Sacred ministers, those who serve the spiritual needs of others in the person of Christ, in the Catholic Church are ordained by a bishop and by means of a special sacrament called Holy Orders, which creates the hierarchy of deacon, priest and bishop.

This sacrament can be received only once, but a man may also be ordained to a higher order up to the third degree. A man must first be ordained a deacon before being ordained a priest, and he must be ordained a deacon, and then a priest before being ordained a bishop.

Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament of Holy Orders at the Last Supper simultaneously with His institution of the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. In order to be able to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ, you need priests who have been given this power by virtue of their ordination.

If you are a single, baptized man and wonder if God may be calling you to be His priest, please contact our Hamilton diocese or refer to the diocesan vocations website at  https://hamiltondiocese.com/

If you are a single or married baptized man who would like to know more about becoming a permanent deacon, you can contact the Rector at the parish office.

Altar Servers – Youth

We are pleased that you wish to become an Altar Server for St. Mary’s Parish .  This is an important ministry which enhances the celebration of Mass.  Altar Serving is one of the ways our young people can begin to live out their Baptism promises by serving others and witnessing to their faith in Jesus Christ. By serving at the Altar and assisting the priest, Altar Servers have the opportunity to celebrate the Mass with more active participation. In our parish, any boy or girl between grades 4-12 can become an Altar Server.  The Ministry of Altar Serving happens on a rotating basis. Each server is provided with a schedule and proper training. Scheduling is flexible.

Your Responsibilities will include:

Filling in a volunteer application form first and returning it to Pastoral Associate.  You have an interview with the Pastoral Associate before you start. This Position is a Low Risk position; therefore, a police check is not needed.

Performs special tasks with dignity and otherwise participates fully as an exemplary member of the assembly.

Assists with the preparation of the sanctuary and sacred vessels before the Liturgy and their proper care afterward.

Uses and cares for various items used in the Liturgy (cross, candles, incense, sacramental, etc.).

Prepares altar or assists in doing so before the presentation of the gifts.

Assists with books and other altar accessories as needed.

Responds to special circumstances that may arise during the Liturgy.

Exhibits responsibility by serving when scheduled and taking part in rehearsals.

If interested, please contact the Parish Office at 905-527-4216 or

 email: stmaryhamilton@hamiltondiocese.com