His Excellency, Bishop Crosby, will celebrate the Mass of Chrism on Monday, March 29th, 2021 in the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, Hamilton.  This year, due to COVID capacity limitations and social distancing requirements, attendance at the Chrism Mass will be limited to Priests only.  Each year at the Mass of Chrism, the Bishop blesses the Oil of the Sick, and the Oil of Catechumens, and consecrates Sacred Chrism.  The blessed and consecrated Oils are taken to the Parishes of the Diocese to be used in the celebration of the Sacraments for the coming year.  The Priests serving in the Diocese, together with the Bishop, renew the promises of their Ordination in which they committed themselves to serve this local Church in imitation of Christ the Priest, Prophet and Shepherd.  Let us pray for all who minister to God’s holy people in our Diocese – our Bishops, Priests, Deacons, lay leaders, and all God’s holy people.

To learn about the Silver Rose – click here

Photo gallery – click here

To view the video click here

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In response to a request by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a Decree of Implementation, no. 2020-01-E, regarding the Trinitarian ending of the Collect and similar prayers, effective Ash Wednesday, 17 February 2021. The change omits using the word “one” from the conclusion of the Collect and similar prayers. Should celebrants wish to become accustomed to the change in advance of Ash Wednesday, they are permitted to begin to use the new formula at this time.

The change revises paragraph 54 of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal concerning the Trinitarian ending of the Collect and similar prayers. Presiders will conclude the Collect and similar prayers using one of the following options:

1. 1. if the prayer is directed to the Father: Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, GOD, for ever and ever;
   2. if the prayer is directed to the Father, but the Son is mentioned at the end: Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, GOD, for ever and ever;
   3. if the prayer is directed to the Son: Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, GOD, for ever and ever.

For a fuller explanation of the reasons for the change, click here.

Limited seating at our Sunday liturgies, and an understandable anxiety over little ones being able to sit through the whole of the Mass has meant many of our families with young children have not been attending; and those who come also have missed out on a special time with our children’s catechist, Katelyn–it’s been suspended as part of the our COVID-19 protocols.

Katelyn has responded to their need to hear and understand God’s word on their terms despite the restrictions we currently operate under as a parish ministry. So, she’s going online!

Please click this link for instructions on having your children participate in Sunday’s Children’s Liturgy of the Word via Google Classroom.

While its stores have been closed, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) has continued its valuable and life sustaining work through the whole period of the COVID -19 lockdown. While observing the necessary protocols, our parish Vincentians have done visits and provided material help to people of our community in need. That need is sure to grow as the economic impact of the pandemic and the lockdown manifests itself in lost jobs, closed businesses, etc. So please remember the society and its need for financial support through the end of the lockdown period and into the summer months. Parishioners can put a little extra in their offering, and designate it for SVP and the relief of those in need.