Recent News and Events
Highlights from 2021 Mass of Chrism
On Monday, March 29th, 2021, the Mass of Chrism was celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King in Hamilton. The principal celebrant was His Excellency, Bishop Crosby, OMI, with concelebrants including Auxiliary Bishop-elect Wayne Lobsinger, Bishop Emeritus Anthony Tonnos, and Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Matthew Ustryzcki. Due to restrictions related to COVID-19, the attendance was limited to Priests only.
Holy Week 2021
The Diocesan Offices for Evangelization and Catechesis, Liturgy and Youth Ministry are pleased to offer a resource for families for celebrations of Holy Week in the Home. These resources encourage prayer and conversation in the home so families can celebrate well the experience of these holy days.
Watch: Virtual Lenten Retreat
On Saturday, March 13th, 2021 , Bishop-elect Lobsinger reflected upon the music and text of hymns associated with Laetare Sunday. The retreat was held virtually via Zoom. Watch the replay:
Bishop Crosby's 2021 Easter Message
My dear friends,
"He is not here; He has been raised!"
What a breathtaking message the young man dressed in a white robe imparted to the women who had come to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus! At that moment everything changed - for them for us! At that moment Jesus' teaching took on a new authority, a new power. Because of this event the followers of Jesus, at that time and throughout the past 2000+ years, have witnessed reassuring miracle upon miracle proving that He lives - and truly helps us to "live fully"!
Bishop Crosby's Heart to Heart
THE RENOVATED ST. ELIZABETH CHAPEL at St. Elizabeth Village in Hamilton will have its first Mass NEXT Friday, (the Friday before Palm Sunday)! Father Mark Gatto, Pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, the parish in which the Chapel is located, will be the presider for the Mass. Father Wallace Metcalf will celebrate on Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The renovated space is brighter and provides space for wheelchairs and walkers!
Conscience Rights in Ontario: A Crucial Moment for Healthcare Professionals
Over the last several years, doctors and healthcare professionals have been fighting to have their individual conscience rights recognized by both the Federal and Provincial governments. Federally, the passing of Bill C-7 will mean expanding access to euthanasia and assisted suicide to the disabled, those with mental illness and those who have an advanced directive. Many Canadians alarmed at the implications of Bill C-7, have contacted their Member of Parliament to express their concerns...
Season of Lent
A Time for Renewing Faith, Hope and Love
Lent has two major purposes: It recalls or prepares for Baptism, and emphasizes a spirit of penance. Through forty days of close attention to God's Word and of more fervent prayer, believers are prepares to celebrate the Paschal Mystery. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17th, 2021, and continues until the beginning of the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday evening, on April 1st, 2021.
Register Now: Ministers of Music Virtual Lenten Retreat
Registration now open! On Saturday, March 13th, 2021 from 10:00 to 11:30 AM, Bishop-elect Lobsinger will reflect upon the music and text of hymns associated with Laetare Sunday. The retreat will be held virtually via Zoom.
Ash Wednesday at Home
The Diocese of Hamilton is pleased to bring you an Ash Wednesday Liturgy that can be celebrated, in safety, with family at home. Provided are tips for celebrating the Lenten season with your family, an outline of the Liturgy of the Word, and a video with the Gospel Proclamation and Reflection by Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI.
Answering the Call to Priesthood:
Episode 4
In the final episode of this season's 'Answering the Call to Priesthood', Father King discusses the Transitional Diaconate with Deacon Patrick Ohl.
Live-streamed and Prerecorded Masses in the Diocese of Hamilton
As we can not gather in person, parishes throughout the Diocese are providing the opportunity to watch both live-streamed and prerecorded Masses. The list is organized according to Deanery - find your local parish or find a time that is convenient for you to celebrate Mass at home.
FOR THE COMMON GOOD
On the Pandemic Sacrifices
A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI - "My dear friends, The decision to close our churches and suspend public celebrations of the Mass has been a painful one for our clergy, religious, and all the lay faithful in the Diocese. While the sadness of our inability to gather to celebrate the Eucharist is profound, some of the responses to this closure - in addition to falling short of the demands of charity - betray a fundamental lack of understanding not only of why this great sacrifice is being made, but also whose example we follow in so doing..."
Statement on the Use of COVID-19 Vaccines
In response to questions regarding various vaccines which are being made available to arrest the spread of the COVID-19 Virus, the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith provided an important statement on the vaccines, in particular, those vaccines which, in the course of their production, employed cell lines drawn from tissue obtained from two abortions that occurred in the last century.
