St. Mark Catholic Parish

MARCH 2023

Evenings with His Excellency – Bishop Wayne Lobsinger invites everyone to join him for “Evenings with His Excellency”.  This is an opportunity to learn more about our Catholic Faith based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Class is the second Friday of each month, at 7pm – 8:30 p.m. at St. Ann Church, Ancaster. This month we will begin our look at The 10 Commandments.  It is also available by livestream on St. Ann’s YouTube channel. No cost, no homework, just an opportunity to learn about our faith, all are welcome.

Young Adults Night – April 1st – Guelph – Fr. Mark Morley invites all young adults (ages 20s and early 30s) of our diocese to attend a night of Adoration, Fellowship and Praise Music. Arrival and Holy Hour (6:30pm-7:30 pm), Social with Food (7:30pm-8:30pm), Praise Night and Vocation Testimony (8:00pm-9:00pm), and Compline (9:00pm) on Saturday, April 1st at the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate (28 Norfolk Street, Guelph). Sponsored by the Vocations Office of the Diocese of Hamilton. For more information, please contact: vocations@hamiltondiocese.com.

Vacation Bible School Workshop 2023 – The Office for Evangelization and Catechesis invites all parish ministers, youth ministry leaders to join in our annual Vacation Bible School workshop in preparation for summer children’s ministry.  New to VBS?  Looking to learn more about recruiting youth volunteers?  Want a peek at new VBS kits available this year?  Come and join us for this informative virtual workshop on April 19, 2023 from 7:00-8:30pm.  Registration is available on the Diocesan website: www.hamiltondiocese.com .

Join the Reel Justice Film Festival for our fun family screening of Coco March 23, 2023 at 6:30 PM! This delightful film follows young Miguel as he dreams of becoming an accomplished musician, despite his family’s generations-old ban on music. Themes of Family and Community, Dignity of the Human Person, Forgiveness, and Cultural Diversity are explored. The screening will be hosted online. R.S.V.P. and view our full schedule of events at www.reeljusticefilmfestival.wordpress.com/. A partnership between the Bishop Farrell Library & Archives and Development and Peace, the Reel Justice Film Festival shines a spotlight on issues of social, political, and economic injustice.

The Serra Club of Hamilton is holding their Vocations Recognition Dinner on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at Liuna Station.  Tickets are $90. Please email SerraHamilton1965@gmail.com or leave a message at 905-628-5682 if interested.

ReSTART: Moving Forward – Join us for our new and updated program offering support to anyone seeking to heal and move forward after divorce or separation. The program runs from Tuesday, March 21^st to May 23^rd.  The sessions take place from 7-9 pm at the Chancery Office at 700 King St. West in person, or you are welcome to join using our zoom classroom. Cost is $25 for materials, but no one is turned away. Registration is required so please call Sarah at 905-528-7988 ext. 2249, e-mail familyministry@hamiltondiocese.com, or register on line at ReSTART Program: Support for Separated and Divorced – (hamiltondiocese.com).

Grief Relief – Has someone you cared about died? Are you grieving the loss of the person’s presence in your life? Join us on Thursdays from 7 – 8:30 p.m. from April 13 – May 18, 2023 to learn more about what you are feeling and how to gently move forward. You are not alone! The Diocese of Hamilton program will be offered online using Zoom. To register, go to hamiltondiocese.com and look for April 13^th under Upcoming Events. To find out more, please call Teresa at 905-528-7988 ext. 2250.

The 2023 Diocesan Wedding Anniversary  – Time is running out! Are you celebrating your 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th, or 60+ Wedding Anniversary in the year 2023?  If you are, you are cordially invited to join couples from across the Diocese of Hamilton for a Wedding Anniversary Mass on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King in Hamilton at 1:30 pm. (Space allows room for Anniversary couples only – those married 60 years or more may bring 1 guest if you require assistance). Register now at hamiltondiocese.com, or contact the Family Ministry Office at 905-528-7988 ext. 2249.

Help for Every Marriage –   Are you frustrated or angry at each other, or have you just stopped talking to each other?   Retrouvaille helps couples through difficult times and allows you to rediscover the relationship that drew you together. This program has helped tens of thousands of couples find a better way for their marriage.  For confidential information about, or to register for the program, happening the weekend of March 10, 11, 12, 2023 please call 905-664-5212 or email:  1013@helpourmarriage.org or visit the web site at www.retrouvaille.org.

RESTART: Refresh, Renew Revive –Learning, support and fun for anyone who is looking for support after a separation or divorce! These get-togethers offer continual support and insights for people as they journey through the divorce/separation process and beyond. Held the 2nd & 3rd Fridays of each month, you can join in-person (700 King St. West, Hamilton), or by ZOOM. No registration required, but for ZOOM link please contact Sarah at familyministry@hamiltondiocese.com, or 905-528-7988 ext. 2249. We look forward to seeing you!

World Youth Day at Home – We know many young people are unable to make the international pilgrimage to celebrate World Youth Day this summer in Lisbon. We invite any young person who is interested in gathering together to celebrate World Youth Day here at home in Diocese of Hamilton this August to let us know by completing the survey found at: https://wyd.hamiltondiocese.com/. This survey of interest closes March 10th, 2023.

Did You Know… Children in our parishes benefit from the Catechetical Correspondence Program each year for ongoing religious education and preparation for the Sacraments.  We need volunteers to support the program!  If you are willing to accompany these children in their learning journey, please reach out to the Office for Evangelization and Catechesis at catechesis@hamiltondiocese.com. To learn more about the Catechetical Correspondence Program, please visit: https://bit.ly/DOHCCC.

Adult Faith Formation through VLCFF – The Diocese of Hamilton is proud to partner with Dayton University’s Virtual Learning Community for Adult Faith Formation (VLCFF) to offer certificate programs for ministry and enrichment for adult faith formation.  Three and five week e-seminars are available at a discounted rate for all adults in the Diocese looking to further their learning.  For more information about our programs, and how to register, visit us at www.hamiltondioceselearns.com.