Heart to Heart: Issue #586

Date posted on September 5, 2025

THE DIOCESAN JUBILEE YEAR MULTICULTURAL MASS will be celebrated at 3 p.m. on October 5, 2025, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Waterdown. All are welcome! A Planning Committee is preparing the Liturgy, including the sharing of music and other cultural inclusions – assuring the celebration engages all cultures! A special collection will support the ongoing work of our Diocesan Refugee Office, who welcome hundreds of refugees to Canada every year! After Mass, all are welcome to share a light refreshments with cultural foods prepared for the occasion and enjoy entertainment. It is always a lively and prayerful event.

WELCOME TO FATHER GRZEGORZ OGORZALEK and FATHER ROQUE CONCEPCION who, in recent months with the support of their respective Bishops back home, were incardinated into the Diocese of Hamilton, Father Grzegorz is Pastor of Canadian Martyrs Parish in Hamilton, and Chaplain for the Catholic Students Centre for McMaster University students. Father Roque is Pastor of St. Mark Parish in Kitchener. Both Pastors come to us with broad pastoral experience. We are grateful for their ministry.

THE ANNUAL DIOCESAN MASS CELEBRATING CATHOLIC EDUCATION is sponsored this year by the CONSEIL SCOLAIRE CATHOLIQUE MON AVENIR, the French Language school board that serves three dioceses including ours. This year’s gathering will take place on September 18th. It begins at the Nicholas Mancini Centre behind the Chancery in Hamilton. At 4p.m. we will be welcomed and guided in a panel discussion led by Linda Staudt and Julian Papardella. At 5:15 Holy Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, followed by a reception in McNally Hall. Always a joyful event, this gathering draws together representatives from all seven Catholic school boards that serve in our diocese. We celebrate the rich blessings we receive throughout Catholic schools!

SISTERS FROM THE PRECIOUS BLOOD CONVENTS IN LONDON AND DUNDAS made a Jubilee Year of Hope pilgrimage to the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King last week. Father David Wynen, Cathedral Rector, welcomed them to the Cathedral and told the story of its construction. Father Michael Prieur explained the intricacies of the stained-glass windows. Together we prayed the Jubilee Prayer written specially for the year by Pope Francis!

PERMANENT DEACONS IN OUR DIOCESE will renew their vows at a special gathering on September 28, 2025.  Currently there are 12 men preparing for the Permanent Diaconate, 4 in the Propaedeutic (Spiritual) year, 4 in the second year, and 4 in the fourth and final year. We pray for our Deacons and Deacon candidates!

THE INTERNATIONAL PRIESTS serving in the Diocese of Hamilton will be gathering at the Holiday Inn in Burlington from October 21-22 to share their experiences and to encourage one another in their ministries in our Diocese. It is expected that about 50 priests will participate in the session. Father Valentine Onwunjiogu, Episcopal Vicar for International Priests, is coordinating the session to assure that they will feel welcome and adjust easily to ministry here!

THE CANONIZATION OF Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Blessed Carlo Acutis, postponed because of the death of Pope Francis, will take place now on September 7th in St. Peter’s Basilica. These young men lived remarkable lives close to the Lord. We seek their intercession especially for the young people in our schools, parishes and communities! May their example be an encouragement for us all.

SAINT PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI and SAINT CARLO ACUTIS, pray for us! Ex corde, +Douglas, OMI

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