ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF CALGARY
  • Blog
  • About
  • Give
  • News & Events
  • Ministries
  • Contact Us
  • Parish Finder
Picture

2021 Sunday of the Word of God

1/18/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter, Motu proprio Aperuit illis published on September 30, 2019 establishes that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (January 24, 2021) is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God. 

  • Word of God Sunday Liturgical Suggestions - Download here
  • How to enthrone the Bible in your home? See leaflet here
  • Sunday of the Word of God resources from the Canadian Bible Society 
    ​Read the letter from The Canadian Bible Society who offers their full support for this inspiring initiative. The Canadian Bible Society have several excellent Catholic editions of the Bible available in a wide range of languages and approved translations, resources for the Sunday Lectionary Gospel of Mark, as well as Lectio Divina and other devotional tools.  
  • Note from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on the Word of God Sunday. The note highlights opportunities and practical suggestions for the Word of God Sunday celebration. Read here in English | French 
  • Current online offering of formation and events on scripture:
    • The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz (following the Great Adventure Bible Timeline with Jeff Cavins) - currently #1 in podcasts top chart. Tune in
    • The WORD 2021 International Catholic Bible Summit (Feb. 11-13) with speakers: Fr Mike Schmitz, Scott Hahn, Chris Stefanick etc. Learn more
    • Daily Lectio Divina with the Sisters of the Seeds of the Words in Calgary! This is a daily program, every morning at 7:30 am. Tune in via YouTube 
    • A reflection shared by Dr. Lance Dixon for the Sunday of the Word of God, 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B (Jan 24, 2021). Read now
    • Find more online scripture program/courses here 
  • St. Mary’s University in Calgary is home to a full-sized fine art reproduction of The Saint John’s Bible, the first handwritten and illuminated Bible in more than 500 years. Commissioned in 1998 by the Benedictine monks of Saint John’s Abbey and University in Minnesota, it was created by a team of scribes, artists and craftspeople in a scriptorium in Wales under the artistic direction of Donald Jackson, one of the world’s foremost calligraphers and the Scribe to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Reflecting the construction of its medieval predecessors, The Saint John’s Bible was written on vellum, using quills, natural handmade inks, hand-ground pigments and gold leaf while incorporating modern themes, images and technology of the 21st century. Learn more
0 Comments

St. Joseph, our guide in times of trouble

1/13/2021

1 Comment

 
Picture
Picture
​Hope — St. Joseph must have had a lot of it, leading his very pregnant wife through the hill country from Nazareth to Bethlehem to give birth to his son. I imagine it was an arduous journey filled with uncertainty. Sometimes amidst hard times, I’m tempted to let discouragement steal my hope; I forget that my circumstances will change in time.

I crawled over the 2020 finish line, exhausted and tired, only to be met with the dead of winter. January is an isolating month in the best of times, nevermind government sanctions restricting social contact. 

The reality is that life is hard for a lot of people right now; so much change and instability due to the ongoing pandemic. But what is unchanging is that our faith always gives us reason to hope. As Catholics, we carry the Good News of the Resurrection within us. With the eyes of faith, no time is wasted to perfect ourselves in love. And we can look to the great examples of the saints to help guide our path. 

In a special way this year, Pope Francis invites us to renew our hope by placing an emphasis on Our Lord’s foster father. He has declared Dec. 8, 2020 to Dec. 8 2021 — The Year of St. Joseph. 

What St. Joseph represents in my life is a husband and father who is a faithful, patient, humble, courageous protector. Joseph didn’t utter a single word in the Bible, rather he communicated volumes through his attentive presence.  

The Holy Father Pope Francis encourages each of us with these words found in his Apostolic Letter Patris Corde: “Each of us can discover in Joseph – the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence – an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble.”

My hope is to seize this opportunity to take a deeper dive into what St. Joseph’s secure, strong, safe, steadfast fatherly presence means in my life and the life of my family.

Our family has set a few goals for the coming year to get to know St. Joseph better, and grow in relationship with him. I hope a few of these ideas will inspire you to think of ways to discover the presence of St. Joseph in your life and keep you anchored in hope.  
  • Read the Holy Father’s Apostolic Letter Patris Corde 
  • Make a pilgrimage to St. Joseph’s Church in Calgary and/or St. Joseph’s Church in Vauxhall
  • Visit the St. Joseph Chapel at Our Lady Queen of the Rockies in Canmore.
  • Make a 33-day consecration to St. Joseph using the book Consecration to St. Joseph by Donald H. Calloway
  • Receive an indulgence 
  • Attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on the Solemnity of St. Joseph on March 19 as we mark the beginning the Year of the Family 
  • Attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on the Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1
  • Reflect on the importance of St. Joseph in the life of Canadian Saint Andre Bessette. 
  • Prepare a St. Joseph Table, according to the old Italian tradition. To find what this is all about and for more inspiring ideas visit: yearofstjoseph.org  


Written by Sara Francis for Faithfully
1 Comment

What do you long to do with all your heart?

1/13/2021

2 Comments

 
Picture
Sr. Dianne Turner
“Why did you become a Religious Sister?” I was recently asked this question by a young woman, and I thought: “How can I answer that in one sentence?”, knowing that we had a very limited time to speak. “It was because God called me,” I said. She responded, “I know what you mean. God called me, too.” I elaborated, “I fell in love with Jesus and wanted to give my whole life to Him.” 

I have often wondered why so few young women are becoming Religious Sisters. Is not God still calling young women like He called me? What do I need to do to help them open their hearts, to hear His Voice, and to answer as St. Francis of Assisi did when he heard the Lord call him to live the Gospel life: “This is what I long to do with all my heart!”  

