Heart to Heart: Issue #523
THE STATUE OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES, once located at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Mohawk Road in Hamilton, has been transferred to the new St. Catherine of Siena Church on Rymal Road in Hamilton. The grotto, a long-time place of pilgrimage and prayer for many parishioners, again welcomes pilgrims from across the Diocese!
PERMANENT DEACON CANDIDATES, preparing to serve in the Diocese, gather this weekend at Mount Mary Retreat Centre for another formation session. On Friday evening, Monsignor Murray Kroetsch will present on the Funeral Rites of the Church. On Saturday, Father Mark Gatto will present to the candidates in the second and fourth years on the Social Teachings of the Church. Later in the day, Deacon Stephane Zara will present on the Ministry of Charity. The Deacon-candidates and their wives commit themselves to a spiritual year and four years of formation prior to ordination as Deacons for service in the Diocese. We pray for them in this time of preparation.
THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples is held on December 12th, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas. This year’s message recalls the Holy Father’s Penitential Pilgrimage to Canada in the summer of 2022, and in particular his prayer at Lac Ste. Anne. The entire text may be read here.
THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY in Hamilton is dedicated to helping anyone in need in the Hamilton communities. There are 20 Conferences throughout the city, connected with the parishes. Shane Torres, once a recipient of the Ozanam Fund, which assisted him finance his education, is now a social worker. He writes, “SSVP’s initiative in promoting education to help students like myself to get out of poverty is essential. Education can be the way to break the cycle of continuous poverty and can help other youths in the similar situation as I was before and aid them to realize that poverty should not be a hindrance to achieve a good education.” The St. Vincent de Paul Society makes a huge difference in the lives of many in our community. The organization is always looking for volunteers who want to put their faith in action and help people in need. They also welcome financial donations and any practical support (furniture, etc.) you can provide.
THE OFFICE FOR YOUTH MINISTRY published a newsletter last weekend coinciding with the annual celebration of World Youth Day. It is available on-line here. The newsletter is chock-a-block full of stories of the many lively programs experienced by young people across the Diocese, including reflections on the very successful World Youth Day Pilgrimage to Portugal last summer. The newsletter concludes with a Litany of Young Saints and a Prayer for Youth and Young Adults. Check it out. Thanks to Rachel McNamara for this helpful initiative and for her enthusiasm for Youth Ministry!
FATHER MARIAN GIL, OMI, serves the Diocese of Hamilton as Pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish in Hamilton. The liturgical installation of his service will take place at the 12:45 p.m. Mass this Sunday. Father Gil is a member of Assumption Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, based in Toronto and serving Polish-speaking parishes across the country. Following a six-year term as Provincial Superior of the community, Father Gil served as Pastor of St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Kitchener. We are grateful for his capable and generous service in the Diocese!
PRIESTS OF THE DIOCESE are reminded of the two Advent Days of Prayer next week. Monsignor Earl Talbot will share reflections as part of the prayer time. On Tuesday, December 5th, the first session begins at
10 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King. On Wednesday, December 6th, the second session begins at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Waterloo. Coffee is available before the session and lunch is served after. Please assure that you have registered. It assists with the preparation of lunch!
Our Lady of the Annunciation, pray for us!
Ex corde, +Douglas, OMI