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<channel><title><![CDATA[ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF CALGARY - Blog]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog]]></link><description><![CDATA[Blog]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 15:28:20 -0700</pubDate><generator>Weebly</generator><item><title><![CDATA[A seed planted in the Himalayas]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/a-seed-planted-in-the-himalayas]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/a-seed-planted-in-the-himalayas#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 04:59:43 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[priesthood]]></category><category><![CDATA[vocations]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/a-seed-planted-in-the-himalayas</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						  For Fr. Nathan Siray, a pivotal moment in his journey to the priesthood came in 2001, when he was invited to take part in a trekking experience in the Himalayas of Nepal.&ldquo;It was there that I think, unexpectedly, the Lord was beginning to shape my heart,&rdquo; he recalled.&ldquo;I was very struck by the simplicity of life in the mountains,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and it helped me to realize that it&rsquo;s not in the acquisition of a lot of wealth and material t [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:67.078651685393%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">For Fr. Nathan Siray, a pivotal moment in his journey to the priesthood came in 2001, when he was invited to take part in a trekking experience in the Himalayas of Nepal.<br /><br />&ldquo;It was there that I think, unexpectedly, the Lord was beginning to shape my heart,&rdquo; he recalled.<br /><br />&ldquo;I was very struck by the simplicity of life in the mountains,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and it helped me to realize that it&rsquo;s not in the acquisition of a lot of wealth and material things that you&rsquo;ll find your joy, but rather trying to find God&rsquo;s goodness and what He would provide.&rdquo;<br /><br />The experience also stirred something deeper in him. While the people in that region of the Himalayas were Buddhist, he was struck by the visible way they lived their religion.&nbsp;<br /><br />That witness led him to consider a question about his own faith: &ldquo;Was I going to have a greater ownership of my own Catholic faith, begin to practice it with more fidelity, and really make it my own?&rdquo;<br /><br />Looking back, Fr. Nathan sees that moment as part of the Lord&rsquo;s quiet preparation.<br /><br />&ldquo;I believe that it was really from that moment that the Lord was placing a seed of vocation in my heart,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;so that when I was at University in McGill and received a very definitive call to begin to discern the priesthood, my heart was open and I was ready to begin to walk with the Lord.&rdquo;<br /><br />Today, Fr. Nathan serves the Diocese of Calgary as Judicial Vicar and Chancellor, pastor of St. Anthony&rsquo;s Parish in Calgary, and diocesan Master of Ceremonies.<br />&#8203;<br />With his own story in mind, he invites others to come to the <a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/vocationsrally.html" target="_blank">Vocations Rally</a>&nbsp;(Sunday, May 31, 2026 at St. Michael Catholic Community, Calgary) as an opportunity to learn more about vocations and where the Lord may be calling us to come and follow Him.</div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:32.921348314607%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/screenshot-2026-05-17-at-11-06-08-pm_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph">Watch in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1006100538485799" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYbaxeXC9z2/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[What is my vocation?]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/what-is-my-vocation]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/what-is-my-vocation#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 04:14:17 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Catholic Schools]]></category><category><![CDATA[Consecrated Life]]></category><category><![CDATA[Religious Life]]></category><category><![CDATA[vocations]]></category><category><![CDATA[Youth and Young Adults]]></category><category><![CDATA[Youth Ministry]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/what-is-my-vocation</guid><description><![CDATA[       The Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, who run a day care for young children in Calgary, recently welcomed two visiting Sisters from their convent in the United States: Sr. Charbel Joseph, their Vocation Director, and Sr. Felicity, her companion.Sr. Charbel comes annually to Calgary for vocation promotion for her community and visits schools to meet with students to help them respond to God&rsquo;s call in their own lives.&nbsp;This year, these two Sisters visited several sch [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/published/2026-op-visits-school-8.jpeg?1779078420" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">The Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, who run a day care for young children in Calgary, recently welcomed two visiting Sisters from their convent in the United States: Sr. Charbel Joseph, their Vocation Director, and Sr. Felicity, her companion.<br /><br />Sr. Charbel comes annually to Calgary for vocation promotion for her community and visits schools to meet with students to help them respond to God&rsquo;s call in their own lives.&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">This year, these two Sisters visited several schools in Calgary and Strathmore to speak about vocations and discernment. We were warmly welcomed by the staff and administration of the schools. Our only regret is that we could not visit all the Catholic high schools in our Diocese.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)"></span>Their presentations were engaging and personal, as they shared their own vocation stories and responded practically to questions from both students and teachers.&nbsp;<span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">A video by Fr. Mike Schmitz, &ldquo;</span><a href="https://youtu.be/vJz9PbakIzY?si=kx5zBPHCJZsm9UrD" target="_blank">What&rsquo;s My Vocation</a><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">?,&rdquo; was also helpful in explaining the various types of vocations in the Church.</span></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:34.943820224719%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/published/2026-op-visits-school-7.jpeg?1779078567" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/2026-op-visits-school-2_orig.jpeg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:65.056179775281%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">The visiting Sisters also offered a day retreat for young women called <em>Saturday with the Sisters</em>, providing time for prayer, reflection, and conversation about identity, vocation, and life with God.<br /><br />&ldquo;Fr. John did a wonderful job with his talk,&rdquo; one of the local Dominican Sisters, Sr. Wenancja, shared. &ldquo;He was especially engaging and attentive with the young women who attended.&rdquo;&nbsp;<br /><br />Fr. John reflected on what it means to live as daughters of the Father, using Proverbs 31:10&ndash;31 as a foundation. He invited the young women to look beyond external qualities and to consider the deeper interior virtues God desires to cultivate in them.&nbsp;&ldquo;He emphasized the interior, righteous dispositions we are called to cultivate as women, virtues that go deeper than the external qualities Proverbs names as &lsquo;charm&rsquo; and &lsquo;beauty&rsquo;,&rdquo; Sr. Wenancja explained.<br />&#8203;<br />Fr. John also reflected on the Gospel passage where Jesus says, &ldquo;Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?&rdquo; His point was that we truly belong to Jesus when we live out our daughterhood in the Father.<br /><br />Thank you to the Dominican Sisters for their efforts in raising awareness and understanding about vocations among our young people in the Diocese. Their school visits and retreat offered students and young women a meaningful opportunity to ask questions, hear personal witness, and consider how God may be calling them in their own lives.<br /><br />Another opportunity to explore vocations is coming soon.&nbsp;The <a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/vocationsrally.html" target="_blank">Vocations Rally</a> on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at St. Michael Catholic Community in Calgary, beginning with Mass with Bishop McGrattan and featuring keynote speakers Fr. Bryan Duggan and Michelle Diment, <span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">a Q and A panel of vocations,&nbsp;</span>table displays, and opportunities to learn more about vocations and discernment. All are welcome!&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd91IcmQ1iPW4ZHECGFixUkmSMEZWnhlQu49Kdfk8lQylrrwQ/viewform" target="_blank">Register here.</a></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div><div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div class="paragraph">Written by Sr. Dianne Turner, OSE for Faithfully. Photos courtesy of Sr. Dianne.&nbsp;</div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Pope's Pastoral Works]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/the-popes-pastoral-works]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/the-popes-pastoral-works#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 03:55:11 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[CCCB]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fundraising]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV]]></category><category><![CDATA[Social Justice]]></category><category><![CDATA[vatican]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/the-popes-pastoral-works</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						  A gift to the Pope&rsquo;s Pastoral Works may begin in a parish pew, but its reach extends far beyond our Diocese. Through this national collection, Catholics across Canada share in the Holy Father&rsquo;s care for the universal Church, helping support his pastoral mission and works of mercy for communities facing hardship, crisis, and urgent need.The Pope&rsquo;s Pastoral Works is one of three national collections established by the Bishops of Canada in 1971. This c [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:77.52808988764%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">A gift to the <strong><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/popepastoralworks.html" target="_blank">Pope&rsquo;s Pastoral Works</a></strong> may begin in a parish pew, but its reach extends far beyond our Diocese. Through this national collection, Catholics across Canada share in the Holy Father&rsquo;s care for the universal Church, helping support his pastoral mission and works of mercy for communities facing hardship, crisis, and urgent need.<br /><br />The Pope&rsquo;s Pastoral Works is one of three national collections established by the Bishops of Canada in 1971. This collection supports the Holy Father&rsquo;s charitable and pastoral outreach, allowing Catholics to take part in the Church&rsquo;s care for people and communities in need throughout the world.<br />&#8203;<br />That support makes a real difference. Through the Pope&rsquo;s charitable works, assistance can reach those affected by war, famine, natural disasters, poverty, displacement, and other urgent situations. It is one concrete way Catholics in southern Alberta can be united with the wider Church in bringing the compassion of Christ beyond our own parish and diocesan boundaries.<br /><br />&#8203;Some parishioners may have missed the second collection at Mass this Ascension of the Lord Sunday. Those who would still like to give are invited to learn more and make a donation online.<ul><li>Give online at <a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/popepastoralworks.html" target="_blank">catholicyyc.ca/popepastoralworks</a></li></ul></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:22.47191011236%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-hairline " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a href='https://www.catholicyyc.ca/popepastoralworks.html' target='_blank'> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/published/pope-leo-xiv-2026-ppw.jpg?1779077105" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Inspired by St. James the Great]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/a-young-mentors-journey-of-faith]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/a-young-mentors-journey-of-faith#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 19:46:56 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Discipleship]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parish life]]></category><category><![CDATA[Prayer]]></category><category><![CDATA[Youth and Young Adults]]></category><category><![CDATA[Youth Ministry]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/a-young-mentors-journey-of-faith</guid><description><![CDATA[When James first moved to Canada from Sri Lanka three and a half years ago, he had to adjust quickly to a new country, culture, and way of life. &ldquo;Moving to a new country meant leaving behind familiarity, my home, my culture, and the life I once knew, and stepping into something completely new where I had to learn, adapt, and grow quickly,&rdquo; he shared.Now a Grade 12 student at St. Mary&rsquo;s High School, James serves as a mentor in the Sacraments Preparation program at St. Mary&rsquo [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">When James first moved to Canada from Sri Lanka three and a half years ago, he had to adjust quickly to a new country, culture, and way of life. &ldquo;Moving to a new country meant leaving behind familiarity, my home, my culture, and the life I once knew, and stepping into something completely new where I had to learn, adapt, and grow quickly,&rdquo; he shared.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">Now a Grade 12 student at St. Mary&rsquo;s High School, James serves as a mentor in the Sacraments Preparation program at St. Mary&rsquo;s Cathedral. He also volunteers with youth, at the hospital, and at church as an altar server, experiences that have helped shape the person he is becoming.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">His faith journey, however, did not begin with certainty.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&ldquo;When I was younger, I didn&rsquo;t know what faith really was, so I just went for the sake of going to church,&rdquo; he said.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">Over time, through both hardship and service, his understanding of faith deepened.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">One of the most difficult moments in his life came when he was diagnosed with cancer. &ldquo;It was a time filled with fear, uncertainty, and a lot of unanswered questions,&rdquo; James shared. &ldquo;There were moments when I didn&rsquo;t understand why things were happening the way they were, and it tested me in ways I never expected.&rdquo;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">The experience affected him physically, mentally, and emotionally. It also became a turning point in his relationship with God. &ldquo;During that period, I began to see things differently,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I started to appreciate life more, and I became more aware of the people who were supporting me, my family, doctors, and community.&rdquo;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">More importantly, James began to recognize God&rsquo;s presence in his life in a deeper way. A verse that became especially meaningful to him was from St. Paul&rsquo;s Letter to the Philippians: &ldquo;I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.&rdquo;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&ldquo;This became something I truly understood through experience, not just words,&rdquo; he said.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">Looking back now, James can see how the Gifts of the Holy Spirit were already at work in his life, even before he fully understood them. &ldquo;When I was going through cancer treatment and facing fear, uncertainty, and difficult days, I experienced the gift of fortitude, the strength to keep going even when I felt weak,&rdquo; he said.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">He remembers moments when he wanted to give up emotionally and physically but somehow continued to find the courage to move forward one day at a time. &ldquo;When my family and I moved from Sri Lanka to Canada, I experienced the gift of wisdom and understanding,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Adapting to a new country, culture, and way of life was not easy, and there were times when I felt lost or disconnected.&rdquo;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">Through that experience, he learned to grow, listen, and become more understanding toward others who may also feel alone or different. Through volunteering with youth, helping in the community, serving at church, and spending time with people going through struggles of their own, James shared that he also began to understand the gift of counsel.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&ldquo;I learned how to support people, encourage them, and simply be present for them when they need someone,&rdquo; he said.</span><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">He has also learned that the Holy Spirit does not always work in dramatic ways. &ldquo;Sometimes the gifts appear quietly, through patience during difficult times, through kindness when someone needs encouragement, or through the strength to continue even when life feels unfair.&rdquo;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">For young people preparing for Confirmation, James hopes they understand that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are not simply ideas to memorize for a class. &ldquo;They are gifts that can truly shape your life if you are open to them.&rdquo;</span><br /></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:61.685393258427%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">For James, Confirmation is more than a sacrament to receive or a step to complete. It is a personal decision to take ownership of one&rsquo;s faith and to live it out in everyday life.&nbsp;&ldquo;It is about being open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and trying to reflect that through our actions,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Last year, James chose St. James the Great as his Confirmation Saint because he saw in him courage, faith, and action.