I heard the call to give my life to the Lord when I was 16. In the very core of my being, I knew that the Lord wanted me for Himself and that all my incoherent longings would be fulfilled in Him. Since my call to be a Religious Sister was completely tied up with my newly identified Franciscan way of being, I read all that I could about St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi and was drawn more deeply into the way of life that would eventually lead to becoming Catholic and entering the Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth. 

Becoming familiar with the Scriptures and the lives of the Saints are extremely helpful ways to figure out what spiritual identity the Lord has given us. Spending time with Jesus is also essential in developing a life-giving relationship with Him. I used to take the family dog for a walk so that I could pray alone without anyone asking me what I was doing. The dog was most uninquisitive and non-judging. I would also recommend finding a quiet place that speaks to you of God. St. Francis liked to frequent caves in the hillside and deserted chapels. 

I also was blessed to have helpful spiritual people with whom I could talk about what was going on in my relationship with the Lord. Some of these were friends around my same age. Some were older people who helped to guide me in a good direction. Spending time with the Sisters, working alongside them, praying with them—these were all beneficial activities that aided my discernment that this was the community that the Lord wanted to me join. 

These Sisters were not young. I did not join these Sisters because they were young. They were vibrant, faith-filled women who had given their lives to the Lord, who were living their consecration in their ordered, stable, prayerful, loving, communal, hard-working, Franciscan way, and I loved them for it. 

So, I ask the young women who are reading this: What do you long to do with all your heart? 

Written by Sister Dianne Turner, OSE
Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth


Photo courtesy of Sr. Dianne Turner.
2 Comments

Why be a consecrated man or woman?

1/13/2021

1 Comment

 
Picture
Sr. Terry Smith, FCJ & Sr. Agnes Samosir, FCJ
In his homily for the World Day of Prayer for the Consecrated Life in 2020, Pope Francis said, "Men and women religious, who live to imitate Jesus, are called to bring their own gaze into the world, a gaze of compassion, a gaze that goes in search of those far-off; a gaze that does not condemn, but encourages, frees, consoles; a gaze of compassion." That Jesus had compassion on the people is something that we hear more than once in the gospels. 

The more we come to know Jesus through praying with the gospels, the more we recognize his compassionate love for us individually and for all the world. Young people who want to know God's plan for their lives would be helped in their discernment by placing themselves in Christ's loving gaze. There they can come to know more of who they are and the gifts that they could be using to 'encourage, free and console' others in the form of life that is their vocation. 

For myself, I grew up in a Catholic family in which prayer, participation in Mass and helping others nourished my faith. By Gr. 10, I was certain that God wanted me to be a Sister and since many of our teachers were Faithful Companions of Jesus and I was attracted by their way of living, I asked to enter in the middle of Gr. 11. The training I received to pray with Scripture and the courses I took over the years to understand the Bible more all enabled me to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus. By living the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in community, I have been gifted with countless experiences with people of different cultures in different countries. 

We religious pray often that more young men and women will hear God calling them to serve him through a lifetime of dedication as priests, brothers or sisters. If those young people feel drawn to a particular way of serving, they are encouraged to contact one or more of the communities in our diocese. They may find a sense of being at home when the spirit of a given community matches the gift of the individual. 

Please join us in prayer for vocations to the priesthood and religious life especially on February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, and on the weekend of Feb. 6-7, the World Day of Prayer for the Consecrated Life.

Picture
Written by Sr. Theresa Smith f.c.J.
To learn more about the ​Faithful Companions of Jesus Sisters, visit 
fcjsisters.org

Photos courtesy of the FCJ Sisters
1 Comment

Why I am a religious Sister today

1/13/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Sr. Ernestine with the Olympic torch at the U of C
Every call to religious life is personal. We all have our individual way of coming to know what we want for our life. For me, Sister Ernestine Miskolczi, SSS, this awareness happened very early in life. I remember very well that when I was about five years old while visiting relatives, three-year old twin girls were dressed up as nuns by the older girls. Being shy and perhaps a loner I was sitting on the stairs looking at the twins and thinking to myself that they will not be ‘nuns’ but I will.

During my growing-up years we had Sisters who would teach us catechism during the summer holidays. These Sisters seemed always happy and that is what I wanted for my life. My teachers during high-school were all Sisters who further impressed me and helped draw me to thinking about this life style for myself. Needless to say, there were some handsome young fellows who held my hand and touched my heart but could never draw me away from my first choice.

In high school I had come to know a couple different communities of religious life. The first one that I had come to know was the one that I chose to enter right out of high school. I grew up in the wide-open spaces on a farm in Saskatchewan with blue skies from horizon to horizon. When I entered the noviciate of the Sisters of Social Service I had to move to the big city of Hamilton. Wide open spaces were gone. Three months later we were going to see Niagara Falls; what joy filled my heart, I could be in the open spaces for a while. To my great disappointment we didn’t see much open space as there were buildings practically all the way to the Falls. I soon learned that religious life wasn’t all peaches and cream. It had its ups and downs as all life does.

For over sixty years of ministry in God’s service as a Sisters of Social Service I enjoyed twenty years of as a teacher in Ontario and Saskatchewan, thirty years of parish ministry in three different parishes in Calgary, and several years of volunteer work wherever I can.

I am blessed indeed in many ways. My other works took me to see the Holy Land twice, visits to Europe three times, to Mexico three times, Los Angeles seven times. Who can want for more?  

