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Teachers and administrators from across the Christ The Redeemer (CTR) Schools gathered last week for the division's annual Faith Days. Faith Days is a powerful two-day tradition centred on formation in the faith. The theme for Faith Days this year was “Encountering Goodness”, completing our three-year theme “Faith Seeking Understanding” focused on Beauty, Truth, and Goodness. Through worship, reflection and community, the event invited staff to deepen their faith and renew the shared purpose that guides Catholic education across the division. The days were dedicated to fostering a shared sense of mission, with faculty participating in daily Mass, a keynote address, and teacher-led breakout sessions. Day One opened with Mass celebrated by Bishop McGrattan, and concelebrated with priests and deacons from across our division. Following Mass, keynote speaker Brett Salkeld challenged and encouraged educators with practical ways to weave Catholic faith into every subject area, helping students see clear connections between faith and everyday learning. The day concluded with a special social event, allowing colleagues to further celebrate, connect, and build community. On the first day, CTR also recognized staff whose witness and service continue to shape the division in profound ways. Eighteen recipients were honoured with the Christian Witness Award, presented to staff members who make Christ known in their communities by joyfully living the Gospel and the teachings of the Catholic faith. Former employees Pat MacDonald and Shona Dobrowolski were also honoured as recipients of the St. John the Apostle Lifetime Member Award, presented to former employees whose work is characterized by excellence resulting in significant, lasting, and inspirational contributions to the life of the division. Day Two began with Ash Wednesday Mass, offering educators a meaningful opportunity to begin the season of Lent together. The day continued with teacher-led breakout sessions focused on the four pillars of formation: human, intellectual, spiritual, and pastoral. The keynote speaker was widely praised for being excellent, engaging, and inspiring. The breakout sessions, particularly those led by CTR staff and fellow teachers, were very much enjoyed for their variety, quality, and the opportunity for choice and to learn from peers. One teacher reflected, "I really valued the opportunity to step away from the busyness of school and focus on faith and personal reflection. The keynote speaker and sessions were inspiring in different ways - from sacred art to personal stories of resilience. It was a meaningful reminder of the importance of hope, compassion, and faith in our work with students." Superintendent, Dr. Andrea Holowka, expressed profound gratitude for the commitment and faith-filled leadership of CTR staff. "Our Faith Days are more than just a professional development opportunity; they are a vital moment for us to come together as one community in faith," she said. "Seeing our teachers 'Encounter Goodness' and share their spiritual journeys reinforces the heart of our mission. It ensures that the faith, hope, and love we share is what drives every decision we make for our students." The positive experience of these two days is expected to resonate throughout the remainder of the school year, strengthening the bonds between schools and re-energizing teachers in their crucial work of educating and nurturing the faith of our students.
Submitted by Cindy Nickerson, Christ of the Redeemer School Division. Photos courtesy of CTR.
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 I have procrastinated sharing my testimony. Not because it’s unimportant, but because I know that it is. I’ve started a handful of times, and then I stop because I’ve gone off track, or I’ve said too much or too little, or I don’t know where to go next. So what you are reading now may have grammatical errors or rambling, and it may not contain everything important, but what’s important is that you’re reading it. I come to you as a work in progress, not in perfection. By the amazing grace of God, I was baptized last year on April 19, 2025. This event was a long time coming. From meeting my Catholic husband in my teens, to marriage prep in our 20’s, to our son born in 2020 – God (and my mother-in-law) were working to bring me here. Of course, God was working far before that. When I was conceived in a 13-year-old who had the option of abortion, but chose life (thank you, God). When I was a preteen and panicked because I knew that there was something far bigger than myself, but I couldn’t put a finger on it (and my firm atheistic household couldn’t confirm my feelings). When I was driving home through the mountains, my car almost took me over a cliff (and I knew someone had saved me). When I was severely but quietly struggling with my mental health, I had a plan to end my life, and a pair of headlights changed my actions (my God, you show up in so many ways). God was there, quietly working, quietly calling – waiting. God’s call got me to RCIA the year before I was baptized. I left in February because I couldn’t commit to writing my name in the book to indicate baptism. I was worried about how my mom