Heart to Heart: Issue #537
A DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE WILL MARK THE 350TH ANNIVERSARY of the founding of the Catholic Church in Canada, with the establishment of the Archdiocese of Quebec. The pilgrimage from the Diocese of Hamilton will take place from July 13 to July 17, 2024. It will include a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica in Quebec City and the Holy Door and visits to the sites made famous by the sainted founders of the Canadian Church. Visits are also planned to St. Anne de Beaupre, Notre-Dame-du-Cap, in Trois Rivieres, and Notre Dame Basilica and St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal. The five-day pilgrimage will include guided tours exploring Quebec’s religious and cultural heritage and will be led by Monsignor Murray Kroetsch, Vicar General and Chancellor of the Diocese of Hamilton. Registration deadline is April 30th. For more information please see the Diocesan website or contact Matthew Trafford at the Office for Evangelization and Catechesis. Tel. 905-528-7988, x 2339, or email: catechesis@hamiltondiocese.com
SISTER COLETTE RYAN, School Sister of Notre Dame, celebrates her 100th birthday tomorrow! She was a teacher and principal in schools in Ontario, at Cloverdale, British Columbia, and at Faversham and Woolwich, England. For several years she was librarian and later archivist. Then, Sister Colette returned to England where she was involved in pastoral ministry in Barnsley. Currently, she is librarian at SSND in Waterdown! Happy 100th Birthday Sister Colette!
PERMANENT DEACON FORMATION continues this weekend. Monsignor Murray Kroetsch works on homiletics with fourth year candidates on Friday evening. On Saturday, Father Matthew Durham will facilitate “The Healing Sacraments”, with a reflection on the important work of Hospice Care. This will help those Deacon candidates who will be considering a “ministry of charity” post-ordination. Fourth year candidates look forward to their Diaconal Ordination in June. Thanks to Father Mark Gatto, Program Director, and Deacon Rob Thomas, Associate Director, for their service in the formation of our Permanent Deacon candidates.
THE CHANCERY STAFF will gather for a post-Easter luncheon at St. Catherine of Siena Parish, in Hamilton. The visit to the newest Catholic Church in Hamilton will be, for some, their first opportunity to experience the beauty of the centre. Father Mark Gatto, Parish Priest, will offer a tour for first-time visitors. Easter weekend at the parish saw record-breaking crowds attend Masses, often standing room only!
THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION will be celebrated tomorrow morning at St. John Brebeuf Parish, Erin, during which parish devotional items will also be blessed. The event will be followed by a light luncheon with the Confirmandi! Always a pleasant parish experience!
ST. GABRIEL PARISHIONERS IN BURLINGTON celebrate the completion of the renovation of the beautiful sanctuary of their parish church at a Mass at 11 a.m. Sunday. During my visit there, I will bless the renovated sanctuary. The beautiful renovation was a labour of love, financially supported by the One Heart, One Soul Campaign of the parish. Well done, indeed!
REPAIRS HAVE BEGUN on the front steps of the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King. The stone steps will be renewed giving surer footing to parishioners who use them for the climb from the lower parking lot. It is expected that the project will be completed by the beginning of July!
OUR LADY OF THE ANNUNCIATION, pray for us!
Ex corde, +Douglas, OMI