Picture
Written by Sr. Ernestine Miskolczi, SSS
For more information on Sisters of Social Service, visit: sistersofsocialservice.ca

Photos courtesy of Sr. Ernestine
0 Comments

Words from Sr. Mary Elisabeth

1/13/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Sr. Mary Elisabeth
February 2nd is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. It is also the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. To me, this feast meets a need to give praise and thank the Lord for the gift of the Consecrated people in the Church, which belongs to the sanctity of the Church, as Saint John Paul II once pointed out.

On this day the prayers of the entire Church are dedicated to every consecrated person, giving thanks to God the Father, giver of every good, for the gift of this vocation. This feast offers the opportunity to appreciate the testimony of those who have chosen to follow Christ through the practice of the evangelical counsels by promoting understanding and appreciation of the Consecrated Life within the People of God.

​This day is also, and above all, a day to renew our commitment and rekindle the feelings that inspired and continue to inspire the gift of ourselves to the Lord. Throughout the history of the Church, men and women religious have been a light in the darkness by living out their various charisms, and this day, we find a beautiful opportunity to thank the Lord for their gift to the Church.

Pope Benedict XVI once said: "In today’s feast we celebrate the mystery of consecration: the consecration of Christ, the consecration of Mary, the consecration of those who place themselves in the following of Jesus for love of the Kingdom of God." (Homily, February 2nd, 2012)

May Christ Jesus bless all of us on this beautiful feast and may He continue to call many to serve Him in the practice of the evangelical counsels with a heart full of joy to serve Him and only Him. 

Vivit vero in me Christus - Gal 2, 20

Written by Sr. Mary Elisabeth
Seeds of the Word in Calgary

Photo courtesy of Seeds of the Word

​
Daily Lectio Divina with the Sisters of the Seeds of the Words in Calgary! This is a daily program, every morning at 7:30 am. Tune in via YouTube
Picture
0 Comments

30 days of prayer to St. Joseph

1/12/2021

2 Comments

 
Picture
It was 2012. My then-girlfriend, Chelsea, had completed her BEd and had taught part-time for a year in Saskatoon. A full-time position there proved precarious, following a teachers’ strike and cutbacks. Although she loved the Catholic Saskatchewan school system, she was discerning a move to greener pastures.

I was working for the summer before entering the Ed program in my 4th year at the UBC campus in Kelowna BC, where I grew up. Having travelled to Alberta for work before school started again, I was living in a camp about 500 km drive north of Edmonton. 

In June, we started a 30-day novena to St. Joseph, over the phone, to discern Chelsea’s future career path. I was most excited about her application to teach at my old elementary school in Kelowna. A move there would end the long-distance factor in our relationship and would potentially see us teaching in the same diocese if I were to get hired at my secondary school, Immaculata Regional High, after convocation. 

The prayer was beautiful, but the conditions were not, at least not on my end of the call. The cell reception so close to the Northwest Territories was abysmal and forced me to walk to the top of a nearby hill, which didn’t stop the mosquitoes from tracking me down. Sometimes Chelsea would lead, other times it was me, reading the prayer on my blackberry screen between swats at mossies and checking to see if the call had been dropped. This was anything but a “When Harry Met Sally” type of romantic scene on the dusty bi-centennial highway to Greater Slave Lake; more like a real game of telephone that mostly left us wondering what words the other had just prayed. 
“We must believe that the life of St. Joseph - ”
“Pray for us.”
“- Not finished – spent in the presence of Jesus and Mary – “
“Pray for us.”
“Almost done – was a continual prayer – “
“Lord hear our prayer.”
“Oh for – Abounding in acts of faith…”

And so it went for 30 days. St. Joseph must not have minded the static, because on the day following the novena, day 31, Chelsea received a call requesting her to do a Skype interview for the 5/6 split position in Kelowna, at St. Joseph Elementary. We were elated and thankful to God for his faithfulness through the intercession of St. Joseph.
​
Chelsea was hired to work in the much sought-after Okanagan Valley and moved from Saskatoon the next month. We were engaged that November and married by the following August. We did end up teaching in the same diocese for a year before welcoming our daughter Hannah. Early on in our relationship, Chelsea had always remained aloof about our future, leaving the distance between us to be closed, or not, by the providence of God. St. Joseph continues to be a model for this docility in our household and we have returned to that novena on recent occasions, most notably when I applied to Calgary Catholic in 2016. His influence in our lives is real and testifies to the goodness of God that cannot fail. 

Picture
Written by Joseph Lawrence. Joseph Lawrence is married to Chelsea, and they have 2 children. They are parishioners of St. Peter's Parish and Joseph is the Chaplain of, and teaches Construction at, Bishop McNally High School in Northeast Calgary.
2 Comments

Grandma Rose

1/12/2021

1 Comment

 
Picture
Immediate and drastic changes took place the spring and summer of 1999.  I gave up my part-time job, sold our acreage and relocated to Wetaskiwin, Alberta, in September. I prayed to God to please help me find a new purpose for my extra time and energy.

A thought emerged to help grade-ones learn how to read! I recalled how difficult my grade one experience was when I could not speak English. I remembered the shame and humiliation I felt when I was strapped because I could not read. I thought through my new-found inspiration.  Later that day, we were in the principal’s office of Sacred Heart School and I expressed my desire. The principal, Mr. Simms, replied, “I could use 25 more like you.” One week later in the school year of 1999-2000, I embarked on my mission! 

Now, I’m well into my 18th continuous year in the grade one class of Mrs Zoria Verhegge, who is a caring, talented, and highly professional teacher. 

