Events

The month of June, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, became a popular devotion in the late 1600s. The Heart, with droplets of blood, encircled by thorns, with flames and a cross at the top, and surrounded by divine light, is symbolic of the heart of Jesus and His sacrificial love for humanity. The World Day for the Sanctification of Priests coincides with that of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Members are invited to pray for priests and for personal holiness and a loving heart in imitation of Jesus.  

People are encouraged to wear purple to show support for survivors of domestic violence and raise awareness about “the intersection between brain injury and interpersonal violence.” The colour purple symbolizes courage, peace and survival, and wearing it helps to show survivors they are not alone and that a supportive community exists for them.

The feast day of Saint Pope John Paul II is October 22. His abundant charisma was matched only by his immense intellectual gifts, which he put at the service of fighting for human dignity and freedom. As the turmoil of the twentieth century gave way to the twenty-first, John Paul II fought to keep Christ the centre of the human race’s yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He travelled on apostolic journeys to 124 countries, inaugurated the World Youth Day celebrations, and established diplomatic relations, becoming known as a defender of human rights and peacemaker.

International Religious Freedom Day is observed annually on October 27. Let us pray for the millions of people of faith around the world who face threats of violence and imprisonment for simply living out their faith. As citizens and Catholics, we acknowledge that religious freedom is rooted in human dignity. Through practicing our faith and respecting others, we can come together to serve the communities in which we live. We ask God to continue giving us the freedom to love Jesus, and to be his arms and hands in the world  

On November 3rd, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Martin de Porres, a Peruvian Dominican brother who lived a life of humble service and charity and became the first Black saint of the Americas. He was praised for his unconditional care of all people who were sick or in need, regardless of race or wealth, welcoming them into his home and eventually founded orphanages. St. Martin died in 1639 and was canonized by Pope John XXIII on May 6, 1962.