Canadian churches and Christian leaders call for peace as war in Ukraine enters its third year2/23/2024   February 24 marks the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. National representatives of Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant communities, in collaboration with the World Evangelical Alliance’s Peace and Reconciliation Network, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, and the Canadian Council of Churches, have signed this Pastoral Letter on Ukraine, Canada, and the Church, inviting all to join in praying for peace.
The Letter can be accessed online: In English | In French | In Ukrainian “Without in any way minimizing or ignoring the suffering and sorrow caused by war and violence in other areas of the world, we stand together in inviting Christians and all people of goodwill to prayerfully consider how we are all called, and might contribute to, the achievement of peace in and for Ukraine.” – excerpt from the Pastoral Letter. Endorsed by 45 leaders, the Letter identifies six meaningful ways by which to foster peace:
The President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary, supported by the CCCB’s Executive Committee, is one of the aforementioned signatories to the Letter, now available in English, French, and Ukrainian You are invited to share these links to pray and work together for peace. === For Media Inquiries, contact Maribel Mayorga Director of Communications Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) Email: [email protected] Telephone: 613-241-9461, ext. 225
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 On February 14th, a day that carries the dual significance of both Lent and Valentine's Day, we are reminded of these words from the gospel: “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” ~Matt 6:16. This scripture passage encourages us to embrace our faith with joy as Catholics. Recognizing that men might occasionally forget about the Valentine's Day, God Squad Canada decided to organize an event that would assist them in strengthening their relationships. We planned a cabaret-style dinner on February 12th, aptly named 'Savor The Stage,' at the popular +39 Pizza and Pasta Bar in Calgary. This novel idea, conceived in collaboration with my son, Patrick, was a first-of-its-kind event. Patrick arranged the evening's entertainment, bringing together six professional singers and pianist Alex Szojka for a memorable performance. The response was overwhelming, with 75 people registering to attend, resulting in a packed restaurant buzzing with anticipation and excitement. We didn’t know exactly what to expect as it was a new idea which I had come up with my son, Patrick. Patrick took care of the entertainment for the evening with 6 professional singers with Alex Szojka playing piano. We had 75 people register to attend, which made for a very full restaurant.
The evening started with old and new friends greeting each other, and mingling while people found a seat and got a drink. The program opened with prayer and after that, we were thoroughly entertained. It is hard to describe just how good the program was with these young singers pouring out their talent. When it was time for food service, the pasta and pizzas started hitting the tables. You could hear the constant ring of excitement as the conversations continued, enjoying the company and fellowship. A second set of music began that continued to get the crowd more engaged with loud cheers from many after every song. The guests were then treated to a wonderful tiramisu and dessert pizza as the vibrant conversations continued to resonate throughout the restaurant. The final set received a thunderous standing ovation. We were extremely pleased with what had taken place. What I didn’t expect was the positive feedback from the staff and performers. The staff talked about the joy they witnessed from the people there. The bartender commented how normally he has to chase people to pay their tabs, but this time, the patrons were chasing him to pay! The performers, too, spoke of never performing before a more attentive crowd. One said, “Thank you for allowing us to be part of the family.” Then, the staff mentioned to our team how happy they were that they had decided to come on their day off to be part of the evening. Once home, my wife, Michele, and I reflected on the event. We realized that the evening had become more than a social gathering. It had become an evening of evangelization. The staff and performers had witnessed people of faith coming together and showing the joy we share as committed Catholic Christians. As we enter this Lenten season, I encourage you to embrace your fast with joy. This can serve as a beacon of hope for those seeking the promise of Easter.
 After a successful launch of Alpha at the parish as part of our community’s response to the synodal process, it was a natural progression to bring Alpha Youth to the students at St. Joseph’s Collegiate (SJC). SJC is a grade 9-12 Catholic school in Brooks, with about 460 students. We cater to a diverse community, with a wide range of cultural and language backgrounds, as well as varying practices of faith – most students non-practicing, many nominally and some practicing Catholics, some ethnic orthodox denominations, as well as a growing number from other Christian church communities. Just before the start of the school year, we committed to running the Alpha Youth series in our school during our 42 minute lunch break. Four staff were recruited to facilitate groups, the supervision schedule was adjusted to free us all up at the same time, and we started online training and promoting. The Alpha Canada website has training videos, print resources, digital and print media for promotion, suggested schedules and to-do lists based on the timeline of one’s Alpha session, with access to mentorship and online support. It is all high quality, and user-friendly – even the copyright guidelines. Alpha has a simple format for success: share some food, watch a video, discuss.