and my friends would react. I was worried because I didn’t have all the answers. I didn’t know if I truly believed in God. I was okay with leaving for a while. It hadn’t felt right and so I floated, trying to see what did. I had already experimented with other religions – when my husband and I started marriage prep, I identified as Buddhist. Then in the summer, I decided “once and for all,” that I was getting off the fence and I was going to live life happily as an agnostic. I wouldn’t go back and forth with anxiety about what to choose, I could be free! … Well, I started RCIA again in September. This time, RCIA was much different. I wasn’t trying to decide if there was a God. I was trying to get to know Him. I was running towards the Eucharist and the Living Water. My consistent prayer was, “Jesus, DO NOT let me go.” I had been back and forth so long that I was worried my motivation would fade yet again, and my doubt would creep back in. Over and over, forcefully and often tearfully, “Jesus, DO NOT let me go.” A big obstacle I had to overcome was telling everyone in my life that I was leading a new life. Of course, my husband Damien’s family was thrilled, and Damien himself came back to the church. He went to confession and became my sponsor. My family and friends however, reflected the life I lived before. They have different values and perspectives that don’t align with the church. What if I told them and they left? What if I lost my village that I rely on in raising my son as a mostly stay at home mom? What if I tell my loudly atheistic mom and she doesn’t want to talk to me anymore? I had a lot to lose and I chose to risk it. However, what came back wasn’t anger or abandonment, but love and understanding. I didn’t lose one relationship, but the one change that surprises me the most to this day, is my mom. She has asked me questions out of curiosity, but not one interrogation like I had imagined. She asks about church and even said she would come to a Christmas Eve Mass to watch our son in a choir. With everyone supporting me, I moved forward. I had my feet washed by Father David, and a few days later, he poured the water over my head to change my life forever. I sobbed through the ceremony from, “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;” (Isaiah 55:1) to kneeling after the Eucharist. Kneeling, I heard a loud celebration in my head, “YOU ARE HERE,” over and over again. All I could say back was, “I KNOW! I KNOW!” In discussions since, I’ve mentioned that I regret not committing earlier. If I had known all that this life would offer, I wish I had gotten here sooner. Yet every time, the person answers: “You got here right when you were supposed to.” I’ve prayed a lot on this: God’s timing. We have been experiencing infertility for almost 2.5 years, and honestly, it’s been one reason that I’ve procrastinated on this testimony. I imagined writing in here – ‘I gave my life to Christ, and we finally conceived!’ While I cannot give you that good news here yet, I can give you this news: God’s timing is never early, it is never late, but it is always on time. And no matter what you are going through – God is still good. “Do not fear, only believe.” Mark 5:36 Written by Jade Hawkins, Holy Spirit Parish, Calgary.
Image: Google Gemini, Feb 23, 2026.
First Friday adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a treasured devotion in many parishes. As it is a particularly good opportunity to pray for vocations to the Consecrated Life, the Assembly of Women Religious joined with Our Lady Queen of Peace parish on Friday, February 6, to pray all day together for this blessing for our Diocese. This helped sustain our prayer for vocations during the week for Consecrated Life, which began with the celebration of the Mass at the Cathedral on February 2. Adoration for vocations is one of the ways that we participate in the renewal of our Diocese. By practicing the faith through this devotion and begging the Lord of the harvest for labourers for His harvest, we are witnessing to Christ by our prayers and inviting others to know Christ and engage in our Catholic sacramental life through the intimacy of silent adoration of the Lord. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us to pray for vocations: “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38). Pope St. John Paul II said: “The entire People of God is responsible for promoting vocations and does so chiefly by persistent and humble prayer for vocations” (Ecclesia in America, n. 40). Thank you to the priests, Dominican Sisters, and many parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Peace parish who came to pray. Thank you to the dedicated Religious Sisters not of the parish who spent time before the Blessed Sacrament for this intention of vocations. They represented the Faithful Companions of Jesus, the Providence Sisters, the Gilbertines, and the Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth. The Precious Blood Sisters told us that they would join us in prayer from their own monastery chapel. A special thank you to Lee Boyle who helped with welcoming everyone and stayed to pray almost the entire day. May the Lord hear our prayer and send us many young men and women to join the Consecrated Life in our Diocese.
