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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Confessions at our Family of Parishes are available at the following times:
Wednesday, March 25
St. Peter's Cathedral
9:30 AM-11:30 AM & 1 PM-4 PM
St. Michael's Parish
10 AM-1 PM & 6 PM - 8 PM
Several priests will join Fr. Daniel and Fr. James at both churches.
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
Easter Flowers
Remember loved ones and give thanks for blessings through Easter flower donations. The tradition for parishioners to make a donation to decorate the Altars for this Holy season will continue. Donations can be made in the name of family or friends, living or deceased. These names will be placed in the
bulletin and remembered in prayer this Easter Season.
Donations can be made by cash, cheque or Etransfer. Cash or cheque donations can be placed in the Sunday collection, mailed or dropped at the office. For cash and cheque donations please indicate on the envelope the name of the
donor, the name of the person being remembered in prayer, and if they are living or deceased.
For donations by E-transfer, please direct them to
stmichlon@dol.ca or basilica@dol.ca. Please indicate in the Etransfer memo, “Easter Flowers,” the name of person being remembered, and if they are living or deceased. The cutoff for donations is March 30. Thank you for your generosity!
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.
St. Michael's CWL & KofC Dinner and Dance
SAVE-THE-DATE: Saturday, April 18
7:00 PM, Parish Hall
If you’d like to donate an item to the silent auction, please contact Joan Lobsinger at 519-438-4909 or Marty McAllister at 519-870-1859
Pro-Life Seminar: Dialogue Training 101
Wednesday, March 18 at 6:30 PM
Holy Family Parish in St JP II Room
Join 4LifeLondon for a pro-life seminar focused on practical tools for communicating about abortion, with a supportive opportunity to practice alongside fellow pro-lifers.
RSVP to Leire by call or text at 519-659-3334.
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
St. Michael's CWL Lenten Prayer Cards
St. Michael's CWL Lenten Prayer Cards initiative has begun. 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.
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.
Women's Lenten Silent Retreat
As we prepare to enter into the sacred days of Holy Week, you are warmly invited to step away from the noise and busyness of life and encounter Jesus at the well.
Just as He met the Samaritan woman with tenderness and living water, He longs to meet you to restore your spirit and draw you more deeply into His Merciful Love.
Join us for a beautiful and prayerful overnight Women’s Lenten Silent Retreat:
🗓 March 28–29, 2026
📍 Michaelite Fathers Retreat Centre
2751 Sunningdale Rd. W, London, ON
💲 $300 per person
🛏 Single room occupancy
To Register
📧 Email: danielaarmenti71@gmail.com
📞 Call: 519.852.8812
Lenten Food Drive
The Family of Parishes annual Lenten Food Drive in support of Paul’s Place, formerly St. Paul’s Social Services, begins next weekend, March 14/15.
Food items most needed are:
Hot or cold cereal
Onions & potatoes
Mac & cheese (KD)
Spaghetti sauce
Pasta noodles
Tea bags & coffee
Canned fish & meat
Peanut butter
Mayonnaise
Monetary donations and grocery store Gift
Cards are gratefully accepted. Please place such donations in an envelope marked "Food Drive" in the offertory basket or drop it off at the parish office. Cheques payable to St. Michael's or St. Peter's Cathedral marked "Food Drive" are tax-receiptable.
Please ensure to check expiration dates.
Put donations in a reusable bag.
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
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.
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.
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.
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).