&nbsp;&ldquo;He didn&rsquo;t just believe, he followed, even when it was difficult,&rdquo; James said. &ldquo;That inspires me not to just talk about faith, but to live it out.&rdquo;<br /><br />That is one of the reasons being part of the Sacraments Preparation program means so much to him. As a mentor, James hopes to help students feel comfortable being themselves, asking questions, and growing in their faith at their own pace.&nbsp;&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t see myself as someone who has all the answers, but as someone who is still growing,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I think that&rsquo;s important, because it allows me to connect with students in a real and honest way.&rdquo;</div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:38.314606741573%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/stjamesthegreat_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">San Giacomo Maggiore (Saint James the Greater) by the 17th-century Italian painter Giuseppe Vermiglio.</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">His own experience has taught him that faith does not mean never struggling. It does not mean having every answer or pretending that everything is fine. &ldquo;One of the biggest lessons I&rsquo;ve learned through my life is that when life becomes difficult, painful, or uncertain, it is very easy to question God and even question your own faith,&rdquo; James said.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">He knows what it is like to ask difficult questions.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&ldquo;Why is this happening to me?&rdquo;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&ldquo;Where is God in all of this?&rdquo;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&ldquo;Will things ever get better?&rdquo;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve asked those questions too many times,&rdquo; he said.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">But through those questions, James began to understand faith in a deeper way. &ldquo;Faith is not truly tested during the easy moments of life,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Faith is tested during the moments when we feel lost, afraid, or overwhelmed.&rdquo;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">Trusting God during those times, he admits, is not always easy. &ldquo;I learned that trusting God does not mean having all the answers or pretending everything is okay,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Sometimes trust simply means choosing not to give up, even when life feels uncertain and difficult.&rdquo;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">Through illness, immigration, service, and mentoring others, James has come to understand that faith grows with us. It can be tested in painful moments, strengthened through community, and expressed in quiet acts of love.&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&ldquo;Looking back now, I realize that some of the hardest moments in my life became the moments that strengthened my faith the most.&rdquo;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">For James, faith is still growing. And as he continues to serve, mentor, and walk with others, he trusts that God and the Holy Spirit will continue to guide him. &ldquo;Faith is not about never struggling,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Faith is about continuing to trust, continuing to grow, and continuing to move forward, even during the moments when life feels hardest.&rdquo;</span></div>  <div><div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div class="paragraph">Submitted by St. Mary's Cathedral Sacrament Preparation team.&nbsp;</div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Leo from Chicago - Documentary]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/leo-from-chicago-documentary]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/leo-from-chicago-documentary#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 07:33:34 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV]]></category><category><![CDATA[priesthood]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/leo-from-chicago-documentary</guid><description><![CDATA[A Vatican Media documentary traces the roots of Robert Francis Prevost in the United States, from his childhood in Dolton to the schools, parishes, and communities that shaped him. Featuring memories from his brothers, classmates, confreres, teachers, and longtime friends, the documentary offers a personal look at the life and faith of the man now known to the world as Pope Leo XIV.        [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">A Vatican Media documentary traces the roots of Robert Francis Prevost in the United States, from his childhood in Dolton to the schools, parishes, and communities that shaped him. Featuring memories from his brothers, classmates, confreres, teachers, and longtime friends, the documentary offers a personal look at the life and faith of the man now known to the world as Pope Leo XIV.</div>  <div class="wsite-youtube" style="margin-bottom:10px;margin-top:10px;"><div class="wsite-youtube-wrapper wsite-youtube-size-auto wsite-youtube-align-center"> <div class="wsite-youtube-container">  <iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/nYzssRwE7Gg?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fr. Derek brings a Catholic voice to The Mix]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/fr-derek-remus-joins-season-2-of-the-mix]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/fr-derek-remus-joins-season-2-of-the-mix#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 06:50:52 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Evangelization]]></category><category><![CDATA[Interfaith]]></category><category><![CDATA[priesthood]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/fr-derek-remus-joins-season-2-of-the-mix</guid><description><![CDATA[        	 		 			 				 					 						          					 								 					 						  Fr. Derek Remus is returning as a panelist on Season 2 of The Mix: Religion Within Culture, a YES TV program that brings together religious leaders to discuss current events and important cultural issues from the perspective of faith.The new season premiered on Sunday, May 10, with Fr. Derek appearing in the majority of episodes. YES TV describes The Mix as a show featuring &ldquo;a diverse panel of religious thought leader [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/screenshot-2026-05-11-at-12-57-50-am_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:25.280898876404%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/screenshot-2026-05-11-at-12-54-10-am_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:74.719101123596%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Fr. Derek Remus is returning as a panelist on Season 2 of <a href="https://yestv.com/show/the-mix/" target="_blank">The Mix: Religion Within Culture</a>, a YES TV program that brings together religious leaders to discuss current events and important cultural issues from the perspective of faith.<br /><br />The new season premiered on Sunday, May 10, with Fr. Derek appearing in the majority of episodes. YES TV describes <em>The Mix</em> as a show featuring &ldquo;a diverse panel of religious thought leaders&rdquo; engaging questions at the intersection of religion and culture.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">Full episodes are available on Yes TV's streaming channel, which can be accessed by going to&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)"><a href="https://yestv.com/show/the-mix/" target="_blank">YESTV.com</a></span><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&nbsp;and selecting "STREAMING NOW" (top right / green icon). You will then need to set up a free account and scroll down and look for "The Mix" or type "The Mix" in the search box.&nbsp;</span></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[God had been pursuing me]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/god-had-been-pursuing-me]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/god-had-been-pursuing-me#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 06:07:42 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Evangelization]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pastoral Renewal]]></category><category><![CDATA[Testimony]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/god-had-been-pursuing-me</guid><description><![CDATA[       Michelle once asked God to prove He was real. What she did not realize then was that God had already been pursuing her.&#8203;At last month&rsquo;s Diocesan Renewal Conference "Evangelization at the Heart of Renewal," held Apr 17 and 18 at St. Michael Catholic Community, Michelle responded to the call to share her testimony after hearing Bishop Scott McCaig speak on evangelization and the importance of sharing how God has worked in our lives.&nbsp;&#8203;Michelle, a parishioner at St. Bon [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/god-had-been-pursuing-me_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Michelle once asked God to prove He was real. What she did not realize then was that God had already been pursuing her.<br /><br />&#8203;At last month&rsquo;s Diocesan Renewal Conference "Evangelization at the Heart of Renewal," held Apr 17 and 18 at St. Michael Catholic Community, Michelle responded to the call to share her testimony after hearing Bishop Scott McCaig speak on evangelization and the importance of sharing how God has worked in our lives.&nbsp;<br /><br />&#8203;Michelle, a parishioner at St. Bonaventure Parish in Calgary, had grown up Catholic. Her family was prayerful, faithful, and active in the life of the Church. But as a child, she struggled to understand why any of it mattered.<br /><br />&ldquo;I came from a really good Catholic family, very prayerful and always talked about God,&rdquo; she recalled. &ldquo;I think I had a rebellious spirit when I was a kid.&rdquo;<br /><br />While her family loved going to Mass and taking part in &ldquo;all these extra things,&rdquo; Michelle often found herself asking why.<br /><br />She had questions about God, the Church, and Jesus, but felt that the answers she received did not fully satisfy her.<br /><br />&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t understand anything about the Catholic Church,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;And me being a kid, I thought I knew everything.&rdquo;<br /><br />Eventually, Michelle drifted from the practice of the faith. She stopped going to church regularly and began living what she described as a secular life. She explored New Age spirituality and considered herself a &ldquo;spiritual person,&rdquo; but something was still missing.<br /><br />&ldquo;At some point I realized that it was unsatisfying, not really knowing if God was real or not,&rdquo; she said.<br /><br />In that uncertainty, Michelle remembers praying honestly: &ldquo;If you&rsquo;re real, show me. Prove it to me that you&rsquo;re real.&rdquo;<br /><br />Since Catholicism was all she had ever known, she decided to give the Church one real chance. She began going back to Mass, even if at first it was &ldquo;a little bit unwillingly.&rdquo; Then, during the pandemic, a friend invited her to join an online Alpha group.<br /><br />&ldquo;I just said yes to an invitation that my friend had given me,&rdquo; Michelle said.<br /><br />At the time, she was at one of the lowest points in her life. She had been laid off and felt she had very little left. But in that small online group, she encountered people who spoke to her about Jesus.<br /><br />&ldquo;They were talking to me about Jesus, and I really didn&rsquo;t know who Jesus was,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t know if I believed in him or not.&rdquo;<br /><br />Then one day, someone in the group told her, &ldquo;Jesus still heals today.&rdquo;<br /><br />Michelle had been living with persistent neck pain for eight years. When the Alpha group asked if they could pray for healing, she agreed.<br /><br />&ldquo;Couple days later, I realized that the pain in my neck was gone,&rdquo; she said.<br /><br />&ldquo;That&rsquo;s when I realized that God has been with me this whole time and God was pursuing me,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;God had answered my request of proving it to me that he was real.&rdquo;<br /><br />From that moment, Michelle knew she could not simply return to the way she had been living. Her faith was no longer something inherited from her family or something she had to figure out only from a distance. It had become personal.<br />&ldquo;Because I realized that God could see me, I was like, I can never go back to my old life,&rdquo; she said.<br /><br />Today, Michelle often thinks of Psalm 139, the psalm of the inescapable God who searches and knows each person completely.<br /><br />&ldquo;He searches me, and he knows me,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;And he&rsquo;s always pursuing me.&rdquo;</div>  <div><div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div class="paragraph">Based on Michelle&rsquo;s video testimony recorded at the Renewal Conference, Apr 17&ndash;18, 2026.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Year of Unity and Peace with Pope Leo XIV]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/a-year-of-unity-and-peace-with-pope-leo-xiv]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/a-year-of-unity-and-peace-with-pope-leo-xiv#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 04:12:12 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Bishop McGrattan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Christian Unity]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pray for Peace]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/a-year-of-unity-and-peace-with-pope-leo-xiv</guid><description><![CDATA[																					It was in May of last year that I was in Rome for the Mass marking the beginning of the Petrine Ministry of Pope Leo XIV, the successor of St. Peter. Peace and the unity of the Church have been two recurring themes, among others, in the first year of his pontificate. Peace has imposed itself as an urgent priority due to the multiplication of armed conflicts around the world and the erosion of international law, which has helped to ensure the promotion of justice among nation [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;">	<table class="wsite-multicol-table">		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody">			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr">				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:77.640449438202%; padding:0 15px;">											<div class="wsite-youtube" style="margin-bottom:10px;margin-top:10px;"><div class="wsite-youtube-wrapper wsite-youtube-size-auto wsite-youtube-align-center"><div class="wsite-youtube-container"><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SUQYYF37r7Q?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></div><div class="wsite-spacer" style="height:10px;"></div><div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">It was in May of last year that I was in Rome for the Mass marking the beginning of the Petrine Ministry of Pope Leo XIV, the successor of St. Peter. Peace and the unity of the Church have been two recurring themes, among others, in the first year of his pontificate. Peace has imposed itself as an urgent priority due to the multiplication of armed conflicts around the world and the erosion of international law, which has helped to ensure the promotion of justice among nations.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">In a first-year reflection on Pope Leo XIV&rsquo;s pontificate,&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)"><a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-05/pope-leo-xiv-first-anniversary-pontificate-appeals-peace.html" target="_blank">Vatican News</a></em><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&nbsp;notes that the Holy Father referred to peace more than 400 times, repeatedly appealing for reconciliation that is "unarmed and disarming" and urging even the &ldquo;lords of war&rdquo; to listen to &ldquo;a melody greater than ourselves.&rdquo; His persistent call for dialogue as a true and necessary pathway to peace in the world is totally consistent as the Vicar of Christ and must be taken up not only by the faithful but by the leaders of nations.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;">	<table class="wsite-multicol-table">		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody">			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr">				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:51.851851851852%; padding:0 15px;">											<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">The unity of the Church is also a theme that runs through the early teaching of the Bishop of Rome, who was born in Chicago and, as a young Augustinian priest, became a missionary in Peru. For Pope Leo, the unity of the Church is manifested in this capacity to live, by grace, new relationships with our brothers and sisters rather than allowing differences and division to define us.&nbsp;It is found in our capacity to love one another and to forgive each other, while allowing communion to guide our lived Christian experience.</span></div>									</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:48.148148148148%; padding:0 15px;">											<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:right"><a><img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/published/for-pope-leo-the-unity-of-the-church-1.png?1778476337" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /></a><div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div></div></div>									</td>			</tr>		</tbody>	</table></div></div></div><div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">It is manifested in synodality, in the concrete ways in which we experience communion, participation, and mission in the life of the Church.<br /><br />&#8203;</span>In his homily at the <a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/homilies/2025/documents/20250518-inizio-pontificato.html" target="_blank">Mass for the Beginning of the Pontificate</a> on May 18, 2025, Pope Leo expressed "the great desire" for "a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world," inviting the world to look to Christ, to draw near to Him, to listen to "His one family: 'in the one Christ, we are one.' This is the path to follow together, among ourselves but also with our sister Christian churches, with those who follow other religious paths, with those who are searching for God, with all women and men of good will, in order to build a new world where peace reigns!"