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2023 Annual Impact Report
Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking to us on the road, while He was opening the Scriptures to us?" 
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Greetings of peace and joy to you in this Easter season!
At the heart of the renewal is the invitation to a deeper conversion in our lives of faith, to a renewed encounter with God which can transform our lives as individuals, families, and parishes living in the Diocese of Calgary. This is the living witness of the Gospel and the ministry that Christ is entrusted to the Church, and thus, the theme for the 2023 Impact Report. “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking to us on the road, while He was opening the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32) It is through our personal encounter of Christ that we begin to see a new path in life and where we begin to see the world around us through eyes of faith. With this conviction of our Faith, we embrace our baptism in Christ, in becoming missionary disciples. In the past year, we have experienced the generosity of God’s blessings through many people’s contributions. Their personal Christian witness lived each day, their participation in the life of the Church through the parishes and diocesan programs and events, and their stewardship of the resources entrusted to them by God. As you review these pages, I acknowledge and thank you for your Christian witness of missionary discipleship. May the Lord continue to deepen our awareness of His presence as we walk together with Him, and may our eyes be opened to the depth of God’s grace and love in our lives and in our Diocese. Sincerely yours in Christ, Most Reverend William T. McGrattan Bishop of Calgary |
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We are very fortunate that with the return of people to the pews across the diocese our income has returned to near pre-COVID levels. We are very grateful for your continued generosity in support of the work of the Diocese as we seek to support our diocese’s pilgrim journey of faith.
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Working togetherWe express gratitude for your generous witness of charisms and service. The Diocese and the parishes strive to uphold a commitment to servant leadership, fostering dedication through the combined efforts of clergy, religious, lay staff and volunteers.
As of December 2023, there are 154 lay staff and 85 clergy serving in the Parishes. There are 16 lay staff in the Catholic Pastoral Centre, 23 lay staff in supporting diocesan programs, 10 clergy and 3 religious sisters. 
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Together in Action (TIA) supports pastoral outreach through diocesan, and national programs. This annual diocesan appeal invites the 68 parishes of the Diocese in fulfilling the mandate of the Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World that the local church be engaged in works of service to humanity.
In 2023, we fulfilled the commitment to raise $600,000 for the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund. This is the second year of the five-year pledge that was started in 2022 as part of the National Financial Pledge of the Bishops of Canada. The remainder of the funds raised were disbursed to the following ministries and outreach: Diocesan ministries; Vocations; Care of Retired Priests; Mission Council; Elizabeth House; St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy; Catholic Missions of Canada; Calgary Catholic Immigration Society - Refugee Program; Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute; and Canadian Catholic Conference of Bishop. To give to TIA in 2024 through online donation: catholicyyc.ca/donatetia |
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Parish Priests respond to requests for Sacraments for the sick and the dying in their parishes. Three cities in the Diocese require a system to support their ministry in the high volume of requests in hospitals, hospices, and care homes 24 hours a day. In the City of Calgary, where there are many hospitals and health facilities, dedicated hospital priest chaplains provide 24-hour on-call service for emergency calls.
In 2023, lay pastoral ministry resumed in care centres and hospitals in the Diocese. On the First Day of Advent, the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass resumed in the major hospitals of Calgary. I greatly appreciate the Diocese of Calgary for giving me the opportunity to exercise this apostolate as a priest hospital chaplain. l really love being with the sick and praying with them. l have a great passion for this aspect of priestly ministry.” ~ Fr. Gabriel Arihi As a priest, I have been tremendously blessed by the experience of bringing hope, healing, and the love of God to those who are sick.” ~ Fr. Mario Basque 
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With a steadfast commitment to spiritual ministry, our Prison Ministry volunteers devoted a total of 630 volunteer hours in 2023. This effort included leading Liturgy of the Word and Bible Study sessions, reaching an estimated 1181 inmates - men, women, and youths - in 2023.
