this link – choosing your language preference at the upper right hand corner. The Vatican News press release is available here. May the Holy Father be strongly supported by the fervent prayers of the faithful!

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THE WORLD DAY OF PRAYER is observed annually on the first Friday in March. It is an invitation for Christians to pause and pray together ecumenically. This recalls our responsibility to bring a more authentically Christian dimension to the concerns of our world, our country, our community. Sponsored by the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada and its national counterparts around the world, it is celebrated in approximately 165 countries. (Taken from the Liturgical Calendar 2022-2023.)

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