 Written by Sister Dianne Turner, OSE. Photos courtesy of Sister Dianne.
My parents taught us early that nothing is free, that work has dignity, and that gratitude matters. More importantly, they taught us that service is not meant to be transactional. It is not something we do to be seen or repaid. It is something we offer freely, placing the Lord first and trusting that He will use even our small efforts for good. I was blessed to grow up in the Crowsnest Pass in southern Alberta, surrounded by the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Creation itself became a teacher. Through time spent outdoors with my father, I began to understand that service is not only about action, but about listening to others, to the world around us, and to God. My father often reminded me that being present and attentive can be just as important as doing. Our Catholic faith was woven naturally into daily life. Priests were welcomed into our home. My grandparents and parents served faithfully in parish life. As a child, I buttered toast while my grandfather prepared brunch for visiting clergy. At the time, it seemed small, but I now realize those quiet moments were forming my understanding of vocation. I learned that priests give their lives entirely to God, and that all of us, in different ways, are invited to give ourselves as well. For a time in my youth, after suffering abuse within the Church, I stepped away. I carried anger, grief, and confusion. Yet even during those years, I found myself drawn to serve. I did not fully understand it then, but I believe now that God had not abandoned me, even when I felt far from Him.
Over the years, I have also experienced profound personal suffering — the loss of my sons Andrew and Frederick -- surviving cancer multiple times, divorce, and the deep sorrow of losing my father, Deacon Renso Castellarin, and my sister, within weeks of each other. These experiences did not make me stronger in the way the world often speaks of strength. Rather, they made me more aware of my dependence on God and of my need for others. If I have been able to accompany others in their pain, it is only because I have been accompanied in mine by faithful priests, religious, health professionals, friends, and family who reflected Christ’s mercy to me. Their service allowed me to heal. Any service I now offer is, in many ways, simply a continuation of what was first given to me. Service, I am learning, is less about doing extraordinary things and more about saying “yes” in ordinary moments. It requires humility, boundaries, discernment, and the willingness to ask forgiveness when we fail. A servant must remain teachable. I fail often. I misunderstand. I grow tired. But God, in His patience, continues to invite me back. Recently, after a medical crisis in which I came close to death, I was reminded again that my life is not my own. If I am still here, it is not because of my strength or merit. It is because God, in His mercy, has given me more time. Time to love. Time to reconcile. Time to serve. As we journey through Lent, I am reminded that service is not a title or an identity to claim. It is a daily choice, often quiet and unseen. We do not need to be perfect. We are simply asked to make a sincere effort and to trust that God will complete what we cannot. If there is anything my life has taught me, it is this: God remains present, even in suffering. He wastes nothing. And He continues to call each of us, in ways unique to our own story, to serve with humility, gratitude, and love. One of my favourite hymns is the Prayer of St. Francis. It reminds us to be instruments of peace, love and service. May we all have the courage to say yes, again and again. Written by Angela Castellarin for Faithfully.
