Heart to Heart: Issue #536
“AS STRINGS TO A HARP” is the title of a Message to Priests for Holy Thursday 2024 from Archbishop Francis Leo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto. Addressed to Priests of the Archdiocese, it is also a beautiful reflection for all Priests throughout the Metropolitan Province, which includes the Diocese of Hamilton. “In these most significant and sacred days of our salvation, let us renew our commitment not only to be faithful to Him and to our sacred calling until death, but also to be agents of communion, instruments of unity, fathers who strive to keep our spiritual families together, singing ‘Jesus Christ’ in unison. As strings to a harp and in profound harmony of mind and heart with me as archbishop and successor to the apostles (though most unworthily) and with each other as spiritual brothers, let us walk resolutely along the path of priestly holiness, while sharing with all those who cross our path the unfathomably saving plan of the Lord whose messengers and servants we are by His grace and providence!” The good Archbishop’s entire letter can be read here.
CONGRATULATIONS TO DR. ANNE JAMIESON, Executive Director of the Institute for Catholic Education, who, along with Mr. Brian Beal, General Secretary of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario, was recently awarded the 2024 Fr. John Redmond Memorial Award. Following a teaching career with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, Anne joined the Diocese of Hamilton in 2008 as Director of the Catechetical Office. In 2020, she was appointed Executive Director of the Institute for Catholic Education. Congratulations, Anne. The honour is well-merited!
THE NEW ST. PATRICK CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HAMILTON, was blessed on Tuesday evening this week during a celebration that drew together representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Education, Mr. Pat Daly and Trustees, and Mr. David Hansen and Board Officials of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, members of the Catholic School Council and members of the Student Council, and St. Patrick’s Parish representatives, Father Tony O’Dell, OMI, Father Jarek Pachocki, OMI, and me. The keys to the school were officially presented by Mr. Tony Svedas, and dignitaries participated in the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. The school was dedicated in prayer and blessed, and crucifixes were carried to the classrooms. A blessed beginning for an important place in the lives of many students and teachers now and long into the future!
DIOCESAN VOCATION DIRECTOR, Father Mark Morley, invites young adults (ages 20’s and 30’s) of our Diocese to celebrate the Easter season by participating in an evening of Adoration, fellowship and praise music in support of your vocations. The evening includes a Holy Hour (6:30-7:30), social with food (7:30-8:00), praise night with vocation testimonies (8:00-9:00) and Compline (9:00), on Saturday, April 6th at the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate, Guelph. For more information contact: vocations@hamiltondiocese.com
CATHOLICS BAPTISED AT THE EASTER VIGIL and received into Full Communion in your parishes this coming Saturday evening, are invited to gather with me and Cathedral parishioners at the Saturday evening Mass, on April 6th, at 5 p.m., for the Mass for New Catholics. It is an opportunity to pray in thanksgiving together and to meet others throughout the Diocese who were also baptized and received into the Catholic Church. It will give us the opportunity to thank God for the gift of faith which is a blessing for us all!
HAPPY EASTER TO ONE AND ALL!
OUR LADY OF THE ANNUNCIATION, pray for us!
Ex corde, +Douglas, OMI