From the Vineyard

From the Vineyard

Newsletter No. 75 - September 20, 2019

ST. DOMINIC CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN LINDSAY celebrated its 150th Anniversary earlier this week.  That makes it thirteen years older than the Diocese of Peterborough and surely one of the oldest Catholic schools in our diocese.   I was pleased to gather with students, parents and school and board staff for a Mass of Thanksgiving on Tuesday.  That was followed by a brief program with speeches from various representatives and a reception in the library.   Congratulations to the St. Dominic Catholic school community on this great milestone!

THE FEDERAL ELECTION IS COMING AND THE ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO has several good resources on their website as Catholics ponder how to cast their vote.  In addition, they are hosting a debate on October 3^rd, 2019, between 7:30 and 9:15 p.m. with representatives from each party to address issues of concern to the Catholic community.  Apparently, it is sold out, but they will be livestreaming the debate via YouTube. To link to the broadcast online from your home computer, click here.  Cardinal Thomas Collins will offer a reflection and prayer and Don Newman, broadcaster and journalist, will serve as moderator.  The debate should be informative and interesting.    

Our DAY OF PRAYER FOR HOME MISSIONS will take place in parishes of our diocese this weekend.  Resources have been sent to each parish to highlight the important work of Catholic Missions in Canada¸ which gives such vital help to our churches in remote regions.  My old seminary confrere and friend from the Diocese of Hamilton, Father David Reilander (the current president of CMIC) will be preaching the Masses at the Cathedral of St. Peter-in-Chains this weekend.  We’re looking forward to his visit!

THE “HOLY MEN IN BLACK” CONCERT takes place at Immaculate Conception Parish in Peterborough, tonight at 7:00 p.m.   Priests around the city and beyond have been doing vocal exercises and busily practicing music to get ready – even I was compelled to blow the dust off my neglected piano this week.    Admission is free: if you choose to give a freewill offering, it will go toward the accessibility renovations at Immaculate Conception Parish – a very good cause!

HINDU AND CATHOLIC STUDENTS gathered at the University of St. Michael’s College on Saturday for a Youth Forum sponsored by the Hindu-Catholic Dialogue: one of a dozen or so ecumenical and interreligious dialogues sponsored by the Canadian Bishops.  I was delighted at the good turnout and the enthusiastic discussion that took place on the topics of “Faith and Science” and “How Relevant is Religion?”

THE CANADIAN CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS (CCCB) WILL HOLD THEIR ANNUAL PLENARY MEETING in Cornwall this week.  We would appreciate your prayers as we gather to discuss a whole host of concerns impacting the life of the Church in our country.    These are long meetings but very important days, and the only time that we have in a year to be together as bishops from across Canada.

THE CLERGY AND STAFF AT THE DIOCESAN PASTORAL CENTRE CELEBRATED WITH FR. PETER SEABROOKE as he concluded his tenure as Chancellor of Temporal Affairs for the Diocese yesterday and embarked upon the journey of retirement or as one staff member called it, "renewment".  We all join in thanking Fr. Peter for his dedicated service and we wish him God's many blessings for his retirement!  Fr. Peter will continue to minister at Mount St. Joseph as Chaplain for the Congregation of St. Joseph.

                                                                                                                                            Fraternally,   † Daniel

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