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Sacred Service

8/28/2023

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The vocation of the permanent deacon is a great gift of God to the Church. Called to serve, the permanent deacon is a public and living icon of Christ the Servant within the Church. 

The upcoming ordination of the 12 candidates to the permanent diaconate by Bishop McGrattan on November 18, 2023, stands as a living testament to how Christ continues to raise ministers within the community for the purpose of mission. Much like the first apostles, this diverse group of 12 candidates has responded to Christ’s call in accordance with their unique circumstances, consistently exhibiting humble hearts, generosity, and a zeal for mission: 

  • John Arbeau, Ascension Parish, Calgary 
  • Bruce Alan Barnett, St. Martha’s Parish, Lethbridge
  • Ferdinand Gayos, St. Albert the Great, Calgary
  • Randy Victor Gritter, St. Michael’s Parish, Calgary
  • Thomas Hing Cheung Ha, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Calgary
  • Brian Kinahan, St. Augustine’s, Taber
  • Timothy Peter Lilienthal, All Saints Parish, Lethbridge
  • James Arnold Manzara, All Saints Parish, Lethbridge
  • Carlos Perez, St. Thomas More, Calgary
  • Ricardo Rosero, Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, Calgary
  • Andrew Ross, St. Joseph, Calgary
  • Reynaldo Tadifa, St. Albert the Great, Calgary
Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.”  (Acts 6:3)
The establishment of the diaconate took place with the ordination of the seven deacons described in the Acts of the Apostles. Renewing the practice of the early Church, the Second Vatican Council restored the order of deacons as a proper and permanent rank of the hierarchy. This restoration began in Canada in 1969 and in the Diocese of Calgary since 1998.
How did you find your calling? 

When candidates were asked how they were introduced to the diaconate, answers varied widely. Some had long harboured a calling. Others were invited by their parish priest. Interestingly, two candidates were personally tapped by Bishop Emeritus Henry, who seemed to employ a direct recruitment approach! 

Candidate Carlos Perez recalls, “During the Couples for Christ annual Evangelization Rally… Bishop Emeritus Henry asked me to talk to my pastor on how to go through the process of applying in the permanent diaconate program… It was quite unexpected and seemed  mysterious… I didn't even know at that time what exactly a deacon was.” 

Similarly, candidate Thomas Ha shares his experience a few years ago, “I passed by Bishop Henry at the Chinese New Year Banquet when he invited me to follow Christ through the Diaconate program. It was like Jesus asking the apostles to follow him by the shore of Lake Galilee, and I responded!”
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Carlos & Melrose Perez
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Thomas & May Ha
When candidate John Arbeau was asked by a priest years ago,  “My initial reaction was why are you asking me, as I didn’t think I was the person!” But with formation, training, and prayer, he adds that “I have matured and grown in my spirituality to understand the service of a deacon.”

Meanwhile, candidate Randy Gritter, formerly a staunch Protestant, underwent a significant conversion to Catholicism before he felt the call to the permanent diaconate. “I initially learned about the diaconate as a Protestant. We had deacons who were specifically tasked with aiding the poor in our community," he shares. His then-parish priest, Fr. Julian Studden, was highly supportive of his vocation. 

When Gritter applied for the second time, he discovered that Fr. Studden had been appointed Vicar of the Diaconate. He interpreted this as a sign that God was guiding him through this door.

Stay tuned to future issues of Faithfully for more detailed vocational stories of each candidate.
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John and Kerry Arbeau
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Randy & Mary Gritter with their family
The formation journey
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​“I believe you don't wake up one day and decide you want to be a Deacon. “ says candidate Ferdinand Gayos. He adds, “If we haven’t learned serving, it may be a difficult and uphill climb going through the formation. The Deacon's heart is formed first in serving our own family, our parish community and the wider community.” 

Deacons share in Christ’s threefold mission of teaching, sanctifying and leading the People of God. While the unifying principle of diaconal ministry is the service of charity, which shapes their service of the Word and of the liturgy, the three responsibilities are inseparably united. 

Quoting Galatians 2:20, candidate Reynaldo Tadifa shares, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. If I want to be the image of Christ to others, I have to recognize the gift of my own Baptism as a means of dying to my old ways and rising to a life of sacrificial love, just as Christ did for all of us, and let me be a channel of spreading his mercy, love and compassion to others.“

Under the leadership of Bishop McGrattan, the Diocese has developed a new formation program for the permanent diaconate that is both grounded in the nature of diaconal ministry and adapted to the pastoral needs of the multicultural and multiethnic Diocese of Calgary.  

