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Radiating Christ

1/23/2022

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PictureBr. Michael Perras. Photo: Solomon Ip.
Above his bedroom door, Br. Michael Perras, OFM, has a small banner made by his great-aunt who was an Ursuline sister which reads: “To Radiate Christ”.  For him, it serves as a reminder to put on Christ when putting on his habit every day.  Yet it also speaks to something deeper, the call for Christians to radiate Christ to the other.  Those in consecrated life have chosen this as their life’s work, whether contemplative or active, ordained or not, male or female.          

The feast of the Presentation makes this clear to us — that we are to live in imitation of Christ, the “light to enlighten the nations”.  This feast has long fascinated Br. Michael (Mount St. Francis, Cochrane), in particular the figures of Sts. Simeon and Anna. In Br. Michael’s words, they serve as reminders: reminders to be amazed and to give praise, reminders to hope and trust, reminders of the elders in our lives, reminders of those who pass on the amazement of encountering Christ, and as reminders of those who call out the truth of who we are — in many ways, they are types of the consecrated life itself.  The feast itself is a reminder:  the hints of our baptismal promises in the liturgy are a reminder that we live as children of God, in the dignity of being anointed priest, prophet and king as Christ was in his Incarnation among us.  Finally, Candlemas has been traditionally seen as the tail end of Christmas, with its themes of light-bearing.  It is only right then, that the consecrated life and the Presentation of Christ are celebrated together, serving to remind us that we are all called to be bearers of light, and to witness to the light — to radiate Christ into the world.
           
When we think of the consecrated life, the mind quickly turns to nuns and religious sisters, and for good reason.  Women far outstrip men in North America to the vocation of consecrated life, both in number of vocations and variety of orders.  However, they do not comprise the only groups under the term “consecrated life”.  Rather, the consecrated life includes all who profess public vows of poverty, chastity in the form of celibacy, and obedience, within a permanent state of life recognized by the Church.  Compared with sisters and nuns, brothers, monks and friars are far less common in North America, especially within this diocese. Some orders have come and gone quite quickly, such as the Benedictines, while others enjoyed enduring tenures among us, such as the Brothers of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Franciscans have maintained a steady presence in Cochrane from the 1940s until now, and among them lives the sole non-ordained religious brother currently in the diocese:  Br. Michael.

For Br. Michael, the call to religious life “came out of nowhere”.  He grew up in a parish which receive Redemptorist missions regularly, and had two great-aunts who had been Ursuline sisters, but these seemed to be more “stepping stones” to the consecrated life, not “runway moments”.  His parents owned the grocery store in Glenavon, SK, which was a primer in the life of service, and this continued in his life into youth ministry work throughout Saskatchewan.  However, several things drew him to the Franciscans. Having tried to live simply during his pre-Franciscan life, an added depth was encountered in religious life, where the continual call to simplicity means to live out of who one is.  Community and fraternity naturally grow out of this simplicity, with the discovery that “I can live out who I am in this way” among the messiness and the goodness of community, not changing who God has asked him to be. 

The centrality of the Incarnation to the Franciscan charism also drew Br. Michael. St. Francis’ life was centred upon the humility of the Incarnation and the charity of the Passion, and for Br. Michael, who has been drawn to the Incarnation since childhood, this aspect of the charism is central:  “God with us”, Emmanuel. Flowing out of this incarnational reality comes a broader understanding of living the Gospel as good news, in everything done in everyday life.
           
Br. Michael sums up his experience of consecrated life quite succinctly in the phrase “big brother, little brother, always a brother”. As the eldest of four, being the big brother has always been a part of his life; and joining the Order of Friars Minor, the experience of “minority”, of being little and simple, is central to the charism. From this place of being a biological brother flows the life of being a religious brother. Biological siblinghood calls us to the importance of relationship and building bridges, and questions how we build links, how we forgive and reconcile, and how we engage with others with different viewpoints; it is only natural that religious brotherhood does the same in different dimensions — being present to others, listening to others on their journey, encouraging what they have and offer. Br. Michael sees his vocation as that of a link in a chain — being others’ connection to faith and to the Church, the Church’s connection to the world, and linking these together in new and unexplored ways.

Each religious brother and sister lives out their vocation in a different way, stemming from the consideration of what they have and what they offer. Historically, unordained brothers were manual labourers who made life function for their order; nowadays, many are engaged in academic pursuits or in active ministry work — Br. Michael himself works in retreat ministry and spiritual direction. Despite changing situations, the most important facets of consecrated life have not:  to announce the Good News, and to witness to the Good News lived out in the lives of the people of the broader community. 