​Let me share my one-hour daily routine, starting with checking in at the office. Next, I’m welcomed by the teacher(s) and students as Grandma Rose. After singing Oh Canada and partaking in daily prayers, Mrs V. would update me on any current information. Each day, I work with two students, so I take the next two pupils on the roster one at a time. I spend about 20 minutes with each on a one-to-one basis. Enroute to our ‘room’, we pass a bank of lockers displaying the even numbers. I cover the numbers, and the child counts by 2 to 100. Once at our desk, we open our word work to show the ten new spelling words. The child will read as best they can. We then talk about each word, use it in a sentence, and print them on a whiteboard. Next, the words are covered and erased if spelt correctly by the student. They are delighted when the board is totally cleared. Lastly, the words are neatly printed in their workbook. This child is praised for their efforts and receives a sticker. By mid-January, several pupils are able to make simple sentences that are kept in a separate scribbler.

Back in the classroom, Mrs V. often asks me random questions, reflecting on my experience as a mother and grandmother. These questions contribute to classroom discussions. My presence is helpful in another aspect because some children don’t have a “grandmother” figure in their lives. Then…times up! I bid them goodbye for another day. I check out, and as I walk to the exit, I thank God for such a safe and caring Catholic school, where I have the privilege of helping some children learn to read.

I continue to volunteer with a vested interest because the more I pour into this service, the more healing I receive for my personal juvenile trauma. Truly a win-win situation.

Picture
Written by Grandma Rose Kostuik. Rose is a wife and mother for five children. She has nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She and her husband are members of Sacred Heart Parish in Wetaskiwin, AB. She is a long serving member of the CWL. Rose considers herself to be a lifelong learner and also enjoys gardening, baking, reading, playing cards and staying active both mind and body.  
1 Comment

New year, new growth

1/12/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
When people have invested their time and money to grow professionally, I believe it is misplaced modesty for them to claim they don’t know much more than the average laymen. At the same time, further education doesn’t always provide greater insights than years of experience, especially if it is also attentive and reflective. Between the two of us, with nine daughters, at this point my wife and I have over 340 years of experience in parenting. That may be why we are often asked for insights on the struggles that come with raising children.
 
A friend of my wife requested ideas this past week. This coupled with the looming new year got me thinking about goals and purpose. These are in everyone’s life but have different meaning for young adults. While a cliché it is enduringly true that each day is the first day of the rest of our lives – January 1 just throws that into sharper focus.
 
One of the good things about contemporary culture is a greater recognition of the differences between individuals. While not throwing out the good of previous social conventions, all people can take heart and be inspired by the fact that they possess certain gifts and inclinations (some of which are less common and potentially more needed) and there is exciting challenge and opportunity in them inventing the kinds of people they can be, both personally and professionally as they grow more mature. They should take seriously what they find worthwhile and see how it might be worthy of great investment of their time and energies.
 
Most children achieve some successes in school fairly clearly – not always in the so-called core subjects and not always where parents might want this achievement. If they are able to achieve in some areas, and show interest in those, it points toward potential elsewhere too. There is virtue in them figuring out how to do better in those areas they don’t find as easy, or as interesting. And further virtue is discovering how to ask for help and make their needs understood.
 
One wish I have is for young people to take seriously what it means to be authentic men and women. This is generic in becoming the best people they can as they exercise their gifts and opportunities. But is also differentiated in that we express ourselves through our sexual identity. St John Paul the Great used the term ‘feminine genius’ to bring into focus ways of thinking and acting that are usually more accessible to women. We, and young people more fully growing into themselves, can benefit our culture and our world in terms of service to others and leadership. Most of them will likely be married some day and becoming a strong spouse and parent is tremendously important. Being intentional in that character development is work for now, not simply later.
 
Inasmuch as they are growing into their adulthood in a weak and troubled society, there is also amazing need that they can meaningfully contribute to answering.

Picture
Written by Wayne Ottenbreit. Wayne writes as an educator, psychotherapist, husband, and father to nine daughters. He provides courses in support of family life, relationships, and personal growth at Vivens Academy.
0 Comments

Ordinary life, in Ordinary Time

1/12/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
As I put away the last of the Christmas decorations and sweep up the tinsel amidst the fallen pine needles of the tree, my thoughts are turning towards the coming weeks. During the past Christmas season, we’ve been celebrating and contemplating the birth of Our Lord and Saviour. We’ve decorated our homes with festive cheer, brightened our mantles with Nativity scenes, and filled our tables with delicious things to eat and drink. Now we enter into Ordinary Time of the Church, and for some, this can seem like a return to the mundane. As a member of Opus Dei, I welcome this time of the year and see it as an opportunity to begin again, to find greater meaning and fulfilment in my ordinary, daily work and life, and most of all to grow in my friendship with Christ.  

Everyday brings a new struggle to transform the little things of ordinary life into an encounter with Our Lord ... it starts when my alarm goes off at 5 and I welcome the new day in which to serve Him. It’s my favourite time of day, I’m the only one up and I can spend some quiet time in mental prayer and spiritual reading. I usually order my day with hours of work making sure there’s time for God throughout. One of those times is daily Mass where again I offer my entire day and talk to Our Lord in the depths of my heart. I also try and make it outside, even when it’s cold, to shake the cobwebs out of my head, go for a walk and say the rosary. While meditating on the mysteries of Our Lord’s life, I’m also able to appreciate the beauty of God’s creation, the crunch of snow under my boots, the roll of the foothills meeting the mountains, the big blue Alberta skies.

​Back in the house, there are meals to make, rooms to tidy, paperwork to be done. Yet each duty brings with it an opportunity to pray for someone, to do my work well, and to make it a pleasing offering to God. Making time for friends is a must and during this pandemic, it has been a challenge. However, FaceTime and Zoom with family and friends brighten the day. There are so many lonely people out there just waiting to hear a friendly voice, someone’s laughter, to comfort and encourage them. I end the day thanking our Lord for all the blessings, seeing Him in everyone I met or talked to; I ask forgiveness for those times I did not please Him, knowing that tomorrow brings a new day, a new beginning. 

