Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis: Donations
Parishioners wishing to make a donation to the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis can do so online through Development & Peace at https://www.devp.org/en/wp_
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Food Drive for CWL – Soup Donations Needed!
The Catholic Women’s League of Canada has started a National Food Drive program aimed at increasing food donations to local food banks. The CWL of Most Blessed Sacrament Church is participating in this food drive and we need your help!
This month our focus is on SOUP! Canned soup, dry packaged soup, any kind of soup! Please drop off your donations in the narthex and help those who are in need during the cold winter months.
Bishop Crosby’s Christmas Message 2021
My dear friends,
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light:
those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shone!” Is. 9.2
The fact that we are now dealing with the Omicron variant of the pernicious COVID-19 virus is discouraging indeed. We have worked so hard to do what we can to “manage” the pandemic protocols, but the daily bad news of increased infections, after we thought we were getting ahead of things, makes it difficult to remain positive.
The scripture passages given to us by the Church in the daily readings during the Christmas season remind us over and over again that we are a people of HOPE – darkness does not overwhelm us. The powerful recounting of the Christmas story lifts us up out of darkness, sadness, and sorrow, and reminds us that God has given us a Saviour who is Christ the Lord. This announcement gladdens us and reassures us that the Lord is with us – especially in the darkest of nights. It is the blessing of Christmas!
May the God of infinite goodness,
who by the Incarnation of his Son has driven darkness from the world
and by that glorious Birth has illumined this most holy night,
drive far from you the darkness of death
and illumine your hearts with the light of life!
(From the solemn blessing of Midnight Mass)
Merry Christmas! Enjoy the season.
Sincerely in Christ and Mary Immaculate,
+Douglas Crosby, OMI
(Most Rev.) Douglas Crosby, OMI
Bishop of Hamilton
Christmas Schedule 2021-22
Christmas Eve
Friday, December 24
4:00 p.m. – Christmas Mass
(By Reservation Only – Call the Parish Office- 905-385-3570)
11:00 p.m. – Christmas Mass
Christmas Day
Saturday, December 25
11:00 a.m. – Christmas Mass
(NO Saturday Evening Mass Dec 25th )
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday Dec 4th, 11th,18th,— 4:00 p.m. – 4:30p.m. (in the church)
Wednesday, Dec 22—9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (in the church)
OR
Anytime by Appointment.
Please call the Parish Office – 905.385.3570
New Years Day (Solemnity of Mary Mother of God)
Friday Dec 31, 2021 – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday January 1, 2022 – 11:00 a.m.
Register for Confirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated the weekend of April 30th, 2022. Times of the Liturgy will be confirmed in the New Year, based on government safety protocols.
Please click below to download the letter regarding Confirmation registration, to be completed by December 13th, 2021.
Charity Bottle Drive on Saturday, November 6
There will be a Charity Bottle Drive in the Blessed Sacrament parking lot on Saturday, November 6th, 2021, from 9AM – 3PM. Bring all your beer/wine/liquor bottles and cans. Proceeds go to The Good Shepherd.
Statement of Apology by the Catholic Bishops of Canada and Collective National Fundraising Initiative
The Catholic Bishops of Canada, gathered in Plenary this week, took the opportunity to affirm and acknowledge to the Indigenous Peoples the suffering experienced in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools. Many Catholic religious communities and dioceses participated in this system, which led to the suppression of Indigenous languages, culture and spirituality, failing to respect the rich history, traditions and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples. They acknowledged the grave abuses that were committed by some members of our Catholic community; physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and sexual. They also sorrowfully acknowledged the historical and ongoing trauma and the legacy of suffering and challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples that continue to this day. Along with those Catholic entities which were directly involved in the operation of the schools and which have already offered their own heartfelt apologies, the Catholic Bishops of Canada expressed their profound remorse and apologized unequivocally.
The Bishops of Canada, as a tangible expression of their commitment to walk with the Indigenous Peoples of this land along the pathway of hope, are making a nation-wide collective financial commitment to support healing and reconciliation initiatives for residential school survivors, their families, and their communities.
Read the Release Regarding the National Financial Pledge
Regarding COVID Vaccines
The official position of the Catholic Church is that all available COVID vaccines are ethical and all Catholics who are able are encouraged to receive the vaccine. All employees serving in the Diocese of Hamilton are encouraged to be fully vaccinated or to submit to a COVID rapid test every Monday and Thursday in order to carry out their responsibilities. Volunteer liturgical ministers are required to be fully vaccinated. Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI, encourages every member of the Catholic Church within our Diocese of Hamilton to be fully vaccinated.
Evenings with His Excellency
Interested in learning more about our Catholic Faith? Join Bishop Lobsinger for “Evenings with His Excellency” on the second Friday of each month at 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. in Canadian Martyrs Church, (1349 Main Street West, Hamilton).
Each month we will methodically go through the “Catechism of the Catholic Church”. There is no registration, no fee and no homework. Come ready to learn and ask all the questions you always wanted to ask about our Catholic Faith.
The first “Evening with His Excellency” is Friday, September 10, 2021. If you are unable to attend in person, you are welcome to go to canadianmartyrshamilton.com to watch live. (All COVID-19 protocols will be required, including masks while in the church and proper social distancing.)
Reflection from Fr. Charlie – Solemnity of The Body and Blood of Christ
Exodus 24:3-8
Hebrews 9:11-15
Matthew 28:16-20
In many ways, June is a month of remembering. Those of you who are graduating remember significant moments in your educational journey. It may be a time to show a sign of gratitude to a particular teacher who has been a person who helped you to grow significantly. On June 20th, we remember our dads, living and deceased who have helped form us into the people we are. The people of Sacred Heart Parish remember their feast day on June 11th of this month. As we celebrate this solemnity, we remember the OT covenant and NT covenant in the person of Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life.
This reading today from the Book of Exodus is a celebration of the covenant which grounds the new one inaugurated by Jesus Christ. This book celebrates the ministry of Moses. Remembering does not fix us on to the past but frees us and gives us the confidence to move forward. The Hebrew people considered blood to be sacred so it is fitting that as they are sprinkled with it, they acclaim, “All that the Lord has spoken, we will do”.
In the gospel today, Mark separates the Last Supper on the day of Passover, clearly saying Jesus is the new Passover lamb which we celebrate at each Eucharist. We continue the remembrance. In Mark’s Church, the Eucharist was celebrated at the end of the common meal. It contains very similar gestures.
We know the Eucharist is essential to our faith – the absence of it as this time highlights that! In time, the Eucharist was celebrated daily; in time the importance of the reserved sacrament arose; in time the Eucharist for the dying (Viaticum) gained prominence.
Pope Francis reminds us, “ Receive Communion every time as if it were the first time.”