For Br. Michael, consecrated life is an invitation for us to deeper listening and awareness of God’s working in our lives and those around us. In our noisy world of instant gratification, consecrated life gives us pause to reflect on what and who we are listening to. The work of fraternity, hospitality and service that so many religious carry out points out that all Christians have a vocation to community and to being the Church. The ordained priesthood can often seem removed to some, and so the accessibility of consecrated life speaks to the connection, approachability, inclusivity and dialogue that all Christians are meant to embody, to the centrality of relationship in humanity. To sum it up, consecrated life is a sign for us to live life for the other, and not for the self.
           
In Br. Michael’s words, consecrated life is one of “witness and connection, being present and listening” — a life remarkably similar to those of Sts. Simeon and Anne.  As we approach the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, let us grow in the lessons that consecrated life teaches us: chiefly, let us grow “To Radiate Christ”.  


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​Written by Solomon Ip for 
Faithfully. Solomon Ip is a born-and-bred Calgarian, a member of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, and is an exhibit interpreter at Heritage Park in Calgary.  He worships at St. John the Evangelist, Calgary; All Saints, Lethbridge; and the Calgary and Lethbridge branches of the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy. ​
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Faithful Living: A prayer room in your home

1/23/2022

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Our homes hold a lot of what is near and dear to us. For starters, our family. The home provides shelter for the people we love.

Aside from our belongings which we need in order to function in life, our home is a shelter for the things that define us, objects that hold special meanings. Be it a special painting, a family heirloom, or that memorable walkman from the 80s.
In a Catholic home, some of the objects that hold special meaning to us are holy images or religious articles that help us think of God and the communion of the saints and the angels. 

Some Catholic homes have home altars or prayer corners/rooms where the family can spend time of prayer, meditation, or teaching the Faith. This YouTube vlogger, A Catholic Mom's Life, features her prayer room as a place not only to pray but also to read and hang-out as a family apart from the living room or the kitchen. 

Tips for starting your home altar/prayer corner or room...
  • It would be helpful to have the home altar or prayer corner/room situated in an area where there is some silence and privacy.
  • Imagine one focal holy image. Ask yourself what image will move you to pray and have a conversation with God.
  • You can choose to have only one large image or statue flanked with candles or have one large one and a few small images or statues that hold some significance for you.
  • Think about your preferred posture when praying at home. Do you tend to sit on a comfortable chair, kneel, sit on the floor with pillows, or the combination... have this set up near or around the home altar/prayer corner or in your prayer room.
  • Consider the lighting. A space for prayer would need to have soft or ambient lighting to make it cozy, soothing, and easy to slide your way to an intimate time with God.
  • If you like to pray and meditate with soft sacred music playing in the background, perhaps have a device for playing music nearby.
  • To keep the area neat and tidy and free of distractions, make sure that things are placed and organized in presentable storage boxes that do not need to be seen until needed. Keep the area clutter-free.
  • Once you have all of these set up, figure out the routine or times of prayer in your home.

Having a home altar or prayer corner/room can help us consciously make room for God in our lives.

Consider this... Our homes should be a refuge, a place where everyone can come home to rest, to be nourished, and to be re-energized for the next day. Carve a place for prayer and let the peace of Christ dwell in your house. 
For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat." Isaiah 25:4
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Invigorating the Universal Church

1/21/2022

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In 2021, Pope Francis invited the whole Church to a discussion of synodality. If the word takes you by surprise, you’re not alone. While the concept of synod, or church council, is not new, you won’t find synodality in a secular dictionary. The term was chosen by Pope Francis, whose papacy has often focused on evangelization. With synodality, the Pope is carefully placing evangelization into the hands of the Church’s people. From now until 2023, the pursuit of synodality calls Catholics to get together, to talk and listen, and to love and learn in a deliberate effort to move closer to Christ and the Church.
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On Tuesday, January 18, I was a humble participant in a synodal conversation with more than 90 clergy and lay leaders from parishes in one pastoral zone of the Catholic Diocese of Calgary. We met via Zoom to talk about Pope Francis’s vision and to meet the Diocesan team who spent months preparing for a host of virtual gatherings. After the pastoral zone meetings are done in early February, similar e-meets (and in-person whenever possible) will be held with lay Catholics. I plan to participate again.

Bishop William McGrattan is optimistic that all of these prayerful discussions will shape the Church’s mission of service and proclamation of the gospel. Based on my experience, and several conversations the next day, I think he has reason to be hopeful. Why? Because we can’t un-spill milk.
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Relationships require understanding
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Almost 30 years ago, my husband and I participated in a Marriage Encounter weekend. One of my biggest takeaways was the notion that healthy relationships require that we understand that it is impossible to un-spill milk. What’s happened matters. What happens next is even more important.

