Liturgy

Along with Archbishop Dunn, the Canadian Bishops and the Holy Father, also offer some food for thought as we begin this time of personal renewal :

• Pope Francis’s Message for Lent is titled : Through the Desert God Leads us to Freedom  You can also find the full text of the short message by visiting : www.vatican.va

• CCCB: Journey Through Lent
  Once again the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) over Canadian Catholics a  series of videos for Lent titled Journey Through Lent.
  

Next week, Christians around the world begin the season of Lent.  Traditionally a time to focus particularly on prayer, almsgiving, and fasting, the forty days of Lent calls all to consider how best we can prepare our hearts and minds for Christ’s painful crucifixion and then his glorious resurrection at Easter.  Check with your parish for Ash Wednesday Mass times.  Also check to see what opportunities your parish has to help you deepen your spiritual life this Lenten season. Is there a Lenten Mission? Maybe consider joining a small group at the parish? Are there Stations of the Cross, extra times for Adoration, Liturgies of the Hours or other moments of prayer that you could join in?

On Sunday, January 21, 2024 after the angelus the Holy Father announced a Year of Prayer:

“The coming months will lead us to the opening of the Holy Door, with which we will begin the Jubilee. I ask you to intensify your prayer to prepare us to live well this event of grace, and to experience the strength of God’s hope. Therefore, today we begin the Year of Prayer; that is, a year dedicated to rediscovering the great value and absolute need for prayer in personal life, in the life of the Church, and in the world. We will also be helped by the resources that the Dicastery for Evangelization will make available.”

February 2, The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, is also designated: World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. Join us at the 12:15 daily Mass at Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica to pray for and with all who have said yes to the Lord in this particular vocation.

Clergy and religious who belong to the various religious orders serving in the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth have been invited to be present at this Mass. Join us to celebrate and give thanks for these communities who contribute greatly and generously to the life of our local Church.

This Mass will also be Livestreamed

January 18-25 is recognized across Christian traditions as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This universal week of prayer encourages Christians of all denominations to meet, to participate in various liturgical and other community activities, and to pray together that all may be one, as Christ desires.