April 2, the day of the death of Saint John Paul II, is now civilly recognized in Canada as “Pope John Paul II Day.” This year, the 10th anniversary of the saint’s death, marked the first time for the celebration.
The Parliament of Canada last year passed Bill C-266 which received Royal Assent on December 16, 2014, recognizing Saint John Paul II as a champion of human dignity and freedom. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) joins all Canadians in honouring the memory of Pope John Paul II and celebrating this exceptional human being.
To mark the day, the Diocese of Hamilton prepared a special web page designed to promote and celebrate this commemorative day.
Because April 2 often falls close to or within Holy Week or the Octave of Easter, the Church focuses its celebrations of Saint John Paul II on October 22, his liturgical memorial which is the anniversary day of the inauguration of his pontificate.