&nbsp;</div><div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;">	<table class="wsite-multicol-table">		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody">			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr">				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:47.851851851852%; padding:0 15px;">											<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"><a><img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/published/his-synodal-leadership.png?1778476242" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /></a><div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div></div></div>									</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:52.148148148148%; padding:0 15px;">											<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">Between the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, the topic of synodality also emerged as one of the most controversial in the papal transition. In the days after his election, Leo told the gathered cardinals that he intended not only to continue the synodal process but also to be a more synodal pope. His synodal leadership has already begun to emerge in his witness of being a shepherd, a teacher, a unifier, and a man of peace.</span></div>									</td>			</tr>		</tbody>	</table></div></div></div><div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">In this past year, Pope Leo has also drawn heavily on his Augustinian roots in his messaging, audiences, homilies, and approach to the challenging issues facing our church and world. Augustine established a practical guide for living a monastic way of life, <em>The Rule of St. Augustine</em>. It is the oldest monastic rule focusing on the evangelical virtues of poverty, chastity, and obedience. This Rule has informed an Augustinian spirituality which emphasizes the core values of prayer, contemplation, community, friendship, service, missionary spirit, solidarity with the poor, listening, effective communication, forgiveness, reconciliation, and peacemaking.<br /><br />This core belief system is evident in his leadership style, which has challenged the communicators of our age to be truth-tellers and calling world leaders to be peacemakers and to be mindful of the poor and disenfranchised. He continues to echo the message of St. Augustine, who preached to a congregation facing hardship: &ldquo;The times are troublesome&mdash;change human beings, and the times will be changed.&rdquo; Pope Leo knows that it is only the love of God that can truly change our lives and thus our current times towards unity and peace.&nbsp;</div><div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Finally in his address to the Cardinals during the <em><a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/speeches/2026/january/documents/20260107-concistoro-straordinario.html" target="_blank">Extraordinary Consistory</a></em> of January 7, 2026, when presenting the conciliar teaching of Vatican II which was embraced by the pontificates of his predecessors, he spoke of &ldquo;attraction,&rdquo; citing these words of the late Pope Benedict XVI.</div><blockquote><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">The Church does not engage in proselytism. Instead, she grows by &ldquo;attraction&rdquo;: just as Christ &ldquo;draws all to himself&rdquo; by the power of his love, culminating in the sacrifice of the Cross, so the Church fulfils her mission to the extent that, in union with Christ, she accomplishes every one of her works in spiritual and practical imitation of the love of her Lord."</span></blockquote><div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&#8203;It is this same love that has animated the heart of Pope Leo in his first year as the successor of Peter and through attraction this same love has drawn the faithful to pray for his ministry and intentions.&nbsp;</span></div><div><div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div><hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr><div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div><div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><ul><li>Read <a href="https://www.cccb.ca/letter/letter-to-his-holiness-pope-leo-xiv-on-the-first-anniversary-of-his-pontificate/" target="_blank">CCCB Letter to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on the First Anniversary of His Pontificate&nbsp;</a></li></ul></div><div id="867596443297034673"><div><style type="text/css">	#element-4570f531-7a48-486f-8336-6d3922dc5011 .waddons_vert_divider {  display: none;}#element-4570f531-7a48-486f-8336-6d3922dc5011 .waddons_vertical_divider_column {  -webkit-box-sizing: border-box;  -moz-box-sizing: border-box;  box-sizing: border-box;}</style><div id="element-4570f531-7a48-486f-8336-6d3922dc5011" data-platform-element-id="258444806761150995-1.0.1" class="platform-element-contents">	<div class="waddons_vert_divider">Vertical Divider</div></div><div style="clear:both;"></div></div></div>									</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:22.359550561798%; padding:0 15px;">											<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"><a><img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/bishop-mcgrattan-2in-circle-crop-3_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /></a><div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div></div></div><div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;">Written by Most. Rev.&nbsp; William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary.<br />&#8203;May 10, 2026</div>									</td>			</tr>		</tbody>	</table></div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Catholic Education Week 2026]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/catholic-education-week-2026]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/catholic-education-week-2026#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 21:56:46 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[catholic education]]></category><category><![CDATA[Catholic Schools]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/catholic-education-week-2026</guid><description><![CDATA[       																					You are invited to celebrate Catholic Education Week in Alberta by praying for Catholic education and sharing the 2026 theme, Anchored in Christ, A Beacon of Hope (Hebrews 6:18-19). The Alberta Bishops have written a letter in support of Catholic Education Week. Inspired by Hebrews 6:18&ndash;19, &ldquo;a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul,&rdquo; we are reminded that Christ grounds us and calls us to be signs of hope.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&#8203;Here are a few [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/cew-2026_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;">	<table class="wsite-multicol-table">		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody">			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr">				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:68.426966292135%; padding:0 15px;">											<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">You are invited to celebrate Catholic Education Week in Alberta by praying for Catholic education and sharing the 2026 theme, <em>Anchored in Christ, A Beacon of Hope (</em>Hebrews 6:18-19). The Alberta Bishops have written a letter in support of Catholic Education Week. Inspired by Hebrews 6:18&ndash;19, &ldquo;a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul,&rdquo; we are reminded that Christ grounds us and calls us to be signs of hope.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />&#8203;Here are a few things to know and share:<ul><li>Catholic schools in Alberta are fully funded by the Alberta Government and protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.</li><li>More than 180,000 students are enrolled in Catholic schools across the province.</li><li>Catholic schools integrate faith into all aspects of the curriculum, helping students grow in both learning and discipleship.</li><li>Catholic education is supported by locally elected Catholic school trustees and by the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta.</li><li>Alberta is home to 23 Catholic Francophone schools, serving Catholic education in French for Francophone communities.</li><li>Studies show that students in Catholic schools often demonstrate strong academic outcomes while being formed in faith, service, and community.</li><li>Parishioners can support Catholic education by praying for students, families, teachers, staff, trustees, and school communities, and by learning more through <a href="https://www.gracealberta.org/" target="_blank">GrACE </a>and their local Catholic school division.</li></ul></div><div id="295490996523400104"><div><style type="text/css">	#element-4be9e3fe-bdd1-45e7-a5e7-22846abedb16 .waddons_vert_divider {  display: none;}#element-4be9e3fe-bdd1-45e7-a5e7-22846abedb16 .waddons_vertical_divider_column {  -webkit-box-sizing: border-box;  -moz-box-sizing: border-box;  box-sizing: border-box;}</style><div id="element-4be9e3fe-bdd1-45e7-a5e7-22846abedb16" data-platform-element-id="258444806761150995-1.0.1" class="platform-element-contents">	<div class="waddons_vert_divider">Vertical Divider</div></div><div style="clear:both;"></div></div></div>									</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:31.573033707865%; padding:0 15px;">											<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Read the Letter from Alberta Bishops:<ul style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)"><li><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-O8M0BGdAYDUJTyanQM0aGTJFdEJ7n57/view?usp=sharing">Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and NWT - English</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JxzobtzK6stOOMPfnSSJOCa1vmisH_-B/view?usp=sharing">French</a>&nbsp;</li></ul><br />Resources for the faithful:&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><ul><li><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-O8M0BGdAYDUJTyanQM0aGTJFdEJ7n57/view?usp=sharing">Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and NWT - English</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JxzobtzK6stOOMPfnSSJOCa1vmisH_-B/view?usp=sharing">French</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:c4cc4d76-1f8b-4f29-99d7-2d5f8ecd705f" target="_blank">Bulletin Insert (Poster size)</a>&nbsp;<br />&#8203;<br /></li></ul> Parish resources:<ul><li><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UrQArYbmBJ8iuMdi7sVfS8rwzOP8NqlC_StXbjuQZME/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Prayers of the Faithful</a></li><li>Graphic to promote the Bishop's Letter: <a href="https://email-mg.flocknote.com/c/eJw8zjFywyAQQNHTQCcGdkHIBUUa3WOBlUWMjUfgOMnpM2rS_zfzc_AGwVvJwXi_aOMdXuQecGMdXbbRaufilhGtyZw9ISaPcJElgIZZO-3AWIeLciYaxhgpbgsDg7B6qy3dHm2wSu0ua9jHeHaBHwJWAWvH6dWnN_cxgaI7_bYHvfuZClj_6bSVyl3AGkvf27NXHoOPRKPVkji_0pv5dq4cnIZxOH8vswX1-bzKk5cccF6sMR7kEWoh1XY6SFidqF7p-MmlJe6sEsmvAH8BAAD__39aVRc" target="_blank">Wide</a> | <a href="https://email-mg.flocknote.com/c/eJw8zjGO6yAQgOHTQGcEA3icguI1vscA45gXEiJD1to9_crN9v8n_TmgsYBOcjCIizbo7U3uAedsGVAj3hiWLbuMGTz7eU4xGdxkCaBh1l57MM7bRXkTDdsYKW4LA4NweqstPV5tsErtKWvYx3h3Yf8JWAWs3U6fPp3cxwSKnvTTXnT2KxWw_tFpK5W7gDWWvrd3rzwGH4nG3mpJnD_pZH5cL6D-v-_yMiUHOy_OGAR5hFpItZ0OEk4nqnc6vnNpiTurRPIrwG8AAAD__-dxUdk" target="_blank">Square</a></li><li><a href="https://mcusercontent.com/b94c6c43263afb74033548543/images/55c02b53-e4d5-6977-60f2-ad7698d71c80.png" target="_blank">Catholic Education Week Logo</a></li><li><a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:c4cc4d76-1f8b-4f29-99d7-2d5f8ecd705f" target="_blank">Bulletin Insert (Poster size)</a>&nbsp;| <a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17H_y4ikKtzk8qGp4iu7ZOD6Okbx3DVNMNS5XBE5hD0E/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Mass Slide Template</a></li></ul><br /></div>									</td>			</tr>		</tbody>	</table></div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><em>Let us pray:&nbsp;</em><ul><li>For our students: That they may grow in faith, knowledge, and courage, and witness to Christ in all they do</li><li>For our educators: That they may be strengthened in their vocation, forming young people in truth, faith, and service</li><li>For our Catholic communities: That parents, parishes, and schools work together to sustain and strengthen Catholic education</li><li>For our mission: That Catholic education remains faithful to Christ and a visible sign of hope in the world</li><li>For responsibility and leadership: That all entrusted with the care of Catholic education act with clarity, courage, and fidelity.</li></ul></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[In memoriam: Fr. Henry Rosenbaum, SAC]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/in-memoriam-fr-henry-rosenbaum-sac]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/in-memoriam-fr-henry-rosenbaum-sac#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 07:11:44 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[In Memoriam]]></category><category><![CDATA[priesthood]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/in-memoriam-fr-henry-rosenbaum-sac</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						  In the charity of your prayers, please remember Fr. Henry Rosenbaum, SAC, who passed away on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the age of 91. Fr. Rosenbaum served for many years in the Diocese of Calgary, most recently as pastor of St. Boniface Parish and St. Cecilia&rsquo;s Parish in Calgary.Funeral rites will be held at&nbsp;St. Cecilia's Parish in Calgary.Funeral Vigil | Wed, May 6, 2026&nbsp;Viewing at 6 pm to 6:45 pm, Vigil Prayer at 7 pm with Fr. Paul Raj, SAC presidi [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:62.022471910112%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">In the charity of your prayers, please remember Fr. Henry Rosenbaum, SAC, who passed away on <strong>Sunday, April 26, 2026, </strong>at the age of 91. Fr. Rosenbaum served for many years in the Diocese of Calgary, most recently as pastor of St. Boniface Parish and St. Cecilia&rsquo;s Parish in Calgary.<br /><br />Funeral rites will be held at&nbsp;<strong>St. Cecilia's Parish in Calgary.</strong><br /><ul><li><strong>Funeral Vigil | Wed, May 6, 2026&nbsp;</strong><br />Viewing at 6 pm to 6:45 pm, Vigil Prayer at 7 pm with Fr. Paul Raj, SAC presiding.<br />&#8203;<br /></li><li><strong>Funeral Mass | Thu, May 7, 2026</strong><br />Viewing at 10:30 am, Funeral Mass at 11 am, with Bishop William T. McGrattan as Celebrant. Interment at St. Mary's Cemetery to follow. Reception at St. Cecilia's Parish Hall.</li></ul>&#8203;<br /><a href="http://catholicyyc.ca/blog/fr-henry-rosenbaum-sac-the-love-of-christ-urges-us-to-action" target="_blank">Read more about the life and priesthood of Fr. Rosenbaum</a>&nbsp;(2022).<br /><br /><em>Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.</em></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:37.977528089888%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/fr-henry-rosenbaum-sac-rip_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[When God’s Word guided me]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/when-gods-word-guided-me]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/when-gods-word-guided-me#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 04:33:11 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Conversion]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parish life]]></category><category><![CDATA[RCIA]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/when-gods-word-guided-me</guid><description><![CDATA[       After moving from Ontario to Calgary, I came to the church while looking for schools for my children. All three of them attended Christian schools at different times, but honestly, we didn't really understand the Bible at all.I used to not believe. I used to think God was superstition.I grew up hearing Bible stories, but they felt like fairy tales to me, not real. It wasn't until I joined the RCIA program at Ascension Catholic Parish that those "fairy tale" scriptures suddenly became real [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/published/westwong-baptism-2026.jpeg?1777956028" alt="Picture" style="width:860;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">After moving from Ontario to Calgary, I came to the church while looking for schools for my children. All three of them attended Christian schools at different times, but honestly, we didn't really understand the Bible at all.<br /><br />I used to not believe. I used to think God was superstition.<br /><br />I grew up hearing Bible stories, but they felt like fairy tales to me, not real. It wasn't until I joined the RCIA program at Ascension Catholic Parish that those "fairy tale" scriptures suddenly became real. Two thousand years of wisdom had been walking beside me all along, teaching, guiding, and leading me.<br /><br />Yet where human limits end, God's beginning starts.<br /><br />Through what we Christians call "God's plan," I was simply fortunate to have God's arrangement bring me to a genuine opportunity to draw closer to Him. I believe everything is in His hands.<br /><br />After my baptism, I still often feel unworthy, unable to follow Christ's teachings <span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">fully</span>. There is so much wisdom in the scriptures that I still cannot live up to, but I learned one thing: if you don't understand, it's okay. Just obey first.<br /><br />One evening, during evening prayer, I was deeply lost. I didn't know if what I was doing was right. I wanted to help a loved one who had left me and betrayed me, but I wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do, whether I would be hurt in the process, whether I could calmly and properly comfort someone who had betrayed me. I didn't know what to do.<br /><br />In the middle of my prayer, I suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to read the Bible.&nbsp;It really wasn't an ordinary thought. There was a sense of urgency. I didn't refuse it, but I also didn't know which passage to read. I wasn't familiar with the Bible, didn't know the context, didn't recognize any of the characters. But I felt a prompting: just open to a random page, and I would know.<br /><br />I opened to a page at random and read:<br /><br />"Go in peace. The mission you are on is under the eye of the LORD." (Judges 18:6).<br /><br />I was stunned.<br /><br />I had been lost because I didn't know if it was right to help someone who had betrayed me with no sign of remorse. I admit I was still anxious, but this verse made me think deeply for a long time. The very first part of it told me: Go in peace.<br /><br />When I felt unseen, when I felt unnoticed, He was watching. He knew. He affirmed me.</div>  <div><div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div class="paragraph">Article &amp; photos by West Wong, baptized at Easter Vigil, Ascension Catholic Parish.