St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish – Hamilton

Where faith builds community | 125 Picton St. E., Hamilton, ON L8L 0C5

Category: Pastoral Notes

Invitation to Prayer

Published March 25, 2020 / by St. Lawrence Hamilton

During these Lenten days, and mindful of all who are affected by the COVID-19 Virus, we are called to be more fervent in prayer. Since we are not able to gather publicly for prayer at this time, we are encouraged to pray with our families in our homes, our “domestic” churches, and to draw on the many spiritual resources which are part of our Catholic tradition.

This week, Bishop Crosby invites you to accept the invitation of our Holy Father, Pope Francis to pray with him on Wednesday March 25 at Noon. In particular we pray for the health and safety of all in our Diocese, and in particular for the sick and those who care for them, and families facing financial difficulty during the pandemic. You may hear as well that our church bells will be ringing at noon each day as a reminder to pray for the healthcare professionals that work tirelessly at the service of others during this crisis.

Additionally, on Friday March 27, Pope Francis will preside over a moment of prayer at the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. He invites everyone to participate in this prayer by means of communication. The celebration will consist of readings from the Scriptures, prayers of supplication, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. At the conclusion of the prayer Pope Francis will give the Urbi et orbi Blessing, with the possibility of gaining a plenary indulgence for all those who listen to it live through the various forms of communication. This service of prayer will take place at 6:00 p.m. Rome time (1:00 p.m. Daylight Saving Time in Ontario).

The Prayer of the Holy Rosary is especially recommended during this time of crisis. Families and individuals are encouraged to pray the Rosary daily. Pope Francis offers us these encouraging and insightful words:

“The Rosary is the prayer of the humble and of the saints. In its mysteries, they contemplate, along with Mary, the life of Jesus, the merciful face of the Father. O, how much we all need to be truly comforted, to be wrapped in loving presence! We measure the truth of this experience through our relationship with others. At this moment, they are our closest relatives. Let us be close to one another, being the first to be charitable, understanding, patient and forgiving. Though you may be confined to your own homes, allow your hearts to expand so they may be available and welcoming to all.”

May we unite ourselves with all Canadians and Catholics throughout the world in offering this prayer, relying on the powerful intercession of Mary, our Mother, the Mother of Church.

God Bless,

Father Peter

Posted In Pastoral Notes | upcoming

From the Pastor’s Desk : The Kingdom of Heaven Has Come Near

Published January 28, 2020 / by St. Lawrence Hamilton

From that time Jesus began to proclaim,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near”


In this way, according to St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus began His public ministry. He started proclaiming the good news of salvation with a call to repentance. Later this very first appeal of the Lord became an essential part of His Church’s preaching. The Word of God always calls upon us to repent, which means, to tune our minds and hearts to the Lord’s voice. This happened to Simon, Andrew, James and John when Jesus invited them to follow Him. They at once left everything and followed the Lord. We, as Jesus’ disciples, ought to do the same. The Lord’s call is always urgent because it is inflamed by the fire of His love.

Pope Francis on the liturgical memorial of St. Jerome, which falls on September 30th, declared the third Sunday in Ordinary Time Sunday of the Word of God. Therefore, today we celebrate the Biblical Sunday for the very first time as the Universal Church. In his document “Aperuit illis”, the Pope emphasizes that salvation, faith, unity and mercy all depend on knowing Christ and sacred Scripture. In conclusion, the Holy Father expresses his desire for this Sunday: “May the Sunday of the Word of God help his people to grow in religious and intimate familiarity with the sacred Scriptures. For as the sacred author taught of old: “This word is very near to you: it is in your mouth and in your heart for your observance” (Dt 30:14).”

This liturgical year we read on Sundays the Gospel of St. Matthew (with some exceptions). Some copies of a study guide to that Gospel are available in the back of the church.

This Tuesday, January 28th, we celebrate the memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church. St. Thomas lived in the 13th century. He was an Italian Dominican friar. He was an immensely influential philosopher, theologian and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism. He is also called the Doctor Angelicus. The Catholic Church honours Thomas as a saint and regards him as the model teacher for those studying for the priesthood, and indeed the highest expression of both natural reason and speculative theology.