The frequency of our programs is designed to offer consistent spiritual support in all correctional centres. Our ministers have also distributed over 4,000 rosaries and 36 new Catholic Holy Bibles, and led special liturgy services during Christmas celebrations at the Calgary Remand Centre. The impact of our ministry has been profound. Inmates have not only requested personal confessions and expressed a desire to speak with priests, but many have also shown a newfound interest in God's word, the liturgical life of the Church, and baptism into our faith. The positive feedback from chaplains, who regard our programs as outstanding among visiting agencies, coupled with the joy our volunteers experience in service, highlights the transformative power of our ministry. "Many were touched by our Catholic volunteers' dedication," says Deacon Thomas Ha, who oversees Prison Ministry volunteers in Calgary Remand Centre. In Lethbridge, Deacon Jim Manzara coordinates similar efforts at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre. |
Our prison ministry works collaboratively with Bridges of Canada, which coordinates prison chaplaincy in Canada. It is a joint effort among Christian, Muslim, and First Nation ministers, aiming to offer spiritual support to inmates.
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Feed The Hungry outreach program continues to serve downtown Calgary since its beginnings in 1993. The Diocese of Calgary, together with generous sponsors and hundreds of volunteers live by the commitment to nourish bodies and spirits, rooted in Christian service and community care.
In 2023, we served up to 350 guests each week, providing them with either a take out meal or a hearty sit-down meal topped with hamper packages to-go. It is a response to many in our community grappling not only with food insecurity but also loneliness and the need for genuine human interaction. We strive to make a difference, one meal and one heartfelt connection at a time. The Feed the Hungry program is incredibly helpful; the food is delicious, and we always feel loved and cared for. We appreciate all of the volunteers for their hard work, which keeps us coming back.” ~Joey, Guest Serving others in Feed The Hungry offers me a growing sense of the compassion and empathy Jesus models for us in His life and teachings." ~ James, Volunteer 
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Community. Sanctuary. Courage.
For 27 years Elizabeth House has been home to over 300 courageous pregnant women and mothers. In 2023, Elizabeth House was sanctuary to 30 of these women and children as they experienced the incredible transition from pregnancy to motherhood, while navigating the complexities of healing, learning and working to build the foundation of the life that they envision for their family. We are grateful for the opportunity to accompany each one of them, to witness and support this transition through our unique approach of specialised care coordination with a focus on relationship and resilience, long stay times, 24/7 professional staffing, highly skilled volunteers, and the greater community of partners, donors and stakeholders. 
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The St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy (SFXC) promotes faith, formation, and fellowship for young adults within the Diocese in outreach to university students, young professionals, and young families.
In Calgary, the priest-chaplain connects with all of the universities in the city, collaborating with Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO) and St. Mary’s University to support these young adults. An associate chaplain in Lethbridge provides the same support. SFXC has been a beacon for me ever since my conversion. It has connected me to other young adults who take their faith seriously, where I am able to grow each and every day whether it is a Sunday Social or Wednesday Adoration, it has brought me into a much closer relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church!” ~SFXC Council Member Working within SFXC has provided me with a deeper understanding of the community elements of our faith. Every week I see young adults, striving to love Christ, gather in friendship, community, and as a Christian family. This community rooted in the truth of the Church gives me a great sense of confidence for the future of the Catholic Church in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary. Already, we are seeing leaders step into their parishes with a deep sense of service to their community. " ~SFXC Staff 
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The Office of Vocations assists in the discernment of men called to the diocesan priesthood by supporting the formation and education of seminarians for ordination to the priesthood.
The Office also supports women and men called to the religious/consecrated life. In 2023, the following were some of the initiatives in support of vocations for men and women:
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Candidates for the Permanent Diaconate enter a 4-year Diocesan program of formation which assists married and single men to discern this vocation as an ordained ministry of service in the Diocese. The program integrates human, spiritual, theological and pastoral elements in order to assist candidates in identifying their vocation as Christ the Servant. The academic and pastoral dimensions of the program are offered in collaboration with St. Mary’s University and the participation of diocesan priests and deacons.