I take that same concept into discussions of my experience with the universal Church. I won’t discuss confidential information shared as part of the synodal conversation. (Organizers did a great job of breaking us out into smaller groups.) I will say that I think it matters that Catholics, including lay members, are being asked, “How have you experienced journeying together as the Church?”

For some of us, the question is fraught and the answers uncomfortable. But just like you cannot un-spill milk, I’m confident that a prayerful people, guided by the Holy Spirit, will not be able to unknow what they hear at meetings like these. Information changes people. It shapes new discussions. More than anything else, it demands care.

In addition to being asked about our personal experience of the journey “as Church,” synodal participants are being asked what steps the Holy Spirit is inviting “us to take in order to grow in our ‘journeying together?’” Again, I think that’s a valuable question as it puts action back into the hand of the Church’s people.

In addition to gathering information about these two questions, the very process strengthens the relationships fundamental to our parish communities. Several participants told me (or my editor) that they appreciated the opportunity to gather with people they know; an opportunity complicated by the global pandemic, yet aided by technology and, most obviously, the Holy Spirit.

More importantly, feedback to me implies people felt empowered by the prayers and the discussions. They are already talking about their synodal experiences with Catholic peers. They are encouraging others to take part. Like Bishop McGrattan, they are hopeful. I take comfort in that hope, fueled as it is by two other theological virtues, faith and love.


Written by Joy Gregory for Faithfully. Joy Gregory is a writer, cradle Catholic, and long-time parishioner of St. Peter’s, Calgary, where she’s been active in preschool catechism programs, RCIA, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
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Faithful Living: Self care is for both body & soul

1/21/2022

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Catholics, or Christians in general, can sometimes forget that we are both body and soul as human beings. We are not spiritual beings like the angels even when our human nature also has a spiritual dimension. We are human beings beautifully made by God, body and soul. 
  • Watch this 10-minute video by Christopher West on the unity of the body and soul to understand how we should understand and see ourselves according to the teachings of the Church. 

Sometimes we can go on extremes with how we take care of our selves.
  • We can focus so much on our bodies that when something goes wrong with our bodies we may think and feel like it is no longer worth living. Vanity will have a lot of control and influence on our lives, and we become enslaved by it. We can become like hollow shells.
  • We can also see ourselves mainly as spiritual beings trapped in the shell of a human body. We can overspiritualize things and begin to neglect the proper care of our bodies. Some even begin to form an inherent hatred towards their bodies.

How we see and treat ourselves will often shape how we see and treat others.
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Christ became one of us as a human being, body and soul, in His incarnation while continuing to be God at the same time. He even bothered to be raised both in body and soul in His resurrected state because we matter. We matter to God both in body and soul and only death separates both from each other. Thus, the Lord opens for us the path of the resurrection to eternal life.


Consider this... God loves you - body and soul. You are wonderfully made. ​
Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows." ~ Matthew 10:28-31
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A gift to preserve

1/19/2022

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Fr. Troy with students at St. Mary's School in Okotoks
From the perspective of a priest, I, Fr Troy Nguyen, have seen the gift of Catholic education. Beginning with my time as a Deacon, I was able to visit a Catholic school in NW Calgary once a month and dedicate the whole day to speak to different grades in 30 minute intervals. From sharing the mystery of Advent with the little ones to speaking about the rational basis for our faith to the junior high students, it was a great opportunity to share the Gospel.
 
One of my favourite things to do is to do question period with any grade but particularly the younger kids. They ask a variety of tough questions: who created God? Does the bible talk about dinosaurs? These and many other questions challenge me to translate complicated philosophical and biblical topics into bite size pieces for an 8 year old! Most importantly, it is time just to be with the students in a very human way just like Jesus did. Whether it’s walking through the halls, going to a high school football game or playing sports with the students, it reveals that faith is not contrary to our everyday life.
 
I had an opportunity during lunch at an elementary school in Christ the Redeemer (CTR) to walk around and was invited to kick the ball for kickball. So I took up the challenge in my priestly attire and smoked that ball into the end of time! The kids were shocked and elated at the same time that a ‘priest’ could play kickball. At a junior high school in CTR during a girls basketball finals game, I was invited to say the opening prayer for the team and give them a blessing to calm their nerves because they were worried about this particular opponent. When they started playing, the girls from CTR played with great freedom, crushed their opponent and won the championship. They were extremely grateful for the spiritual boost and ‘divine intervention.’ To be able to share in the joys of these students with faith is a great gift.
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Fr. Troy and students at St. Mary's School in Okotoks after Christmas hampers preparation.
There are many more instances I could describe where Catholic education creates opportunities to encounter our Lord and the Catholic faith. These opportunities to reach out to students are only available to me because the administration and teachers allow me to come to visit the school. It may be much more difficult if not impossible to enter another school not focused on Catholic education.
 
