In our Parish

This week’s Mass Intentions (Daily Readings)

Thursday April 25
Acts 13:13-25; John 13:16-20
9 AM – Maria Bozzo

Friday April 26
Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6
9 AM – Intentions of Lenore McGoire

Saturday April 27
Acts 13:44-52; John 14:7-14
5 PM – Silvio Bozzo & Italia Orfei

Sunday April 28 – 5th Sunday of Easter
Acts 9:26-31; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8
9 AM – Antonio Cioppi
11 AM – Pro Populo

Monday April 29 – St. Marie de L’Incarnation
Acts 14:5-18; John 14:21-26 – No Mass

Tuesday May 30
Acts 14:19-28; John 14:27-31a
7 PM – Todd Ribble

Wednesday May 1 – St. Athanasius
Acts 15:1-6; John 15:1-8
9 AM – Guiseppe Rocci

Thursday May 2 – St. Philip & St. James
1 Corinthians 15:1-8; John 14:6-14
9 AM – In Thanksgiving for Ruth Robbins

Friday May 3
Acts 15:22-31; John 15:12-17
9 AM – Mike Sanders & Joan Lacy

Saturday May 4
Acts 16:1-10; John 15:18-21
5 PM – Dorothy Whelton & Stan Anslow

Sunday May 5 – 6th Sunday of Easter
Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17
9 AM – Pro Populo
11 AM – Margaret Robertson & Jim Pearson

Group Meetings

Wednesday April 24
Women’s AA Group – 6:15 PM – Hall

Friday April 26
AA Meeting – 8 PM – Hall

Monday April 29
Emotions Anonymous Meeting – 7 PM – WR

Wednesday May 1
Women’s AA Group – 6:15 PM – Hall

Friday May 3
AA Meeting – 8 PM – Hall

Sunday May 5
First Communion – 2:00 PM – Church

Other Announcements

Sunday Offerings
Sunday, April 21, 2024: 4,108.  Thank you for your generosity!!!

Toonie Campaign
Our “Toonie collection” so far totals $10,223.75 and is growing. Thank you so much for taking part!

First Communion
On Sunday, May 5, the children of our school will be receiving their First Communion at 2 p.m., a special time set aside for them. Please pray for the candidates.

Baptism
Welcomed into our parish community through Baptism on Sunday, April 21, 2024: Emilia Treadgold and Malcolm Treadgold Congratulations to their parents, Godparents and family.

Photos for 175th Anniversary
We are looking for any old photos of our Parish for special events. These photos will be shared with parishioners at the 175th Anniversary event and also at any other Anniversary events. Please e mail dolenevanderlelie@cogeco.ca by May 11, 2023.

EX CORDE FOUNDATION GRANT
We are deeply grateful to the Ex Corde Foundation for the generous grant of $30,000 to allow us to purchase a new sound system which will cost $65,000.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CONTRIBUTIONS
For contributions to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, please make all cheques payable to the St. Vincent de Paul Society and not to St. John’s Parish. Thank You!

The Sacrament of Baptism: Where Life in Christ Begins!
Our parish is on the lookout for dynamic volunteers to help us grow our Baptism Prep Ministry. Is the Holy Spirit inspiring you to get involved and help families prepare for the Sacrament that starts it all? Please contact Cam and Annette to find out how to join our ministry by emailing camjohnson7291@gmail.com

SACRED HEART OF JESUS, HAVE MERCY ON US
Come and join us every Thursday at 9 a.m. for the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Holy Mass.

Devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help
We would love to have you join our weekly Devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help immediately before the Tuesday evening Mass. We start at 7 p.m. and all are most welcome.

St. John the Baptist Talent Show
Students from St. John’s School will be showing off their talents on Saturday, May 11, right after the 5:00 PM Mass. All parishioners are welcome. A Pizza dinner will be provided in the parish hall. The show is expected to run from 6:20 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Our parish turns 175 this year
This year marks the 175th anniversary of St. John the Baptist Parish, in Burlington. We have much to celebrate and much to be thankful for. Several events to commemorate this joyous milestone are being planned throughout the upcoming year. Details will soon follow. Celebrations commence with the 175th Anniversary Mass, at St. John’s Church, on Sunday, June 2nd, at 3:00 p.m., and will be celebrated by His Excellency Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI, Bishop of Hamilton. All are welcome. 175th Anniversary Dinner and Dance Celebration is taking place on June 2, at the Burlington Convention Centre, 1120 Burloak Drive, in Burlington. Family and friends are welcome. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., cash bar. Dinner at 6:00 p.m. Dinner includes: soup, salad, chicken breast, potatoes, vegetables, dessert and one bottle of red and white wine per table. Price per person is $70.00. Ticket sales are first come first served. Tickets will be available for purchase following each weekend Mass from February 10 through to March 3.

