Heart to Heart: Issue #515
THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF BISHOP JOHN FARRELL, first Bishop of Hamilton, is marked next Tuesday, September 26th. He died in 1873 at the age of 53. Among other pastoral efforts, Bishop Farrell was dedicated to building a strong Catholic school system. By the end of his tenure, twenty-six Catholic schools had been established in the Diocese of Hamilton. The first Catholic library in Hamilton was opened under Bishop Farrell in 1858, just two years after the establishment of the Diocese! Dominy Williams, Diocesan Archivist, has prepared an informative blog post to highlight the date. Check it out here.
ARCHBISHOP DONALD BOLEN is the first guest speaker for this year’s “Lectures in Catholic Experience” at St. Jerome’s University next Thursday evening, beginning at 7:30 p.m. His presentation is titled: The Wounds of the Past, Truth-telling and a Future of Hope: The Doctrine of Discovery and the Path of Reconciliation. Among other things, his talk will reflect on the larger work of reconciliation and the challenge of proclaiming and being faithful to the Gospel in a context where wounds from the past continue to impact present relations. Currently Archbishop of Regina, Archbishop Bolen is dedicated to healing Indigenous relations and responding to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He was a member of the Bishop’s Working Group that prepared the Indigenous delegation to Rome in March 2022 and the Pope’s visit to Canada in July 2022. Well worth the time!
THE POWER OF GENERATION LAUDATO SI’ is the topic of a Webinar on October 3rd, at 7:00 p.m. The conversation with Generation Laudato Si’ editors, Rebecca Rathbone and Simon Appolloni and their young contributors will speak to the role of youth in leading our ecological conversion and how the book can be utilized as a resource in parishes, classrooms and community groups. The book captures the stories of Catholic Youth as they look at building a future that is guided by ecological spirituality and care for Creation. Register on the Diocesan website or by contacting our Office for Justice and Peace. An excellent way to conclude the Season of Creation!
THE CANADIAN CATHOLIC BIOETHICS INSTITUTE has published its first newsletter in this new pastoral year reflecting on the number of deaths from opioid and other drug consumption. Recent articles in The Globe and Mail and Catholic Register featured articles, interviews, and editorial comments bringing hope to people with addictions by presenting, on the one hand, the desperation of those suffering from various forms of addiction and providing, on the other, powerful examples of people who have overcome addiction through trust in God and the support of concerned and dedicated friends. The regular publications of CCBI news is a sure way of assuring that one is well-informed about ethical questions in health care. Check here.
THE CANADIAN CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS meets next week at the Kingsbridge Conference Centre in King City. The session begins first thing Monday morning and continues to noon on Thursday. As usual, the agenda is “packed”, including a final preparation for the upcoming Synod on Synodality which begins in Rome on October 4th, and meetings of the English Sector and French Sector on one of the days. A new Executive will be elected during this meeting, providing leadership for the Conference for the coming two years. Come Holy Spirit!
ARCHBISHOP FRANCIS LEO will celebrate another important event in his life and for the Metropolitan Province of Toronto, which includes the Archdiocese of Toronto, the Diocese of Hamilton, the Diocese of London, the Diocese of St. Catharines and the Diocese of Thunder Bay! Next Friday, September 29th, Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic will vest Archbishop Leo with the Pallium, a “stole” that is worn over all other vestments, signifying his jurisdiction in the Ecclesiastical Province of Toronto. Pope Francis presented newly appointed archbishops with the Pallium on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, on June 29th, in Rome. The Nuncio will vest the Archbishop in the presence of the Bishops of the “suffragan” Dioceses, during a Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral next Friday evening. We pray for Archbishop Leo.
St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us!
Ex corde, +Douglas, OMI