&nbsp;</div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Franciscan joy at Mount Saint Francis]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/a-franciscan-joy-at-mount-saint-francis]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/a-franciscan-joy-at-mount-saint-francis#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 04:09:32 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[priesthood]]></category><category><![CDATA[vocation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Year of St Francis]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/a-franciscan-joy-at-mount-saint-francis</guid><description><![CDATA[       Those who have visited Mount Saint Francis Retreat Centre in Cochrane&nbsp;(The Mount) in recent months may have already encountered the joy of Fr. Guylain Prince, OFM.Originally from Trois-Rivi&egrave;res, Quebec, Fr. Guylain brings with him a deep love for Scripture, a gift for contemplative prayer, and a rich understanding of the world into which Jesus was born. With his bright smile, big laugh, and joyful Franciscan spirit, his presence at The Mount has been a blessing, especially in  [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/068a0241_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Those who have visited <a href="https://mountstfrancis.ca/" target="_blank">Mount Saint Francis Retreat Centre in Cochrane</a>&nbsp;(The Mount) in recent months may have already encountered the joy of Fr. Guylain Prince, OFM.<br /><br />Originally from Trois-Rivi&egrave;res, Quebec, Fr. Guylain brings with him a deep love for Scripture, a gift for contemplative prayer, and a rich understanding of the world into which Jesus was born. With his bright smile, big laugh, and joyful Franciscan spirit, his presence at The Mount has been a blessing, especially in this special year of St. Francis of Assisi.<br />Over the last few months, I have seen him laugh wholeheartedly at his own jokes, delight in the sight of a squirrel scuttling about, preach deep and meaningful homilies, and sing beautifully during retreats. Last December, I had the privilege of sitting with him in the friary at The Mount and listening to the story that brought him here.<br />&#8203;<br />We spoke about his life, his vocation, his move from Eastern Canada, and his hopes for this new mission at Mount Saint Francis Retreat Centre.</div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><strong><font size="5">An encounter that changed everything</font></strong><br /><br />Fr. Guylain grew up in a Catholic family, but as a young teenager, he set his faith aside. His young mind was filled with physics, computer science, and music. As a young drummer, he loved being around instruments, and while in college, he remembers spending time near the campus ministry office, partly because of the beautiful room and the access to music. At that time, this was his limited contact with the faith.<br /><br />Then, during an Easter weekend retreat in 1982, everything changed.<br /><br />The retreat focused on the reenactment of the last days of Jesus. On that Saturday morning, Fr. Guylain had such a striking experience of God that faith became real, vivid, and impossible to ignore. He calls it &ldquo;the experience of the obvious.&rdquo;<br /><br />For the next two years, he found himself hesitating between the Pentecostal, Evangelical, and Catholic Churches. In the end, his Baptism won. At the age of 19, he reintegrated into the Catholic Church and chose to live according to the beautiful heritage handed over to him at Baptism.<br /><br />That same week, he received the Franciscan Tau, the T-shaped cross adopted by St. Francis of Assisi as a sign of conversion, penance, and the passion of Christ. Fr. Guylain took it as a sign that he was being called to Franciscan spirituality.</div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><strong><font size="5">A Franciscan life rooted in Scripture and prayer</font></strong><br /><br />Fr. Guylain returned to Montreal and joined the Franciscans as a postulant while continuing to work for the Diocese of Churchill-Hudson Bay. As a novice, he spent an extraordinary year in formation and continued to grow in the Franciscan way of life.<br /><br />He later worked for the Canadian Bible Society for more than 10 years, publishing books, organizing diocesan Bible gatherings across French Canada, and coordinating 15 to 22 biblical weekends each year.<br /><br />Through it all, contemplative prayer remained at the centre of his life. Hermitages, silence, and the Jesus Prayer tradition became the backbone of his devotion and way of living.<br />&#8203;<br />He later moved to the Diocese of Joliette, where he answered the call to the priesthood. Newly ordained, he moved to Trois-Rivi&egrave;res, where he served for 14 years as rector of the new shrine dedicated to Good Father Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Janssoone.<br />There, Fr. Guylain became deeply involved in furthering the cause of canonization of Blessed Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric, a Franciscan priest whose life and mission remain very close to his heart.</div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><strong><font size="5">The Holy Land and the world of Jesus</font></strong><br /><br />For many years, Fr. Guylain was asked by the Commissary of the Holy Land to lead tours there. He eventually agreed to go with a group almost 10 years ago. What began as an introductory trip grew into a deep love for the land walked by Jesus.<br />&#8203;<br />He went on to spend six months in formation, studying Aramaic, the socio-cultural context of Galilee, archaeology, and geography. His time in the Holy Land eventually inspired him to begin doctoral studies.<br /><br />In 2017, Fr. Guylain began his doctoral thesis in Scripture, focusing on the historical Jesus within Second Temple Judaism, the world in which Jesus was born, grew up, preached, suffered, died, and rose again.<br /><br />He is set to complete his doctoral studies in the coming year and looks forward to sharing this knowledge with those who are interested. His love for Scripture also extends to the apocalyptic discourse of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, as well as the books of Revelation and Daniel.<br />&#8203;<br />For Fr. Guylain, this scholarship is not simply academic. It is part of a deeper desire to help people encounter the Word of God more fully, with both the mind and the heart.</div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><strong><font size="5">A new mission at The Mount</font></strong><br /><br />At Mount Saint Francis Retreat Centre, Fr. Guylain is beginning a new mission of retreat ministry, prayer, and teaching.<br />He is passionate about breaking open the Word online and plans to do more of this through his new Facebook page, &ldquo;From the Friars&rsquo; Hermitage.&rdquo; Along with leading retreats, he also leads a contemplative prayer group every Tuesday evening at 7 pm at Mount Saint Francis Retreat Centre until the end of June.<br /><br />He also hopes to share more about the life and witness of <a href="https://www.sanctuaire-ndc.ca/en/about_us/good-father-frederic-janssoone/" target="_blank">Good Father Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Janssoone</a> with the faithful here in Western Canada.<br /><br />Blessed Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric was born in northern France in 1838 and entered the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor in 1864. He was ordained a priest in 1870, served in the Holy Land for 12 years, and later became closely associated with the Sanctuaire Notre-Dame-du-Cap, Canada&rsquo;s National Shrine to Our Lady of the Cape.<br /><br />His legacy in the Holy Land is remarkable. After centuries in which public devotion along the Via Dolorosa had been forbidden, Good Father Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric helped re-establish the practice of praying the Stations of the Cross along this sacred route. That tradition continues to this day, with the Franciscans walking the route to the Holy Sepulchre every Friday afternoon.<br /><br />In Canada, Good Father Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric helped increase devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary, revived the Third Order of St. Francis, supported the re-establishment of the Order of Friars Minor in Canada, and encouraged pilgrimages to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupr&eacute;. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1988, and the Church continues to pray for his canonization.<br />His simple apostolic prayer, &ldquo;Let me bring to you, whoever comes to me,&rdquo; continues to inspire Fr. Guylain and the Friars of the Holy Spirit Province.<br /><br />Through his story, his learning, his contemplative prayer, and his love for Scripture, Fr. Guylain&rsquo;s presence at Mount Saint Francis Retreat Centre is already enriching the life of The Mount and those who come there.<br />&#8203;<br />In this <a href="https://mountstfrancis.ca/jubilee-of-st-francis-of-assisi/" target="_blank">jubilee year of St. Francis of Assisi</a>, his life is a reminder of the joy, simplicity, prayer, and encounter at the heart of Franciscan life.</div>  <div><div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div class="paragraph">Written by Cecilia DeMello for <em>Faithfully</em>.</div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Clergy Personnel Announcement]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/clergyannouncements]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/clergyannouncements#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[From the Bishop's Office]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parish life]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/clergyannouncements</guid><description><![CDATA[Clergy Personnel Announcement - Apr 30, 2026Clergy Personnel Announcement - Jan 28, 2026Clergy Personnel Announcement - Oct 31, 2025Clergy Personnel Announcement - Sep 12, 2025Clergy Personnel Announcement - Aug 8, 2025Clergy Personnel Announcement - June 12, 2025&nbsp;Clergy Personnel Announcement - May 1, 2025&nbsp;Clergy Personnel Announcement - Jan 30, 2025&nbsp;Clergy Personnel Announcement - Jan 8, 2025&nbsp;Clergy Personnel&nbsp;Announcement - Nov 28, 2024&nbsp;Clergy Personnel Announceme [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><ul><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_april_30_2026.pdf" target="_blank">Clergy Personnel Announcement - Apr 30, 2026</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_january_28__2026.pdf" target="_blank">Clergy Personnel Announcement - Jan 28, 2026</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_october31_2025.pdf" target="_blank">Clergy Personnel Announcement - Oct 31, 2025</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_sept_2025__002_.pdf" target="_blank">Clergy Personnel Announcement - Sep 12, 2025</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_august_2025_v2.pdf" target="_blank">Clergy Personnel Announcement</a> - Aug 8, 2025</li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_-_june_12_2025.pdf" target="_blank">Clergy Personnel Announcement </a>- June 12, 2025&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_-_may_1_2025.pdf" target="_blank">Clergy Personnel Announcement</a> - May 1, 2025&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_-_january_30_2025.pdf" target="_blank">Clergy Personnel Announcement - Jan 30, 2025</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_-_january_8_2025.pdf" target="_blank">Clergy Personnel Announcement</a> - Jan 8, 2025&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_-_november_28_2024.pdf" target="_blank">Clergy Personnel&nbsp;Announcement - Nov 28, 2024</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_november_7_2024.pdf">Clergy Personnel Announcement - Nov 7, 2024</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_september_20_2024.pdf">Clergy Personnel Announcement - Sep 20, 2024</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_-_august_15_2024.pdf" target="_blank">Clergy Personnel Announcement - August 15, 2024</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_deacons_june_27_2024.pdf" target="_blank">Clergy Personnel Announcement - June 27, 2024</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_-_june_6_2024.pdf" target="_blank">Clergy Personnel Announcement - June 6, 2024</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_november_24_2023__1_.pdf">Clergy Personnel Announcement - November 24, 2023</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_june_15_2023.pdf">Clergy Personnel Announcement - June 15, 2023</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_march_2_2023.pdf" target="_blank">Clergy Personnel Announcement - March 2, 2023</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_may_27_2022_upd.pdf">Clergy Personnel Announcement - May 27, 2022&#8203;</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcement_may_17_2022.pdf">Clergy Personnel Announcement&nbsp;- May 17, 2022</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/clergy_personnel_announcement_sept_2021.pdf">Clergy Personnel Announcement&nbsp;- September 2, 2021</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/clergy_personnel_announcement_august_2021[47].pdf">Clergy Personnel Announcement&nbsp;- July 20, 2021</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/clergy_personnel_announcement_june_2021.pdf">Clergy Personnel Announcement&nbsp;- June 15, 2021</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/clergy_personnel_announcements_january_2021.pdf">Clergy Personnel Announcement&nbsp;- January 6, 2021</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/priest_personnel_announcements_september_2020.pdf">Priest Personnel Announcement&nbsp;- September 25, 2020</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/personnel_announcements_june_2020.pdf">Priest Personnel Announcement&nbsp;- June 10, 2020</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/priest_personnel_announcement_march_2020.pdf">Priest Personnel Announcement&nbsp;- March 12, 2020</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/priest_personnel_announcement_december_2019.pdf">Priest Personnel Announcement&nbsp;- December 5, 2019</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/priest_personnel_announcements_november_2019.pdf">Priests Personnel Assignment&nbsp;- November 27, 2019</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/calgary_diocesan_clergy_personnel_announcement__2019_09_13.pdf">Clergy Personnel Announcement&nbsp;- September 13, 2019</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/calgary_diocese_priest_personnel_announcement_august_2019.pdf">Priest Personnel Announcement&nbsp;- August 15, 2019</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/priest_personnel_announcement_july_25_2019.pdf">Priest Personnel Announcement&nbsp;- July 25, 2019</a></li><li><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/clergy_personnel_announcement_june_21_2019.pdf">Priest Personnel Announcement - June 21, 2019</a>&#8203;</li></ul></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a href='https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/2018-05-09_bishops_letter_-_clergy_personnel_announcement.pdf' target='_blank'> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/editor/clergypersonnel_1.jpg?1525882361" alt="Picture" style="width:850;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph">Priest Assignment; Deacon Assignment; Clergy Personnel Announcements; Pastoral Assignment; Priests Move</div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[RCIA Renewal: From Encounter to Discipleship]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/rcia-renewal-from-encounter-to-discipleship]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/rcia-renewal-from-encounter-to-discipleship#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 06:00:12 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Discipleship]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parish life]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pastoral Renewal]]></category><category><![CDATA[RCIA]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/rcia-renewal-from-encounter-to-discipleship</guid><description><![CDATA[       At its best, RCIA is not just a class or a countdown to the Easter Vigil. It is a gradual journey where seekers are welcomed, accompanied, formed in prayer, drawn into parish life, and helped to discern their next step with Christ. Across the Diocese of Calgary, RCIA teams are already helping this happen with generosity and care. The RCIA renewal seeks to strengthen it, so that every parish can offer Christian Initiation with greater clarity, consistency, and care.&#8203;&#8203;On Februar [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/published/vigil-271-web.jpg?1777875649" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">At its best, RCIA is not just a class or a countdown to the Easter Vigil. It is a gradual journey where seekers are welcomed, accompanied, formed in prayer, drawn into parish life, and helped to discern their next step with Christ. Across the Diocese of Calgary, RCIA teams are already helping this happen with generosity and care. The RCIA renewal seeks to strengthen it, so that every parish can offer Christian Initiation with greater clarity, consistency, and care.<br />&#8203;<br />&#8203;On February 3, Bishop William T. McGrattan officially announced a multi-year renewal of the ministry of Christian Initiation within the Diocese. The vision he offered for this renewal was drawn from the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13&ndash;35).<br /><br />&#8203;Bishop McGrattan reminded us that just as Christ drew near to the disciples, listened to their experiences, opened the Scriptures, rekindled their hearts, and sent them forth as witnesses of the Resurrection, so too the Church is called to walk with those who are seeking Christ today through the RCIA.<br /><br />Over the past several months, the Diocese has taken the first important step in living out this vision: listening.<br /><br />&#8203;Through a wide consultation that included feedback from pastors, RCIA coordinators, participants, sponsors, and those recently received into the Church, more than 400 voices have helped form a clearer picture of how RCIA is being lived in our parishes today.<br /><br />What has emerged is both encouraging and challenging.<br /><br />Across the Diocese, there is a strong and consistent experience of welcome. Those entering the Church overwhelmingly describe being received with kindness, accompanied with care, and supported in their journey of faith. As one RCIA participant put it, &ldquo;The RCIA journey has been so much more than a destination; it has been a path paved with love.&rdquo;<br /><br />&#8203;Many participants also spoke of growing in their trust in God, learning to pray, and discovering what it means to follow Jesus Christ. As one neophyte who was received into the Church last year shared, &ldquo;My faith has always been there, but this process really helped me to understand Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit in ways that I could not or did not understand previously.&rdquo;<br /><br />These strengths show the dedication and generosity of RCIA teams across the Diocese. They also provide a strong foundation for the renewal now underway.<br /><br />At the same time, the consultation has pointed clearly to areas where the Diocese can better support parishes. At times, the experience can be shaped more by schedules and timelines than by the gradual, personal journey toward faith that the Church envisions.