As we continue celebrating the Easter season, we continue to rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus Christ for the 50 days of Easter!
This weekend I celebrate 5 years since my ordination to the priesthood on May 4th, 2019. I thank God for the gift of my vocation to the ministerial priesthood, which is an incredible joy. It is an unspeakable blessing to be a priest, and I am grateful to have been called by God to serve the people He has brought me to throughout these last 5 years. In one sense, the last 5 years can feel like a lifetime, and yet God-willing, it is just the beginning. I ask you to please pray for me that I be a priest after the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and for the Holy Spirit to guide me in everything I do. I deeply appreciate your prayers for these intentions.
This month of May is the month of Mary. In a special way, we think during this month of Mary’s virtues, her example, her Motherhood and maternal care for each one of us. Mary is often crowned in May, and we are called anew to pray her rosary with love and devotion as way of drawing closer to Christ through her. What is a Marian resolution you can make for this month? Some Marian devotions and sacramentals that may be of interest to you are Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary (such as through the materials created by St. Louis Marie de Montfort or Fr. Michael Gaitley in 33 Days to Morning Glory), the five first Saturdays (from Mary’s Church-approved private revelations in Fatima, Portugal), Marian pilgrimages, the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, novenas, the miraculous medal, and wearing the brown scapular. If you have any questions about these, please feel free to let me know!
The talks from Fr. Gary Schlack’s Lenten parish Mission have been uploaded and can be accessed through my homilies podcast, which is accessible at www.frmerkley.com.
The March for Life is coming up on May 9th, 2024. I plan to attend, so as to show my support for the sacredness of every human life. Maybe you will attend too? You can learn more about it at https://marchforlife.ca/.
The most recent clergy appointments by Bishop Crosby have been released, and they include that I will be appointed pastor of our parish of Immaculate Heart of Mary effective June 26th, 2024. Up until now, I was administrator, a title in canon law that has the same rights and duties of the pastor (canon 540), but without quite the same sense of stability of assignment. May we pray and work together to do God’s work and build His kingdom in this beautiful faith community.
“Ask Father” night returns on April 26th, at 7 PM in the parish hall. The last one was a big success – come out again, or for the first time to ask me all the questions you’d like! I also plan to share briefly where a priest’s time goes, and more about purgatory, given that was a topic at the last “Ask Father” night!
Bishop Crosby has also approved the placement of a seminarian here at our parish during the summer, seminarian Timothy Kulakowsky. Here is a note from him as he prepares to come to our parish in May:
Hello parishioners of IHM!
My name is Tim Kulakowsky, I am the seminarian who will be joining your parish this summer. I'm very excited about this appointment! I grew up nearby (Smithville) and while I was never a parishioner here officially some of you will probably recognize me when you see me. I used to linger around here quite a bit. Your beloved former pastor, Fr. Bill Trusz, was my spiritual director for years, and I used to spend a lot of time in your adoration chapel. In fact, it was there that I made the decision to join the seminary! Some of you I have already gotten to know, and have prayed with you, and you have supported my vocation with your prayers and encouragement. For those I do not yet know, I am looking forward to getting to know you all and building Our Lord's Kingdom with you! If there is anything I can do to support your faith journey, as you support my own in so many ways, do not be a stranger! Feel free to approach me anytime. :)
New Sacraments (First Holy Communion and Confirmation)
are coming for our elementary students! Our Grade 2 children from St. Gabriel and Immaculate Heart of Mary schools are preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion on the Saturdays of April 20 & 27 respectively at 11 AM.
Our grade 7 students from Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Gabriel’s are also preparing to be confirmed on the Wednesdays of May 1st and May 8th respectively at 7 PM.
Please keep these students and their families in your prayers!
May God bless you and your loved ones this Easter and always!
The Ex Corde Foundation has generously granted our parish a grant of $20,000 for the purposes of installing a new sound system. We are extremely grateful to the foundation, which was established by Bishop Crosby in 2011, and “provides financial assistance to parishes and other Catholic charities within the Diocese of Hamilton and across Canada” (from the Ex Corde Foundation website – www.excordefoundation.com). I recently applied to the foundation for the stated purposes of the new sound system, and what a wonderful Easter gift to have received! As Bishop Crosby told me when I spoke to him in person about the application, it is important to have a very good sound system because “the people need to hear the Word of God.” If you would like to sacrificially give specifically to covering the costs of a new sound system, please know the parish would be happy to receive your generosity towards this end. This project will be discussed in the near future at our next parish finance council meeting, and pastoral council meeting before any next steps are taken.