St. John Bosco who’s memorial we celebrate on Friday lived in the 19th century. He was also an Italian priest. He was an outstanding confessor and educator of the youth. Following the examples of St. Francis de Sales, whose memorial we held last week, and the Blessed Virgin under the title of Mary Help of Christians, he developed the teaching methods based on love rather than punishment which was later named the Salesian Preventive System. He founded the Congregation of Salesians and together with Maria Domenica Mazzarello, the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians as a congregation of nuns dedicated to the care and education of poor girls. He taught Dominic Savio who’s biography he wrote. The biography eventually helped in Dominic’s canonization. In our church, in the sanctuary, there is a stained glass dedicated to St. Dominic Savio.

St. Thomas Aquinas and St. John Bosco – pray for us!

God bless,
Fr. Peter

Posted In From the Pastor's Desk | Liturgical Celebrations | Pastoral Notes

From the Pastor’s Desk : They cannot die any more

Published November 10, 2019 / by St. Lawrence Hamilton

In today’s passage of the Gospel Jesus tells us whom we shall be after accomplishing this earthly pilgrimage: “Indeed they cannot die any more, because they are like Angels and are sons and daughters of God, being children of the resurrection”. This term ‘children of the resurrection’ tunes us to our final destination that is heaven. It takes on greater importance in the month of November when traditionally we pray with a higher commitment for our deceased brothers and sisters. This prayer for the dead in the Church has been kept alive since Early Christianity. The Church, as a good mother, remembers her departed sons and daughters during each Mass. Every Eucharistic Prayer contains a prayer for the dead, for example – in the Third Eucharistic Prayer the priest says: “To our departed brothers and sisters and to all who were pleasing to you at their passing from this life, give kind admittance to your Kingdom”. Why should we pray for the dead and why is this prayer so important? The answer is pretty simple: while being on this world we may pray for ourselves, for the living and for the dead; yet, when our earthly pilgrimage is over we cannot help ourselves anymore and we need to rely on the prayers offered by our living brothers and sisters. Prayer for the dead helps our loved ones and expresses our spiritual charity and mercy for them and also confirms our faith in the resurrection and life eternal.

On Monday, November 11th, we observe the memorial of St. Martin of Tour and simultaneously Remembrance Day that is a memorial of the members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty. There will be an additional Mass in our church at 9 am.

On Saturday, November 16th, there will be a memorial Mass celebrated at 10 am for the deceased whose names are written in our Book of Life. Please, write down the names of your loved ones and come for the Mass to pray for them.

As you might see, the renovation of the confessional has been completed so that we may use it for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In our church Confessions are heard on Sundays from 10:30 am, on Thursdays during the Adoration from 6:15 pm and anytime upon request. I would like to express my special appreciation for having done this renovation.

May the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace!

God bless,
Fr. Peter

Posted In Feasts and Celebrations | From the Pastor's Desk | Liturgical Celebrations | Mass Time Updates | Pastoral Notes

From the Pastor’s Desk : Zaccheaus

Published November 07, 2019 / by St. Lawrence Hamilton

Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today

Jesus wanted to be a guest at the chief tax collector’s house. Listening to today’s passage of the Gospel we may be sure that the Lord would like to come to our hearts today and to be accepted with a great love. Each Eucharist is an opportunity for such a special visit of the Lord.

In the month of November, the Church calls upon the faithful throughout the world to remember in a special way the deceased. We know that during each Mass the priest prays in the Eucharistic prayer for our departed brothers and sisters using these or similar words: Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection, and all who have died in your mercy (Second Eucharistic Prayer). Also Masses in our churches are often offered for them. This prayer for the departed expresses our faith in the resurrection, our hope for eternal life and our love for those who have completed their earthly pilgrimage. In our church we are providing a Book of Life where we may write down the names of our deceased loved ones for whom we wish to pray. On Saturday, November 16th, at 10 am there will be celebrated a special Mass for those whose names are written in the Book. Please, use the book to commend your deceased relatives and friends to the prayer of the Church.

This Saturday, November 9th, we observe the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica that is the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome. Let us keep the Holy Father in our prayers so that he may shepherd the people of God as the Good Shepherd commended.

This week our RCIA course shall begin and the adult candidates for the Sacraments of Christian Initiation will start their faith journey and receive the Sacraments at the proper time. We surround them with our prayers.