If it is true that if you feed them, they will come, it is even truer with teenagers. When we first started promoting our series at the school, the initial uptake was from a few practicing Christians looking for a place to gather with other faithful students – many of them already familiar with Alpha from other home churches – but as we started to get community commitments to provide food, and let the students know lunch was included, more students showed up. Overall, we have had a consistent 24 students who have made most if not all of the sessions, and probably had another dozen or so who checked it out a couple of times at the start. We have had three consistent small groups and the students are really receptive to the topics and getting into good discussion with their peers. Feedback consistently sounds like: “I love my group, so my favourite part is discussing ideas, expressing my thoughts, and listening to other’s opinions.” Or, my favourite part is “the connection and community.” Reassuringly we even gotten, “the food is great, but I also enjoy hearing other people’s perspective on the questions.” Almost half of the students are in one group, and do all of the discussion in Spanish; we are so blessed to have diverse staff as well as students so that we can facilitate this! (The first version of the Alpha Youth series is available dubbed in Spanish and other languages, so we will be looking at using that for an all-Spanish session in semester II.) We are nearing the end of our first session, and have just had our retreat day. It ended up working best to run after school on a Friday, to save the need for rides. With our short lunch hours and the gradual introduction to prayer, it was our first opportunity to really dig into prayer with each other. It was such a blessing to hear students praying for each other and to have the opportunity to pray within small groups. We had worship with great participation, led by one of our staff, and we were so blessed by members of our parish with meals and snacks for the day. The spring session at the church had such a positive impact on participants, that they have been very quick to support our youth session at the school – mostly by helping with food! Overall, just like the spring session at the church, our first Alpha Youth session has been awesome! The smiles on student faces as they come in for lunch, and join with their groups, are such a reassurance that Alpha has been an appreciated opportunity our school. Furthermore, the participating students are keen to get involved in hosting and helping with the next session, and are starting to prayerfully consider who they will invite to the next round. One thing emphasized in the planning is to make sure participants have a way to continue involvement after Alpha, so we will run the next session with them as the hosts of the small groups. They are excited to keep the conversations going to continue to explore and deepen their own faith, and to share it with their peers. God is Good! Submitted by Natalie Sturch, teacher at St. Joseph's Collegiate, Brooks,
Photo credit: St. Joseph's Collegiate. Poster: Alpha Canada. “Our Lord moves amidst the pots and pans,” St. Teresa of Avila once said, and indeed, I often find God in a busy kitchen. I love cooking, which was once described to me as the art of redistributing water, which is simply a clever way of saying chefs are masters of matter. Western culture is often derided as being materialistic, but the philosopher Alan Watts disagrees. In a passage contemplating proper Christian materialism, he writes:
St. Augustine noted that things are to be used, but only God is to be enjoyed. We enjoy the goodness of God’s creation in the bounty on our table, but especially in those at our table. As the Catholic Bishops of Japan wrote in Reverence for Life, “To sense each creature singing the hymn of its existence is to live joyfully in God’s love and hope.” At the best feasts, everything and everyone is singing joyfully in God’s love. One pillar of the Diocese of Calgary’s Pastoral Renewal is to Strengthen Family Life, and eating together as a family is a powerful bond. Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education says only 30% of families manage to eat together on a regular basis, but those that do experience lower rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and higher rates of resilience and self esteem. The Father has always been calling us to a meal because this is one of the ways he keeps us free from all anxiety. A family dinner can be a minor mirror of the Mass. My most joyful cooking comes when I remember to recite my favourite lines from the Eucharistic prayer: Fruit of the earth and the work of human hands… Fruit of the vine and the work of human hands… A cosmic vertigo occasionally overwhelms me at the simple act of looking down at a carrot in my left hand and a knife in my right. Everything – the sun, rain, earth, fire, time, and human craftsmanship – everything is in my hands, and as I chop, I often recollect a passage from Martin Luther King Jr.’s A Christmas Sermon on Peace: You go to the bathroom and reach for the sponge, and that’s handed to you from a Pacific Islander. You reach for a bar of soap, and that’s given to you by the hands of Frenchman. You drink your coffee that is poured in your cup by a South American, or if you prefer cocoa, by a West African. Have you ever stopped to think that before you finish eating breakfast, you’ve depended on more than half the world?"