<br /><br />&ldquo;The aim of RCIA is to lead people into a lifelong relationship with Christ and His Church,&rdquo; explained Joseph Palko, Catechetics and Discipleship Coordinator for the Diocese. &ldquo;This process can take a longer time for some and a shorter time for others. The process must respect this.&rdquo;<br /><br />Another important area of renewal is the need to involve sponsors more fully in the faith journey of those they accompany. One sponsor expressed this challenge candidly: &ldquo;It was a bit unclear to me how I was journeying with &lsquo;my&rsquo; catechumen when I felt somewhat removed from the process.&rdquo;<br /><br />Additional feedback pointed to the need for greater clarity in how the different stages of initiation are lived, as well as stronger connections between RCIA, parish life, liturgy, and ongoing discipleship.<br /><br />&ldquo;All of these insights,&rdquo; explained Huy Nguyen, Director of Pastoral Ministry, &ldquo;should be seen as a gift. They reveal a Church that is alive, generous, and already doing much good, and one that is now being invited to grow more fully into its calling.&rdquo;<br /><br />As the RCIA renewal now moves into its next phase of discernment, the feedback gathered throughout the listening phase will help guide the development of renewed diocesan norms, pastoral guidelines, and practical resources. The aim is to ensure that each stage of the RCIA journey is lived more faithfully, more consistently, and more fruitfully across our parishes.<br /><br />&#8203;&#8203;As this renewal continues, the invitation remains the same for all of us:<br />&#8203;To draw near.<br />To listen.<br />To walk together.<br />&#8203;<br />And to trust that, along the way, Christ will reveal Himself.</div>  <div><div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div class="paragraph">For more information about the Renewing RCIA initiative, contact the Office of Pastoral Ministry:<br />-&nbsp;<a href="mailto:huy.nguyen@calgarydiocese.ca">Huy Nguyen</a>, Director of Pastoral Ministry<br />-&nbsp;<a href="mailto:joseph.palko@calgarydiocese.ca">Joseph Palko</a>, Catechetics &amp; Discipleship Ministry Coordinator<br /><br />Photography: Bandi Szakony for the Diocese of Calgary | Easter Vigil 2026 at St. Mary's Cathedral</div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[2026 NunRun: Seven Convents, One Day]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/2026-nunrun-seven-convents-one-day]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/2026-nunrun-seven-convents-one-day#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:02:37 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Consecrated Life]]></category><category><![CDATA[Religious Life]]></category><category><![CDATA[vocations]]></category><category><![CDATA[Youth and Young Adults]]></category><category><![CDATA[Youth Ministry]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/2026-nunrun-seven-convents-one-day</guid><description><![CDATA[Written by Sr. Dianne Turner, OSE, Office of Vocations         On April 25, the Diocese of Calgary hosted a Young Women&rsquo;s Nun Run, inviting participants to step into the lived reality of Religious life across the city and into Airdrie. Many arrived with questions: What is life as a Sister really like? Are all communities the same? Where is God calling me?&#8203;These and many other questions were answered on Saturday, April 25 during the Young Women&rsquo;s Nun Run across Calgary and north [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph">Written by Sr. Dianne Turner, OSE, Office of Vocations</div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/img-3412_orig.jpeg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">On April 25, the Diocese of Calgary hosted a Young Women&rsquo;s Nun Run, inviting participants to step into the lived reality of Religious life across the city and into Airdrie. Many arrived with questions: <em>What is life as a Sister really like? Are all communities the same? Where is God calling me?</em><br />&#8203;<br />These and many other questions were answered on Saturday, April 25 during the Young Women&rsquo;s Nun Run across Calgary and north to Airdrie. Seven convents in one day made for an ambitious and memorable pilgrimage, as 21 women and seven Sisters travelled together by bus from start to finish. No running shoes were needed.<br /><br />We began at the Providence Sisters&rsquo; convent in southeast Calgary. Convent chapels tend to be smaller than churches, but we managed to squeeze everyone in for Mass celebrated by Fr. Julian Studden. In his homily, he spoke about being open to what the Lord is calling us to be. After Mass, we filled the Sisters&rsquo; dining room for a substantial breakfast and heard from some of the young Sisters of Providence as they shared about their charism and mission.</div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:67.865168539326%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/published/55235314076-fa9d1c23a2-k.jpg?1777355834" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Fr. Julian offered the Mass for the participants.</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:32.134831460674%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <blockquote>&ldquo;This was an illuminating glimpse into the daily lives of Calgary&rsquo;s Religious sisters. It was such a unique experience. I learned far more than I would have otherwise, even from conversations or online.&rdquo;&nbsp; ~Participant</blockquote>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55235560614-81cbb06eab-c_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Sr. Azenette read the Scripture for the Mass.</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55235461673-9f9ae6ae52-k_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">The Providence Sisters spoke to the young women.</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/published/55235462013-9482cec2ad-k.jpg?1777356020" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Providence Sisters&rsquo; dining room.</div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Then, onto the bus. Tony, our driver, stayed with us the whole day and heard us praying the Rosary between each convent stop.<br /><br />Our second stop was the Daughters of Mary, Mother of the Church, where we were treated to an interesting talk about their missionary work and given snacks to take along on our journey. Happily, the three Sisters joined us for the rest of the pilgrimage, bringing our number of Sisters to seven.<br /></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55235722190-913935f210-k_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">At the convent for the Daughters of Mary Sisters (DM). Sr. Emelyn spoke to the young women.</div> </div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:65.280898876404%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Our third stop was the Monastery of the Precious Blood. These Sisters are the ones who make the hosts for Holy Communion, especially in our diocese. In their chapel, we prayed the Liturgy of the Hours, Daytime Prayer. This was a new experience for many of the young women, but part of our daily life as consecrated women.<br />&#8203;<br />The Sisters then welcomed us into their dining room for a delicious lunch and spoke about their mission of prayer for the whole world.&nbsp;</div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:34.719101123596%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <blockquote>This trip was amazing; my favourite part was the midday prayers with the Sisters at the Precious Blood and the amazing lunch they provided us.&rdquo; ~Lily K</blockquote>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55235560549-8fd9092647-k_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">At the Precious Blood Monastery. This was the chapel where we prayed the Liturgy of the Hours.</div> </div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55235721830-93a8e3c3c4-k_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Lunch in the Precious Blood Sisters&rsquo; dining room.</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55235461893-8333c75b9e-k_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">After navigating the monastery&rsquo;s challenging driveway, we arrived at the Dominican Sisters in northwest Calgary. The Sisters took us through their daycare for young children and then over to the parish church, where they shared about the central place of the Eucharist in the life of consecrated women.<br />&#8203;<br />As one participant later shared, &ldquo;I liked that I learned not just about the seven convents, but also what they do. The Dominicans run a daycare?!&rdquo;</div>  <blockquote>It was our joy to welcome young women and sisters visiting Calgary religious communities today and to share about our Dominican charism and ministry! Let us keep them in our prayers and let us pray for vocations!" ~Dominican Sisters, Calgary<br /></blockquote>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:58.988764044944%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/679078711-122364890210007176-7762695961807836949-n_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:41.011235955056%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/679544125-122364890306007176-3963007606273401938-n_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Praying at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Calgary</div> </div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:right"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/679973546-122364890216007176-1392276058091542695-n_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">At the convent for the Dominican Sisters, Calgary, visiting their daycare for young children.</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">A short trip into Bowness brought us to the Adoration chapel of the Sisters of Divine Mercy. We were blessed with time to pray with the Sisters, including the Divine Mercy Chaplet and a period of quiet adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.</div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55235722000-4f885aca3a-k_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Sr. Katrina spoke to the young women at their Divine Mercy Chapel</div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">We then left the city of Calgary and made our way to the country home of the Seeds of the Word community. There, we were welcomed with more snacks and a dynamic talk on Lectio Divina. A special gift for each participant was a copy of their 2026 Lectio Divina Compendium.</div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:44.831460674157%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55234411447-2402f29cd2-k_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Seeds of the Word Community - Dining Room</div> </div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55235461713-ad59220ab8-k_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Seeds of the Word Community Chapel</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:55.168539325843%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55235461603-e6efec4a87-k_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">A presentation on the Mission of the Seeds of the Word</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">We left the Seeds of the Word Sisters there and continued on to Airdrie, to the newly acquired convent of the Gilbertine Sisters. The Sisters, who belong to the Personal Ordinariate and are in the process of establishing their community, shared about their life and charism. Before we departed to return to the Providence Sisters&rsquo; convent, they graciously provided us with a delicious take-home pasta supper.</div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:61.685393258427%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55234409362-c795215764-k_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">At the convent for the Gilbertine Sisters, Airdrie.</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:38.314606741573%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55235459448-e383dd0b6a-k_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55234409347-f5eba64c77-k-1_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:75.280898876404%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">&#8203;It was a joy to spend the day with young women and Sisters together exploring the Consecrated life here in our Diocese. As one participant shared, &ldquo;Getting to see such a variety of religious communities, and yet the love and joy they all share, was truly a gift. And the Sisters spoiled us with food!&rdquo;&nbsp;<br /><br />Lily also shared, &ldquo;All of the convents opened their hearts and homes to us. The love and devotion to Jesus were incredible. You can see the love and light of God within all of their hearts.&rdquo;<br /><br />&#8203;&ldquo;I hope this event happens again, so I am able to do it all over again!&rdquo;</div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:24.719101123596%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <blockquote>Sisters, thank you for your &lsquo;yes-es.&rsquo; Joy and peace radiate from all of you.&rdquo; ~Participant</blockquote>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The grace of a priestly vocation, and the challenge of shepherding]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/the-grace-of-a-priestly-vocation-and-the-challenge-of-shepherding]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/the-grace-of-a-priestly-vocation-and-the-challenge-of-shepherding#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 02:17:51 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Parish life]]></category><category><![CDATA[priesthood]]></category><category><![CDATA[vocations]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/the-grace-of-a-priestly-vocation-and-the-challenge-of-shepherding</guid><description><![CDATA[																					&#8203;&#8203;On April 26, the Church celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday, which is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Since 1964, at the initiative of Pope Saint Paul VI, the Fourth Sunday of Easter has been a privileged moment for the whole Church to pray that the Lord may send shepherds formed according to the heart of Christ.&nbsp;For me, this day carries a very personal meaning. Twenty-seven years ago, on this same weekend, I experienced a moment in which the call  [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;">	<table class="wsite-multicol-table">		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody">			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr">				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:78.089887640449%; padding:0 15px;">											<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">&#8203;&#8203;<span>On April 26, the Church celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday, which is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Since 1964, at the initiative of Pope Saint Paul VI, the Fourth Sunday of Easter has been a privileged moment for the whole Church to pray that the Lord may send shepherds formed according to the heart of Christ.</span><br /><span>&nbsp;</span><br /><span>For me, this day carries a very personal meaning. Twenty-seven years ago, on this same weekend, I experienced a moment in which the call to the priesthood became clear to me, something that, until then, had never been part of my horizon.<br /><br />What gave that moment even greater weight was that, the day before, I had dreamed of the Pope calling me to the priesthood, and at Mass that Sunday, I discovered that the Church was celebrating Good Shepherd Sunday and the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, with the whole Church praying for vocations with a prayer written by the Pope. I did not even know that this day existed. That sequence of events marked me deeply and became the turning point of my life. For this reason, Good Shepherd Sunday has become for me, in a real sense, the celebration of my vocation.</span><br /><span>&nbsp;</span><br /><span>As the Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the Gospel proclaimed on this Sunday gives particular depth to this moment. In John 10, the liturgy places before us the image of Christ the Good Shepherd: the Shepherd who knows His sheep, calls them by name, leads them, and gives His life for them. This Gospel passage opens before us one of the deepest meanings of the priestly call: to be configured to Christ the Shepherd.</span><br /><span>&nbsp;</span><br /><span>The Church&rsquo;s teaching helps us understand this mystery more deeply. The Second Vatican Council, in </span><em><span>Presbyterorum Ordinis</span></em><span>, teaches that priests, through sacred ordination and the mission received from the bishops, are placed at the service of Christ the Teacher, Priest, and King-Shepherd. They share in His ministry so that the Church may be built up as the People of God, the Body of Christ, and the Temple of the Holy Spirit. This is not only a description of what the priest does. It reveals what the priest receives sacramentally: a participation in the mission of Christ Himself.</span><br /><span>&nbsp;</span><br /><span>Saint John Paul II gives this teaching a deeper theological expression in the Apostolic Exhortation </span><em><span>Pastores Dabo Vobis</span></em><span>. The title itself recalls God&rsquo;s promise in Jeremiah: &ldquo;I will give you shepherds after my own heart.&rdquo; In this document, the priest is presented as sacramentally configured to Jesus Christ. The Directory for the Ministry and Life of Priests, issued by the Congregation for the Clergy, continues in the same direction. It states that the priest&rsquo;s identity, spirituality, and ongoing formation must deepen his relationship with Christ. For this reason, priestly ministry cannot be reduced to a religious profession, a function, or the administration of parish tasks. It receives its meaning from this sacramental configuration to Christ.</span><br /><span>&nbsp;</span><br /><span>From this sacramental configuration flows the priest&rsquo;s participation in the threefold mission of Christ, traditionally expressed through the three </span><em><span>munera</span></em><span>: </span><em><span>munus docendi</span></em><span>, the office of teaching; </span><em><span>munus sanctificandi</span></em><span>, the office of sanctifying; and </span><em><span>munus regendi</span></em><span>, the office of governing or shepherding. Through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, this mission is entrusted sacramentally. It is not an abstract mission. In the concrete life of a priest, it takes shape in teaching, sanctifying, and governing.