Monthly Men’s Recollections which have started in the last couple of months. Where did they come from, and why are they here? For a long time, these monthly recollections have already been in place and were happening at the Cathedral of St. Catherine’s under the direction of Fr. Ben Weber, the rector of the Cathedral (and a good personal friend of mine). Given that many men who attend these evenings are from Hamilton, I was asked if I could take them over, and I accepted the request. As the poster on our bulletin board notes, they occur monthly on Monday nights and include exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a talk for men, confessions, and benediction, among other things. (Next Dates: May 13, June 10, July 15, August 12, September 9, October 14, November 11, December 9)
The CCCB have commented on a recent document signed by Pope Francis regarding blessings: “On 18 December 2023 the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released the Declaration Fiducia Supplicans, which responds to questions that had been raised regarding the possibility of offering blessings to persons living in irregular unions, including same-sex relationships. While explicitly affirming the Church’s traditional understanding of marriage, Fiducia Supplicans allows pastors to bless people who freely request a blessing, seeking divine help to live in fidelity to God’s will. The Declaration makes clear that such blessings must be directed to the persons themselves rather than their situation and that they must be spontaneously requested and are not ritual or liturgical actions.” (The underlining is added here for clarification.)
Bishop Crosby has graciously reduced our interest rate on our parish loan to 0% until November 30th, 2025. This will save us over $30, 000 a year. May God bless our Bishop!
From my Christmas rap at our parish Christmas concert:
“So allow me to invite you, to invite Him in.
Deeper into your heart than He's ever been.
Don't be afraid even if you know you have sinned.
He came here for you, now your 'yes' is His win.”
May you and all of your families continue to enjoy the celebration of Christmas in this liturgical season, and a happy new year when it arrives!
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!
Blessings, Fr. Greg
Collection location. I have been asked to note that for those who may not be aware, our Sunday collection basket is currently in the center of the gathering space, where you are welcome to make your offerings before and after Mass. We are so grateful for your generosity that allows us to continue to do so many incredible things here at our parish!
Our RCIA candidates this weekend take a step closer towards becoming Catholic. We pray especially for them this weekend as they become Catechumens. Their rite of acceptance into the order of Catechumens formally welcomes them into a special relationship with the Church as they prepare to become fully initiated members of it. May the Lord continue to pour His blessings upon them!
Liturgical updates from our Diocese. To support a more full, active, and conscious participation in the sacred liturgy (which Vatican II spoke of), and to more fully align with the liturgical norms of the universal Church and of the Diocese of Hamilton, some small changes to our Sunday worship have taken place beginning this Advent. The changes are the result of direction from the Hamilton Diocese’s liturgy office, and they have been evaluated and discussed amongst our own parish’s liturgy committee. May the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Virgin Mary always guide how we worship our good and loving God.
Formed.org is a great website. I’d be so happy and I strongly encourage each person to explore www.formed.org, a fantastic resource for deepening your faith. Consider watching The Search (Season 1), Symbolon, and The Chosen.
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Mass Intentions:
I want to give you an update something that comes from our Diocesan chancery office. All parishes in the Diocese of Hamilton are asked to have only two multiple intention Masses each week. The Diocesan norms permit these Masses to be on any day other than Sundays. As a result, and myself having personally touched base with the chancery about this matter, our parish will offer multiple intention Masses on Tuesday night (7 PM) and Saturday night (5 PM) on a weekly basis. I think it is very important that as a parish we act in harmony with the mind of our diocesan bishop and with the rest of our Diocese, to create a family atmosphere of unity and love. Every Sunday we are also required to offer one Mass for the people of the parish (technically called a pro populo Mass, Latin for ‘for the people’). This means we offer Mass each Sunday for all of you, our parishioners! You are being prayed for both in that Mass, and in my personal prayers. Other Masses throughout the week will only be able to have one Mass intention as per our diocesan norms. Please be aware that, as at any Catholic parish, Mass intention dates and times are available on a first come, first served basis. I am thankful for your kind understanding in this regard. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the parish office. We are always very happy to do all we can to accommodate you in this or anything else we can do to serve you! Thank you for your continued support, and may God’s blessings be upon you all.
May God bless you!
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!
Fr. Greg Merkley
Thank you to everyone who participated in our One Heart One Soul Campaign, Pilot Wave, we have come to an end of our wave. If you haven't decided, there's still time. You may log on to https://www.oneheartonesoul.ca/give .
(Parish: Immaculate Heart of Mary)
We thank you for your support and prayers.
God Bless you