September 30 – Youth Group Fall Kick-Off!
Calling all Grades 7-12! The Branches of Faith Youth Group kicks off on September 30th with a Glow in the Dark Party! Join us from 7-8:30PM.
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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.)
The Hamilton Mountain Farmer’s Market
The Hamilton Mountain Farmer’s Market sponsored by Sacred Heart Church will run Friday’s from 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. starting June 11th until November 2021.
The market is a True Farmers’ market where all the produce is grown or produced on local area farms and sold by the farmers themselves.
It is located at the corner of Viewpoint and Mountain Park Avenues on the Sacred Heart Church parking lot, one block west of the Juravinski Hospital, on the Mountain Brow.
Come out and support the farmers and enjoy the fresh seasonal produce!
Statements regarding discovery at former Kamloops Indian Residential School
On Monday, May 31st, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) published a statement following the report of a recent discovery of children’s graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School on the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation.
“As we see ever more clearly the pain and suffering of the past, the Bishops of Canada pledge to continue walking side by side with Indigenous Peoples in the present, seeking greater healing and reconciliation for the future.
We lift up prayers to the Lord for the children who have lost their lives and pledge our close accompaniment of Indigenous families and communities.”