Liturgy

On December 7, 2024 Canada was gifted with another Cardinal.  On that day Pope Francis elevated 21 new members to the College of Cardinals. The only North American was Most Reverend Francis Leo, Archbishop of Toronto.   Salt and Light TV produced a segment on now His Eminence Francis Cardinal Leo giving people a glimpse of the ceremony and what it takes to make a cardinal.  You can view the segment from Salt and Light’s weekly show Behold by clicking here.

Saturday, January 18 begins the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Each year during this particular week Christians worldwide are invited to pray together for the unity of all Christians.  The 2025 theme focuses on the 1700^th anniversary of the Nicene Creed. This is a unique opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the common faith of Christians, as expressed in the Creed formulated during this Council; a faith that remains alive and fruitful in all over the world. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 invites Christians to draw on this shared heritage and to enter more deeply into the faith that unites all Christians.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated around the world and will happen this year from January 18 to 25 2025.  This universal week of prayer encourages Christians of all denominations to meet, to participate in various liturgical and other activities, and to pray together that all may be one, as Christ desires.  We are especially mindful of the fact that 2025 marks the 1700^th Anniversary of the  Council of Nicaea, which was ecumenical. The most notable fruit of this Council was the development of the Nicene Creed.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) will once again offer an online weekly video series for this year’s Advent season to help the faithful prepare for the memorial of the birth of Our Lord celebrated at Christmas. Titled Journey through Advent the series is a collaborative initiative of the Office for Evangelization and Catechesis, the National Liturgy Office, and the Office national de liturgie.

Our Archdiocesan Feast Day is December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. On this day 13 years ago we became the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth. Since this date falls on a Sunday this year, we will celebrate our patronal feast day on Monday, December 9.  Archbishop Dunn will celebrate Mass at 7:00pm at Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica.  A reception will follow in the hall. All are welcome!