DIOCESAN WORKSHOPS & EVENTS
September 2022
Evenings with His Excellency, Bishop Wayne Lobsinger, continue this fall at St. Ann’s Parish, Ancaster. Class is the second Friday of each month, beginning September 9th at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit the Parish website: https://stannparish.ca/.
Hamilton Diocese Marian Days 2022 – Join brothers and sisters from around the Diocese in honouring Our Blessed Lady for the last Marian Day of the year with Bishop Crosby on October 1, 2022 at the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate in Guelph. Join us for confessions at 9:00 a.m. followed by the Holy Mass with Bishop Crosby at 10:00 am, the Solemn Crowning of Our Lady with Rosary at 11:00 a.m., and The Queen’s Tea at 12:00 p.m., honouring the crowning of the image of our Lady. Cost for lunch is $20.00 payable at the door. Call the Basilica to reserve your spot: (519) 824-3951.
Marriage Support - Your marriage does not have to feel like it is more trouble than joy, that is feels stagnant or disconnected and/or that it is causing you constant stress. The solution is Retrouvaille - a program for married couples facing difficult challenges in their relationship. Retrouvaille has one purpose: to help couples restore their marriage and rebuild a loving relationship. This is a practical program, where sharing is not required except between the couple themselves, designed to improve communication, build stronger marriages, and help couples reconnect. The next Retrouvaille weekend is Oct. 21-23. For more information call 905-664-5212 or email teamrecine@gmail.com.
ReStart – Start over after separation or divorce with care and tools for your journey. We invite you to check the Diocesan website at: https://hamiltondiocese.com/offices/family-ministry/divorce-separation.php to see the programs and to find the dates of programs for the fall of 2022. Finding support and gaining strength can help as you journey forward. If you have questions, call the Family Ministry Office at 905-528-7988 ext. 2249.
Grief Relief - Has someone you cared about died? Are you grieving the loss of the person’s presence in your life?
Are you looking for relief from the feelings associated with the loss of this loved one? Are you wondering if your feelings are normal? You are not alone! The Diocese of Hamilton has grief programs to help. Find out more on the Diocesan website at https://hamiltondiocese.com/offices/family-ministry/grief-support, or call Teresa at 905-528-7988 ext. 2250.
Struggling After an Abortion?
Either your own, or someone else’s? Do you feel alone, emotional, or angry? Project Rachel is available to help. This confidential service allows people to work through their feelings on an individual basis, with a trained counsellor, to find hope and healing. Please contact us at 905-526-1999 or toll free at 1-888-385-3850.
NEW: CATECHIST FORMATION PROGRAM - The Diocese of Hamilton is pleased to offer a catechist formation program through Dayton University's Virtual Learning Community for Adult Faith Formation. This program is open to Pastor recommended candidates. Topics covered during our year together will include:
• The New Directory for Catechesis
• The relationship between evangelization and catechesis
• Sacramental preparation
• Culture and its impact on ministry
• Additional specialized formation for ministry with all stages of life.
For more information contact your Pastor or the Evangelization and Catechesis Office catechesis@hamiltondiocese.com.
ON-LINE LEARNING OFFERED THROUGH DAYTON UNIVERSITY (VLCFF) - The Diocese of Hamilton is pleased to have The University of Dayton: Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF) as a partner in adult faith formation. The VLCFF is a living adult faith community offering online learning opportunities to address the learning needs of adults in our Diocese. To Inform, Encourage and Heal is a NEW four-week online seminar in which you will have opportunity to engage meaningfully in the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Following the course texts and online discussions, you will gain a greater understanding of your role as a Catholic Christian in the work of reconciliation and solidarity in support of Indigenous communities. For more information or to register for the June 2022 session, visit https://www.hamiltondioceselearns.com/ or email catechesis@hamiltondiocese.com.
Hamilton Diocese Marian Days 2022 – Join brothers and sisters from around the Diocese in honouring Our Blessed Lady for the last Marian Day of the year with Bishop Crosby on October 1, 2022 at the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate in Guelph. Join us for confessions at 9:00 a.m. followed by the Holy Mass with Bishop Crosby at 10:00 am, the Solemn Crowning of Our Lady with Rosary at 11:00 a.m., and The Queen’s Tea at 12:00 p.m., honouring the crowning of the image of our Lady. Cost for lunch is $20.00 payable at the door. Call the Basilica to reserve your spot: (519) 824-3951.
Marriage Support - Your marriage does not have to feel like it is more trouble than joy, that is feels stagnant or disconnected and/or that it is causing you constant stress. The solution is Retrouvaille - a program for married couples facing difficult challenges in their relationship. Retrouvaille has one purpose: to help couples restore their marriage and rebuild a loving relationship. This is a practical program, where sharing is not required except between the couple themselves, designed to improve communication, build stronger marriages, and help couples reconnect. The next Retrouvaille weekend is Oct. 21-23. For more information call 905-664-5212 or email teamrecine@gmail.com.
