Heart to Heart: Issue #534
UNIVERSITY MINISTRY THRIVES in the Diocese of Hamilton! Chaplains and Campus Ministers serve four universities in the Diocese: at St. Jerome’s University, (federated with Waterloo University, St. Jerome’s is the only Catholic university in the Diocese); the University of Guelph through the Newman Centre, Guelph; McMaster University through Kateri Tekakwitha Student Centre at Canadian Martyrs Parish, Hamilton, and at Waterloo University and Wilfred Laurier University through St. John Paul II Student Centre at St. Michael Parish, Waterloo. The Chaplains and Campus Ministers meet twice annually with the Bishops, the Vicar of Education, and certain Pastoral Offices, to provide updates on the activities of these vital ministries. Yesterday’s meeting provided an excellent oversight of the exciting opportunities provided for university students throughout the Diocese. The meeting also set out plans for the coming year, including the now-traditional Leadership Summit, and the Marian Pilgrimage, bringing together students from all four Chaplaincies. Several university students have chosen to be baptized at the upcoming Easter Vigil, and others, already baptized, will be Confirmed and receive the Eucharist – an important blessing of this ministry!
THE RECTOR, FORMATORS AND PROFESSORS at St. Peter’s Seminary in London, welcome Bishop Wayne Lobsinger and me today for the annual review of the progress of seminarians studying for service as Priests in the Diocese of Hamilton. Already we have received the written reports from Seminary Rector, Father Denis Grecco. The report on each student will be presented verbally, prior to the shared reflection of seminary staff. Once the reports have been reviewed, we hope to meet the seminarians individually to discuss the results of the meeting. A shared meal concludes the day. We are blessed to have 15 seminarians studying for the Diocese this year. Pray for them.
FOUNDED AND MANDATED IN 1967 by the Bishops of Canada, and now a member of the Caritas International network of Catholic agencies, the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace financially supports development and aid projects in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, while informing Canadian Catholics on international social justice matters. The Bishops of Canada have reserved the season of Lent for a collection to assist the Global south. This year that collection is held this weekend, the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Please be generous. It is an opportunity to share so that everyone shares the blessings we do.
“HE CAME TO PROCLAIM PEACE!” is the theme of this year’s Holy Land Collection on Good Friday, March 29, 2024. Father Bob Mokry, o.f.m., the Commissary of the Holy Land in Canada, has written a letter encouraging Catholics to be especially generous this year. “We know, of course, that money cannot assure peace, but it can provide a measure of compassionate help for many Christians who wait in faith during these difficult times for the peace and justice that Christ proclaimed.” Pope Saint Paul VI recognized these difficulties fifty years ago and inaugurated the annual Holy Land collection in dioceses and parishes throughout the world so that the pastoral, educational and social ministries of the Church in the Holy Land, and its care of the holy places would continue for the benefit of Christians everywhere. May this year’s appeal show the generous support of our Canadian Church for our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land.
LAST WEEK I CONGRATULATED The Catholic Women’s League at St. Joseph Parish in Guelph on the occasion of their 100th anniversary. It should have read St. Joseph Parish, Fergus!!! It was totally my mistake – distracted when typing! Last evening, in Fergus, we celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving in the church and enjoyed a festive meal in the parish hall. Once again, hearty congratulations to the Sisters in the League!
Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us!
Ex corde, +Douglas, OMI