Good news for our Parish!
The Knights of Columbus are excited to announce that we are forming a new Council to work with the various ministries in our Parish. The Knights of Columbus is an organization that service faith, community, family, youth and fellowship. Are you interested in helping those in need, serving our parish and growing in faith? Our volunteer age starts at 18 years and up. Our Order is very strong in the Burlington community working with Neighbours in Need, Special Olympics, Basketball Free Throw for children and more. Check out www.kofc.org for more information or contact John D’Addario at 905-973-0474.

Visitor’s Envelopes
Kindly use a pink Visitor’s Envelope if donating a loose cheque and complete the front of the envelope in full or at least write your name. This helps immensely. If you would like a set of parish envelopes of your own, please visit or phone the office for assistance. Thank you!

Do you own a business that could serve our parish?
From time to time our parish may be in need of contracted work. We may need to go to outside companies without knowing if a parishioner is able to provide a product or service that we could use. If you own a business that could serve our parish and would like to be considered for future work, please contact Margaret Hribljan by emailing her at margaret.h@cogeco.ca.

LOST AND FOUND NOTICE
If you have lost something, please check the Lost & Found baskets located at the Brant St. entrance to the Church. All items that unclaimed after a month will be donated or discarded.

Parish Hall Rental
If you wish to rent the parish hall, please contact the parish office in advance of your event to make the necessary arrangements.

Volunteering at St. John the Baptist Parish
As a new year begins, we are looking for volunteers for various church events. Volunteers are required to read the description of volunteer roles (provided) and to fill out the Volunteer Information Form which has your contact information recorded for LOW risk volunteers. The HIGH risk volunteers are required to do the volunteer form along with a police check which includes: anyone working with children, handling money or working with vulnerable people. We will be offering dates in the next few weeks to anyone who needs assistance completing forms and with police checks. Please email the following coordinators for forms or any further questions: loismorrisonhuq@gmail.com or dinaknight779@gmail.com

Burlington Food Bank Collection
Please leave your donations of packaged and canned food items in the cupboard near the Brant Street doors if you are able to help with the food collection. Thank you so much for helping our neighbours in need. The Food Bank is extremely grateful.

 

In the Community

BE A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS
Let us stand and pray together against the injustice of abortion. Join the NATIONAL MARCH for LIFE, 2024 in Ottawa, Thursday, May 9, 2024 It’s easy to go on a bus and bring a friend with you!

1) Bus from Hamilton: 6am – 11pm
contact: righttolifehamilton.org or: 905-528-3065
bus leaves from West Highland Baptist Church, 1605 Garth Street.

2) Bus from Oakville: 6:30am – 8:30pm
contact: Charles: chathomas@deloitte.ca or
416-997-2786. Bus leaves from St. Dominic Parish, on Rebecca Street.

For full details, visit marchforlife.ca

TORONTO MARCH for LIFE, 2024
Toronto, Saturday, May 11, 2024:

10:30 am: Rally and speeches at Queen’s Park front lawn
12:00 pm: March through downtown Toronto
1:30 pm: Closing Remarks
Details: torontomarchforlife.ca

ST. LUKE’S 190th ANNIVERSARY EVENT
Spring Concert with a quartet from the Burlington Symphony Orchestra Sunday April 28, 2024 at 1:30 PM St. Luke’s Anglican Church 1371 Elgin St., Burlington, ON L7S 1G1 Tickets: $20 Blennard@Bell.net or (905) 632-2918

Young Adults Night – Saturday , May 4th
Fr. Mark Morley invites all young adults (ages 20s and 30s) of our diocese to attend an evening of prayer, fellowship and praise music in support of your vocations. The Young Adults Night includes a Holy Hour (6:30pm-7:30 pm), social with food (7:30pm-8:00pm), praise night with vocations testimony (8:00pm-9:00pm), and Compline (9:00pm) on Saturday, May 4th at the Holy Rosary Church (287 Plains Road East, Burlington, Ontario). Sponsored by the Vocations Office of the Diocese of Hamilton: https://hamiltondiocese.com/vocations/ For more information, please contact: vocations @ hamiltondiocese.com.

Vocations Recognition Dinner 2024
The Serra Club of Hamilton invites you to gather on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at Liuna Station to celebrate the service of our Priests, Religious Brothers and Sisters, Permanent Deacons and Consecrated Virgins Living in the World. Doors open at 6:00pm. Tickets are $90 per person. Please contact serrahamilton1965@gmail.com for tickets and more information. Co-sponsored by the Vocations Office of the Diocese of Hamilton.