ReStart – Start over after separation or divorce with care and tools for your journey. We invite you to check the Diocesan website at: https://hamiltondiocese.com/offices/family-ministry/divorce-separation.php to see the programs and to find the dates of programs for the fall of 2022. Finding support and gaining strength can help as you journey forward. If you have questions, call the Family Ministry Office at 905-528-7988 ext. 2249.
Grief Relief - Has someone you cared about died? Are you grieving the loss of the person’s presence in your life?
Are you looking for relief from the feelings associated with the loss of this loved one? Are you wondering if your feelings are normal? You are not alone! The Diocese of Hamilton has grief programs to help. Find out more on the Diocesan website at https://hamiltondiocese.com/offices/family-ministry/grief-support, or call Teresa at 905-528-7988 ext. 2250.
Struggling After an Abortion?
Either your own, or someone else’s? Do you feel alone, emotional, or angry? Project Rachel is available to help. This confidential service allows people to work through their feelings on an individual basis, with a trained counsellor, to find hope and healing. Please contact us at 905-526-1999 or toll free at 1-888-385-3850.
NEW: CATECHIST FORMATION PROGRAM - The Diocese of Hamilton is pleased to offer a catechist formation program through Dayton University's Virtual Learning Community for Adult Faith Formation. This program is open to Pastor recommended candidates. Topics covered during our year together will include:
• The New Directory for Catechesis
• The relationship between evangelization and catechesis
• Sacramental preparation
• Culture and its impact on ministry
• Additional specialized formation for ministry with all stages of life.
For more information contact your Pastor or the Evangelization and Catechesis Office catechesis@hamiltondiocese.com.
ON-LINE LEARNING OFFERED THROUGH DAYTON UNIVERSITY (VLCFF) - The Diocese of Hamilton is pleased to have The University of Dayton: Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF) as a partner in adult faith formation. The VLCFF is a living adult faith community offering online learning opportunities to address the learning needs of adults in our Diocese. To Inform, Encourage and Heal is a NEW four-week online seminar in which you will have opportunity to engage meaningfully in the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Following the course texts and online discussions, you will gain a greater understanding of your role as a Catholic Christian in the work of reconciliation and solidarity in support of Indigenous communities. For more information or to register for the June 2022 session, visit https://www.hamiltondioceselearns.com/ or email catechesis@hamiltondiocese.com.
synod of bishops 2023
Pope Francis recently announced that the next Synod of Bishops will take place in October 2023. The Theme of the Synod is: For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission. For the first time, the meeting will be the culmination of a “three-year path” involving all of the People of God at every level of the Church. This “path” is a process rather than an event, which Pope Francis will solemnly inaugurate this October 9-10, is meant to be a manifestation of “synodality) which is a form that realizes the participation of all the people of God in mission.
The synodal path will take place in three phases. The first phase (October 2021to April 2022) begins on October 17th under the leadership of the Bishop in each Diocese. This stage is conceived as a broad consultation with the People of God in each Diocese. The second phase (September 2022 to March 2023) is the “continental” phase. This will involve the fruit of deliberations on each Continent. For example, Canada and the United States of America will collate their responses to the questions posed by the Holy See and submit them to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops in Rome by March 2023. The final phase of the Synod will take place in October 2023 with the celebration of the Assembly of Bishops in Rome.
In the Diocese of Hamilton, a Committee has been established to guide the Diocesan Phase of the Synodal Process. Information will be sent to the Parishes in late October and the parishioners in the Diocese of Hamilton will have an opportunity to respond to the questions to be considered by the Synod. The actual consultation will take place beginning in November and conclude by mid-December, so that our Diocesan Report can be prepared and sent to the Ontario Assembly of Catholic Bishops to be included in the Canadian report. We pray for the success of this unique and historic synodal process:
We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in your name.
With you alone to guide us, make yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in you our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of the truth and what is right.
All this we ask of you, who are at work in every place and time,
in the communion of the Father and the Son,
for ever and ever. Amen.
The synodal path will take place in three phases. The first phase (October 2021to April 2022) begins on October 17th under the leadership of the Bishop in each Diocese. This stage is conceived as a broad consultation with the People of God in each Diocese. The second phase (September 2022 to March 2023) is the “continental” phase. This will involve the fruit of deliberations on each Continent. For example, Canada and the United States of America will collate their responses to the questions posed by the Holy See and submit them to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops in Rome by March 2023. The final phase of the Synod will take place in October 2023 with the celebration of the Assembly of Bishops in Rome.
In the Diocese of Hamilton, a Committee has been established to guide the Diocesan Phase of the Synodal Process. Information will be sent to the Parishes in late October and the parishioners in the Diocese of Hamilton will have an opportunity to respond to the questions to be considered by the Synod. The actual consultation will take place beginning in November and conclude by mid-December, so that our Diocesan Report can be prepared and sent to the Ontario Assembly of Catholic Bishops to be included in the Canadian report. We pray for the success of this unique and historic synodal process:
We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in your name.
With you alone to guide us, make yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in you our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of the truth and what is right.
All this we ask of you, who are at work in every place and time,
in the communion of the Father and the Son,
for ever and ever. Amen.