All of which likely explains why my favourite dishes are reductions, when the steam goes up fragrant from the pot like incense. In risotto, for example, at a crucial stage you must burn off the alcohol from a dry white wine to concentrate its sweetness. In pisto manchego, the water from the tomatoes, peppers, and squash slowly bubbles off until there’s nothing left but the flavour of God. And in this holy season of Lent, it is important to keep in mind that this sacred materialism allows us to fast in a meaningful way. When we temporarily go without God’s bounty, we turn away from the idols of comfort and convenience to focus our attention on the Father’s loving provision. When families reclaim this communion at the domestic church’s dinner table, they will once again find God in the midst of pots and pans.
 After a brief hiatus caused by the pandemic, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish (OLPH) in Calgary sprang back into action, organizing their much-anticipated annual Chinese New Year celebration. The beginning of the Year of the Dragon, which fell on February 10, was celebrated by the parish at the Chinese Cultural Centre Saturday evening,February 17, 2024. The event saw an overwhelming response with parishioners, families, and invited guests of all ages attending in large numbers. Dressed in traditional outfits, Chinese parishioners added a joyful vibrancy to the gathering. Planning such a large-scale banquet is no mean feat. It took a year of meticulous planning by Carol Lam, her team at the Catholic Family Fellowship, and the involvement of parish volunteers to put together this magnificent feast. The event, which the parishioners eagerly look forward to each year, was a sell-out with 49 tables, accommodating nearly 500 people. David Chan, Parish Pastoral Council Chair of OLPH, likened the team's preparations to "having another full-time job!" However, their hard work paid off in abundance. The well-planned program was a hit among the parishioners and guests. The seamless coordination of entertainment and the 9-course food service ensured that everyone was engaged throughout the evening. The evening kicked off with an elaborate dragon dance. The rhythmic beating of the drums and energetic choreographed movements set the stage for the welcome message from Fr. Joseph Nguyen and an opening prayer by Bishop McGrattan. Parish groups of various ages and skills showcased their talents while the dinner carried on. The community's special care for its youth and young children was evident. Their active participation, from leading the singing to performing the lion dance, a basketball dragon slam dunk, and guzheng instrument performances, was a testament to the parish's commitment to nurturing their young parishioners. Their super charming 6-year-old main usher, Quintinus, was also kept busy all evening, spreading joy to all who saw him!
The adults and senior groups were not to be left out of the performance lineups. Their choir singing and Tai Chi performance, complete with a sword dance, added to the evening's festivities. Alongside the ministries in the parishes, they also organized the highly anticipated raffle draw. An array of prizes was raffled off, sparking excitement among all the guests. Fr. James Hagel, one of the evening’s raffle winners, was particularly thrilled with his win of a super sharp meat slicer. However, the surprise act was the magic show by Fr. Joseph Nguyen. He performed a series of magic tricks with Bishop McGrattan as his willing volunteer. From a levitating table to card games and a box-burning trick, Fr. Joseph surely added a magical touch to the evening. His performance especially captivated the attention of the children gathered near the stage, who were beyond excited to watch him in action. "I've been doing it since I was young," he shared when asked about his magical tricks. At the end of the event, David Chan thanked all the hardworking team members and all the guests for their attendance. It was truly a delightful evening for the parish community, giving thanks for each other, and highlighting the importance of gratitude and mutual respect. As we continue to recognize the richness and beauty that each of our cultural communities offer, may we always be grateful for how wonderfully we all have been made by God, and for His continued blessings.
