E-Newsletter March 29, 2026

From the Pastor's Desk

With Palm Sunday, we cross an important threshold. We are no longer simply preparing for Easter; we are entering into the events that lead us there. Holy Week is not just a remembrance of what happened long ago. It is an invitation to walk, in a very real way, with Jesus through the final moments of His earthly life: from the welcome of Jerusalem, to the intimacy of the Upper Room, to the sacrifice of the Cross and finally to the joy of the Resurrection.

One of the great temptations of this week is to treat it like any other and to let it pass by at the same pace, with the same distractions. But the Church sets this week apart and calls it "holy" for a reason. These days carry a depth and grace that we do not encounter at any other time of the year. Each liturgy opens a door: on Holy Thursday, we are drawn into the gift of the Eucharist and the example of Christ’s humility in washing the feet of His disciples; on Good Friday, we stand before the Cross and see, with clarity, the cost of love; at the Easter Vigil, in the stillness of the night, the light of Christ breaks into the darkness and everything begins anew.

Even the quieter moments of this week are filled with meaning. The sacred oils blessed at the cathedral will be used throughout the year in the life of our parish, which are signs that what we celebrate now continues to unfold in the sacraments we receive. So I encourage you, as much as possible, to make space for this week. Come to the liturgies. Step away, even briefly, from the usual noise and busyness. Allow yourself to be present—not just physically, but spiritually.

Because what unfolds in these days is not simply a story we recall. It is the mystery of a God who enters into our suffering, takes it upon Himself and leads us into life. May this Holy Week be, for each of us, not just something we observe—but something we truly enter into.

PARISH NEWS/EVENTS

ShareLife 2026: Living the Gospel Through Generosity

On Good Friday, we invite you to support the Needs of the Holy Land (coordinated by the Commissariat of the Holy Land) by generously offering a donation during the offertory collection using the appropriate white offertory envelope.

This Pontifical request supports Christian communities in the Holy Land, the work of the Church, and the upkeep of sacred sites in the land of Jesus. It also provides funding for pastoral programs, Catholic schools, and essential social assistance. Please give generously in support of our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land. For more information, visit www.commissariat.ca. Thank you in advance for your support!

St. Ignatius Loyola Parish Holy Week 2026 Schedule

See below for our 2026 Holy Week & Easter Schedule. 

Catholic Women’s League News:

Thank you to all those who supported the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner on March 14th. Thanks to your support, we can continue assisting various charities at home and abroad.

Save the Date: Our next CWL General Meeting will be Tuesday, April 21st and will begin with a presentation by Jeanne McRight from Blooming Boulevards. Mark your calendars and plan to attend.

New members are warmly welcomed, and membership is open to all women of the parish ages 16 and up. For more information contact Debbie at debbie1993.cwl@gmail.com

Free Bible Study: The Gospel of Matthew

St. Matthew’s Gospel is considered the most influential and popular book among the early Christian community. St. Matthew clearly makes the case for how the long-awaited hopes of the Jewish people are being fulfilled in Jesus.

• How the Gospel of Matthew clearly makes Jesus out to be a new and greater Moses, David, Solomon, and Isaac
• The shocking paradoxes of the Sermon on the Mount and the implications of them for our spiritual life
• Aspects of Jesus’ infancy, public ministry, and last days in Jerusalem that show him to be the long-awaited fulfillment of what the priests, prophets, and kings of old hoped for

We invite you to this free four-part Bible Study in our Parish Hall, happening from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the following Thursdays: April 9th, April 16th, April 23rd, May 7th

Upcoming Parish Events… Save the dates!

• Thurs April 9 - Free Bible Study: The Gospel of Matthew, also on April 16, April 23, & May 7

• May 23 & 24 – SSVP Spring 2026 Bundle Up

• Sat June 6 – ShareLife Summer BBQ

• Sun June 7 – Corpus Christi Procession

• July 19 – 24 – Totus Tuus

Totus Tuus 2026

We are inviting children in Grades 1 – 12 to join us for Totus Tuus 2026, a Catholic summer camp happening at our parish in July! Program Dates & Cost:

Program Dates & Cost:

• Evening Program (Grades 6–12):

July 19–23, 2026,

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.,

$50 per camper

• Day Program (Grades 1–6):

July 20–24, 2026,

8:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.,

$150 per camper

Family Discount: Receive $10 off each additional child registered from the same family.