Time with family and friends always brings cheer to these wintry months. Our family welcomed the winter season with great anticipation, as we enjoy many of the winter sports. My husband Brian is an excellent skier. He put all four sons on skis before they were two. And if we weren’t skiing we were tobogganing down the nearby hills or snowshoeing in the back 40. If you live in Canada you’ve got to learn to embrace the snow and cold. Bundle up and get outside. You will find all of the Siray’s outdoors during the winter months. We also discovered that it brought us closer together as a family ... lots of laughter, good conversations, and praying together. Now that Fr. Nathan is in Canmore, it provides an excellent opportunity to make a pilgrimage to Our Lady of the Rockies, to pray and to see our son. His vocation to the priesthood has been such a blessing for our family ... always encouraging and lifting us up when needed, joining in the family celebrations when he’s able, playing with his nieces and nephews.   

Thus this Ordinary Time in the Church is anything but ordinary, it’s a time of grace and thanksgiving. A time to walk with Our Lord and his disciples while meditating on the Gospels. One must strive to listen to His words and deepen one's knowledge and friendship with Him. A time to care for those around you, to smile, to give encouragement to those in need. A time to look for joy and be optimistic about the future.  A time to discover the richness of your ordinary life. 

Picture
Written by Pat Siray.  ​Pat lives on an acreage near Millarville with her husband Brian of 40 years. When she’s not giving spiritual formation or helping to plan a girls camp, you’ll find her on the hiking trails, snowshoeing on the back 40, or baking with her delightful grandchildren.

Photos courtesy of Pat Siray.
0 Comments

Caring for one another globally and locally

1/12/2021

3 Comments

 
Picture
Feed the Hungry Volunteers - June 2020.
In 1967, Pope Paul VI established the World Day of Peace to be observed annually on January 1st which coincides with the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Pope Paul VI was inspired by Pope John XXII’s 1963 encyclical Pacem in Terris (On Establishing Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity, and Liberty) and so he wrote his own encyclical in 1967, Populorum Progressio (On the Development of Peoples) to promote universal peace.  

In these subsequent decades there have been several magisterial declarations of social doctrine issued on the World Day of Peace. Pope Paul VI, Saint John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have made significant pastoral statements on the World Day of Peace in each year of their pontificates on topics such as the right to life, human rights, the United Nations, women's rights, the dignity of work and labour unions, economic development in poorer countries, diplomacy among nations, peace in the Holy Land, globalization, terrorism, and the care of creation.  

This year, the 54th World Day of Peace, Pope Francis’ message is titled A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace. Pope Francis begins this message recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated and worsened existing world crises and he highlights two specific areas. First, the tragic impact of COVID-19 on those who are most vulnerable. Second, His Holiness issues a warning about the increasing prevalence globally of racism, prejudice, nationalism, wars, conflicts and violence that have led to death, destruction, and intolerance.

It is easy to become complacent especially if there is no direct experience of the COVID-19 virus within our family and social circle. The numbers of new cases of COVID-19 and the number of deaths are issued daily – locally, nationally, and internationally.  Behind each number is a person, a family, loved ones and we believe the dignity of that person reflects God. “Being in the image of God the human individual possesses the dignity of a person, who is not just something, but someone.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 357.)  So the statistics are not mere numbers, the statistics tell the story of the human impact and that is tragic and sobering. The complacency or indifference to the suffering of others is an emerging phenomena that inspires Pope Francis’ call for a culture of care.

The impacts of the pandemic and other events of 2020, he says, have underscored the importance of caring for one another and for creation in our efforts to build a more fraternal society. A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace is a message “to combat the culture of indifference, waste and confrontation so prevalent in our time,” Pope Francis writes.

A year before the pandemic, Pope Francis issued a similar declaration called A Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together. In it, he makes the following statement, “Faith leads a believer to see in the other a brother or sister to be supported and loved. Through faith in God, who has created the universe, creatures and all human beings (equal on account of his mercy), believers are called to express this human fraternity by safeguarding creation and the entire universe and supporting all persons, especially the poorest and those most in need.”

The global issues can admittedly be overwhelming. But they do invite us to examine what is possible in our own homes, parishes, and local communities to demonstrate love and care for one another. Saint Theresa of Calcutta, a renowned and loved missionary of the Church, said, “Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do.”

The spiritual and corporal works of mercy have always been the Church’s witness to “love in action” in every age. They express our mercy, compassion and justice for one another, the foundation of our human fraternity "especially to the poorest and those most in need”. In our current day in the midst of the challenges of this pandemic and its restrictions both locally and globally, the spiritual and corporal works of mercy can guide us.

Spiritual works of mercy ….
  • Instruct the ignorant. Speaking words of truth that are based on faith and reason.
  • Counsel the doubtful. Speaking words of hope and encouragement inspired by the Holy Spirit. 
  • Admonish the sinners. Speaking words of truth and love that are non-judgmental.
  • Bear patiently those who wrong us. Allow for the gift of silence to inform our words of response rather than anger and retaliation.  
  • Forgive offenses. Speak with words that promote reconciliation and peace. 
  • Comfort the afflicted. Speak words of healing and justice in the face of adversity and evil. 
  • Pray for the living and the dead. Speak words of faith and belief in prayer to God as individuals and communities who are committed to the dignity of all human life and the promise of everlasting life. 