So, while there is much to be grateful for, there is much to continue to strive for if we want to maintain Catholic education. We need to pray for our teachers and administration and we need to continue to be intentional in forming their faith so that they can evangelize to our children from an authentic heart. We need to remain firm in our Catholic identity so that we can transmit the Catholic faith in its fullness and this is what differentiates us from public education.
 
Catholic education is a gift, but gifts need to be protected and preserved. So we give thanks to God for the gift of Catholic education, and we ask him to protect and preserve this gift so that all of our children may continue to have the opportunity to know and to love this amazing God.

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Written by Fr. Troy Nguyen for Faithfully. Fr Troy Nguyen is a priest in the Diocese of Calgary and currently serving St. James Parish in Okotoks as the associate pastor. After trying out construction, banking and teaching, Fr Troy found his vocation in the priesthood and is eternally grateful for the gift of this vocation. Now he strives to help students and his community to come to encounter the living and awesome God and to be awakened to the radiance of his Love. 

Photos submitted by Fr. Troy Nguyen.
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Human Fraternity - Justice, Peace, Solidarity

1/17/2022

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It is the New Year, a time that marks beginnings, and it also coincides with the end of the Christmas season and the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. Scripture records that as Christ emerged from the waters of the Jordan, “the heavens were opened, and the Spirit descended upon him like a dove, and the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:16-17). This feast celebrates the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. A ministry which was to embrace all peoples despite their status, the circumstances of their life, the culture, and conditions in which they live. Through our baptism we share in this call, this mission of service through the continued outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit who can renew our strength, courage, and fortitude in the midst of the challenges we currently face with the pandemic.

The New Year also brings with it the celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from January 18 to 25 and the International Day of Human Fraternity on February 4. The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2022 is, “We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship Him” (Mt 2:2).  The theme speaks to the pressing need globally for solidarity and fraternity in the face of economic, political, and social turmoil, including the challenges and injustices which the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted. This celebration will be an opportunity to pray for the unity that God desires for all of creation.  It is this unity of persons which sows the seeds of mutual understanding that inspires justice, peace, and solidarity.

On December 21, 2020, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/75/200 declaring February 4 as the International Day of Human Fraternity. It is now observed annually in order to heighten our awareness and focus upon human fraternity, solidarity, justice, and peace.  It is significant that the evolution of thought and work toward this resolution included Pope Francis and came as the result of Christian-Muslim cooperation. The Higher Committee for Human Fraternity provided the UN Chief with a message from Pope Francis and the Grand Imam, proposing that February 4 be designated as the annual International Day of Human Fraternity.
The UN resolution included three clauses specifically directed toward the religions of the world:
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  • Expressing deep concern at those acts that advocate religious hatred and thereby undermine the spirit of tolerance and respect for diversity, especially at a time when the world confronts the unprecedented crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which requires a global response based on unity, solidarity and renewed multilateral cooperation,

  • Recognizing the valuable contribution of people of all religions or beliefs to humanity and the contribution that dialogue among all religious groups can make towards an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind,
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  • Underlining the importance of raising awareness about different cultures and religions or beliefs and of education in the promotion of tolerance, which involves  the acceptance by the public of and its respect for religious and cultural diversity, including with regard to religious expression, and underlining further the fact that education, in particular at school, should contribute in a meaningful way to promoting tolerance and the elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief, …

These values of tolerance, respect, engagement, dialogue, and understanding which are articulated in the resolution are also expressed with the depth of our Faith in the encyclical letter on fraternity and social friendship, Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis released on October 3, 2020.
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The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity met at the Vatican, Sep. 11, 2019. Photo: Vatican Media.
Our mission through baptism is to recognize in one another the sacred dignity we have as a son and daughter of God.  It is this type of dignity that Pope Francis describes as foundational to our relationship with one another.
​For Christians, the words of Jesus have an even deeper meaning. They compel us to recognize Christ himself in each of our abandoned or excluded brothers and sisters (cf. Mt 25:40.45). Faith has untold power to inspire and sustain our respect for others, for believers come to know that God loves every man and woman with infinite love and “thereby confers infinite dignity” upon all humanity. (Fratelli Tutti, 85.)
When this recognition of each other’s dignity is present, Pope Francis describes the sense of fraternity and solidarity that is fostered, a fraternity which cannot overlook the sufferings or injustices of another person.
The world exists for everyone, because all of us were born with the same dignity. Differences of colour, religion, talent, place of birth or residence, and so many others, cannot be used to justify the privileges of some over the rights of all. As a community, we have an obligation to ensure that every person lives with dignity and has sufficient opportunities for his or her integral development. (FT, 118.
Pope Francis speaks to the people, the generation of this time to urge a fraternity among all people rooted in the recognition of each person’s dignity.
It is my desire that, in this our time, by acknowledging the dignity of each human person, we can contribute to the rebirth of a universal aspiration to fraternity. Fraternity between all men and women. … (FT, 8.
​Let us join together in praying for that universal aspiration to social fraternity.
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Written by Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary

​Jan. 10, 2021
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2022 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

1/11/2022

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Daily Prayer during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan 18 - 25)
  • Day 1: God, our only refuge and strength, we glorify you for you are a just and righteous God. We confess before you that we often covet worldly models of leadership. Help us to seek our Lord Jesus Christ not in the palaces of the powerful but in the humble manger and to emulate him in his meekness. Encourage us to empty ourselves as we serve each other in obedience to you. We pray in the name of Christ who with you and with the Holy Spirit reigns forever in glory. Amen. 
  • Day 2: God, our only refuge and strength, we glorify you for you are a just and righteous God. We confess before you that we often covet worldly models of leadership. Help us to seek our Lord Jesus Christ not in the palaces of the powerful but in the humble manger and to emulate him in his meekness. Encourage us to empty ourselves as we serve each other in obedience to you. We pray in the name of Christ who with you and with the Holy Spirit reigns forever in glory. Amen.  
  • Day 3: O Lord, you have guided us out of darkness to Jesus. You have illumined the star of hope in our lives. Help us to be united in our commitment to bring about your Reign of love, justice and peace and so to be the light of hope to all those living in the darkness of despair and disillusionment. Take our hand, Lord, so we can see you in our daily lives. As we follow you, remove our fear and anxiety. Shine your light upon us and set our hearts on fire so that your love surrounds us with warmth. Lift us up to you, you who have emptied yourself for our sake, so that our lives may glorify you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
  • Day 4: Good Shepherd, the fragmentation of the little flock grieves your Holy Spirit. Forgive our weak efforts and slowness in the pursuit of your will. Give us wise shepherds after your own heart who recognise the sin of division, and who will lead the churches with righteousness and holiness, to unity in you. We ask you, Lord, to hear our prayer. Amen. 
  • Day 5: O Lord God our Father, you sent the star to lead the Magi to your only begotten Son. Increase our hope in you and let us know at all times that you are walking with us, watching over your people. Teach us to follow the guidance of your Holy Spirit, however strange the path may seem, so that we may be led to our unity in Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Open our eyes to your Spirit, and encourage us in our faith, so that we may confess that Jesus is Lord, and worship and rejoice in him as the Magi did in Bethlehem. We ask you these blessings in the name of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen. 
  • Day 6: Compassionate God, you gave the blind the insight to recognise you as their Saviour, enable us to repent. In your mercy, remove the scales from our eyes and lead us to worship you as our God and Redeemer. In the midst of our sorrow and despite the depth of our sins, give us the capacity to love you with all our hearts. May we journey together guided by your light, with one heart and one mind, as were the very first disciples. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be upon us, so that together we glorify you in the Spirit’s fellowship, and witness to all those around us. Amen. 
  • Day 7: All praise, glory and thanksgiving to you, O God. You have revealed yourself in the epiphany of your Son both to those who have long awaited your coming, and to those who were not expecting you. You know the suffering that surrounds us, the pain caused by our divisions. You see the world struggling and the deteriorating situation in the Middle East today – the place where you chose to be born, which was sanctified by your presence. We ask you to enable our hearts and our minds to know you. As we join the wise men coming from afar, we pray that you open our hearts to your love and to the love of our brothers and sisters around us. Give us the will and the means to work towards the transformation of this world and to offer each other gifts that may nurture our communion. Grant us your endless gifts and blessings. Receive our prayer in the name of your Son Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 
  • Day 8: Gracious God, when we only know one way and we think we must return to it, and when we think that all roads are blocked, and we fall into despair, we always find you there. You are the God of renewed promises. We find you creating a new path before us, one that we did not expect. We thank you because you exceed our expectations. We thank you for your wisdom that surpasses our understanding. We thank you because your creative paths open up unforeseen possibilities. If we search our maps and find no route, nonetheless we always find you, who lead us by a yet more excellent way. We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, that you will always lead us back to you. Amen. 
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The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated around the world on January 18-25. The 2022 theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, “We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him” (Mt 2:2), was prepared by the Middle East Council of Churches, based in Beirut, Lebanon. 

The international theme and resources speak to our world’s urgent need for solidarity and transformation in the face of political, economic, and social turmoil, including the challenges and injustices highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As we join the Christians of the Middle East in the journey to Christ’s manger, may we become a sign of the unity that God desires for all creation, and may we return to our home, our churches, and our world by new ways.