</span>&#8203;</div><div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;">	<table class="wsite-multicol-table">		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody">			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr">				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:30.830674380113%; padding:0 15px;">											<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"><a><img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/screenshot-2026-04-27-at-9-00-02-pm_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /></a><div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div></div></div>									</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:36.731281916977%; padding:0 15px;">											<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"><a><img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/screenshot-2026-04-27-at-9-01-40-pm_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /></a><div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div></div></div>									</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:32.43804370291%; padding:0 15px;">											<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"><a><img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/screenshot-2026-04-27-at-9-00-50-pm_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /></a><div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div></div></div>									</td>			</tr>		</tbody>	</table></div></div></div><div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span>Among these three dimensions, the mission of governing often becomes the greatest challenge. The service of sanctifying is exercised through the celebration of the sacraments, according to the Church&rsquo;s liturgical tradition. The task of teaching is rooted in the Word of God, theological formation, and the Magisterium of the Church. But the office of governing is more complex and requires attentive discernment in the concrete matters that affect the life of the parish community.</span><br /><br />&#8203;<span>This careful pastoral attention to parish life is necessary because a parish is not simply an organization to be managed, but a living portion of the People of God, formed by many individuals, ministries, expectations, concerns, hopes, and different ways of understanding community life. In this light, the office of governing finds its proper form in pastoral leadership: fostering communion, guiding, protecting unity, organizing, correcting when necessary, and sometimes making difficult decisions for the good of the whole parish community. This responsibility must always be exercised as service, the service of the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.</span></div><div id="316649581837159155"><div><style type="text/css">	#element-36270133-3cec-43ec-83d4-b0db36967119 .waddons_vert_divider {  display: none;}#element-36270133-3cec-43ec-83d4-b0db36967119 .waddons_vertical_divider_column {  -webkit-box-sizing: border-box;  -moz-box-sizing: border-box;  box-sizing: border-box;}</style><div id="element-36270133-3cec-43ec-83d4-b0db36967119" data-platform-element-id="258444806761150995-1.0.1" class="platform-element-contents">	<div class="waddons_vert_divider">Vertical Divider</div></div><div style="clear:both;"></div></div></div>									</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:21.910112359551%; padding:0 15px;">											<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"><a><img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/fr-fabio-4-416x416_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /></a><div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div></div></div><div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;">Written by Fr. Fabio DeSouza, Pastor of St. Peter's Parish, Calgary</div>									</td>			</tr>		</tbody>	</table></div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[2026 Family & Life Week (May 10-17)]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/2026-family-life-week-may-10-17]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/2026-family-life-week-may-10-17#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:49:59 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[CCCB]]></category><category><![CDATA[Children]]></category><category><![CDATA[family]]></category><category><![CDATA[Prayer]]></category><category><![CDATA[Youth and Young Adults]]></category><category><![CDATA[Youth Ministry]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/2026-family-life-week-may-10-17</guid><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;I am with you always.&rdquo;&nbsp;(Matthew 28:20)&nbsp;Christ&rsquo;s words at the time of his Ascension serve as this year&rsquo;s theme for&nbsp;National Family and Life Week&nbsp;2026,&nbsp;which begins on Sunday, May 10, and concludes on Sunday, May 17.Families, parishes and parish groups, ecclesial movements and associations, as well as Catholic schools, are encouraged to take time this week to celebrate their own families, express gratitude, offer forgiveness, or share meaningful mo [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-weight:700">&ldquo;I am with you always.&rdquo;</span>&nbsp;(Matthew 28:20)&nbsp;Christ&rsquo;s words at the time of his Ascension serve as this year&rsquo;s theme for&nbsp;National Family and Life Week&nbsp;2026,<span style="font-weight:700">&nbsp;</span>which begins on <strong>Sunday, May 10, and concludes on Sunday, May 17.</strong><br /><br />Families, parishes and parish groups, ecclesial movements and associations, as well as Catholic schools, are encouraged to take time this week to celebrate their own families, express gratitude, offer forgiveness, or share meaningful moments with loved ones across generations.&nbsp;This week is an opportunity to uphold the value of life and to live out our calling to love one another within our homes, communities, and the world.<br /><br />May Christ&rsquo;s enduring presence bring us consolation, hope and renewal, as we journey with him in prayer and through the Sacraments, in the knowledge that we are never truly alone. God is with us always &ldquo;to the end of the age.&rdquo;<ul><li><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lCcfj7ASegPetiFKgIuAHb9gyt4oBfKB?usp=sharing"><span><em>Download, print, and share the #NFLW2026 Pastoral Resource Toolkit!<br />&#8203;</em></span></a></li></ul></div>  <div class="wsite-youtube" style="margin-bottom:10px;margin-top:10px;"><div class="wsite-youtube-wrapper wsite-youtube-size-auto wsite-youtube-align-center"> <div class="wsite-youtube-container">  <iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/UCWllROedhI?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pope Leo's appeals for peace]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/popeleo_appealsforpeace]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/popeleo_appealsforpeace#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:01:06 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pray for Peace]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/popeleo_appealsforpeace</guid><description><![CDATA[In light of recent public commentary surrounding the Holy Father&rsquo;s appeals for peace, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops&rsquo; (CCCB) Communications Service wishes to reiterate several principles of Catholic teaching that remain especially relevant in times of war and international tension.&nbsp;&#8203;Pope Leo&rsquo;s witness in such moments is moral and pastoral, not partisan. His words remind the world that peace is never advanced by contempt, that leadership requires restrain [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">In light of recent public commentary surrounding the Holy Father&rsquo;s appeals for peace, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops&rsquo; (CCCB) Communications Service wishes to reiterate several principles of Catholic teaching that remain especially relevant in times of war and international tension.<span>&nbsp;<br />&#8203;</span><ul><li>Pope Leo&rsquo;s witness in such moments is moral and pastoral, not partisan. His words remind the world that peace is never advanced by contempt, that leadership requires restraint, and that the suffering of innocent people should always be avoided as much as possible.<span>&nbsp;</span></li></ul><span>&#8203;</span><ul><li><span><span>Catholic teaching holds that war is subject to strict conditions of moral legitimacy. The use of force cannot be presumed to be just </span><em>a priori</em><span>; it must satisfy grave and demanding criteria, and may be considered only as a last resort. Even where force is judged permissible, the protection of civilians remains a fundamental obligation. The destruction of essential civilian infrastructure and the resulting suffering of non-combatants are to be avoided.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></li></ul></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><ul><li>&#8203;&#8203;It is also important to recall that imagery or rhetoric presenting political leaders in terms that belong uniquely to Christ and His saving work is wholly unfitting. In addition to being disrespectful, such representations blur the proper distinction between faith and political power, distorting the meaning of both.<span>&nbsp;</span></li></ul><br />As a Catholic institution with a national mandate, the CCCB does not intervene in the internal political affairs of other countries. At the same time, recent events make it opportune to underscore the moral principles that should inform public life everywhere, including truthfulness, humility, reverence, and concern for the innocent.<span>&nbsp;</span><br /><br />The faithful in Canada are encouraged to continue praying for the Holy Father, for peace among nations, and for all who suffer because of war.<span>&nbsp;<br /><br />Source: <a href="https://www.cccb.ca/media-release/reflection-on-the-holy-fathers-call-for-peace-human-dignity-and-moral-responsibility-in-public-life/" target="_blank">Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops</a></span></div>  <div><div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/published/cq5dam-thumbnail-cropped-750-422.jpg?1776752328" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Photo: Vatican News</div> </div></div>  <h2 class="wsite-content-title">Resources</h2>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">At his first Easter <em>Urbi et Orbi</em>, Pope Leo XIV pleaded: "Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!" - <a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/messages/urbi/documents/20260405-urbi-et-orbi-pasqua.html" target="_blank">Read more</a><br />&#8203;<ul><li>On April 11, he led a worldwide Prayer Vigil for Peace from St. Peter's Basilica, reminding the faithful that "prayer is not a refuge in which to hide from our responsibilities, nor an anesthetic to numb the pain provoked by so much injustice. Rather, it is the most selfless, universal and transformative response to death: we are a people who are already risen!" Read: <a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/homilies/2026/documents/20260411-rosario-pace.html" target="_blank">Prayer Vigil for Peace, 11 April 2026.</a>&nbsp;His ongoing appeal has been simple and direct: "Pray for peace, work for peace, less hatred." (Vatican News, 4 March<a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-03/pope-leo-xiv-work-for-peace-and-seek-solutions-without-weapons.html" target="_blank"> 2026)</a><br /><a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/homilies/2026/documents/20260411-rosario-pace.html" target="_blank">&#8203;&#8203;</a></li><li>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P81.HTM">Catechism of the Catholic Church: Safeguarding Peace<br />&#8203;</a></li></ul> We invite all the faithful to heed the Holy Father's call and to pray for an end to war, for the protection of innocent life, and for the conversion of hearts.</div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Help not Harm: Campaign update]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/help-not-harm-campaign-update]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/help-not-harm-campaign-update#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:42:11 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Euthanasia]]></category><category><![CDATA[family]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seniors]]></category><category><![CDATA[Social Justice]]></category><category><![CDATA[you matter]]></category><category><![CDATA[Youth and Young Adults]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/help-not-harm-campaign-update</guid><description><![CDATA[       The vote on Bill C-218, the Right to Recover Act is approaching, expected in late May or early June, and your voice still matters.Bill C-218 would amend the Criminal Code to prevent Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) from being offered to individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness. If this bill does not pass, that door opens on March 17, 2027. As Catholics, we believe those suffering from mental illness deserve care, hope, and accompaniment - not death.  This Monday,  [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a href='https://www.helpnotharmcanada.ca/' target='_blank'> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/help-not-hard-apr-20-choose-care-not-death2_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">The vote on Bill C-218, the Right to Recover Act is approaching, expected in late May or early June, and your voice still matters.<br /><br />Bill C-218 would amend the Criminal Code to prevent Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) from being offered to individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness. If this bill does not pass, that door opens on March 17, 2027. As Catholics, we believe those suffering from mental illness deserve care, hope, and accompaniment - not death.</div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">This Monday, April 20, 2026, His Eminence Frank Cardinal Leo sent letters <a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/letter_to_prime_minister_carney_-_bill_c-218_-_april_20_2026.pdf" target="_blank">to Prime Minister Mark Carney</a> and <a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/letter_to_mps_-_bill_c-218_-_april_20_2026.pdf" target="_blank">to every Member of Parliament</a> in the Archdiocese of Toronto, urging them to support Bill C-218. Cardinal Leo called on our elected leaders to choose investments in palliative care and mental health supports over the further expansion of assisted suicide in Canada. These letters have been made public and represent a significant moment of witness for the Church in Canada.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">More than 5,000 Canadians have already emailed their MP through the <a href="https://www.helpnotharmcanada.ca/" target="_blank">Help Not Harm</a> portal. Here in southern Alberta, hundreds of voices from our diocese have been part of that effort. But with the vote weeks away, now is the moment to act - or to encourage someone you know to do so.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">We invite you to learn more about this important issue and to lend your voice.&nbsp;Visiting&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.helpnotharmcanada.ca/" target="_blank">HelpNotHarmCanada.ca</a><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&nbsp;takes less than three minutes.&nbsp;You can also read our earlier post on the campaign&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/help-not-harm">here</a><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">We are called to offer care, hope, and protection to those who are most vulnerable. Please act today.</span></div>  <div style="text-align:center;"><div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden;"></div> <a class="wsite-button wsite-button-small wsite-button-normal" href="https://www.helpnotharmcanada.ca/" target="_blank"> <span class="wsite-button-inner">HELP NOT HARM - MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD</span> </a> <div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden;"></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bishop Scott McCaig: All are called to evangelize]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/bishop-scott-mccaig-all-are-called-to-evangelize]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/bishop-scott-mccaig-all-are-called-to-evangelize#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:38:31 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/bishop-scott-mccaig-all-are-called-to-evangelize</guid><description><![CDATA[Bishop Scott McCaig, CC imparted key foundational principles and practical advice about sparking evangelistic revitalization through his keynote speeches at the Diocese of Calgary&rsquo;s first-ever renewal conference on April 17 and 18 at St. Michael&rsquo;s church in Calgary.The 60-year-old shepherd of the Roman Catholic Military Ordinariate of Canada delivered four presentations to more than 700 Catholics from Calgary and surrounding southern Alberta communities over the two-day summit.&#8203 [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Bishop Scott McCaig, CC imparted key foundational principles and practical advice about sparking evangelistic revitalization through his keynote speeches at the Diocese of Calgary&rsquo;s first-ever renewal conference on April 17 and 18 at St. Michael&rsquo;s church in Calgary.<br /><br />The 60-year-old shepherd of the Roman Catholic Military Ordinariate of Canada delivered four presentations to more than 700 Catholics from Calgary and surrounding southern Alberta communities over the two-day summit.<br />&#8203;<br />He declared in his opening talk that believers must not forget how the Almighty God is also &ldquo;madly in love with us,&rdquo; emphasizing that &ldquo;genuine evangelization is a response to the love of God.&rdquo; Any outreach not deriving from love &ldquo;devolves into corporate strategy.&rdquo;</div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55216056883-909e1f93f6-o_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Bishop Scott McCaig, CC</div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Tapping into his love for history and his military ties, McCaig shared a story about how the Canadian troops, widely acknowledged as formidable, suffered a disastrous defeat during the 1942 Dieppe Raid in northern France because they were using tactics better suited for the First World War. They had not yet adapted their battle plans to the new Second World War terrain, a mistake remedied in time for the 1944 D-Day landing at Juno Beach.<br /><br />A key adaptation Catholics and Christians must make, said McCaig, is that &ldquo;Christendom is long gone.&rdquo; Economic, political and social life are no longer inspired by Gospel values, and &ldquo;we are now in a new apostolic age.&rdquo;<br /><br />The former General Superior of the Companions of the Cross advocated responding to the new landscape by giving primacy to the kerygma, a Greek term for the core apostolic proclamation of Jesus Christ&rsquo;s death, resurrection and salvific love for each of His children. A Church operating &ldquo;in a kerygmatic key,&rdquo; he said, stresses relationship with God.<br /><br />&ldquo;Our understanding of the sacraments, catechesis and community is all rooted in the kerygma, a relationship to the living God, who is reaching into our lives and speaking to us, empowering us, loving us and reconciling us,&rdquo; said McCaig.