The Year 2012 is the 155th anniversary of the founding of our parish family. Much has been accomplished in God’s grace, through the intercession of Our Lady of the Visitation, by those who have worked together within our parish family. To mark our anniversary five major events will take place:
1. Lenten Speakers Series: During the Lord’s Day Weekends of the Season of Lent various guest preachers will be invited to make the entire Lenten Season - a Parish Mission. The guest priests will include Monsignor Vincent Kerr, Chancellor of Hamilton Diocese. Father Ken LeBlanc of the Legionaries of Christ. Father Peter Amszej, Professor at St Peter’s Seminary, London. And on the weekend of March 4/5, 2012, Bishop Douglas Crosby, Bishop of Hamilton. It will be a spiritually blessed Lent for our parish!
2.Taste of St Mary’s Dinner: We will be hosting a parish wide dinner - potluck! It will be an opportunity for all in the parish to bring your favourite dishes, cultural specialities and unique family recipes to the largest Potluck Dinner in Hespeler ever. Details will be coming- get your recipes ready!
3. Visitation Garden: We have engaged local Catholic artist Timothy Schmalz to create for us a unique design called "Our Lady of Visitation Garden". It will include a life size sculpture cast in bronze metal of the Visitation. It will be placed in the garden area between the Parish Centre and Church and will surely become a focal point of parish life. It will also include a monument to the Gift of Life. Please watch for details and ways you can help with this project.
4. Parish Pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes, Rome and Assisi in October 2012. We will embark upon an exciting parish pilgrimage; watch for details.
5. Anniversary Mass. We will conclude our Anniversary year with a special Anniversary Weekend on December 8/9th with Father Thomas Roscia, CSB, President of Salt and Light Television, as our guest. It will also mark the 10th anniversary of the founding of our Adoration Chapel and special activities are planned for December 8th .
May all that we will do together during our 155th Anniversary Year be only the genesis of what we will be: A Home Where There is Something for Everyone; a Family of Faith that Remembers our Past, Celebrates our Present and Believes in the Providence of God for our Future.