A resource kit containing program materials for the Week of Prayer adapted to Canadian context is available. 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.
  • Tips for organizing an ecumenical event 
  • Eight days of prayer
  • Children's activity ideas
  • Other resources here
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Finding joy in the bleak winter months

1/9/2022

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I gingerly sat on my cold leather seat, tensely awaiting my van to warm up on a frigid winter day recently. As I drove down my street, I begrudgingly looked out my passenger-side window and noticed my neighbour braving the -20 weather. 

To my amazement, Bill, at 101-years-old was slowly trudging through the snowy sidewalk with his walker underhand. I was completely awestruck! 

Walking to the corner store is, in fact, Bill’s ordinary extraordinary regular routine. And I’ll admit my grumbly, inner monologue screeched to a halt; I felt sheepish watching him from the comfort of my van.     

Bill’s example is exactly what Dr. Wojciech Brzezinski orders to maintain winter wellness and beat the winter blues. This is a topic near to my heart, as I find that these shorter, cold days challenge my own mental health.   

In a phone conversation with the newly retired physician, we covered topics ranging from growing up in a convent with his family in Communist Poland, his time as a junior national pairs figure skating champion, meeting his wife in medical school and then fleeing Communist Poland as a political refugee in the 1980s.
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Dr. Wojciech Brzezinki
We talked about how Brzezinski landed in Canada 39 years ago (his wife followed two years later) and spent the next seven years completing his residency specializing in surgery in Edmonton. Subsequently, he practiced medicine for 10 years in Fort McMurray and 15 years in Medicine Hat before settling in Canmore. He and his wife have raised two sons and delight in their three grandchildren. They are faithful Our Lady of the Rockies Shrine parishioners and both love keeping active with sports.

Skiing down a mountain, or going for a swim brings Dr. Brzezinski joy, especially in the bleak winter months following Christmas. 

Drawing on his professional training and life experience facing adversity, he shared his three-part prescription with me for maintaining health of body, mind and soul this winter. 

First, find a hobby or passion that inspires you to wake up in the morning and get you excited about the day."
“Keep occupied with something meaningful on a regular basis,” said Brzezinski. “If you think you’ve accomplished something, it’s way easier to tolerate the darkness. You also enjoy coming back home even though it’s already dark. It’s crucial to know why you are getting up in the morning.” 
Second, be active outdoors no matter how cold."
“For cold temperatures you can always dress up,” Brzezinski said. “There is no cold that’s too unbearable for a 15 minute walk. To breathe fresh air, to have that frosty feeling on your face is invigorating. Being active even just once a week on a regular basis is crucial.”
Third, find an accountability partner – spouse, friend, family member – to keep you motivated and stay connected."  
“I can’t overemphasize the importance of a partnership in life and in faith,” said Brzezinski. “It’s something we don’t appreciate enough on a day-to-day basis and yet there are times when it’s incredibly important.”  
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Snowshoeing. Photo: Dr. Brzezinski
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Fr. Nathan Siray ice-climbing the frozen Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park, BC
On occasion he has realized his passion for being active outdoors by going skiing with his parish priest Fr. Nathan Siray, of Our Lady of the Rockies in Canmore, who also shares a love for the outdoors and winter sports. 

So I decided to also call Fr. Siray to hear his perspective on living winter well. It turns out he does some kind of activity every day whether it be a day of skiing, a quick run or an ice climb up a frozen waterfall. 

“Frozen waterfalls are the coolest thing! It’s a surreal experience where you are climbing up the ice, but the water behind the ice is flowing,” said Siray.

“I’m totally amazed by frozen waterfalls. I think they are such a cool sign of God’s creative brilliance.”

Both Siray and Brzezinski agreed that being outdoors even in frigid temperatures offers the faithful an opportunity to exercise gratitude and give thanks for God’s creation. 

And for those who can’t get outside Fr. Siray suggests choosing a book or spiritual reading that is upbeat. 

​“This time of year, because it’s a harder time, choose something to read that’s going to lift you up – a light-hearted novel or a spiritual book that isn’t quite so heavy; I think those can be a good remedy,” said Siray. 

Sunlight in Canmore can be limited in the winter because the mountain peaks block the light. During the winter, Fr. Siray prays in the darkness of the morning and evening and lights candles to make those prayer times special.  
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“You are always looking for those light sources; you are hungry for light throughout the day. Lighting a candle helps me to pray. It fits for this time of year. It beats some of the darkness all around,” Siray said. 