Photo 1: Image: Google Gemini, 23 Feb. 2026. Photo 2: Courtesy of Angela Castellarin.  In December 2024, my husband Don was diagnosed with terminal cancer. His prognosis was “a few months to a few years”. I was determined that he should remain at home as long as possible, but it was a grim Christmas marked by draconian changes to our routines. Somewhere in my fog of anxiety and exhaustion, I registered the start of the Jubilee Year of Hope. I decided then and there that I could either sink into despair or cling to hope. I actually did both, embracing both sorrow and consolation, like the pilgrims on the Jubilee logo who clutch a cross while dragging an anchor. 2025 became a year of unexpected spiritual growth. I discovered there are dozens of people in similar circumstances to ours - adrift following some drastic event, trying to adapt whilst grieving. This is my story, but it is also our story, all of us pilgrims of hope, still journeying beyond the end of the Jubilee Year. Weary time for God Before Don’s illness, I never seemed to have time to rest quietly with God. My prayers would be hasty thanks and distracted petitions. Now, having dropped all extraneous commitments, there was time to sit down, whilst Don was sleeping. Unfortunately, my brain felt too numb to pray, so I just listened to the quiet house or the sounds of wind filtering in from outside. I allowed the Holy Spirit to communicate for me “with sighs too deep for words”. Into this silence peace would creep. I became aware of God’s nearness. Those moments of connection, however fleeting, refreshed me. I realized I was being sustained by my Creator. Jesus suffered too For every peaceful interlude, there seemed to be ten when I felt guilty or resentful. But God was there too. Once when seething about perceived ingratitude, I recalled the story of nine lepers racing away from Jesus without a word of thanks. I understood there was nothing I might feel which Jesus hadn’t also felt. Jesus being fully human finally resonated with me. Unexpected blessings In normal life, there are blessings like health and wealth. Blessings don’t disappear in troubled times but they do hide in hard-to-find places. For example, intimate caregiving can be unglamorous and embarrassing. But it can also be like cracking open a geode to find gemstones within. Something about vulnerability stirs the human heart to compassion, it bonds the carer and the cared-for together more tightly. Love continues to grow in sickness as in health. A different future A calamity can crystallize our life goals. When Don became too unsteady to leave the house, all my plans for the future dissolved. The pain of lost dreams was acute, the suffocation of self-pity even worse. But once I was done wallowing, I realized the smallness of my dreams. I had not thought beyond the grave to the eternity we are all offered. On days when I couldn’t quite see Heaven, I could least believe in things unseen. A year later, Don is still around (thank you, God), but new challenges arise every week. I am tired but grateful for small mercies and for the support networks we have. I have learned that extreme circumstances are paradoxical - I am angry but also accepting, worried but optimistic. I fear, but I continue to hope. Written by Alice Matisz (All Saints, Lethbridge) for Faithfully.
 In recent years, I have been deeply struck by certain verses in the Gospel according to Mark. They have often intruded into my thoughts and prayers. First, some of the very last verses of this chapter: And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up deadly serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16: 17-18). I admit I am afraid of, and am not going to pick up any deadly snakes, or try to drink any deadly thing! But more relevant, for example, I have asked God for many physical healings for others and myself, and I'm not sure I quite believe they will happen. I doubt myself. But this throws me back in thought to earlier in this Gospel, to a story of Jesus casting out a demon from a child that the disciples failed to cast out. Speaking to the child’s father he says: Jesus said to him, ‘If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ (Mark 9:23-24) He is telling us we need to double down. Though I doubt myself, though I am afraid of deadly snakes and poison...prayer and fasting I can do. And when we look back, we can all see the hand of God at work. I remember a few years ago my dad was really struggling with his faith, and it really upset me, so I took many cold showers (fasting from warmth) as a sacrifice of prayer for him, and I begged God constantly for two years. My dad’s faith returned and is growing daily. I did something similar for my uncle, who was near death, and after 50 years away from the sacraments, in his final weeks of life, he asked for a priest and died in the peace of God. In another instance, after 15 years of the most heartfelt prayer of my life (this intention I keep private), it was finally granted, and I was filled with tears of joy. Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief! Why am I sharing all of this? When things look really hard, when we ache for a soul to return to Jesus, when Renewal looks too big, but we want it so bad, remember that the very disciples who walked with Jesus Himself were told that there was something they should do more of…Prayer and Fasting. This is the fuel of Renewal. Consider where Renewal in your parish needs prayer and fasting, and especially as we enter into Lent next week, commit to it. Is it to reignite passion in your ministry? Is it for the youth of your parish, many of whom are conspicuously absent? Is it for that new family that just started attending? For your pastor? The Lord will honour our offerings to him - he says so! But some things can only be accomplished with enough prayer and fasting. Note: Do not pick up any deadly snakes or drink any deadly things as a test, and fast in accordance with the norms of the Church and with guidance from your pastor. Written by Ryan Schmidt, Director of Renewal. Save the date: April 17-18 - Renewal Conference on Missionary Discipleship - with Bishop Scott McCaig - St. Michael's, Calgary. Details coming soon!
