London North Central Catholic Family of Parishes
St. Michael's Parish | St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica​
St. Josephine Bakhita African & Caribbean Catholic Community
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Info Board
Our Lenten Journey
Message of the Holy Father Leo XIV for Lent 2026
“Listening and Fasting: Lent as a Time of Conversion”
Click here to view.
Journey Through Lent 2026 Video Series
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops is launching its annual Lenten video series, Journey through Lent. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 18, and for each Sunday in Lent, up
to and including Palm Sunday, a video will be available on the CCCB website featuring pastoral reflections based on the Readings for the Sunday Eucharistic Celebration. Geared to individuals, families, and communities, this series is meant to
offer spiritual inspiration and guidance on how to prepare well for the Easter season.
On this First Sunday, this year’s presenter, Most Reverend Daniel Miehm, Bishop of Peterborough, Ontario, provides a reflection on the Lord’s temptation in the desert and invites us to be
strengthened by grace in the face of our own daily temptations.
Click here to view.
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Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross is prayed each Friday during Lent at both parishes. Various parish groups and the Pastoral Team will be leading our prayer each week.
St. Peter’s: 12:45 PM St. Michael’s: 7:00 PM
The Way of the Cross
A 14 movement organ suite composed by Marcel Dupré, with meditations on each Station by poet Paul Claudel. Friday, March 20, 7 PM at St. Peter’s Cathedral with Dr. Ron Fox, organ.
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Monday Mass at 7 PM
Mass will be celebrated on Monday evenings at 7 PM at St. Michael’s during the Season of Lent until Holy Week.
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Lenten Food Drive
Our annual Lenten Food Drive in support of Paul’s Place (St. Paul’s Social Services) Food Bank and Fellowship Centre takes place the weekends of March 14/15 and March 21/22 at both parishes.
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Development & Peace Share Lent Campaign:
“On Track for Justice”
Resources and information for this year’s campaign are available in the narthex. The Annual Share Lent collection is the weekend of March 21/22.
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Lenten Day of Confessions:
“Penance and Prayer in Every Parish”
Wednesday March 25, 2026
On our annual Day of Confessions, every church across the Diocese of London will be celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is a unique opportunity to encounter the Lord through his ministers and to experience his unconditional acceptance and limitless mercy—to know directly the healing power of his love.
Respect for the Holy Mass - a note from Our Pastor
Brothers and Sisters,
Over the past year, the Pastoral Team has noticed more and more people arriving at Mass late – many of them significantly late. In fact, at one of our Sunday Masses last week, over two hundred people entered the church after Mass had already begun. We need to remember that full participation in the entire Mass is a requirement for us to fulfill our
Sunday obligation.
Arriving at Mass late or leaving early is impolite to those around us. It disturbs those who are already praying and shows disrespect and irreverence toward Our Lord. This is not a good habit, and we need to hold ourselves accountable for the way we show love for God and neighbour by coming to Mass on time and staying until Mass has ended.
Family emergencies do happen. Sometimes the car won’t start, or a road is closed. But family emergencies don’t happen every Sunday
morning. If you look back over the last months and realize that you’ve fallen into the habit of coming to Mass late, we invite you in love to participate again in the whole Mass, from the beginning of the opening hymn to the end of the closing hymn.
As we begin the season of Lent, let’s ask ourselves:
If Christ himself were visibly seated at the altar, would you arrive late, or leave before he
dismissed us?
May our reflection deepen our participation in the
Eucharist as we enter this Lenten season.
Fr. Daniel & the Pastoral Team
St. Michael's Knights of Columbus
Congratulations to the following students from St.
Michael Council #12820 who won in their age category at the District Free Throw competition held on Friday, February 13, 2026, at St. Jude School, London:
Girls Age 9: Isabela Quintana Rodriguez-St. Michael
Boys Age 10: Bronson Fliss-St. Mark
The winners of the district level now qualify for the regional competition to be held Saturday, March 7, 2026, at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, London.
Statement from the CCCB on Bill C-218
The Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has issued a statement strongly supporting Private Member’s Bill C-218, which seeks to prevent persons whose sole medical condition is mental illness from accessing
euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (“MAiD”).
The CCCB has a strong record of opposing “MAiD” and seeking to limit its scope in Canadian society. The Permanent Council concludes with an exhortation to allow parliamentarians to vote on Bill
C‑218 according to their conscience rather than following party line. You can read the full statement here.
Vocation of the Wisdom Years Retreat
If you are in the second half of your life, join us for a Vocation of the Wisdom Years retreat with the theme “Crying for our Children: Keeping the Door Open”.
The event will feature a presentation from Fr. Paul Baillargeon, Chancellor of the Diocese of London.
When: Saturday, February 28, 2026
Time: 10:00am to 2:00pm (doors open at 9:15am).
Where: St. Justin Martyr Parish - 850 Jalna Blvd, London, ON
Cost: $25 and it includes light breakfast and lunch.
St. Peter's Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
Life is hard. We visit a wheelchair bound woman in her apartment on a cold Tuesday afternoon. She has suffered from 3 strokes and is in chronic pain. She tells us she has 3 daily PSW visits. She is alone but is determined not to give up and have to move to a long-term care facility.
She displays a smiling face and says that her faith is all she has that keeps her alive to fight.
She is very grateful for our visit. I am blessed to have met her… Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.