<br /><br />&#8203;Advancing the New Evangelization is not solely the province of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy. McCaig delved into the laity&rsquo;s essential role in this unfolding mission. He stressed the need for each Catholic in attendance to discover the gifts the Holy Spirit indwelled in each of them &mdash; also known as charisms &mdash; and use them to build up the Church and serve others. &nbsp;<br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&ldquo;If you were made to fulfill certain good works in this world, and as the charisms allow you to do it, don&rsquo;t you think it&rsquo;s kind of important to find out what they are? This would seem to be pretty fundamental,&rdquo; said McCaig.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">He added that &ldquo;Charisms manifest the creativity of the Holy Spirit,&rdquo; and, in truth, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s the Holy Spirit who is the principal agent of evangelization.&rdquo;</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">Statistically, McCaig said, the most effective way to evangelize is relational, the people in your life with whom you should have a foundation of trust &mdash; family, friends, neighbours and co-workers &mdash; but you must be with them beyond their initial moment of spiritual curiosity and conversion.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&ldquo;You have to walk with them,&rdquo; said McCaig. &ldquo;You evangelize somebody, you&rsquo;re taking on the responsibility to walk with them and pastorally accompany them. You invite somebody to an Alpha course, go with them and sit with them. When they are ready, invite them to Mass and ask them to sit with your family.&rdquo;</span><br /></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55215034672-352c5bfbec-o_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:38.089887640449%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55220609738-da90304a84-k_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Dr. Bonnie Annicchiarico, MC</div> </div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55215031977-f52fec4c46-o_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:61.910112359551%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55215005662-e4903aef1f-o_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55215033177-024b394e4b-o_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:42.921348314607%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55216058998-f97ef1d0eb-o_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Luke Wolny, St. Mary's High School student, gave his testimony.</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:57.078651685393%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55216152799-b28111c7d2-o_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Nick Simoni, St. Mary's High School Chaplain, on "How to build your testimony"</div> </div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55215937846-2202efd220-o_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55215937721-c3fa437af0-o_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55215034912-b0d01833ca-o_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Ed Zadeiks, Alpha Canada</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55215900036-3eb3faf1f7-o_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Ryan Schmidt, Director of Renewal</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Regarding Alpha, the popular 11-week course that introduces people to the basics of the Christian faith in a non-judgmental environment, the national director of Alpha in a Catholic Context, Ed Zadeiks, appeared at the conference. He shared stories about people who became Christians, or returned to Christianity, through the program. The Vancouver Catholic also touted the program&rsquo;s success rate.<br /><br />&ldquo;Fifty per cent of people who come through Alpha have a transformative experience and want to go deeper and enter RCIA or go deeper in the Catholic faith,&rdquo; said Zadeiks.<br />&#8203;<br />Dan and Mary Olberg, a Calgary-based couple who serve as Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO) missionaries, demonstrated how to evangelize the spiritually curious through the CCO booklet &ldquo;The Ultimate Relationship.&rdquo; McCaig later mentioned how he often bestows this resource on people he encounters during his travels.</div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:49.438202247191%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:40px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55215929876-c68a6baf47-o_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Dan and Mary Olberg, CCO Missionaries</div> </div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55214740515-ec54eb3697-o_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:50.561797752809%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/55214497308-8889e6cedd-o_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Ryan Schmidt, the Diocese of Calgary&rsquo;s director of pastoral renewal, declared during the conference that since the diocese began its renewal on Oct. 4, 2023, 48 member parishes have now established fully-fledged pastoral renewal teams and a grand total of 1,000 renewal action items have been proposed.<br />&#8203;<br />The three pillars of the diocesan renewal are forming missionary disciples in Christ, being a Church of encounter, and witness and strengthening family life.</div>  <div><div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div class="paragraph">Written by Quinton Amundson/<a href="https://www.catholicregister.org/item/3770-all-are-called-to-evangelize-bishop-tells-calgary-renewal-conference" target="_blank">The Catholic Register</a>. Photography: Victor Panlilio/Diocese of Calgary.</div>  <div style="text-align:center;"><div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden;"></div> <a class="wsite-button wsite-button-small wsite-button-normal" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/calgarydiocese/albums/72177720333201757" target="_blank"> <span class="wsite-button-inner">MORE PHOTOS</span> </a> <div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden;"></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[From stress to success for Elizabeth House]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/from-stress-to-success-for-elizabeth-house]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/from-stress-to-success-for-elizabeth-house#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:29:28 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Elizabeth House]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fundraising]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/from-stress-to-success-for-elizabeth-house</guid><description><![CDATA[&ldquo;It was a bit stressful trying something for the first time. There seemed to be a lot at stake,&rdquo; said Cathy Sandau, reflecting on the very first&nbsp;Blooms &amp; Blossoms&nbsp;&nbsp;Fundraising Dinner in support of Elizabeth House.That first evening brought 150 people together at the Calgary Italian Centre. Held in the newly renovated ballroom and filled with flowers and greenery, the dinner featured delicious food, wine, and a joyful atmosphere. Guests also heard from one of Elizab [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&ldquo;It was a bit stressful trying something for the first time. There seemed to be a lot at stake,&rdquo; said Cathy Sandau, reflecting on the very first&nbsp;</span><em style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)"><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blooms.html" target="_blank">Blooms &amp; Blossoms</a></em><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&nbsp;Fundraising Dinner in support of Elizabeth House.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">That first evening brought 150 people together at the Calgary Italian Centre. Held in the newly renovated ballroom and filled with flowers and greenery, the dinner featured delicious food, wine, and a joyful atmosphere. Guests also heard from one of Elizabeth House&rsquo;s founders, Sister Pat Derbyshire, along with a testimonial from a former resident.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/from-shelter-to-strength-elles-story-of-hope" target="_blank">Stories like Elle&rsquo;s</a><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&nbsp;reveal why evenings like this matter. As one of Elizabeth House&rsquo;s first residents, Elle arrived as a teenager with no home, no support, and no clear path forward. Through the care and guidance she received, she gained not only shelter, but the tools to build a future for herself and her daughter, a transformation she still attributes to the support of Elizabeth House today.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">The evening also featured a silent auction, generously supported by organizations across industries, from spa services to home renovations. Guests responded enthusiastically, often bidding beyond the listed value.&nbsp;A friendly Kahoot competition also added a fun touch to the evening, with a prize for the winning table.</span></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/img-1903_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">L-R: Cathy Sandau, Karen Diederichs, Candy Lam, and Michelle Haywood</div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Following the success of last year&rsquo;s event, the newly formed Friends of Elizabeth House Foundation has taken on <em><a href="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blooms.html" target="_blank">Blooms &amp; Blossoms</a></em>. The goal this year is to double the impact. Funds raised will go toward adding much-needed closet organization to each bedroom. As residents can stay for up to two years, their needs grow alongside their child, and these improvements will support them for years to come.<br /><br />&ldquo;Elizabeth House is such an amazing cause. In creating Blooms and Blossoms, we are committing to the goal of the House, changing lives, two generations at a time,&rdquo; said Sandau.</div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:35.393258426966%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a href='https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/blooms-and-blossoms-fundraising-dinner' target='_blank'> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/cff38ed2-59b4-42b0-a792-7c644ef38ebf_orig.webp" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:64.606741573034%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">Join us for an evening of good food, live music, and community in support of Elizabeth House. Gather with others who share a desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of mothers and their children.</span><ul style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)"><li><strong>Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 6 pm</strong></li><li><strong>Calgary Italian Centre |&nbsp;</strong><strong>416 1 Ave NE, Calgary</strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/blooms-and-blossoms-fundraising-dinner" target="_blank">Get tickets here</a>&nbsp;(per person or per table)</strong></li></ul><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">Your presence helps continue the work of Elizabeth House, supporting practical improvements that meet the growing needs of its residents.&nbsp;</span><br />&#8203;</div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[National Volunteers Week 2026]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/national-volunteers-week-2026]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/national-volunteers-week-2026#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:18:32 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Discipleship]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parish life]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/national-volunteers-week-2026</guid><description><![CDATA[       This year, as we mark the Year of St. Francis and celebrate National Volunteer Week, we are drawn again to a simple and challenging call: serve one another humbly in love (Galatians 5:13). St. Francis showed us that renewal in the Church begins not with grand plans, but with small, faithful acts of love lived each day.&#8203;In our parishes, this is already happening. In quiet acts of service, in faithful presence, and in generosity often unseen, our volunteers help make Christ known. Thr [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/thank-you-volunteers-1-2026_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">This year, as we mark the Year of St. Francis and celebrate National Volunteer Week, we are drawn again to a simple and challenging call: serve one another humbly in love (Galatians 5:13). St. Francis showed us that renewal in the Church begins not with grand plans, but with small, faithful acts of love lived each day.<br />&#8203;<br />In our parishes, this is already happening. In quiet acts of service, in faithful presence, and in generosity often unseen, our volunteers help make Christ known. Through their willingness to serve where needed, they foster a spirit of welcome, reverence, and care that shapes the life of our communities.<br /><br /><em>To our volunteers and parish ministers: </em>Thank you for your steady and faithful witness. In a time when the Church is called to renewal and mission, your service becomes a concrete expression of the Gospel. You show us that the call of every baptized person is not distant or abstract, but lived here and now, in love freely given.<br /><br />Please keep our volunteers and parish ministers in your prayers this week. You are invited to take a moment to share a note of thanks with those who serve in your parish, affirming their vital role in parish life and renewal.&nbsp;<br /></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The early impact of Multiply the Hope]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/the-early-impact-of-multiply-the-hope]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/the-early-impact-of-multiply-the-hope#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 04:41:26 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Fundraising]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parish life]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/the-early-impact-of-multiply-the-hope</guid><description><![CDATA[       When Multiply the Hope launched across the Diocese of Calgary in December, it was more than a fundraising initiative. Inspired by the Jubilee Year of Hope, it became a shared invitation to strengthen our parish communities and invest in their future.Just a few months in, the response has been strong.&nbsp;Through the generosity of parishioners and the support of the Diocese, more than $7 million has been raised in qualified matching funds, reaching over 58% of the overall campaign goal. A [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-hairline " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/year-1-slide-1_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">When <em>Multiply the Hope</em> launched across the Diocese of Calgary in December, it was more than a fundraising initiative. Inspired by the Jubilee Year of Hope, it became a shared invitation to strengthen our parish communities and invest in their future.<br /><br />Just a few months in, the response has been strong.&nbsp;Through the generosity of parishioners and the support of the Diocese, more than $7 million has been raised in qualified matching funds, reaching over 58% of the overall campaign goal. Already, 56 parishes are participating, with many others discerning how they may take part.<br /><br />At the heart of this initiative is something simple but powerful. Every dollar given to a parish&rsquo;s Building Fund or Repairs and Maintenance Fund is matched by the Diocese, up to each parish&rsquo;s goal. Each gift goes twice as far.</div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:40.112359550562%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-hairline " style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/screenshot-2026-04-13-at-10-45-51-pm_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:59.887640449438%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><strong><font size="5">A shared effort for parish renewal</font></strong><br /><br />Rather than focusing only on immediate needs, Multiply the Hope looks ahead. Some parishes are using this opportunity to reduce loan balances and ease financial burdens. Others are building up their Repairs and Maintenance Funds, preparing for the realities that come with caring for parish buildings over time.<br /><br />In both cases, the goal is the same: to help parishes become more sustainable so they can focus more fully on their mission: &ldquo;the essential mission of Christ: evangelization.&rdquo;<br /></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">Our parishes are more than buildings. They are spiritual homes for individuals and families, for newcomers, seniors, and those returning after time away. They are where the Eucharist is celebrated, where people encounter Christ, and where communities grow in faith and service.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">Yet many parishes carry financial pressures, whether through existing debt or the ongoing costs of maintaining their facilities. Multiply the Hope offers a way forward by easing these burdens and helping parishes plan with greater confidence.&nbsp;</span>&#8203;</div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><strong><font size="5">Looking ahead together</font></strong><br /><br />Participation across the Diocese continues to grow. Most participating parishes are already working toward or have completed their matching goals, reflecting both strong engagement and growing confidence in the initiative.<br /><br />Parishes are moving forward with long-awaited projects, strengthening spaces for worship and community life, and preparing responsibly for the future. For many, the matching component has made the difference, turning what once felt out of reach into something possible.<br /></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:63.707865168539%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Multiply the Hope continues through the end of 2027, and even though the initial response has been strong, $4.9M in matching funds remains available for parishes across the Diocese. Bishop McGrattan has encouraged each parish to take part in this once-in-a-generation initiative by fully embracing the campaign.&nbsp;<br />&#8203;<br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">In this season of Renewal, the invitation is simple: to strengthen our parish communities in hope. Together, we are helping ensure that our parishes remain places of encounter, belonging, and mission for generations to come.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">Ask your parish office how you can participate. To learn more, contact:&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.catholicyyc.ca/multiplythehope">&nbsp;www.catholicyyc.ca/multiplythehope</a><span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&nbsp; &#8203;</span></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:36.292134831461%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-hairline " style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/year-1-slide-5_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Congratulations, Dr. Scott Morrison!]