Sacrament of Confirmation

Congratulations to our Confirmandi who will celebrate this Sacrament of Initiation with our new Auxiliary Bishop, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Daniel Miehm.  The celebrations take place on Friday evening and Saturday morning and afternoon.  Some 260 candidates join 240 others who were Confirmed in February to form the Confirmation Class of Holy Cross Parish.

Thanks to all who have worked on the preparation of these candidates, their parents, sponsors, catechists and most especially the candidates themselves!

Congratulations Bishop Miehm

Our parish community extends its congratulations and prayerful good wishes to our new Auxiliary Bishop, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Daniel J. Miehm on the occasion of his Episcopal Ordination.  Bishop Miehm will be ordained to the Episcopate by the Bishop of Hamilton - the Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, OMI - in the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, Hamilton on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013.  Co-consecrating Bishops will be Archbishop Richard Smith (Edmonton) and Bishop Anthony F. Tonnos, Bishop Emeritus of Hamilton.

Our new Auxiliary Bishop was ordained a priest for Hamilton Diocese in 1989.  He served as an Associate Pastor before completing studies for a licentiate in Canon Law in Rome.  He has served on the Marriage Tribunal for the Diocese, and as a member of numerous committees.  Appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in 1998, he also served as Pastor of Saint Ann Parish, Ancaster and most recently as the founding pastor of the new Saint Benedict Parish, Milton.

We at Holy Cross Parish look forward to welcoming His Excellency, Bishop Miehm, for the celebration of Confirmation on May 24th and May 25th, 2013.

Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, Hamilton

Our Diocesan Cathedral has been dignified with the title "Basilica" by the Holy Father.  The decree was issued by Pope Benedict XVI on February 25th and arrived at the Chancery Office the day of Pope Francis' election.  This distinction is a recognition of the magnificence of the Cathedral's architecture and its prominence as the mother-Church of the Diocese of Hamilton.  It is a "Cathedral" because it is the seat of the Bishop of Hamilton.

The celebration of this new designation will take place in the Cathedral Basilica on Sunday, June 23, 2013 at 4:00 p.m.  All are welcome!

The Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King was completed in 1933 during the episcopate of Bishop John McNally who wanted a fitting edifice in the diocese dedicated to Christ the King.  After a nearly devastating fire in 1981, the Cathedral was lovingly restored and re-decorated by the Most Reverend Paul Francis Reding, 7th Bishop of Hamilton.  It was solemnly dedicated by Bishop Reding on November 21st, 1982.  Sadly, Bishop Reding died at the young age of 58 in 1983.

Further renovations to the Cathedral Hall, grounds, and residences were completed in subsequent years during the episcopates of Bishop Tonnos and Bishop Crosby, under the direction of the current Rector, Monsignor Edward House.

Clergy Appointments 2013

Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI, Bishop of Hamilton, has announced the appointments of clergy which will become effective on Wednesday, June 26th.

The appointments effect our parish community this year:

Our current pastor - Father David Wynen is appointed Rector of the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, Hamilton.

Father Kevin Cull is appointed Pastor of Holy Cross Parish, Georgetown.

First Eucharist

Congratulations to the children who will receive Our Lord in Holy Communion for the first time next Saturday, and at subsequent celebrations on May 11th and June 8th.  Thanks to their parents for assisting in their preparation, our Grade 2 teachers in our parish schools, and Mrs. Boulanger for all of her guidance.  As they are admitted to the Lord's Table let us pray that they will feast here often receiving Jesus, their friend and brother, with joy!

Holy Week Celebrations

Holy Thursday - Thursday, March 28th, 2013

7:30 p.m.       Mass of the Lord's Supper

Good Friday - Friday, March 29th, 2013

11:00 a.m.      Liturgy of the Passion with  Children

3:00 p.m.        Solemn Passion Liturgy

Holy Saturday - Saturday, March 30th, 2013

12:00 Noon     Blessing of Easter Foods (Cote Hall)

8:00 p.m.         Easter Vigil - first Mass of Easter

Easter Sunday - Sunday, March 31st, 2013

Masses:           7:30 a.m.; 9:00 a.m.; 11:00 a.m.; 12:30 p.m.

(Note - No 7:00 p.m. Mass on Easter Sunday)

A blessed Easter to all!

Lowly, but chosen

Pope Francis' stemma or coat of arms has been published today.  It is similar to his former armorial bearing as a Cardinal Archbishop, but has added the "keys" and a mitre.

The new Pope's motto, taken from a homily on Matthew's Gospel by an English Saint - the Venerable Bede - is simply, Lowly, but chosen.