Corporal works of mercy ….
  • Feed the hungry. Support programs and initiatives locally such as food banks, Saint Vincent de Paul, school breakfast and lunch programs, disaster relief, humanitarian and international aid. 
  • Give water to the thirsty. Support social justice initiatives to ensure clean drinking water that is free from pollution and call for an end to the commercialization of the sale of water which should be a basic human need and thus a right.  
  • Clothe the naked. Support programs and initiatives that offer clothing in our community and schools such as Pass it On and the GoodWill. 
  • Shelter the homeless. Support programs such as the Calgary Homeless Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and affordable housing initiatives. 
  • Visit the sick. Reach out to the sick in safe ways, to family and friends through the internet, to the elderly who are isolated by giving them a phone call or send a card and/or letter of support and prayer.  
  • Visit the imprisoned. Reach out in safe ways to shut-ins, those who are struggling both emotionally and mentally to feel connected.
  • Bury the dead. Reach out to those families who have lost loved ones through the internet to show they are not forgotten and that our belief in the gift of everlasting life can be a source of strength that is found in our shared faith in Christ. 
As we strive to foster a culture of care wherever we find ourselves, “may we never yield to the temptation to disregard others, especially those in greatest need, and to look the other way; instead, may we strive daily, in concrete and practical ways, to form a community composed of brothers and sisters who accept and care for one another.” (A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace, 9)   

This pandemic should not deter us in promoting such care for each other!  May God who calls each of us in His goodness also inspire us to discover these new paths of love through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
Picture
 Written by Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary
​
January 10, 2021
3 Comments

Five reasons to take St. Joseph as patron for 2021

1/12/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
​Aames Abanto from Catholic Sunday Best offers five great reasons for Catholic gentlemen to adopt St. Joseph as their 2021 patron saint. 
​
  • St. Joseph had the original Dad Bod 
    Ancient images depict St. Joseph as an old man, to protect the virginity of Mary (the lily he traditionally held), but this is not so. The Ancient Greek term for carpenter was a tektōn (Mark 6:3), an artisan/craftsman. Not only was he a carpenter, but he was a builder, stonemason, and engineer. The best depiction of his strength could be in the sculpture of the Holy Family in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas. The titles of Terror of Demons and Protector of the Virgin would not be appropriate for a frail old man, but for a strong, physically gifted man. Where else could our Lord endure lifting a 300 lb. cross from Jerusalem to Calvary if not learning from his foster father’s trade? Consider him as a patron of your 2021 fitness goals.

  • He relied on God in fear
    The first years of Joseph’s married life were chaotic. He was a righteous man (Matthew 1:19) and feared for Mary’s safety. If he disgraced her publicly for being pregnant outside of marriage, she would have been stoned to death. He also feared for the life of Jesus when Herod killed children in Judea (Matthew 2:16). He had to lead his family to escape for Egypt and find suitable employment to provide for his family (in Egypt and Nazareth). Most men would be paralyzed by this kind of marriage, but St. Joseph relied on God and protected his family. I’ve been laid off three times since 2012, and looking for meaningful employment to ensure my family had a place to live and food on the table was challenging. St. Joseph was a great role model in those seasons. Perhaps if you’ve lost employment, are afraid of uncertainty, or facing great challenges, he can be yours too.

  • (Spiritual) Fatherhood is good
    Imagine what Joseph felt when he found out that his wife was pregnant, and the son was not his own. I’m sure his desire to become a biological father was great, especially since he descended from King David. I would like to imagine that Joseph embraced this role well, but I’m confident that he took Jesus as his own son and became a true Spiritual Father. I have a replica of the statue of St. Joseph and the Child Jesus from the Basilica of Mary Queen of the Universe on my desk at home. It shows Joseph teaching his foster son carpentry, but it also shows Joseph’s wonder at Jesus’ delight. Joseph’s eyes had a Father’s tender gaze. As a husband carrying the cross of infertility for many years, it gives me hope that Joseph was gifted with grace in his Spiritual Fatherhood. It is my prayer that I gain that same grace if Spiritual Fatherhood is my lifelong vocation.

  • We can have a hidden life and still be a saint
    Pope Benedict XVI had a great devotion to St. Joseph. He said that Joseph’s “greatness, like Mary’s, stands out even more because his mission was carried out in the humility and hiddenness of the house of Nazareth” (Angelus, March 19, 2006). It is an incredible contrast from our Blessed Mother, who had a more predominant appearance in the Gospel because Joseph protected her and Jesus in their hidden life. Isn’t it a wonder that from those thirty, quiet years in the Galilean hill country that Jesus emerges to preach the Good News? The sculpture of the Death of Joseph at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rockies inspires us that even with a quiet & faithful daily life, free from social media prominence, Christ & Our Lady will take our hand at the hour of our death to share in the Heavenly Banquet.​
  • Naps are awesome
    Joseph did not speak a word in the New Testament. However, he was spoken to in his dreams four times. The first was to take Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:20) and the second was when they needed to flee to Egypt (Matthew 1:13) and the third prompted him of Herod’s death and return to Israel (Matthew 1:19-20) and finally, to settle in Galilee (Matthew 1:22). It is something to keep in mind that many husbands (including this one) enjoy occasional naps. Who knows, maybe our Lord could be speaking to us in our dreams, gentlemen. Perhaps this is a point you can share with your wife next time.
Picture

Picture
Written by Aames Abanto.

​Aames has been involved in Ministry since 2002. After immigrating to Canada in 2001, he joined the Couples for Christ Youth and was involved with the group until 2010. He met his wife of 8 years Angela in the group. A veteran of pilgrimages, he attended World Youth Days in Germany, Australia, Spain and Poland. Aames currently attends St. Joseph's Church in Calgary and serves as a member of the Parish Pastoral Council and Safety Team. His patrons are St. Joseph, St. Michael, St. John Paul II and the Blessed Mother. Follow Aames in Instagram @catholicsundaybest
​
Photos courtesy of Aames & Angela Abanto
0 Comments

2021 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

1/11/2021

0 Comments

 
​The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated around the world on January 18-25. 