Photos: Office of Communications, OLPH Parish
 What an exciting time for us in the Diocese! Over 44 parishes sent their Parish Renewal Team members to an orientation which took place simultaneously on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, at St. Luke's and St. Albert the Great's in Calgary, St. Martha's in Lethbridge and Holy Family Parish at Medicine Hat. Close to 300 parish renewal team members joined in the orientation day, which was filled with lively conversation and learning opportunities. The sight of so many new faces, all eager to start their journey of renewal on behalf of their parishes, was truly uplifting. For many attendees, this was their inaugural experience with Parish Renewal. Over at St. Martha's in Lethbridge, it was a warm and welcoming atmosphere despite the cold weather. "It was a cold Saturday - but 43 people from 9 different parishes gathered at St. Martha in Lethbridge to begin a four-year diocesan-wide renewal program," shared Fr. Tim Boyle, a member of the diocesan Renewal Leadership Team (RLT). The staff and volunteers at all sites had prepared tables with signs welcoming each parish as well as an overflowing hospitality table. Parishioners were able to enjoy delicious treats and beverages as they caught up with old friends and welcomed newcomers from across the diocese. Organizing the Zoom conference to facilitate discussions and prayers across four sites proved more challenging than anticipated. The Renewal Leadership teams definitely had their fair share of anxiety. However, when the day of the event arrived, everything ran smoothly! "The technology was amazing and left us all with a feeling of being connected to the whole diocese without any of us having to drive for hours," shares Fr. Tim. The orientation included a morning prayer, a viewing of the Pastoral Renewal launch video, followed by a session with Bishop McGrattan on the Diocese's Parish Renewal process. "The presentation from Bishop McGrattan encouraged the participants as they learned more about the process and vision of the diocese’s renewal," shares Bonnie Annicchiarico, RLT chair who attended the orientation from Holy Family Parish, Medicine Hat. Then we heard the testimonies of three fellow parishioners who shared their personal experiences. Sarah Stamp from Vauxhall, AB spearheaded the testimonies, focusing on the primary goal of Pastoral Renewal: Strengthening Family Life. Lorand Szojka from St. Peter's Parish in Calgary spoke about Forming Missionary Disciples in Christ. Lastly, Liisa Honish, a parishioner from St. Albert the Great's Parish shared her experiences on being a Church of Encounter and Witness. The speakers emphasized the significance of personal connections and mutual care, rather than relying solely on programs. They highlighted the profound and lasting impact of simple acts performed with love within parish communities and families. Furthermore, they provided insights on integrating faith into daily life, embracing our roles within families, and fostering welcoming parish environments. Post-testimonies, participants discussed pastoral priorities that resonated with them, displaying evident passion and enthusiasm. "The discussions were very lively, and it was clear that the Holy Spirit was helping participants express their heartfelt views," noted Marc O'Loughlin, a member of the RLT who attended the orientation at St. Albert the Great's Parish. One member found the testimonies inspiring, stating, "There are people out there already living it. That means it’s possible!" 
Bonnie added, "Participants were really inspired by the testimonies of Sarah, Lorand, and Liisa and relished the opportunity to discuss renewal ideas in their small groups. They left feeling enthusiastic and encouraged by their colleagues and peers, and most especially by the leadership and support provided by the Diocesan Leadership Team." One participant said, "It’s a renewal, we have always been called, we have always mattered and we always will belong but we need to be reminded." Another added, "I feel some hope of moving forward in a concrete way to enliven our entire parish, not just separate groups." Following the grouop discussion, the sites were filled with a contagious enthusiasm. After getting an overview of what the next several months will look like for the teams, they were sent out with a prayerful commissioning by the Bishop. The pilgrimage has begun and we are greatly comforted knowing we walk together. We left with these encouraging words ringing in our hearts: We can make renewal happen! Here's to a future filled with love, growth, and renewal!  Photo credits: Office of Communications, Marc O'Loughlin, Fr. Iqbal Khurshid, Bonnie Annicchiarico, and Fr. Tim Boyle.
 This year, the 28th World Day for Consecrated Life was especially marked with great reverence and joy. Friar Michael Perras shared, "The Franciscan Friars invited all religious of the Diocese to join in this special commemoration. We gathered for the Eucharist, took time to connect, and enjoyed a noon feast together. I believe there were nine different communities represented. It was such a gift for us to gather and celebrate our vows!" The World Day for Consecrated Life is celebrated every year on February 2. It is intended to "help the entire Church to esteem ever more greatly the witness of those persons who have chosen to follow Christ by means of the practice of the evangelical counsels and, at the same time, is intended to be a suitable occasion for consecrated persons to renew their commitment and rekindle the fervour which should inspire their offering of themselves to the Lord." (Pope St. John Paul II) Following the gathering at Mount St. Francis in Cochrane, many of the religious priests and consecrated men and women of the Diocese joined Fr. Avi at the Cathedral to celebrate the Mass of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas. After the gathering at Mount St. Francis in Cochrane, many religious priests and consecrated men and women of the Diocese joined Fr. Avi at the Cathedral to celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas. Fr. Avi led the Mass and invited people discerning a call to consecration to come forward for a blessing alongside those who had already taken vows. He encouraged the congregation to invite young people to consider the Consecrated Life and prayed especially for more vocations in the Diocese.
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