The permanent diaconate formation program is based on four dimensions: human, spiritual, theological and pastoral. The overall purpose is to help candidates to mature spiritually and to develop the personal and pastoral skills which will enable them to be servants of the Word, of the liturgy and of charity.

Over a period of 4 years, candidates spent an average of 35 hours per month in formation weekends, supervised pastoral education, personal study and spiritual formation.
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Ferdinand Gayos & wife Malou Ponon
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Reynaldo & Pam Tadifa
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Brian & Linda Kinahan
During the formation years, our deacon candidates also experienced strong prayer support from their fellow parishioners and mentors. All credited their spouses and families above all for encouraging them.  

Speaking of his wife’s unwavering support, deacon candidate Brian Kinahan mentioned, “This has been her journey as well. And, although we've had long conversations about where this journey is taking us, and she has had her uncertainties about it, she has never stopped praying for me, and listening to me during my own doubts.” 
“Speaking with the deacons who have come before us, they are glad that we are having the experiences that we are having. It has also been helpful on this journey to get help from their experiences, from their journey and from what they have learned and done,” says candidate Jim Manzara.

Candidate Ricardo Rosero-Gonzallez shared that his understanding on being a deacon has evolved, stating that as a deacon, "I represent the Church whereever I am.”  This was echoed by candidate Peter Lilienthal, who added, “The ministry of presence is key to this role, and being able to let the Holy Spirit work through me.”      

Strong bonds naturally formed between the 12 deacon candidates and their families during the formative years. 

“Our diaconate class of 12 families was very close. We were not immune, over the 4 years, to the struggles and griefs within the path of life,” says candidate Bruce Alan Barnett. “We all experienced the "oneness" of the Body of Christ in our prayers, compassion and empathy shown many times through the journey.” 
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Ricardo Rosero & Gladys Alvarez
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Jim & Helen Manzara
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Peter and Cyndi Lilienthal
But are these deacon candidates prepared for the upcoming  ordination as permanent deacons? Deacon candidate Andrew Ross shares a sentiment that would resonate deeply with his fellow candidates, “God knows, those around me know, and I know that I am far from perfect – but I am ready. Ready to embrace the spirit of humble service and selflessness, to work to fulfill my ministry with readiness and dedication.”
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Commending this year’s class of graduates, Deacon Walsh (Director of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate program) said, “Each one of these men, along with their spouses, have  gone through a beautiful transformation of the heart….Not only have they grown, but they have helped those of us who have helped facilitate them through the process.” He added that the candidates actively contributed to their own and each other’s transformation into servants of Christ. 

Our Diocese is blessed to welcome them into sacred service this November! 

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Bruce (left) and Pat (right) Barnett
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Andrew & Irene Ross

Written by Alice Matisz and the staff of the Catholic Pastoral Centre for Faithfully.
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"Enlarge the Tent" - Accompaniment series

8/27/2023

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Back for a second series, Fr. Tim Boyle will speak on The Art of Accompaniment, picking up on the theme from the Synod preparation document "Enlarge the Tent."

2023/2024 Dates:
  • Monday, September 18, 2023 - "The big four issues the church will discuss in Rome.. and what does it mean to "Enlarge the Tent" 
  • Monday, October 16, 2023 - “A petrified Church..how did we get here? 
  • Monday, November 20, 2023 - “What unbelievers can teach us about mystery of God” 
  • Monday, January 22, 2024 - “Zacchaeus.. the first of Many Seekers.. and why they don’t want to join” 
  • Monday, February 19, 2024 - “Finding the Real Presence of God outside the church”
  • Monday, March 18, 2024 - “Mother Maria of Russia .. on uniting the Cross and the Sword”
  • Monday, April 15, 2024 - “Flourishing .. not just maintaining the Faith”..
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New storage lockers & garage organizations at Elizabeth House

8/27/2023

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With every family having a bedroom to store their belongings, our indoor space was becoming crowded. As each family's journey at Elizabeth House progresses, the need for additional storage grows.

Today, we are still standing in awe of our new storage lockers and garage organization system. We thank Ethan Karter Construction who donated all the labour, the cost of materials, the design, and the actual build of the lockers and storage - essentially every aspect from start to finish. We also thank Rite Way Fencing who donated their assistance for the installation.

