 For 25 years, Mission Mexico has been a testament to the faith and generosity of the people of Calgary, reaching out to the poorest of the poor with compassion, hope, and charity. Since 2000, the Diocese's outreach in Guerrero, Mexico, has supported health care, education, and emergency assistance among Indigenous communities, accompanying families with compassion and solidarity.
Bursaries for underprivileged students Mission Mexico gives a helping hand to students who wish to continue their education and return to their villages with professions and skills that can improve life for all. Xalpitzahuac Health Project The project assists people from the Xalpitzahuac region with medical costs and travel to hospitals in cases of dire need. Schools Mission Mexico has helped support education through two schools:
Mission Mexico provides one-time emergency assistance to families facing accidents, house fires, emergency medical care, unexpected family expenses, or dire hunger needs.
For a quarter of a century, Mission Mexico has remained a visible expression of faith in action, bringing hope and practical support to individuals, families, and communities in Guerrero. Through education, health care, and emergency assistance, the mission continues to respond with compassion to those most in need.
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As families arrive with increasingly complex needs, Elizabeth House continues to provide longer-term, multi-level support through advocacy, system navigation, one-on-one mentorship, coaching, and high-intensity solution-focused care.
The impact of this support is reflected in the experiences of the women who call Elizabeth House home. One resident shared: I remember when I just moved in, I was from a stranded situation on the verge of giving up but they came to my rescue. I was going through depression but with their help, from volunteers with childcare, counselling therapy, and a peaceful environment I was able to bounce back to my feet." Support continues beyond a family's stay through the Women's Empowerment Committee, a participant-driven initiative created by Elizabeth House alumni. The committee fosters mentorship, community-building, knowledge sharing, and emotional support.
It is a community where mothers and children receive practical support, build meaningful relationships, and are accompanied as they work toward greater stability. It is a community made possible by your prayers, volunteer service and financial support. Want to help? To make your donation go even further, give to Elizabeth House through the Birdies for Kids presented by Rogers Charity Classic program. Donations made through the Birdies for Kids website will be matched up to 50%. Donate until mid-August 2026 at rogerscharityclassic.com/elizabeth-house. 
“I will never forget you.” This promise from Isaiah 49:15 is the theme for the 6th World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, celebrated on Sunday, July 26, 2026. Established by Pope Francis in 2021 and now carried forward by Pope Leo XIV, this Day calls the Church to honour grandparents and elders not with occasional gestures, but with lasting closeness, gratitude, and care. The Vatican Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life is asking all the faithful to place emphasis on closeness: reaching out directly to those who live alone, are staying in care homes, or have no visitors. It is an opportunity for everyone, especially the young, to spend time with grandparents, elderly family members, and above all, those who are completely isolated. Resources:
Simple ways to celebrate In your parish:
In your home:
Sources: Message of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for the Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly (15 June 2026); Pastoral Toolkit, Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life.
 I was born into a Catholic family and baptized as an infant. I attended a Catholic primary school, where, along with my classmates, I received the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation, before moving on to a public high school. I believe my faith has always lived quietly in my heart, yet I often wonder—was I truly paying attention in religion classes or was I simply too young and immature to understand fully the message my teachers were trying to impart? Regular Sunday Mass wasn’t a priority in my teens and early adult life. Were the sacraments just a ritual? Was transubstantiation real? Did I really believe in persona Christi? I don’t think I really thought about it, but something kept pulling me back. That pull became stronger when I married and had children of my own. There was a drive in my soul that said it was imperative to have my children baptized. There was no question; my children must attend a catholic school. I needed them to know and understand love – God. Still, even then, I had not yet grasped the bigger picture of my own faith. When my children were young, I wanted to volunteer at our parish. My parish priest reminded me of my role as a parent, teaching my children the faith was more important, and my time would come to be able to volunteer. I began volunteering as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. When my friend who coordinated the ministry was dying of cancer, she asked me to take over her role. From there, I served with Inn from the Cold and spent time visiting the shut-ins. Each of these roles drew me closer to my faith and deepened my understanding of the love God offers each of us. However, it wasn’t until Deacon Luis invited me to join the RCIA team as a catechist at St. Luke’s parish that I realized just how little I truly understood my faith. I was embarrassed! I remember confiding in a priest about how inadequate I felt, calling myself a Catholic while knowing so little. He gently shared that even as a priest, there were times when he too felt embarrassed for not knowing everything about the faith. In that moment, I realized there was hope for me yet. I am not a public speaker! I get up in front of a group of people and can’t recall what I was meant to say; I can’t even breathe. So, the thought of standing in front of a group of adults guiding them on their journey to learn and understand the Catholic faith was beyond my ability. Yet with the gentle guidance and encouragement from my RCIA team of catechists, I learned that I didn’t have to stand in front of a group of people to lend support or to share what it is to be Catholic. I could sit with the smaller groups encouraging and guiding conversation through a lesson. I could ask questions that would bring out what that shy person at our table was afraid to ask in the larger group. I could add to the topic that my fellow catechist was presenting, encouraging others to speak out and get the conversation going. It was amazing to learn that there was more than one way to share what God has given us: to enlighten others of the gentle love that Jesus taught, to be able to open the eyes of others about how the Holy Spirit quietly talks to us, if we only know how to listen.
In the seven years that I have been involved in RCIA my faith has grown, my personal understanding of my faith has blossomed, taking my heart and mind into greater heights in spreading the Good News in a gentle way that encourages others to see what God is offering each of us. It was empowering to learn that I could teach by example and that a gentle word of encouragement could be a strong catalyst in helping another take that next step in their journey towards embracing the faith to which God has called us. I am humbled to know that when God called me, this time I had the courage to say: “Here I am, Lord; Your servant is listening.” Submitted by Carol D’Amico
 Feed the Hungry is a diocesan outreach ministry that offers weekly meals, care packages, and compassionate accompaniment to individuals and families in need, creating a place of dignity, welcome, and community.
For many volunteers, serving is more than an act of charity—it is an expression of faith. As one longtime volunteer reflected, “A Sister once remarked to me that being a Feed the Hungry volunteer and serving our guests is ‘a wonderful way to pray.’ That has become my point of perspective on the program, galvanizing my desire to serve my brothers and sisters, while mentoring those who join us to do the same.”
Guests come for a meal. They leave fed in ways they didn't know they were hungry. Because here, food is never just food. It is dignity. It is being known by name. It is a community that does not fix you, but refuses to abandon you.In this space, something unexpected happens. Guests come for a meal. They leave fed in ways they didn't know they were hungry. Because here, food is never just food. It is dignity. It is being known by name. It is a community that does not fix you, but refuses to abandon you.
Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) In 2025, approximately $1 million was disbursed to five different projects in the Treaty 7 region. The donations for the IRF have been received from the parishioners of the Diocese of Calgary through the Together in Action Campaign. A total of $3 million is expected to be disbursed over three years. Projects funded in 2025:
For more information about the Together in Unity Circle and IRF funding opportunities, visit: catholicyyc.ca/IRFfunding  |
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July 2026
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