

Stella Maris Parish will host a Memorial Mass for Sr. Joanna Madu, EHJ on April 8 at 7:00pm. The Mass will take place at St. Michael’s Church, 14 St. Michael’s Ave in Halifax. Archbishop Dunn presiding. A collection will be taken at the Mass to help her religious community with the medical and funeral costs.
Sr. Joana died in her homeland, Nigeria, following a cancer diagnosis in July 2024. Following treatments in Halifax, Sr. Joana travelled home to be with her family and her religious community.
Sr. Joana served as a Hospital Chaplain for 24 years; for a time at Dartmouth General and most recently at the Halifax Infirmary site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre. She was also a certified CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) instructor for many years, sharing her pastoral wisdom with many.
All are invited to keep Sr. Joana’s family and her religious community in your prayers.
May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen
Decrees of Our New Parishes
You can find a list of
Decrees of Our New Parishes
under the "Parishes" tab and click on "Our New Parishes"
or click here.
Archdiocesan Crest
Chancery Contact
Deacon Robert Doyle
Chancellor
(902) 429-9800 ext. 307
Archdiocesan Funeral Guidelines
Archbishop Mancini in collaboration with the clergy, religious and lay faithful of our Church of Halifax-Yarmouth prepared the document on Catholic funerals in the Archdiocese of Halifax Yarmouth. The document is titled "Catholic Funerals: Theological and Pastoral Considerations".
The document touches on the frequent experience in our faith communities that funerals draw people with diverse connections to the Catholic faith or faith in general. Liturgical options, specifically the separation of the Funeral Rite (Order of Christian Funerals) and the celebration of the Eucharist, can facilitate a fuller involvement of mourners at Catholic funerals. As well new opportunities are presented to evangelize and catechized a Christian understanding of life, death and resurrection. For the faithful the opportunity to celebrate Eucharist at a memorial Mass within a short time of the funeral liturgy can be much more meaningful experience of communion.
This guidelines addresses issues like eulogies, use of Christian symbols at funerals, cremation, and the celebration of the funeral rite at funeral parlors as well as other points to assist parish personnel in the ministry to those who are grieving.
download: English (pdf) French (pdf)