Matt and the crew at Ethan Karter Construction, you've truly worked wonders! These purposefully built lockers and storage solutions are greatly appreciated and much needed.
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Our team and families extend their deepest gratitude. An extra special thank you goes to the Schultz Family for spearheading this project and connecting us with Matt and his team. Thank you!.

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After
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​What a transformation. We are overjoyed at the amount of secure storage we now have. It’s a game changer for everyone. Thank you from the bottom our hearts!

Elizabeth House Team 
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Happy anniversary, Sr. Pat & Sr. Ann Marie!

8/26/2023

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Bishop McGrattan marked the religious life anniversaries of Sr. Pat MacDonald, FCJ, and Sr. Ann Marie Walsh, FCJ, who have dedicated 65 and 60 years respectively to their service. The celebration took place on August 26 at the FCJ Centre with the Holy Mass, followed by a beautiful reception.
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  • Sr. Pat MacDonald, fcJ, from Calgary, joined the Sisters Faithful Companions of Jesus in 1956, taught in Toronto and Portsmouth, R.I., and was a Teacher Aide in Lethbridge. She also worked as a parish worker and assisted with RCIA. After a renewal period in Ontario in 1987, she returned to Calgary. She spent time at Sacred Heart Convent and the FCJ House in Renfrew, overseeing maintenance. She enjoys reading, crossword puzzles, and organizing. READ MORE
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  • Born in Providence, Sister Ann Marie Walsh, fcJ joined the Sisters Faithful Companions of Jesus in 1961. She served as a teacher, principal, and community leader in the U.S. and later trained in spiritual direction in Canada. Since 2012, she's been providing retreats and spiritual direction in Calgary, following a sabbatical in Ireland. READ MORE


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When someone you love has an addiction

8/21/2023

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Three weeks into my marriage, I discovered my husband’s addiction to alcohol. It was like a one-and-done knock-out punch. I was out cold and left in a daze of anxiety and confusion for weeks. It was like getting shoved onto a roller-coaster of denial, anger, shame, fear, panic and extreme grief. But what surprised me the most was the lie. 
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A lie is like a slow black sludge that fills your heart and mind. It rots you from the inside out. 

I had been so panicked about the addiction in the first few days that I never thought twice about the betrayal; about the lie. Looking back on it now, it is so obvious that it had already triggered a deep shame within me, but I couldn’t see it then. And as it slowly sunk into my heart, almost unnoticed, the ground under my feet began to crumble.

​Here’s the interesting part: most people would think that my husband’s betrayal would have broken the trust in our marriage, which it technically did, but the most harmful and unexpected consequence was that I stopped trusting myself. I didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t anymore. I didn’t know what parts of my lived experiences and memories I could trust, and that included God. 

​I had never felt so alone and so helpless in my life. I had absolutely no-one to turn to. I couldn’t turn to my friends and family because they would be biased, which would have just divided Daniel and I even more. I also couldn’t afford to go see a counselor. 

I scoured the internet for anything I could find to help me understand addiction. I looked everywhere I could for testimonies of couples that had found a way through so that I could try and imitate them and use their strategies, but I found almost nothing. Instead, I was met with devastating statistics about marriage and addiction. I had no one to turn to but God. Even though I wasn’t particularly impressed with Him at that time, I had no other choice.

So I reluctantly prayed… Since I was a young girl, everytime I had a problem in my life, my mom would tell me to go talk to Jesus about it. She never gave me any other instructions, she simply told me to go talk to Him. So that’s what I did, I talked to Him like I would anyone else and I have continued to do that in prayer time ever since. It has proven to be such an incredible blessing, and this situation was no exception.
​​I prayed for weeks and told God exactly how I was feeling and what I was thinking. I hid nothing from Him. I spoke to Him plainly, and honestly, disrespectfully many times. I was angry. I felt I had been betrayed and I didn’t trust Him anymore. I yelled at Him in my heart and asked Him why He would ever let this happen to me. And He didn’t abandon me. Quite the opposite! He showed up in big and unexpected ways. 

He met me in those dark places. He answered all of my questions, slowly letting His truth sink deeply into my heart. With each answer I was left baffled and astounded at His goodness and creativity. He gifted me a deeper understanding of the sacrament of marriage, addiction, and His grace. And once I was ready, He invited me to participate in my husband’s healing and conversion.
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It's crazy to think, but all of this happened in about six weeks. It all led up to one final period of prayer. In a moment of fear and despair, I asked God how He could have let me enter into a marriage where I would not be protected and provided for. His answer shocked me. I felt the greatness and firmness in His voice reverberate through my entire being as He said: “I am your protector and provider first. And I will give these things to you, through your husband, when and how I see fit.”    