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/congratulations-dr-scott-morrison]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/congratulations-dr-scott-morrison#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:33:28 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[St. Mary's University]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/congratulations-dr-scott-morrison</guid><description><![CDATA[ 	 		 			 				 					 						          					 								 					 						  We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Scott Morrison on his appointment as the fifth President and Vice-Chancellor of St. Mary's University in Calgary. Following an international search, Dr. Morrison was the unanimous choice of both the selection committee and the Board of Governors. As Board Chair Gary Strother noted, the unanimous support reflects full confidence in his leadership as St. Mary's continues advancing its vis [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:22.396416573348%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/st-mary-s-president-scott-peterson_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:77.603583426652%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Scott Morrison on his appointment as the fifth President and Vice-Chancellor of St. Mary's University in Calgary. Following an international search, Dr. Morrison was the unanimous choice of both the selection committee and the Board of Governors. As Board Chair Gary Strother noted, the unanimous support reflects full confidence in his leadership as St. Mary's continues advancing its vision of becoming the preeminent Catholic university in Canada.<br /><br />Dr. Morrison brings a wealth of experience to the role. Over his extensive career in education, he served for 10 years as Chief Superintendent of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools, supporting more than 10,000 students in southern Alberta, and has held leadership roles, including Executive Director of the Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta. A sought-after speaker and educator, he has spent 25 years delivering professional learning sessions across Alberta, with expertise in educational leadership, governance, and student well-being.&nbsp;<br /><br />His connection to St. Mary's runs deep. Dr. Morrison contributed as a sessional instructor for 17 years, helped shape both the Bachelor of Education and Master of Education programs, and chaired the Board of Governors' Governance and Nominating Committee for three years. He most recently served as Interim President since August 2025 before officially stepping into the permanent role on April 1, 2026.<br /><br />We wish Dr. Morrison every success as he leads St. Mary's University forward with integrity, vision, and a deep commitment to its students and mission.</div>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div class="wsite-youtube" style="margin-bottom:10px;margin-top:10px;"><div class="wsite-youtube-wrapper wsite-youtube-size-auto wsite-youtube-align-center"> <div class="wsite-youtube-container">  <iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/OuMfdLar5OQ?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Adoration hours in the Diocese of Calgary]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/adoration-hours-in-the-diocese-of-calgary]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/adoration-hours-in-the-diocese-of-calgary#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Prayer]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.catholicyyc.ca/blog/adoration-hours-in-the-diocese-of-calgary</guid><description><![CDATA[Monday9:30 am to 4 pm at Holy Spirit Parish, Calgary -&nbsp;holyspiritcalgary.com8:30 am to 4 pm, 7:30 pm to 9 pm - St. Luke's Church, Calgary -&nbsp;stlukeschurch.ca9:30 am to Midnight - St. Bonaventure Parish -&nbsp;stbonaventureparish.ca8&nbsp;am to 8&nbsp;pm - St. Michael's Catholic Community -&nbsp;saintmichael.ca&nbsp;​Tuesday8 am to 8&nbsp;pm at St. Michael's Catholic Community -&nbsp;saintmichael.ca8:30 am to 4 pm, 7:30 pm to 9 pm - St. Luke's Church, Calgary -&nbsp;stlukeschurch.ca9:3 [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none" style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"><a><img src="https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/adoration-du-saint-sacrement-a-l-eglise-du-sacre-coeur-de-monaco_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%"></a><div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div></div></div><div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"><table class="wsite-multicol-table"><tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"><tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"><td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:56.004489337823%; padding:0 15px;"><div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><strong><font size="5">Monday</font></strong><ul><li>9:30 am to 4 pm at Holy Spirit Parish, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://holyspiritcalgary.com/">holyspiritcalgary.com</a></li><li>8:30 am to 4 pm, 7:30 pm to 9 pm - St. Luke's Church, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://stlukeschurch.ca/">stlukeschurch.ca</a></li><li>9:30 am to Midnight - St. Bonaventure Parish -&nbsp;<a href="http://stbonaventureparish.ca/">stbonaventureparish.ca</a></li><li>8&nbsp;am to 8&nbsp;pm - St. Michael's Catholic Community -&nbsp;<a href="http://saintmichael.ca/">saintmichael.ca</a>&nbsp;&#8203;</li></ul><br><strong><font size="5">Tuesday</font></strong><ul><li>8 am to 8&nbsp;pm at St. Michael's Catholic Community -&nbsp;<a href="http://saintmichael.ca/">saintmichael.ca</a></li><li>8:30 am to 4 pm, 7:30 pm to 9 pm - St. Luke's Church, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://stlukeschurch.ca/">stlukeschurch.ca</a></li><li>9:30 am to Midnight - St. Bonaventure Parish -&nbsp;<a href="http://stbonaventureparish.ca/">stbonaventureparish.ca</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;Use NW entrance to access the chapel&nbsp;</li><li>9:30 am to 4 pm at Holy Spirit Parish, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://holyspiritcalgary.com/">holyspiritcalgary.com</a></li><li>2&nbsp;pm - 6:45 pm - St. Mary's, Brooks -&nbsp;<a href="http://saintmarysbrooks.com/">saintmarysbrooks.com</a></li><li>5 pm to 6 pm, followed by rosary prayer, and Mass at 6:30 pm - St. Gerard's, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="https://stgerards.ca/" target="_blank">stgerards.ca</a></li><li>6&nbsp;am to 8&nbsp;pm (Adoration Chapel) - St. Anthony Church, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://stanthonysyyc.ca/">stanthonysyyc.ca</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;Register&nbsp;<a href="https://stanthonysyyc.weadorehim.com/signup/adoremus" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to obtain the access code to the Adoration Chapel located in the back of the church off the North Parking lot. Access to the main church on Thursday is via the Office door off the South Parking lot.&nbsp;</li><li>7:30 pm to 8:30 pm, immediately following 7:00pm Mass, and ending with Benediction - St. Bernard's, Calgary -&nbsp;<strong><a href="http://www.stbernardsparish.ca/">stbernardsparish.ca</a></strong></li><li>7:30 pm, Adoration & Confession after the 7 pm mass till 10 pm at Assumption Church (All Saints, Lethbridge)&#8203; -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.allsaintslethbridge.org" target="_blank">allsaintslethbridge.org</a></li></ul><br><strong><font size="5">Wednesday</font></strong><ul><li>6&nbsp;am to 8 pm (Adoration Chapel) - St. Anthony's church -&nbsp;<a href="http://stanthonysyyc.ca/" target="_blank">stanthonysyyc.ca</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;Register&nbsp;<a href="https://stanthonysyyc.weadorehim.com/signup/adoremus" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to obtain the access code to the Adoration Chapel located in the back of the church off the North Parking lot. Access to the main church on Thursday is via the Office door off the South Parking lot.&nbsp;</li><li>8 am to 8&nbsp;pm - St. Michael's Catholic Community -&nbsp;<a href="http://saintmichael.ca/" target="_blank">saintmichael.ca</a></li><li>8:30 am to 4 pm, 7:30 pm to 9 pm - St. Luke's Church, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://stlukeschurch.ca/" target="_blank">stlukeschurch.ca</a></li><li>9:30 am to 4 pm at Holy Spirit Parish, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://holyspiritcalgary.com/" target="_blank">holyspiritcalgary.com</a></li><li>7 am to midnight - St. Bonaventure Parish -&nbsp;<a href="http://stbonaventureparish.ca/" target="_blank">stbonaventureparish.ca</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;Use NW entrance to access the chapel.&nbsp;</li><li>7:45 pm to 8:30 pm - St. Mary's Cathedral -&nbsp;<a href="http://stmaryscalgary.ca/" target="_blank">stmaryscalgary.ca</a>&nbsp;(not in July & August, will commence on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023)</li><li>Third Wednesday of the month - 1:00 pm - 6:45 pm (Main Sanctuary), 2:00 pm - 6:45 pm (Adoration chapel) - St. Mary's, Brooks -&nbsp;<a href="http://saintmarysbrooks.com/" target="_blank">saintmarysbrooks.com</a></li></ul><br><strong><font size="5">Thursday</font></strong><ul><li>8&nbsp;am to 8&nbsp;pm - St. Michael's Catholic Community -&nbsp;<a href="http://saintmichael.ca/" target="_blank">saintmichael.ca</a></li><li>8:30 am to 4 pm, 7:30 pm to 9 pm - St. Luke's Church, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://stlukeschurch.ca/" target="_blank">stlukeschurch.ca</a></li><li>9 am to 9&nbsp;pm - St. Francis De Sales Parish -&nbsp;<a href="http://francisdesaleshighriver.com/" target="_blank">francisdesaleshighriver.com</a></li><li>9:30 am to 4 pm at Holy Spirit Parish, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://holyspiritcalgary.com/" target="_blank">holyspiritcalgary.com</a></li><li>9:30 am to 5&nbsp;pm - St. Mary's, Brooks -&nbsp;<a href="http://saintmarysbrooks.com/" target="_blank">saintmarysbrooks.com</a></li><li>10&nbsp;am to 6&nbsp;pm (Main church) - St. Anthony's Church -&nbsp;<a href="http://stanthonysyyc.ca/" target="_blank">stanthonysyyc.ca</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;Register&nbsp;<a href="https://stanthonysyyc.weadorehim.com/signup/adoremus" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to obtain the access code to the Adoration Chapel located in the back of the church off the North Parking lot. Access to the main church on Thursday is via the Office door off the South Parking lot.&nbsp;&#8203;</li><li>12 am to midnight - St. Bonaventure Parish -&nbsp;<a href="http://stbonaventureparish.ca/" target="_blank">stbonaventureparish.ca</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;Use NW entrance to access the chapel.&nbsp;</li></ul><br><strong><font size="5">Friday</font></strong><ul><li>6&nbsp;am to 8&nbsp;pm (Adoration Chapel) - St. Anthony's church -&nbsp;<a href="http://stanthonysyyc.ca/" target="_blank">stanthonysyyc.ca</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;Register&nbsp;<a href="https://stanthonysyyc.weadorehim.com/signup/adoremus" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to obtain the access code to the Adoration Chapel located in the back of the church off the North Parking lot. Access to the main church on Thursday is via the Office door off the South Parking lot.&nbsp;</li><li>8&nbsp;am to 8&nbsp;pm - St. Michael's Catholic Community -&nbsp;<a href="http://saintmichael.ca/" target="_blank">saintmichael.ca</a></li><li>8:30 am to 6:45 pm and 7:30 pm to 9 pm - St. Luke's Church, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://stlukeschurch.ca/" target="_blank">stlukeschurch.ca</a></li><li>9 am to Noon - St. Peter's, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="https://st-peters.ca/" target="_blank">st-peters.ca</a></li><li>9:30&nbsp;am at Assumption (All Saints Parish, Lethbridge) untill 8 pm (teaching session at 7:15 pm, Benediction at 7:45 pm) - on First Friday of the month, and every Friday during Lent and Advent -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.allsaintslethbridge.org/" target="_blank">allsaintslethbridge.org</a></li><li>9:30 am - 10:30 am - <a href="https://holyfamilymh.ca/" target="_blank">Holy Family, Medicine Hat</a>; 9:30 am to 9:30 pm on First Fridays of the Month</li><li><span>9:30 am - 11 am, then from 6 pm - 8 pm (with &ldquo;Jubilee Confessions&rdquo; from 6 pm to 8 pm)&nbsp;</span> - Ascension Catholic Parish, Calgary - <a href="https://www.ascensionparish.ca/" target="_blank">ascensionparish.ca</a>&nbsp;</li><li>9:30 am to 4 pm at Holy Spirit Parish, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://holyspiritcalgary.com/" target="_blank">holyspiritcalgary.com</a></li><li>9:30 am to 6:00 pm - St. Cecilia Parish in Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://stceciliacalgary.com/" target="_blank">stceciliacalgary.com</a></li><li>9:30 am to 10 am - St James Church in Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="https://stjamescalgary.org/" target="_blank">stjamescalgary.org</a></li><li>9:30 am to 10:30 am - St. Albert the Great, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://stalbertthegreat.ca/" target="_blank">stalbertthegreat.ca</a></li><li>10 am t0 11 am - St. John the Evangelist, Calgary - <a href="https://sje.ordinariate.ca/" target="_blank">sje.ordinariate.ca</a></li><li>Noon to 1:30&nbsp;pm - St. Joseph's Church, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://stjosephcalgary.com/" target="_blank">stjosephcalgary.com</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>12:35 pm to 2:30 pm - Sacred Heart Church, Calgary - <a href="https://www.sacredheartcalgary.ca/" target="_blank">sacredheartcalgary.ca</a></li><li>1:30 pm to 3&nbsp;pm - St Gabriel, Chestermere -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.saintgabrielparish.ca/" target="_blank">saintgabrielparish.ca</a></li><li>3:30 pm to 4:45 pm - St. Mary's Cathedral -&nbsp;<a href="http://stmaryscalgary.ca/" target="_blank">stmaryscalgary.ca</a>&nbsp;(not in July & August, will commence on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023)</li><li>7&nbsp; am to midnight - St. Bonaventure Parish, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://stbonaventureparish.ca/" target="_blank">stbonaventureparish.ca</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;Use NW entrance to access the chapel.&nbsp;</li><li>First Friday of the month - 9 am to 5 pm - Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="https://mmredeemer.ca/" target="_blank">mmredeemer.ca</a></li><li>First Friday of the month - Mass at 9 am followed by Adoration until 10:10 am,&nbsp;ending with Benediction -&nbsp;St. Gerard's, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="https://stgerards.ca/" target="_blank">stgerards.ca</a></li><li>First Friday of the month - Mass at 9 am followed by <span><span>Adoration</span></span> until 10:45 am, ending with Benediction &ndash;&nbsp;Our Lady of the Assumption, Calgary -&nbsp;<strong><a href="http://www.stbernardsparish.ca/">stbernardsparish.ca</a></strong></li><li><span>First Friday of the month : 9:30 am to 2:00 pm (Main Sanctuary), 9:30 am to 2 pm(Adoration Chapel) - St. Mary's, Brooks -&nbsp;</span><a href="http://saintmarysbrooks.com/" target="_blank">saintmarysbrooks.com</a></li><li>First Friday of the month - 9:35 am - Noon (Main sanctuary) - St. Thomas More Parish, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://stthomasmore.ca/" target="_blank">stthomasmore.ca</a></li><li>First Friday of the month - 6&nbsp;pm - Our Lady Queen of Peace, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://queenpol.org/" target="_blank">queenpol.org</a></li></ul><br><strong><font size="5">Saturday</font></strong><ul><li>8&nbsp;am to 6&nbsp;pm (Adoration Chapel) - St. Anthony's Church -&nbsp;<a href="http://stanthonysyyc.ca/" target="_blank">stanthonysyyc.ca</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;Register&nbsp;<a href="https://stanthonysyyc.weadorehim.com/signup/adoremus" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to obtain the access code to the Adoration Chapel located in the back of the church off the North Parking lot. Access to the main church on Thursday is via the Office door off the South Parking lot.&nbsp;</li><li>8&nbsp;am to 8&nbsp;pm - St. Michael's Catholic Community -&nbsp;<a href="http://saintmichael.ca/" target="_blank">saintmichael.ca</a></li><li>9 am to 9:45 am - St. Peter's, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="https://st-peters.ca/" target="_blank">st-peters.ca</a></li><li>9:30 am to 4 pm at Holy Spirit Parish, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://holyspiritcalgary.com/" target="_blank">holyspiritcalgary.com</a></li><li>First and third Saturday - from 4 pm to 4:45 pm -<span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">&nbsp;St. John the Evangelist, Calgary -&nbsp;</span><a href="https://sje.ordinariate.ca/" target="_blank">sje.ordinariate.ca</a></li><li>First & third&nbsp;Saturday&nbsp;- from&nbsp;<span style="color:rgb(14, 67, 97)">4 pm to 4:45 pm&nbsp;</span>- Paroisse Sainte-Famille, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://www.saintefamille.ca/" target="_blank">saintefamille.ca</a></li><li>First Saturday - 5:15 pm - Our Lady Queen of Peace -&nbsp;<a href="http://queenpol.org/" target="_blank">queenpol.org</a></li><li>Overnight Adoration on&nbsp;First Saturday from 8 pm to Sunday 8 am&nbsp;-&nbsp;Holy Spirit Parish, Calgary -&nbsp;<a href="http://holyspiritcalgary.com/" target="_blank">holyspiritcalgary.com</a>&nbsp;Please use the far NW entrance to access the chapel.&nbsp;</li></ul><br><strong><font size="5">Sunday</font></strong><ul><li>8&nbsp;am to 3&nbsp;pm (Adoration Chapel) - St. Anthony's Church -&nbsp;<a href="http://stanthonysyyc.ca/" target="_blank">stanthonysyyc.ca</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;Register&nbsp;<a href="https://stanthonysyyc.weadorehim.com/signup/adoremus" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to obtain the access code to the Adoration Chapel located in the back of the church off the North Parking lot. Access to the main church on Thursday is via the Office door off the South Parking lot.&nbsp;</li><li>Noon to 8&nbsp;pm - St. Michael's Catholic Community -&nbsp;<a href="http://saintmichael.ca/" target="_blank">saintmichael.ca</a></li></ul><br>Note that hours may change without notice. Please contact the Parish Office if you are not sure.</div></td><td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:43.995510662177%; padding:0 15px;"><div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><strong><font size="4">40 Hours of Devotion <em>for</em> Vocations - Adoration</font></strong></div><div><div id="730152825824571312" align="left" style="width: 100%; overflow-y: hidden;" class="wcustomhtml"></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>