The month of November is dedicated to our departed brothers and sisters. First we rejoice at the celestial glory of those who have already entered the heavenly kingdom and then we pray for those who are waiting for admittance. Therefore, we can hear that the faithful throughout the Universal Church pray for the souls in Purgatory. According to our Catholic faith we believe in four stages of the end of our earthly lives: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (#1005, 1013) reminds us that to rise in Christ we must die with Christ and that death is the end of man’s earthly pilgrimage. (…) When the single course of our earthly life is completed we shall not return to other earthly lives: “It is appointed for men to die once.” There is no “reincarnation” after death.

Catholic theology regards Purgatory is a state of cleansing and preparation for heaven. Only those with unremitted venial sins may enter Purgatory. Unconfessed or unrepented mortal sin is considered damnable. Until we are pilgrims on this earth we may pray for ourselves and for others both the living and the dead. Yet, when the course of our earthly life is completed we can’t help ourselves with prayers and we are in need of prayerful help of others. Our faith in the everlasting life, which we profess each Sunday during a Mass, encourages us to pray for our departed brothers and sisters so that they may be admitted to the kingdom of God. The prayer for the deceased has been in the core of the liturgy of the Church since her beginning. During each Mass in the Eucharistic Prayer the priest on behalf of the whole congregation prays for those who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection. Let us keep our love ones in our prayers!

This Friday, November 9th, we observe the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. This feast reminds us of our unity with the Holy Father as the Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church marking the day of the dedication of his cathedral. Many mistakenly think that the St. Peter’s Basilica is the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome but actually it is the Lateran Basilica that officially is named The Cathedral of the Most Holy Saviour and of Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in the Lateran.

Let us keep Pope Francis in our prayers!

God bless,

Fr. Peter

Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice – the entrance antiphon of the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time reminds us that we may find true joy while searching for the Lord. He is a source of authentic joy and happiness even if one experiences trouble. In the same spirit of the joy, the entrance antiphon for the Solemnity of All Saints speaks to us: Let us all rejoice in the Lord. This liturgical exhortation invites us to taste the heavenly joy of the saints.

Annually, on the first two days of November the Universal Church celebrates All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days. The first feast is officially named the Solemnity of All Saints and it was established first for the local Church in Rome in the 8th century and in the next century it was extended to be celebrated by the Universal Church. On this day we honour all the saints, those formally recognized, those whose names remain unknown, and the baptized of every epoch and nation who enjoy the heavenly glory. The liturgy of this solemnity urges us to raise our eyes towards heaven and inflame our hearts with a desire for holiness. Our Lord wants us to be holy as the Father in heaven is holy, so we should generously respond, as the saints did, to this divine calling for holiness.
On November 2nd celebrating the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed we pray for all our sisters and brothers who completed their earthly pilgrimage and are waiting for admittance to God’s glory. It is our duty to remember them and help them with our prayers and self-denials to get in the kingdom of heaven. One day we will be in the same situation asking others for that same spiritual support.

This Saturday, as on the first Saturday of the month, we honour the Immaculate Heart of Mary with a Mass at 10 am.
Pope Francis encourages us to pray during the month of November for the following intention: That the language of love and dialogue may always prevail over the language of conflict.
All holy men and women pray for us!

God bless,
Fr. Peter

Screening and Discussion – In honour of both St. Faustina and Pope John Paul II, on Saturday Oct 20th at 7pm there will be a screening of Faustina in the church hall. Foustina is a 1995 Polish film directed by Jerzy Łukaszewicz about Blessed Sister Faustina Kowalska, a saint of the Roman Catholic Church who was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000.

The children’s Liturgy of the Word happens every Sunday Mass (11:00 a.m.) during the school year and is geared towards children between the ages of 4 and 8 years old, and presents the weekly readings and the Gospel in a kid friendly way using songs and activities. Your children are encouraged to join us!

You can visit our children’s liturgy webpage for more information

I know what you’re thinking…how do you move a church?  Well, we didn’t but we’ve added a separate address to the church.  From now on if you wish to send mail to St.Lawrence our new address is 125 Picton Street E.  Hamilton ON L8L 0C5.  Don’t worry, you still go to mass through the same doors in the same place.