God bless,
Fr. Peter

Posted In Feasts and Celebrations | From the Pastor's Desk | Pastoral Notes | upcoming

From the Pastor’s Desk : World Mission Sunday

Published October 20, 2019 / by St. Lawrence Hamilton

Jesus told the disciples a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart – At the very beginning of today’s passage of the Gospel the Lord teaches us to be persistent in prayer. Too often we get discouraged when our prayer seems to be unanswered. However, from the Gospel we learn that when we trust the Lord we will receive what we need. Persistence in prayer expresses our confidence in the Lord.

This Sunday is World Mission Sunday. As per the initiative of Pope Pius XI, the second last Sunday of October is dedicated to the missionary work of the Church. Pope Francis established the month of October in 2019 as an Extraordinary Missionary Month. The Holy Father asked the whole Church to “take up again with renewed fervour the missionary transformation of the Church’s life and pastoral activity”. The faithful throughout the world are invited to support that ministry both spiritually and materially. The collection this Sunday is organized by the Pontifical Missions Society and the collected funds assist some 1,250 mission dioceses under the responsibility of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. In Canada, as per agreement of the Holy See and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, a portion of the contributions will continue assisting six dioceses in Northern Canada until 2020.

This Tuesday, October 22nd, we observe the memorial of Pope Saint John Paul II. During almost 27 years of his pontificate (from October 16th, 1978 until April 5th, 2005) he changed the face of the Church and world. He made trips to 129 countries. He caused the collapse of dictatorships and the fall of communism regimes. He issued 14 encyclical letters and numerous other writings. He promulgated the Code of Cannon Law (Church Law) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He canonized 482 people and beatified 1327 people. He established an International World Youth Day and instituted the Feast of Divine Mercy. He was beatified by Pope benedict XVI in 2011 and canonized by Pope Francis in 2014.

Saint John Paul II – pray for us!

God bless,

Fr. Peter

Posted In From the Pastor's Desk | Liturgical Celebrations | Mission and Charitable Works | Pastoral Notes

From the Pastor’s Desk – Our Lady of the Rosary

Published October 07, 2019 / by St. Lawrence Hamilton

Increase our faith – the Apostles asked Jesus. They understood how important their faith was. Today when we listen to the Gospel we may reflect on how we treat our faith. Is it our primary focus or rather is it a secondary concern or an afterthought? Does my faith have a real influence on my life or rather does my life affect my faith? These and similar questions may help us to treat our faith seriously.

A few days ago, we began the month of October; a Marian month dedicated in a special way to Our Lady of The Holy Rosary. Every day numerous people throughout the world pray the Rosary. According to pious tradition, in 1214 the Rosary was given to Saint Dominic, the founder of the Dominican Order, through an apparition of the Blessed Virgin. Through the influence of Pope Leo XIII, often called the Rosary Pope, this simple prayer was spread widely. He issued 12 encyclical and 5 apostolic letters on the Rosary, instituted the custom of daily Rosary prayer in the month of October and added the invocation Queen of the Most Holy Rosary to the Litany of Loreto. Pope St. John Paul II in 2002 recommended an additional set called the Luminous Mysteries to the 15 Rosary mysteries, so now we have 20 mysteries of the Rosary.

In keeping with this theme, this Monday we observe the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. In 1571, Pope Pius V established the feast of Our Lady of Victory to commemorate the victory over the Ottoman navy at the Battle of Lepanto. 2 years later, Pope Gregory XIII changed the title of the feast to the feast of the Holy Rosary. In 1716, Pope Clement XI extended the feast to the universal Church and in 1960, Pope St. John XXIII changed the title to the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

On Friday, October 11th, we hold the memorial of Saint John XXIII, Pope. His pontificate, which lasted less than 5 years, presented him as a true image of the Good Shepherd. He summoned the Second Vatican Council and was called the Good Pope. John XXIII died on June 3rd, 1963 and was canonized on April 27th, 2014 along with Pope John Paul II. His liturgical memorial is held on the day when the first session of the Second Vatican Council was opened.

Finally, Today we welcome in our parish the Heralds of the Gospel!

Our Lady of the Rosary – pray for us!

God Bless

Fr. Peter

Posted In Feasts and Celebrations | From the Pastor's Desk | Pastoral Notes