Issue #505
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!
THE ORDINATION OF FOUR DEACONS takes place tomorrow at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, beginning at 11:00 a.m. It is a joyful day for the Diocese of Hamilton! Deacon Carlos Diaz, Deacon John Ha, Deacon Paul Niesiobedzki, and Deacon Jonathan Reitzel have completed their seminary training and have been appointed to serve as Associate Pastors in Parishes in the Diocese. We are grateful for their commitment and their priestly service. Join us if you are able, and pray for them, that their ministry will be a blessing for the Diocese.
THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF NIAGARA is sponsoring a Coronation Evensong service at Christ’s Church Cathedral in Hamilton, on Sunday, May 7th, beginning at 4:00 p.m. The service, celebrating The Coronation of Their Majesties, King Charles III and The Queen Consort Camilla, will draw together clergy, people and dignitaries from across the diocese, spanning from Niagara to Hamilton to Guelph, Haldimand to Orangeville, and all points in between. I am grateful for the invitation from Bishop Susan Bell to attend. God save the King!
THE HAMILTON DIOCESAN COUNCIL OF THE CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE meets for their annual convention this weekend, at the Sheraton Hotel in Hamilton. Bishop Wayne Lobsinger will join the members for their banquet on Saturday evening. I will preside at the celebration of the closing Mass at the recently restored St. Mary Church, walking distance from the hotel. Special thanks to Joyce Cotter, Diocesan CWL, President, for her dedicated service to the League and to the Diocese. May the weekend convention be a time of joyful celebration for dedicated League members. Thank you for all you do in your Parishes and throughout the Diocese FOR GOD AND CANADA!
OUR DIOCESAN WORLD YOUTH DAY PILGRIMS will gather for a Marian Retreat Day, NEXT Saturday, May 13th, at St. Mary Church in Hamilton. The day will begin with an 11km walk from the Cathedral Basilica, down the Waterfront Trail and over to St. Mary. Not only a time for prayerful reflection, the hike will help prepare the pilgrims for the extensive walking expected while in Fatima and Lisbon. Father Mark Morley, Diocesan Vocation Director, will join the group for the hike and will share thoughts with our pilgrims on vocational discernment. Bishop Wayne Lobsinger will offer greetings to the young people over lunch hour, and Father Jonas Ahouansou and Msgr. Murray Kroetsch will provide a special reflection and catechesis on The Rosary. The day will end with Mass and a candlelight procession following a statue of Our Lady of Fatima around St. Mary Parish in honour of the May 13th Memorial! Pray for our pilgrims.
THE INSTITUTE FOR CATHOLIC EDUCATION (I.C.E.) is sponsoring a two-day symposium this week. The event draws together representatives from all the Catholic District School Boards throughout the Province. We pray for the success of the event – which helps assure the value and strength of publicly-funded Catholic education in our Diocese and in the Province. The Archbishop of Toronto, His Grace, Archbishop Francis Leo, will celebrate the closing Mass on Wednesday!
Our Lady of the Annunciation, pray for us!
Ex corde, +Douglas, OMI