DEAR PARISHIONERS,
Incredible as it seems to me, God has sustained me through 40 years of service in His priesthood. I’ve been blessed abundantly and super abundantly over those years by the good Catholic people who have accompanied me on the journey. Yes, I’ve been richly blessed, over these 40 years, and not least over the past 10 years that I have spent at IHM. At priestly anniversaries sometimes priests are given gifts, monetary or otherwise. If such a thought comes to your mind regarding my anniversary, might I suggest this as a very fitting gesture: to give a donation to one of these two charities? First, the DeMazenod Door or, second, to donate to the Little Brothers of Ste. Thérèse of Haiti? (below are photos) I have been involved with the Little Brothers for a number of years. They are a young “home-grown” religious Haitian order who serve the rural poor people of Haiti by helping them to implement good farming practices by which they might make a better living for their families, and by which they might reclaim the precious Haitian soil, which is being lost through wide-spread erosion. Should you wish to know more about the Little Brothers I will make information available on our parish website. But for now, if you wish to donate through me to either of these worthy projects, please let me know which you choose so that I might distribute your largesse appropriately. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to give a tax receipt! May our good Lord bless all of us with another 40 years of His steadfast love! In Christ’s love, Fr. Bill
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BISHOP DOUGLAS CROSBY RECENTLY CALLED OUR SEMINARIAN INTERN, PAUL, TO THE ORDER OF DEACON, which means that the Church, through our bishop, has now formally chosen to ordain Paul as a deacon in preparation for ordination as a priest to serve our diocese. Deacon-elect Paul and two other seminarians will be ordained to the diaconate on FRIDAY, JUNE 24, THE SOLEMNITY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS, AT 7PM AT THE CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF CHRIST THE KING here in Hamilton. Lord-willing, they will all be ordained priests next year. Please continue to pray for them, for all our seminarians, and for all the other men and boys of our diocese whom God is calling to the priesthood.
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SPIRITUAL COMMUNION PRAYER:
Oh Jesus, I turn toward the holy tabernacle where You live hidden for love of me. I love you, O my God. I cannot receive you in Holy Communion. Come, nevertheless, and visit me with Your grace. Come spiritually into my heart. Purify it. Sanctify it. Render it like unto Your own. Amen. Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
“Spiritual Communion is very profitable; therefore do not omit it, for by it the Lord learns how much you love Him” - St. Teresa of Avila
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POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER TO OUR LADY
(in the coronavirus emergency)
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross, you participated in Jesus’ pain,
with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of the Roman people, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana in Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
And to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself,
and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection.
AMEN
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This beautiful prayer may be prayed at any time; however, it is particularly efficacious when prayed just after receiving Holy Communion:
Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ’s side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints and with Thy angels
Forever and ever, Amen.
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WORKS OF THE LITTLE BROTHERS OF STE. THERESE IN HAITI
Below are some photos showing how the little brothers obtain a goat for each student, and provide for their parents as well. Also, photos show them providing help to those afflicted by recent hurricanes.