At the end of our conversation Fr. Siray wanted to reassure me and our readers that “the light and warmth will return. That sense of expectation and longing for these things – I think there is something good in that too.”​

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Written by Sara Francis for Faithfully. Sara is a writer living in Calgary with her husband Ben and their five children. They attend St. Bernard's / Our Lady of the Assumption Parish. 

​Photos courtesy of Sara Francis, Fr. Nathan Siray and Dr. Wojciech Brzezinski.
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Are you always running late?

1/8/2022

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If you struggle with always being late.... It's a new year and an opportunity for an improved version of you!
Watch this video and learn from Jackie Angel (Ascension Press) on some practical tips on how to overcome this bad habit.  
​
How to combat this habit?
  • Find the underlying cause of why it's hard to be on time so that you can have it addressed:
    • Are you struggling with anxiety or depression? 
    • Is it the result of procrastination? 
    • Are you having a hard time with time management?
  • If not the above, think about how you perceive and respect other people's time.
    • Evaluate your punctuality when you meet an important figure or someone you look up to versus your friends or family. 
    • If you are only late when meeting those who aren't 'important', know that you might be dealing with the sin of pride. 
  • Let's do something about it. Reach out to your friends and tell them about your efforts to be punctual. Let them know that you need their support. If you haven't already, start the habit of notifying others if you are running late, even if it's only for 5 minutes. 
  • To those with friends who are always late, help them by letting them know of your expectation for being on time and the consequences of being late. Charitably of course. ​

Be considerate and respectful of other people's time and resources. 'Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.' Philippians 2:4"
Source: Jackie Angel, Ascension Press
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Faithful Living: Spend less than you earn

1/3/2022

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Watch this video and learn about a very simple financial principle that will require some discipline to live faithfully.
*The video is used for illustration purposes and is not an endorsement of the financial institution.

We must all live within our means. Even with more money, without any clear purpose, we can spend more than we make. Without this clear purpose, we can get into debt which causes a lot of negative impact on our spiritual, mental, and even physical well being.

Let's keep these in mind: 

  • Everything that we have is a gift from God and is to be used to glorify Him. When our spiritual lives are not in order, one of the most common symptoms of this disorder is financial mismanagement. We may get into debt trying to pay for a lifestyle we cannot afford. This lifestyle choice is often an attempt to fill the void in our lives. The more we fill this "unfillable" void, the more money we spend and the more we get into debt thinking that we can always pay for it later.  

    Let God fill that void. The mathematician, physicist, and Catholic theologian, Blaise Pascal, said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.” Only God can truly make us happy and free. We must overcome the habit of buying things to address the emptiness that we feel and must turn to God.

  • Steps to take to stop the cycle of overspending and start paying your debt:
    • Calculate your total income and monthly expenses. The goal is to have your expenses lower than the income. If you are always overspending, the first task is to lower the expenses where you can and begin to live within your means.
      • Some practical tips: use cash, not cards, and decide the budget for food, presents or entertainment in marked envelopes; for gift giving, consider a joint gift with others; make your own gifts; avoid unnecessary trips to supermarkets or the mall so to minimize exposure to temptation; movie nights at home instead of the cinemas; hot chocolate by the fire or in the park vs a coffee shop visits, etc. You get the idea.  
    • When you are in debt, include monthly debt repayment in your monthly budget and work towards paying off debt. If you have multiple credit cards to pay off, you may want to consolidate them into the credit card that has the lowest interest rate or to a personal line of credit if you have it. To ensure that you will be able to totally pay off debt over time, stop adding to the debt by always living within your means. ​
      ​
  • A banking institution has this clever slogan, "You are richer than you think." Ultimately, it's not just how much money you earn but how much you spend that determines if you have enough. The financial principle is simple but the discipline required to live it is grounded in the personal conviction that only God can truly fulfill us and not material things.

Consider this... does your money own you or do you use your money to serve God and His purpose for you?
​Honour the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." ​Proverbs 3:9-10
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Holy moments in hard times

1/1/2022

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Even moments of stress can be holy. When complaining about getting the ladder up to put up Christmas lights in the cold, a student re-framed the situation to say at least you have a house and are healthy enough to climb up! By shifting our perspectives slightly, we were able to see ordinary encounters as holy moments.

The impact of teaching and learning through the various waves of the COVID 19 pandemic has impacted everyone and affected us in different ways. We noticed in conversations that at times it was challenging to see the light along the journey. Even as faith-filled educators we had to cope with uncertainty and make sense of God’s intention for us. It is in times like these that our faith can really be our strength, if we look for it.

At our school we started with a reflection on our daily encounters. Rather than simply overlooking a helpful gesture or beautiful sunrise, we wanted to absorb those moments. Those moments can be fleeting, yet so powerful. 

