Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth

08/14/2026

Thank you to everyone who has given their support to the Emergency Shelter Project since it's inception in 2021! Find our 2025 Project Report at: https://canva.link/4a9gf3xyn137ub7

As of the end of 2025, the Archdiocese has built and managed 25 shelter units, with 7 now serving in pallet shelter villages and the remaining 18 operated and managed by our Shelter Coordinator and our amazing Parish Teams. Your support makes this work possible, THANK YOU 💜

08/11/2026

Annual Masses for the Faithful Departed

Each year during the summer the Archdiocesan Cemeteries Office of Halifax offers Masses for the Faithful Departed. These Masses happen at our three cemeteries: Gate of Heaven, Mount Olivet, and Holy Cross and offer people the opportunity to remember and honour their loved ones who are laid to rest in these grounds. All are welcome.

The schedule of Masses is:

Gate of Heaven Cemetery: Wednesday, August 19 at 7:00 pm
114 Sackville Drive, Lr. Sackville
This Mass is outdoors. Please bring your own lawn chair.
In the event of rain, the Mass will be held at Saint John Vianney Church, 4 Beaverbank Rd., Lower Sackville

Mount Olivet Cemetery: Saturday, August 22 at 10:00 am
7076 Mumford Rd., Halifax
This Mass is outdoors. Please bring your own lawn chair.
In the event of rain, the Mass will be held at Saint Agnes Church, 6903 Mumford Rd.

Holy Cross Cemetery: Tuesday, September 15 at 5:00 pm
This Mass takes place in Our Lady of Sorrows Church (The Chapel Built in a Day) on the cemetery grounds.

Archdiocese of Halifax Yarmouth

08/06/2026

The Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth is excited to announce the launch of our Youth Showcase: Creative Reflections, with the chance to win a $200 gift card! We are asking for youth ages 19 and under to help us answer the question “How has our faith community helped us through stress, pressure, loss, or difficult moments?”, using an original created work. Answers can range from artwork, poetry, written testimonies, music, and more! We invite youth to reflect on the role that their faith community has played in their lives.

Here are some questions to guide your reflections:

· How has your faith helped you as a student? Have you ever prayed before a big test or assignment?

· How have the friends you’ve made through church supported you in your life?

· What is your favourite part of Mass? What do you find the most calming?

Your responses will be posted on our website, social media sites, and shared as part of the Finding Rest: 2026 Archdiocesan Annual Appeal. We are very excited to share your thoughts and reflections on how your faith community has supported you! Along with your work, your first name, age, and parish may be shared. As the submissions will be posted to our wider community, a signed permission and distribution consent form is required for submissions. For youth under 18, this will also require a parent’s signature.

Completed submissions, with a signed permission and distribution consent form can be emailed to [email protected].

All completed submissions will be entered in a draw for a $200 gift card (one entry per person). The use of Generative AI and plagiarism is not permitted.

Questions? Please email [email protected] or call 902-429-9800 ext. 125.

Submissions will be accepted until October 1st, 2026. We look forward to seeing your creative reflections!

Permission form at: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=FV40ZUbDq0y7FHn1G_OEp2Jxl-AT-opJn5BG-KYXX_1UMjNJVUxKVDdTSlBRQkQ3UzM4Rzg2M1c2Ti4u

08/05/2026

Last week, the Archdiocese received the sad news that Fr. Owen Connolly died Tuesday, July 28, 2026. He was 87 years old.

Fr. Owen was well known and well loved by many across the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth. He was ordained in 1966 in Sydney, Cape Breton and served in a number of parishes across the diocese as well in the hospitals as a chaplain. In his retirement years he returned to hospital chaplaincy serving at the QEII hospitals as well as providing parish support to a number of parishes in HRM.

You can read his obituary here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/en-ca/obituaries/halifax-ns/walter-connolly-12986484

Below are the details for the visitation and funeral.

Visitation
Monday, August 10 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm
JA Snow's Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Dr, Halifax.
Vigil Prayers will begin at 7:00pm will be led by Fr. Jim Richards.

Funeral Mass
Tuesday, August 11 at 10:00am
St. Agnes Church, 6903 Mumford Rd.
The celebrant will be Archbishop Brian Joseph Dunn and Archbishop Emeritus Martin Currie will offer the homily.

We pray for the repose of the soul of Fr. Owen and for comfort for his family and friends as they mourn.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let Your perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Amen.

07/21/2026

**Update**The Archdiocesan website is back up and running! Thank you for your patience!

PLEASE NOTE: The Archdiocesan website is not working and is offline. We are working on a fix, however, it may take longer than we anticipate. We will let you know when the website is back up and running.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Thank you for your patience and understanding!

05/26/2026

Spend part of your summer discovering the beauty and history of Saint Mary's Cathedral Basilica⛪

Join us for our free guided Summer Tours to explore the maritime heritage architecture & rich history of one of Halifax’s most treasured landmarks. Whether you’re visiting the city or have lived here for years, there’s always something new to discover!

All are welcome, book a time for a group or drop-in at: https://stmcathedral.com/pages/book-a-tour

Photo Credit: Maria O' Brien

05/26/2026

Many of us carefully plan how we invest our resources, seeking growth, stability, and wise stewardship. Yet as people of faith, we are also called to consider how our financial decisions reflect what matters most to us.

One meaningful way to bring your investments into closer alignment with your values is through the gift of securities. By donating publicly traded securities, such as stocks or mutual funds, you can transform investment growth into meaningful impact for the ministry and mission of your local church.

A gift of securities is not only a powerful expression of generosity, but it can also be a thoughtful financial decision. In Canada, donating appreciated securities directly to a registered charity often allows you to avoid capital gains tax on the increase in value, while receiving a charitable tax receipt for the full market value of the securities. Listen to Father Brian MacMillan share the theological reasons behind giving and his experience with gifting stock to his church in the video below.

Want to learn more? Contact our Development Coordinator at 902-429-9800 ext. 125 or email [email protected]

04/27/2026

What's Inside?
Sharing our 2025 Impact Report

The Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth remains committed to nurturing faith, supporting our communities, and advancing our mission to share Christ’s love. Our 2025 Impact Report highlights some of the remarkable pastoral work made possible through your generous contributions to our 2025 Archdiocesan Annual Collection, BOLD IN FAITH.

In 2025, we moved to a single annual collection that supports all Archdiocesan initiatives, including Formation, Community, and Mission. This unified approach allows us to respond more effectively to emerging needs while continuing to sustain and grow the ministries that serve our parishes and people. Together, we continue on a shared journey of faith and service, empowering ministries, enriching educational and formation programs, and strengthening parish life across the Archdiocese.

Through your generosity, we are able to spread hope, provide essential resources, and foster spiritual growth in meaningful and lasting ways. As we reflect on the past year, we celebrate the transformative impact of your support, along with the faithful dedication of our clergy, staff, volunteers, and lay leaders who bring our mission to life each day. Thank you!

Your support of the Archdiocesan Annual Collection helps build a stronger, more vibrant faith community throughout the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth.

Read the report at: https://canva.link/m84rzl3ssq7tp7l