The 2021 theme – Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit (John 15:5-9) – calls us to pray and to work for reconciliation and unity in the church, with our human family, and with all of creation. Drawing on the Gospel image of vine and branches, it invites us to nourish unity with God and with one another through contemplative silence, prayer, and common action. Grafted into Christ the vine as many diverse branches, may we bear rich fruit and create new ways of living, with respect for and communion with all of creation.

The importance of unity among Christians and the responsibility of the people of each parish to work for this unity should be emphasized throughout the week. All members of the parish should seek to have a deeper understanding of ecumenism. 

A resource kit containing program materials for the Week of Prayer adapted to Canadian context is available from https://www.weekofprayer.ca/2021-wpcu-resources  This resource kit contains practical suggestions on prayers or activities for parishes, families, schools and campus ministries for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the 2021 theme.

Event poster template for parish/school/campus events Download 
Picture
Week of Prayer of Christian Unity - Jan 18-25
Join Bishop Todd Atkinson (Preacher, Via Apostolica), Dcn. Trevor Jameus (Via Apostolica), Rev. Terry Fach (Ambrose University), Fr. Matthew Perreault (Anglican Diocese of Calgary), and Rev. Adrian Martens (Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary) as they celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Live-streamed from Ascension Catholic Parish on Jan. 20, 2021 from 7-8pm. 
  • Watch livestream here
  • Download poster/graphic 
0 Comments

Sunday of the Word of God

1/4/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Pope Francis has declared that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the word of God “that the life of our people be constantly marked by this decisive relationship with the living word that the Lord never tires of speaking to his Bride” (Aperuit Illis, 2). In 2022 the Sunday of the Word of God falls on January 23.

Here are five liturgical suggestions for making the most of this universal invitation from the Pontiff.  

1. Homily
Focus on the centrality of the Bible for Christians. In the Gospel, Jesus quotes what we heard in the first reading from the Prophet Isaiah. The word of the prophet is the foundation for his teaching and the call of the first disciples. In the second reading Paul tells the Corinthians that Jesus did not send him to baptize but to proclaim the Gospel and that “it is the power of God”.

2. Bless Ministers of the Word
Following the Homily, invite ministers of the Word to stand (e.g. lectors, psalmists, leaders in RCIA, liturgy of the word for children, and scripture study). Bless them with hands extended:

Blessed are you, Lord God,
Source of all light and all goodness,
you sent your Son, your living Word,
to reveal to humanity the mystery of your love.
Look with mercy upon these women and men who proclaim your word
and lead your people closer to your teaching.
Bless X them in their ministry
so that they may be nourished by your Word,
be transformed by it and faithfully announce it
to their brothers and sisters in your Church.
We praise and thank you, Father,
in the name of Jesus your Son,
and in the love of your Holy Spirit,
God of glory for ever and ever.
Amen.


Adapted from the blessing of lectors in Celebrations of Installation and Recognition, copyright Concacan Inc.,2005. All rights reserved.

3. Universal Prayer

Introduction to the petitions:
Dear sisters and brothers,
nourished and formed by God’s Word
let us bring our needs and petitions before Him.


In addition to the petitions you have prepared for today, include some for the Word of God to come to life in your community, for example:
  • For bishops, priests, deacons, lectors, psalmists, and all who proclaim God’s Word in the world, we pray to the Lord.
  • For teachers and staff in Catholic schools, for catechists, parents, and all who bring the Word of God to children, we pray to the Lord.

Prayer at the end of the petitions:
Grant, O God, that our lives be marked by your living word.
Hear these, our prayers,
and help us to proclaim the good news of the kingdom.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.


4. Eucharistic Prayer

You might use Eucharistic Prayer III for Various Needs and Occasions (Jesus the Way to the Father). Its Preface focuses on Christ as the “Word” of God. Roman Missal p.764ff.

5. Enthroning the Bible (For use in homes, schools, and with RCIA or Bible Study groups)
​

The faithful have shown reverence to the bible as the inspired word of God since ancient times. The enthronement of an open bible has often served as a symbolic invitation to delve into the sacred text as the source of our spiritual life. You might use this short ritual from the American Bible Society to enthrone the Bible at home, in schools, and with RCIA or Bible Study groups.  
  • How to enthrone the Bible in your home/class/school? 

6. More Resources
  • Note from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on the Word of God Sunday. The note highlights opportunities and practical suggestions for the Word of God Sunday celebration. English | French 
  • Adult Formation Activity
  • Understanding the Bible
  • The Art and Practice of Lectio Divina
  • The Word of God as a Source of Prayer
0 Comments

The New Catechetical Directory

1/1/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization released the new Directory for Catechesis in June of 2020. This is the third Directory for Catechesis that the universal Church has promulgated in recent history. It began at the Second Vatican Council when the call to renew catechesis within the universal Church led to the publication of the first General Catechetical Directory (GCD) in 1971. In 1993, the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) initiated a second chapter of history with the release of the General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) in 1997. The GDC basically expanded upon St. John Paul II’s apostolic exhortation Catechesi Tradendae, which identified the six essential tasks of catechesis: Knowledge of the Faith; Liturgical Education; Moral Formation; Learning to Pray; Education for Community Life; and Missionary Discipleship and Service. Each of these catechetical tasks helps to deepen our relationship with Christ. Knowing Jesus calls us to ongoing conversion, which inspires a deeper life of prayer, the recognition of the needs of others, and the desire to respond to those needs in service, evangelization, and ministry. In carrying out these six tasks of catechesis the Church relies on moments which coincide with the liturgical seasons. Catechesis also takes root in different places, the family or home, the parish and the Catholic school. It is the responsibility of many people, beginning with Pope Francis, the Bishops, pastors and catechists in parishes, teachers in our Catholic schools and parents. 