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Diocesan priests receive a monthly salary with deductions for taxes, CPP, and EI. They join the diocesan pension plan through a monthly contribution which is matched by their parish or by the Diocese.
Upon retiring, most priests continue in ministry by replacing in parishes when needed. The Diocese provides priests with various options for their residence in retirement. Some live independently providing for their own living accommodation, some live in parish rectories, and some live in the Dorchester Square in downtown Calgary. Retired priests that require more care due to health and age may choose to reside in the St. Jean Vianney section at Providence Care Centre. The monthly payment for residing at Dorchester and Providence are lower for retired priests with the remainder of the costs covered by the Diocese. It is important to care for the priests who have dedicated their lives to service in our Diocese. |
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The Mission Council coordinates requests for financial support of missionary outreach projects at diocesan, national, and international levels.
The Council aids the faithful in recognizing their call to missionary discipleship in two primary ways: first, through personal witness of faith, and second, by committing to stewardship and promoting the integral human development of individuals and communities. In the Diocese of Calgary, the Home Mission encompasses the four First Nations’ Reserves. Among these, three churches have their own parish priests, administration, parish council, and various ministries. The remaining church operates as a mission under the auspices of a city parish. This year, the Mission Council is supporting three international projects. |
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Mission Mexico is a diocesan outreach by Catholics of southern Alberta to some of Mexico's poorest people. Founded in the year 2000, it currently focuses on health and education projects, as well as other emergency needs, among the impoverished peoples of three indigenous cultures in "La Montaña" (the mountains) of the southern State of Guerrero, Mexico.
Read Mike MacDonald's stories and posts for Mission Mexico
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In October 2023, Bishop McGrattan invited the whole Diocese to a Pastoral Renewal “You are called. You matter. You belong.” It is an invitation to all the faithful to renew and strengthen our commitment as individuals, parishes, and as a diocese - to live the life that Christ calls us to in the midst of our world.
“We respond to His call through our baptism, our personal witness of the Faith and our desire to participate in the mission that Christ entrusted to the Church,” shares the Bishop in his letter. To find more information about the Pastoral Renewal action items, process, and timeline, visit catholicyyca.ca/renewal Renewal Gathering in fall 2023Almost 1,000 participants joined four kick-off Renewal Gatherings across the diocese in November 2023. The spirit at each gathering was hopeful, and there was an overall excitement for renewal. We are filled with sincere gratitude for each host parish—Mary Mother of the Redeemer in Calgary, St. Francis de Sales in High River, Holy Family in Medicine Hat, and All Saints Parish in Lethbridge—who went above and beyond with their hospitality and support. Read more
Advent/Christmas 2023
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I’m called to re-engage my family, follow up on my experiences with the Word of God and dig deeper. And in invigorating my students to start faith conversations at home." (High River) |
We need to let others tell their stories first before telling ours. We need to embody the heart and mind of Christ more in our response to others." (High River) |
I feel the whole evening stirred a desire to strive for holiness; serve with joy; to evangelize by listening first..." (Medicine Hat) |
I have to make a commitment and open to personal renewal. Back off my personal biases – let God decide if His Church is ready.” (Calgary) |
The conversation with the tool of the story opened our hearts and minds to be recharged and feel excited to journey forward." (Lethbridge) |
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Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give, and not to count the cost, to fight, and not to heed the wounds, to toil, and not to seek for rest, to labor, and not to ask for reward, except that of knowing that we are doing your will.” ~ Saint Ignatius Loyola |
You are now able to donate to these special collections online under its heading on the giving page of the Diocese.
Thank You Volunteers & Donors!
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On behalf of the countless lives enriched by the ministries, services, programs, and outreach of our parishes and the Diocese, we offer our profound thanks!
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