As I pondered these words in my heart, I began to see my husband through a completely new lens. Instead of seeing Daniel as someone who had failed me, I began to see him as a gift, as a vessel of God’s protection and provision. I no longer felt as though he owed me these things because it wasn’t really his job, it was God’s job. And if I didn’t receive these things through Daniel, it didn’t mean that I was deprived of them, but simply that God would provide them in a different way. 

What a shift in perspective! I was able to stop desperately grasping at my husband. I was able to release him, to free him. I realized that I had been robbing myself of the gift that my husband was, because when you believe someone owes you something, it's no longer a gift but the repayment of a debt. Now, instead of feeling like he was giving me what I was owed, everything he gave me felt like a bonus! Instead of anger and resentment, I was filled with gratitude for even the smallest things he would do. 
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You can imagine how drastically different it would have been for him to be met with gratitude every time he did something good, and patience and forgiveness every time he failed. But loving like this is just not possible without God’s help. 

​It’s an amazing thing to look back over our story and see where we are today. We now have a thriving marriage filled with prayer, joy, honesty, and intimacy. People keep thinking we’re newlyweds, even though we’ve been married for over 7 years! 
It still feels like a dream to see him chasing God and taking his role as the Spiritual Leader of our family with joy and intentionality.
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But what I found most surprising is that we found so much  joy and intimacy in our marriage before my husband ever took his recovery seriously. All that had changed, quite honestly, was me.

​With God as my source of security and source of joy, I was free to love him unconditionally. That unconditional love created a place of safety and trust that my husband had never experienced before, and it drew him into intimacy with me. And this place of love and safety became the fertile soil for his healing and conversion. 


There is absolutely no way that our marriage would be where it currently is if I had relied solely on psychology or human logic. Don’t get me wrong, I still used the insights of psychology alot! But it was the insights that God gave me through prayer that brought about these transformations and I am forever grateful for His faithfulness to me in this. 

Written by Rita Taylor for Faithfully. Currently residing in Saskatchewan, Rita and her husband Daniel, former parishioners of St. Peter's in Calgary, have been married for just over 7 years and have dealt with multiple addictions in their marriage. In her spare time, Rita enjoys reading about the saints, spending time in silent prayer and reflection, taking long walks by the river, and playing cards with her family. 

​​Rita completed her Master of Science in Psychology with Divine Mercy University in 2020 and is currently getting ready to launch a new program for Catholic married women whose husbands are struggling with addiction: womanofstrength.org in September 2023. "There is always a way forward when you have Him at your side! But knowing exactly how to do all of these things isn’t always obvious. How do you learn to trust God in this way? How does His grace work, particularly in marriage? How is He inviting you to participate in your husband's healing and conversion?"  

She invites you to learn how to lean on God, protecting the sacramentality of your marriage, and finding joy and intimacy through the addiction. 

​​Photos courtesy of Rita Taylor.
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Pray for NWT & BC #WildFires

8/19/2023

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Let us unite in prayer for all those impacted by the devastating wildfires currently raging across parts of Canada. The situation is particularly dire in NWT and BC, where residents have been forced to evacuate their homes due to the imminent danger.
  • For those who have been affected by wildfires, may they receive the assistance that they need at this time, let us pray to the Lord…
  • For the firefighters, military personnel, and volunteers deployed to help manage the wildfires, may they receive God’s constant protection and the much-needed weather conditions to help put out the fires, let us pray to the Lord…

A message from Most Rev. Jon Hansen, Bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, NWT.

Aug. 18, 2023
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Good morning everyone,

First of all, thank you for all the wonderful thoughts and prayers that have filled my text and email apps. Yesterday I had a 12-hour drive from Yellowknife to Grande Prairie, where I am “sheltering”. I am one of the lucky evacuees who have family in Alberta so I am very comfortable staying in the home of my niece and her husband.

That’s not the case for all who were forced to leave. As I drove, I saw many tents and campers for the entire length of my journey. There will also be many families in hotels and evacuation centres across Alberta and British Columbia. I gathered the quote below from one of our information sources, Cabinradio.ca. (This is a fantastic media source for up to the minute information about the fires)

“Approximately 63 percent of the NWT population is currently under evacuation order, if we use the most recent community population numbers provided by the NWT Bureau of Statistics. That’s about 28,904 residents, though this number doesn’t account for non-residents such as tourists or people here on short work contracts whose home province is elsewhere and would also be evacuating the NWT right now.”