To transfer this to students, among several initiatives, we implemented a call to identify holy moments. One of the activities that we had students participate in was a “Holy Moments” chain. Students would add their moments to the chain which was connected and displayed in the hallways.
PictureStudents prepared the Holy Moments chain for display.
We found that by intentionally sharing holy moments, perspectives changed. The act of re-framing situations to see the blessings in our midst allowed us to see our call to be joyful people, who act with gratitude. However, joyful participation in the challenges of life isn’t always easy. By identifying holy moments, it has also affirmed the gift that we have in our Catholic school with faith in the Lord at all times. We walk with Jesus every day! It is a blessing to be able to journey through hard times together knowing that God calls us to lift one another up when we are down. When you stop and look for it, even on your hardest day there is a holy moment that will make you smile. 

The foundation of our school as a community of faithful has not been more relevant than it is today. We need to know that God is with us. It is up to us to actually pause and notice His presence in our lives. The only question left to ask is, what holy moments have you had today?


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Written by Brandon Bailey for Faithfully. Brandon is the principal of St. Mary’s School in Okotoks. He is part of St James Parish in Okotoks and serves on the Diocesan Mission Council. In his spare time he enjoys surfing and hiking outdoors with his wife and 3 children. 

​Photos submitted by Brandon Bailey.
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Because of Mr. Daniel

1/1/2022

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Kasi and his family. Photo submitted by Ryan Ledene.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit… Despite his upbringing in a strict Hindu Orthodox home in India, Kasiviswanat Ganesan carefully recites the Trinitarian prayer complete with careful hand placements to mark out the sign of the Catholic faith.
 
Kasiviswanat or ‘Kasi’ as we all know him as, is the Cafeteria Manager at our newest high school in Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools. He has held this position since the school opened and has become well-known throughout the school division for his culinary expertise and the amazing lunches and dinners that he provides as part of the catering responsibilities that his team holds throughout the division. Kasi is also a parent in our division with a son and a daughter in our French Immersion program. This allows him to have a unique perspective and I sought him out to discuss his observations and understanding in relation to Catholic education.
 
In our conversation, Kasi shared that he works two full time jobs. He is a supervisor at one of the top restaurants in Red Deer. He begins this job everyday after working 8 hours at our high school. Kasi indicated how hard this has been on his relationship with his son, Mukesh, who he often doesn’t even see on a normal workday. He tells me that he is supporting his own extended family back in India as well as in-laws in Indonesia. Kasi also tells me that he has been offered twice as much money at other restaurants or a promotion at the restaurant he currently works at if he would give up his job at St. Joseph’s High School. I asked him why he doesn’t do that especially given the financial obligations he carries. He replies, “I stay because of Mr. Daniel”.
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Kasi and his Cafeteria Staff receive a 'Soaring Falcon' award (Covid style with oven mitt protection!) from Graeme Daniel and the Administration Team.
​Mr. Daniel is the principal and Kasi goes on to inform me that he learns so much watching Mr. Daniel lead the school community. “He has built a family at our school.” I want to lead like Mr. Daniel who is tough on the outside, but has a really big heart.” I ask Kasi for an example and he describes a time when Mr. Daniel came to him and told him about a young man in their school who has a very difficult home life and was supporting younger siblings basically on his own. “Mr. Daniel told me to quietly give this student a lunch every day and just send the bill to the office and they would take care of it.” Kasi also recalls the time when Kasi, himself, became a Canadian citizen. “I did not tell Mr. Daniel that I was doing this, but the next day, the school had organized a special gathering for me and celebrated my new citizenship.” 

​Kasi knows that his kids are getting more than just a good education in our Catholic school division. “They are learning how to live in a relationship with others. Catholic school changes their character and puts them on a good path. It is a good thing that they are learning there is one superior power out there guiding them.”

 
This takes me back to the first line of the article where Kasi perfectly demonstrated the sign of our Catholic faith. Kasi has not joined the Catholic Church nor does he have any current desire to do so, but he knows Catholic education is good for his kids. Kasi explains, “My daughter taught me this as part of her prayers of gratitude she leads when we eat meals together and before she goes to sleep at night.” Kasi’s daughter’s name is Avanthika which means ‘beautiful sky’.  She is five years old. 

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Written by Ryan Ledene for Faithfully. Ryan Ledene is the Associate Superintendent of Personnel at Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS). He has been with RDCRS since 1998 and has served as a teacher, school administrator, Faith coordinator, and Associate Superintendent. He is a past president of the provincial Religious Educators Network (REN)  and is currently the Vice President of the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta. He shares time between the parishes of St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Catholic Church and Sacred Heart Parish in Red Deer. 

​Photos submitted by Ryan Ledene.
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