In 2015, the Pontifical Council held a plenary meeting to discuss the relationship between catechesis and evangelization with representatives from around the world. During that meeting, the urgency of the new evangelization became evident and so did the need for a new directory - one that could assist dioceses, parishes, lay associations, and Catholic schools and families in fulfilling these tasks of catechesis.

This Directory for Catechesis (2020) highlights the important and inseparable link between evangelization and catechesis as a response to the realities of our times, particularly the advancements in digital communications and the need for evangelization at each stage of a person’s life. Pope Francis emphasizes the importance of a missionary Church and a “discipleship of accompaniment” so that others will recognize Jesus’ call in the love and service of His disciples.

There are three main parts to this new directory.
  • Part 1 focuses on the relationship between catechesis and the Church’s mission of evangelization. It includes chapters on divine revelation and its transmission in the Church, the goals of catechesis, the vocation of catechists, and the formation of those who teach and hand on the Faith.
  • Part 2 focuses on the pedagogical process of catechesis with a particular emphasis on the Catechism of the Catholic Church and its use in catechesis and catechetical approaches. Part 3, the “Catechesis in Particular Churches,” centers on the Christian community where catechesis takes place and makes the connection between a catechesis in the Faith and daily living.
  • Part 3 addresses the role of the entire Christian community in catechesis - parishes, lay association and movements, and Catholic Schools – as well as the way in which catechesis responds to current issues, changing cultural contexts, and the structures within the Church that should exercise catechetical oversight and formation.

​With Pope Francis’ emphasis on missionary discipleship, the Directory for Catechesis urges those who teach the Faith to form followers of Jesus who can articulate their faith and live it in practical ways even when faced with opposing views and seemingly overwhelming global challenges. It is in this section that catechists are called to see how catechesis should stimulate social and political action related to the defense of life from conception to natural death, uphold human dignity for each person and exercise responsible stewardship of creation. There is also a section on catechesis and the growing digital culture. The digital world is a mission field and it holds a great potential for catechesis when used with discernment and wisdom.

​The Directory for Catechesis (2020) is particularly useful for clergy, religious and lay people who are directly involved in the work of teaching, evangelization and catechesis at the parish or diocesan level, and in Catholic schools. For all who teach the Catholic faith, the new Directory provides a solid foundation which has benefited from the input of expert theologians and catechists from around the world. This new directory will be a valuable resource in strengthening the five marks of our Catholic schools and informing the ongoing work of formation in the Faith and the professional development of our Catholic educational leaders and teachers.

Picture
Written by Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary
0 Comments

    Author

    Catholic Pastoral Centre Staff and Guest Writers

    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018

    Categories

    All
    Advent & Christmas
    Art
    Bereavement
    Bishop Emeritus Henry
    Bishop McGrattan
    Book Review
    Care For Creation
    Catechetics
    Catholic Charities & Development
    Catholic Education
    Catholic Schools
    CCCB
    Christian Unity
    Climate Change
    Conversion
    Covid 19
    Culture
    Development & Peace
    Devotions
    Diocesan Event
    Discipleship
    Ecumenical
    Elizabeth House
    Environment
    Euthanasia
    Evangelization
    Faithful Living
    Faithfully
    Family
    Feed The Hungry
    From The Bishop's Office
    Fundraising
    Funeral
    Grieving
    Health Care
    Homelessness
    Indigenous
    In Memoriam
    Interfaith
    Jubilarians
    Lay Associations
    Lent
    Lent & Easter
    Liturgy
    Marian
    Marriage
    Mary
    Mental Health
    Migrants
    Miscarriage
    Mission Mexico
    Movie Review
    Music
    One Rock
    Online Formation
    Ordination
    Parenting
    Parish Life
    Pastoral Care
    Permanent Diaconate
    Pope
    Pope Francis
    Prayer
    Pray For Peace
    Priesthood
    Prolife
    RCIA
    Reconciliation
    Refugee
    Religious Education
    Religious Freedom
    Religious Life
    Resources And Guidelines
    Sacred Art
    Safe Environment
    Saints
    Scripture & Reflection
    Seniors
    Social Justice
    Stewardship
    St. Joseph
    Synod
    Vocation
    Youth And Young Adults
    Youth Ministry

    RSS Feed

GET TO KNOW US
Our Bishop
Offices & Ministries
​Our Staff
Read our Blog
Catholic Community
​Lay Associations
CONNECT WITH US
Contact us
​Careers
​Parish Boundaries

News & Events
Faithfully
​Reporting Abuse
NEED INFO ON
Becoming Catholic
Marriage Preparation
​Vocations
Annulment 
Sacraments Prep
Catholic Funeral
GIVE TO
Diocesan Ministries
Together in Action
Feed the Hungry
Elizabeth House
Your Parish Church​ 
​Other Ministry

Catholic Pastoral Centre  | 120 - 17th Ave SW, Calgary, AB  T2S 2T2 | ​Phone: 403-218-5500 | communications@calgarydiocese.ca
Charitable Number: 
10790-9939-RR0076​. Donate Now.
  • Blog
  • About
  • Give
  • News & Events
  • Ministries
  • Contact Us
  • Parish Finder