Events

World Day of the Sick (February 11th) honours Jesus' ministry to the sick, which Pope John Paul II established to offer prayers for those suffering from illness. The day coincides with the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes and emphasizes the importance of caring for the sick. It acknowledges the dedication of healthcare workers and pastoral caregivers who minister to the afflicted. The church encourages members to pray for the needs of the sick, highlighting the vital role of service to those who are ill and suffering.  

The Vatican website explains that today’s feast highlights the Chair of Saint Peter (Cathedra Petri), symbolizing the mission Jesus entrusted to Peter. The cathedra, a fixed seat of the bishop, is placed in the mother church of a diocese, giving rise to the word “cathedral.” The feast commemorates Peter, martyred as bishop of Rome. The chair symbolizes a bishop’s authority to protect the flock and transmit the teaching of the gospel as successors of the apostles. Members are encouraged to pray for Pope Francis, the bishop of Rome, who occupies the chair of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral church of Rome.   https://www.marquette.edu/faith/prayers-new-pope.php 

The World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement that brings Christians of many traditions together to observe a common day of prayer each year. Through preparation and participation in the worship service, we can learn how our sisters of other countries, languages and cultures understand the Biblical passages in their context. We can hear their concerns and needs and can join in solidarity with them as we pray with and for them. In this way, it is possible to enrich our Christian faith as it grows deeper and broader in an international, ecumenical expression. The motto of the World Day of Prayer movement is Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action. Through our participation in the World Day of Prayer, we affirm that prayer and action are inseparable and that both have immeasurable influence on the world.

On March 19th, the church celebrates the Solemnity of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, patron of Canada and the universal church. On March 25th, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord is celebrated. In obedience to God’s call, St. Joseph trusted God’s plan for his life, taking Mary as his wife. In his apostolic letter, Patris Corde, Pope Francis describes St. Joseph as a loving, obedient, courageous father, often working in the shadows. He encourages the church to pray to St. Joseph for protection and guidance.