Social Justice: Development & Peace
This Lent, let’s move forward On Track for Justice
“The Church, like a mother, accompanies those
who are walking.” -Pope Leo XIV (Dilexi te, §75)
Development and Peace — Caritas Canada’s
2026 Share Lent campaign, On Track for Justice,
has been launched! Together, let’s walk hand in
hand with communities in the Global South who
are working for justice, peace, and dignity. How?
1. By donating online at devp.org/give or during the Solidarity Sunday collection on March 22, the 5th Sunday of Lent. Your generosity helps support over 59 projects in 34 countries around the world!
2. Get the Mini-magazine (available in the narthex) and follow the Solidarity Calendar with your family.
Parish representative Michael Loebach 519 671 6670 michaelfloebach@gmail.com;
London Deanery representative Gord Smith 519 672 2497 gosmit@execulink.com
Cursillo! Are You Interested?
Cursillo is a Spanish word meaning ‘a little course’. Cursillo, which begins on a Thursday night through to Sunday afternoon, helps us to look at ourselves and our relationships with others and God, through a series of talks by others who have made a previous weekend.
Day one: we look at ourselves, Day two: we consider God’s love for us. Day three: we consider the world around us and how we can be a Godly influence to those around us.
All who make the weekend find a deeper joy in their faith, their Church, and their community around them. Need something to boost your faith and spirit? Consider joining us February 26-March 1, 2026, for the women’s weekend.
To register, please contact Eileen and David Sleightholm, at eileenetms@hotmail.ca or 519-524-9400. Visit the website at https://londoncatholiccursillo.com for more information.
Teen Lenten Retreat: March 7-8 - Holy Family Retreat House, Oxley, ON
This Lent, the Youth, Young Adult and Family Ministry Office is inviting high school teens from across the Diocese to step away from the noise and make space for what truly matters. High school teens are invited to a meaningful retreat experience to encounter God, grow in faith, and be reminded that they are seen, known, and deeply loved.
Registration is now open at this link or visit
dol.ca/teen-lenten-retreat-2026.
St. Michael's CWL Lenten Prayer Cards
St. Michael's CWL Lenten Prayer Cards initiative begins the weekend of February 21st/22nd. All parishioners are encouraged to participate by taking a prayer request card and/or leaving one in the baskets provided at both entrances to the church. This is a wonderful opportunity to support one another in prayer and to build a sense of community as we journey through the season of Lent.
General Meeting. Please join us on Monday, March 2 at 7 PM, John Paul II room, for our General Membership meeting and presentation on YANA and New Day by Cathie Gauthier. All women of our parishes, ages 16 and up, are invited to attend this evening of friendship and information.
St. Michael's CWL Newsletter
Are you looking to stay up to date with St. Michael's CWL? Be in the know about their upcoming events, celebrations and stories by checking out their newsletter!
Click here to read more.
Annual Women's Conference: Love Heals
March 7, 2026 from 9 AM - 3:30 PM
St. André Bessette School, London | Speaker: Sonja Corbitt
The Annual Women’s Conference is hosted by Family Foundations Institute. This year’s theme focuses on the ways God's love restores what feels broken or worn down, exploring what we learn from scripture and our everyday experiences. Tickets $45/Individual and $25/Student. Learn more and register at famfi.ca/wc.
40 for Lent Challenge
Save A Family Plan has launched a new initiative called “40 for Lent.” In response to the dire need in India, they are challenging parishes, families, schools, CWLs, Knights, and others to join their social justice mission. Their goal is to sign up 40 “challengers” who will raise the awareness and funds needed to partner with impoverished families and villages to break the cycle of poverty.
For information: www.safp.org/lent.
Confirmation Registration for Spring 2026
If you have a child in grade 8 or above who would like to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, registration for our Spring Session is now available and will close on March 6, 2026.
Register today! Click HERE to view registration requirements. If you have any questions, please reach out to Leigh Duckworth at lduckworth@dol.ca.
Diocesan Family Summit
Save the Date: May 30, 2026
Families of all ages are invited to join the Diocesan Family Summit on Saturday, May 30, from 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM at Regina Mundi Catholic High School (520 Wellington Rd S).
Rooted in the Scripture Rooted in the Scripture theme: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
Featured highlights include:
• Keynote Speaker: Deacon Bob Rice
• Worship led by The Encounter Band
• Evening Mass celebrated by Bishop Fabbro
• Breakout sessions for women, men, teens, and youth
• All meals included
• Bussing from Windsor & childcare available
Cost is $20 for adults | $10 for youth/teens
Register by clicking HERE.
View the event poster here.
NET Canada Mission Discernment Night
Are you in grade 11-12 or between the ages of 18-30 and trying to figure out what’s next in your life? Come see if a year on mission is for you! NET Canada invites you to our Mission Discernment Night in Windsor on Thursday, February 26 from
7-9 pm at Ste. Anne Parish (12233 Tecumseh Rd E)!
Join us for a night of fellowship, food, and praise & get a glimpse into what a year on mission with NET Canada would look like!
Register at netcanada.ca/apply! Have questions? Email recruit@netcanada.ca or call/text 613-292-9991!
Ennis Sisters Concert in St. Thomas
Help support the Refugee Committee at St. Anne's Parish in St. Thomas, part of an ecumenical group that has been truly remarkable in advancing the Diocese’s Refugee Ministry.
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At S . Anne's Parish Centre on March 26, 2026
Doors open at 6:30 pm, show begins at 7:30 p
Tickets are $40 each - available at St. Anne's parish office. (Click here for the official poster).