Register for your Wedding Anniversary Certificate
As the restrictions from COVID-19 continue and for the safety of all concerned, a decision has been made to cancel the annual Anniversary Mass scheduled for June of 2021. Bishop Crosby would still love to offer congratulations to all those who will be married 25, 40, 50, 60 and 60 plus years in 2021, and so we encourage couples to register for their wedding anniversary certificate here:
Chancery Office and Bishop Farrell Library Closure: February 12, 2021
Following the Province-wide Shutdown announced by the Government of Ontario to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and to protect the health and safety of our Diocesan community, the Chancery Office staff will be working remotely until February 12, 2021.
Pope's January Prayer Intention: At the service of Human fraternity
In this new year that begins, the Holy Father proposes a new challenge to us: to be more fraternal. Let us pray that the Lord may give us the grace to live in full fellowship with our brothers and sisters of other religions and not fight each other, and praying for one another, open ourselves to all.
A Message of Hope from His Excellency, Bishop Crosby
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." (John 1:5) Suffering, sickness, loss and death can make the world seem like a very dark place. Perhaps no other year in memory has seemed so dark as the year we are (most happily!) leaving behind us. Yet even in times of profound darkness, we cannot forget that there is light.
COVID-19 UPDATE - December 23, 2020
Following the announcement by the Ontario Government that the Province of Ontario will go into a strict province-wide lockdown as of 12:01 am on December 26, ALL Public Masses in the Diocese will be cancelled until further notice. Parish churches will remain closed for the duration of this lockdown period, the only exceptions being...
Bishop Crosby's 2020 Christmas Message
Dear friends, As the Christmas feasts begin, I am pleased to send you greetings in the form of an excerpt from the 2019 Christmas homily of Pope Francis: "A charming legend relates that at the birth of Jesus the shepherds hurried to the stable with different gifts. Each brought what he had; some brought the fruits of their labour, others some precious item..."
Christmas Liturgy for Children
The Office of Liturgy and the Office for Evangelization and Catechesis are pleased to bring you a Christmas Liturgy that can be celebrated - in safety - with family in your home.
Watch: Advent Liturgy of the Word
The Diocesan Advent Liturgy of the Word was held on Thursday, December 10th, 2020 at 7 PM. Very Reverend Monsignor Murray J. Kroetsch, Vicar General of our Diocese, was the presider and there was music as well as contributions by different parishes in the Diocese during the Liturgy of the Word. Watch the playback by clicking
National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples
The National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples is celebrated on December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas. We invite you to read the message and prayer released by the CCCB Indigenous Council.
Journey through Advent
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), has a new online weekly video series created to help Canadian Catholic faithful to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus - featuring His Excellency, Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI, of the Diocese of Hamilton!
Pope's December Prayer Intention: For a life of prayer
In his prayer intention for the month of December, Pope Francis calls us to "pray that our personal relationship with Jesus Christ be nourished by the Word of God and a life of prayer."
Appointment of Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Hamilton
His Grace, Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi, Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, has announced that Reverend Father Wayne Lawrence Lobsinger has been appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton by His Holiness, Pope Francis.
Coping With the Holidays: Online Session
Have you lost a loved one and find yourself struggling with the thought of the upcoming Christmas season? Are you trying to figure out how you can cope? The Family Ministry Office is holding a one-hour Zoom session on Monday, November 30th at 7:00 PM, offering reflection and practical strategies for coping at Christmas.
Pope's November Prayer Intention: Artificial Intelligence
In his prayer intention for the month of November, Pope Francis calls us to "pray that the progress of robotics and artificial intelligence may always serve humankind."
In Memoriam: Reverend Francis Trzupek
We regret to inform you that Reverend Francis Trzupek, retired Priest of Hamilton Diocese, died this morning, Friday, October 23, 2020. Please pray that Reverend Francis Trzupek may rest in the peace of Christ and that his family and friends may be consoled in their faith in Christ.
Ordination to Transitional Diaconate of Patrick Ohl
On Saturday, October 3rd, 2020, during the 5 o'clock Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, Patrick Ohl was ordained to the Transitional Diaconate. Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI, was the principal celebrant along with concelebrating priests, including the Vice-Rector of Saint Peter's Seminary in London, Rev. Peter Keller...
Notice of Decree regarding the change of Diocesan Boundaries
Please read the attached Notice of Decree regarding the change of Diocesan Boundaries between the Diocese of Hamilton and the Archdiocese of Toronto as of October 6, 2020.