THE FINE ART OF BEING HAPPILY MARRIED
In his poem, The Art of Marriage, Wilfred A. Peterson writes, “A good marriage must be created” and creating something requires time and attention. We invite you to take the time, with your spouse, to find new and creative ways to increase your connection with each other, to discover fresh techniques for being in relationship and to deepen the love you already share. Join us on Saturday, June 1st from 9:30 – 3:00 pm at Catherine of Siena Parish in Hamilton. Cost is $50 per couple and includes lunch. To register on the website go to hamiltondiocese.com and look under Upcoming Events, or contact Sarah at 905-528-7988 ext. 2249.

NEW TO YOUTH MINISTRY NETWORKING EVENT
The Office of Youth Ministry is hosting a networking evening for those adult leaders who are new to parish youth ministry. Join them on June 6th at St. Benedict Parish in Milton for an evening of conversation and fellowship. Registration and additional information available on the Diocesan website: https://tinyurl.com/ymnetwork

 

In the Diocese

DEAR CANADIAN FRIENDS:
God love you for all the love you have shared with me and the Missionaries of Charity and our Poor throughout the world, through your gifts of money and food. … My gratitude to each one of you for all you have done – and are doing, and will do – is my prayer for you – that you may grow in holiness through this love for God’s Poor. Pray for us all. God bless you all.” M. Teresa m.c. Excerpt from a note of thanks from now-Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta written in June 1986, to the Catholic Women’s League in St. Louis Parish, Waterloo, in response to a generous donation made to support her good works in Calcutta. A second note, dated 1973, was also signed by the Sainted Nun. Both notes were gifted to the Bishop John Farrell Library and Archives as part of last week’s 100th anniversary of the CWL Council. Thank you sincerely for this treasured gift!

Marriage Tip of the Month
When we marry, we gain a spouse and his or her family. It is essential that we agree to ensure that we, as a couple, have the most important connection and that we remain united as a family unit when stresses with extended family arise. This means coming to agreement with each other on items such as how to celebrate holidays and traditions, the raising of children and other areas that directly impact us as a couple, even when family wants to have input. Our families can provide wonderful support to our marriage, but we must remember that the essential relationship is between our spouse and ourselves.

A DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE
Will mark the 350th anniversary of the founding of the Catholic Church in Canada, with the establishment of the Archdiocese of Quebec. The pilgrimage from the Diocese of Hamilton will take place from July 13 to July 17, 2024. It will include a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica in Quebec City and the Holy Door and visits to the sites made famous by the sainted founders of the Canadian Church. Visits are also planned to St. Anne de Beaupre, Notre-Dame-du-Cap, in Trois Rivieres, and Notre Dame Basilica and St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal. The five-day pilgrimage will include guided tours exploring Quebec’s religious and cultural heritage and will be led by Monsignor Murray Kroetsch, Vicar General and Chancellor of the Diocese of Hamilton. Registration deadline is April 30th. For more information please see the Diocesan website or contact Matthew Trafford at the Office for Evangelization and Catechesis.

THE DIOCESAN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MASS
Are you celebrating your 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th, or 60+ Wedding Anniversary in the year 2024? If you are, you are cordially invited to join couples from across the Diocese of Hamilton for a Wedding Anniversary Mass on Sunday, May 26, 2024, 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 one guest if you require assistance). Registration is available on line at hamiltondiocese.com under Upcoming Events.

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. We are currently taking enrollment for the Youth Ministry Certification Program and the Catechist Formation Program for the Diocese of Hamilton, which begins in September 2024. Three & five week e-seminars are also 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.

RESTART: Refresh, Renew, Revive Group
Struggling after divorce or separation? Join us for learning, support and fun on a Friday evening. Held the 2nd and 3rd Fridays of each month. These get-togethers offer continual support and insights for people as they journey through the divorce or
separation process and beyond. Join in –person (700 King St. West, Hamilton), or by ZOOM. Register for sessions here: https://sites.google.com/view/hamilton-restart/home/home, or contact Sarah at familyministry@hamiltondiocese.com, or 905-528-7988 ext. 2249 if you plan to attend in person and for the zoom link if joining online. We look forward to seeing you!

Catechetical Correspondence Courses
Programs are available for children from Kindergarten through high school who are not currently receiving religious instruction (i.e. in a public or private, not Catholic school). These instructions will prepare your child for the reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation, 1st Communion and Confirmation. For information and registration forms, phone the Catechesis Office in the Diocese of Hamilton at 905-528-7988, ext. 2239.

Project Rachel
If you are struggling after an abortion – either your own or someone else’s, Project Rachel is available to help find hope and healing. Please contact us at 905-526-1999.