Registration closes when capacity is reached or by May 24, 2026 (whichever comes first). Register online today by visiting: www.totustuustoronto.ca/stignatiusloyola

If you have any questions and/or if you are interested in volunteering for this camp, please contact Melissa at msiuchong@archtoronto.org. We look forward to hosting your children for an unforgettable week of faith, friendship, and fun!

St. Ignatius Loyola Parish ShareLife Update

We invite you to regularly check our ShareLife thermometer, located in the parish narthex. Thanks to your generosity, we are pleased to share that we have raised $65,178.03 toward our parish goal of $288,000.00. Each contribution is more than just a number—it represents lives being changed and families being supported in their time of need. One such family is Eulogio’s.

When Eulogio learned that his wife was expecting—not one baby, but twins—his joy was overwhelming. He dreamed of raising David and Emmanuel with the same love and care he had given his firstborn, determined to provide a warm home and a hopeful future. But that dream was shaken when a devastating accident left Eulogio without work, and suddenly his family struggled to afford even the most basic necessities. Each day brought growing uncertainty, as they faced hunger and the harsh reality of the cold.

Because of your compassion, ShareLife, together with Canadian Food for Children, was able to step in and provide the support this family needed. Thanks to you, they did not face this difficult time alone. Yet many more families are still in need, and your gift to ShareLife can help fathers like Eulogio continue to care for their children and find the strength to face tomorrow with hope.

Please consider giving through the parish using a ShareLife envelope, online via our parish website, or at sharelife.org/donate. Thank you for your continued generosity and support.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP)

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul continues to help over 110 families coping with food insecurities within our parish boundaries. It is only through your generous financial assistance that we can continue to do this. We thank you for your continued support and remind you of the Poor Boxes located in the front and hall foyers. You may also donate online through our SSVP affiliated weblink: http://Canadahelps.org/en/dn/53987

Help Not Harm: Take Action to Support Bill C-218

Write your Member of Parliament Today! Visit HelpNotHarmCanada.ca You’re invited to visit HelpNotHarmCanada.ca where you can e-mail your Member of Parliament (MP), asking for their support of Bill C-218 (The Right to Recover Act), which would amend the Criminal Code to prevent Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) from being provided when mental illness is the sole underlying condition. Without this change, MAiD will be available for those suffering from mental illness alone beginning in March 2027.

Chances are you know someone struggling with mental illness — a family member, friend, or colleague. As Catholics and Canadians, we are called to offer care, hope, and protection — not death — to those who are suffering and most vulnerable. Visit HelpNotHarmCanada.ca today and ask your MP to support Bill C-218.

ARCHDIOCESE NEWS/EVENTS

2026 SPRING ACTS RETREATS 

ACTS is an acronym for:

Adoration – God’s Call, your acceptance and answer

Community – love and caring for each other

Theology – “studying” through scripture and our faith

Service – to God and His people

“Come and renew yourself spiritually, to strengthen your faith and to apply it to your daily life.”

Women's Retreat – April 16 to 19, 2026 Men's Retreat – May 21 to 24, 2026

Retreat Location: Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre - 1617 Blythe Rd., Mississauga, ON Women’s Retreat: Rosemary Shoemaker (647) 640 - 6951 or 342shoe75@gmail.com Men’s Retreat: Alex Brandolini (416) 554 - 8543 or brandolini74@gmail.com For more info, please visit: www.actscanada.org

Office of Vocations

“Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord!” Are you being called to proclaim Jesus as a priest, deacon, brother or sister? If God is calling you to serve him as a priest, deacon, brother or sister, contact Fr. Matt McCarthy, Director of Vocations, Archdiocese of Toronto at 416-968-0997 or vocations@archtoronto.org.