 The Presentation of the Lord draws us into the experience of His light, a light recognised, carried, and entrusted to the Church. As Bishop William McGrattan reflected in his homily, the candles blessed and carried at the beginning of the Mass recall “the light that is meant to be kept burning brightly,” first received at baptism, and lived each day in faith. That light shaped the Church’s gathering from the very beginning of the Mass. On Sun, Feb 2, 2026, close to 400 faithful gathered at St. Mary's Cathedral to celebrate the World Day for Consecrated Life on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Before the Eucharistic celebration began, the assembly gathered near the baptismal font for the blessing of candles. All the faithful, including members of consecrated life, received a candle for the procession. The faithful also brought forward some candles from home to be blessed. As flames were shared and the chant rose, candlelight slowly filled the cathedral, echoing Simeon’s proclamation that Christ is “a light for revelation to the nations.” The evening held particular significance for the sisters and brothers of consecrated life, many of whom gathered and processed together in unity. In the Diocese of Calgary, consecrated life includes women and men in Religious Life, Consecrated Virgins and Hermits, members of certain Public Associations of the Faithful, and Societies of Apostolic Life. Though their charisms differ, all share a common call to witness God’s love through the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, in service to the People of God. Sr. Dianne Turner, Assistant Director of the Office of Vocations, was deeply moved by both the turnout and the visible unity of the Church gathered that evening. “I was really happy to see how many people came,” she said. “There were so many diocesan priests and religious priests behind the altar, and religious men and women seated in three rows on either side at the front.” She also noted the presence of Lauretta Dearing, newly consecrated to the Order of Consecrated Virgins Living in the World on November 21, 2025. “The candles were incredible,” Sr. Dianne added. “People brought so many from home to be blessed, and everyone received a taper candle and a holy card.” The response, she said, was immediate. “They loved it. So many people expressed their thanks.” In his homily, Bishop McGrattan recalled that the World Day of Consecrated Life was established by St. John Paul II in 1997 so that the Church might pause to give thanks. “The Holy Spirit needs to remind the entire Church that there are many gifts and many charisms,” he said, “and it is truly the Holy Spirit that continues to unite them and allow them to be at the service of the Church and its mission.” The presence of consecrated women and men in the diocese, he noted, is not incidental, but essential.
The Gospel proclaimed that evening, from Luke’s account of the Presentation, revealed that Simeon recognized Christ as salvation and light and also foretold suffering. Reflecting on this, Bishop McGrattan spoke of consecrated life as a radical witness shaped by both joy and sacrifice. “Many have experienced the grace of encountering Christ in the Incarnation,” he said, “and also the experience of following Christ in his death and resurrection.” This witness, he explained, often involves dying to self so that the grace of Christ may be revealed in those they serve. Following the homily, all those in consecrated life stood together to renew their vows, reaffirming commitments already lived day by day, supported by the prayer of the gathered Church. The liturgy was prayerfully supported by the Seeds of the Word Community, whose music led the assembly through the celebration with reverence, beauty, and care. The Diocese thanks the staff and volunteers of St. Mary’s Cathedral for their support of the celebration, with special appreciation to Ivy Bercelon and her team for their role in sharing the invitation and assisting with the liturgy and reception. The celebration continued in the parish hall, where the unexpectedly large turnout only underscored what had been witnessed throughout the evening. Bishop McGrattan’s words offered a fitting final note: “Let us be filled with a great joy and thanksgiving for the witness of our religious brothers and sisters and those in consecrated life, where they truly witness to Christ in the community, their life and their ministry.”
 Photos: Bandi Szakony and Victor Panlilio, for the Diocese of Calgary.
 More than 155 years ago, the Sisters of Charity (also known as the Grey Nuns) arrived in what would become Alberta with little more than faith, courage and a deep conviction that every life is sacred. They cared for the sick, welcomed the vulnerable and built the foundations of Catholic health care in our province. Today, that same mission lives on in Covenant hospitals, continuing care centres and community health programs across Alberta. And it lives on through you: through the prayers, generosity and support of people who believe that compassionate care is still a calling. When you support Covenant Foundation, you are not just remembering a legacy. You are helping carry it forward, ensuring that faith continues to be lived through care for generations to come. This Catholic Health Care Week, learn about our sacred legacy at covenantfoundation.ca/oursacredlegacy Covenant Health sites within the Diocese of Calgary:
 Article & photos: Submitted by Covenant Health Alberta.
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