Presently there are various levels of crisis in the NWT. A number of communities including Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith and Inuvik have fire at their doorsteps and we are just waiting to see what the weather will do to move the fires forward or to aid the firefighters and help hold the fires back. Other communities have already been breached including Behchoko (three homes lost) and Enterprise which was, according to reports, about 90% wiped out. I drove through there yesterday and it was the closest image to an apocalyptic wasteland that I have ever seen. For some communities such as Hay River and Katlodeeche, this is the second time they have been evacuated this summer, this after having to do the same a year ago due to floods.

On a brighter note, there is nothing like a crisis to bring out the best in humanity. There was a traffic stop at Big River (outside of Fort Providence), this is the only place on the 700km stretch between Yellowknife and High Level where you can stop for gas. With more than five thousand vehicles passing through a gas station with four pumps you can imagine that it could have been a place of chaos, and there was some of that. However, the prevalent mood was very neighbourly. People got out of their cars to stretch their legs and walk their dogs and spent time talking and laughing with one another. I was also surprised to see the many farm yards in northern Alberta that were freshly mowed and had big, hand-painted signs, offering free camping to all those equipped with tents and RVs.

The next few days are now just a matter of waiting to see what will happen next. All our staff and clergy are safe and accounted for, although they have been scattered to the wind by plane and by road. Keep the prayers coming as we ask for the miracle of rainfall in abundance for our parched land.
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Peace
+Jon
Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith

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Healing, Hope, and Faith at the Family Life Conference

8/14/2023

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It was a long, four-year wait for us to attend Catholic Family Ministries' 25th Annual Family Life conference. It was with much excitement that we were heading back to Lac Ste. Anne for our 22nd time. 

As a family we had only missed a couple; one for a family wedding and another for Father Troy Nguyen’s ordination. Even years where we thought about not going, our kids would not allow us to miss it as it's a special time for the entire family. The conference has greatly blessed our family. It's where Sean Lynn, my husband, met Steve Wood when we attended the very first conference, which led to the origins of how God Squad began, but that’s a story for another time. 
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Family Life Conference 2023, Spruce Grove, AB. Photo credit: Catholic Family Ministries.
The largest family reunion ever
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In 1996, a group of like-minded friends from the Edmonton area who, led and inspired by Bob LeBlanc (now deceased), decided to heed the call of Pope Saint John Paul II who, in Familiaris Consortio, plead for families to “become what you are, the domestic Church and the heart of the world.” 
Responding to this call, they hosted the very first conference at Ephphatha House (now the Mount Carmel Spirituality Centre). However, due to the overwhelming response and increasing attendee numbers, the venue soon became too small. The following year, the conference was relocated to the Shrine of Ste. Anne on the shores of Lac Ste. Anne, west of Edmonton. Despite not being able to offer amenities as simple as hot showers or power hookups for campers, and the always inclement weather, families faithfully attended in rain, snow, intense heat and thunderstorms.

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Our lives, the lives of our children, and now grandchildren, have been irrevocably changed and affected by our 27-year journey of gathering for what I like to call the largest family reunion in the world. After so many years of gathering with many of the same families, we’ve had the pleasure of watching not only our own children grow, but also observing the growth in numerous other families. I am not sure if anyone is keeping track, but I know there have been marriages and new families created as fruits of this incredible gift to all of us. We feel blessed to have witnessed the faith and fidelity of hundreds of Catholics coming together to worship through the Mass and sacraments of the Church. 

The 2020 conference was meant to be their 25th anniversary celebration, planned as a five-day event with Father Larry Richards as the keynote speaker. Regrettably due to the COVID pandemic, it had to be cancelled two years in a row. It was also not possible to hold it last year as the Shrine at Lac Ste. Anne became a significant part of the Papal Visit to Alberta. Thankfully, Father Larry kept his schedule open for the conference this year and we were blessed with the opportunity to hear him speak. True to form, Father Larry always kept us on our toes. He presented us with numerous challenges. One particular challenge that resonated with me was his encouragement to pray for the salvation of the person we dislike the most. 
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Sean Lynn (Michelle's husband) at the Family Life Conference
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Fr. Paul Moret
Joy in God’s will and healing
​As part of this year’s conference, a healing service was held on Saturday night. Father Paul Moret, the spiritual director of the Family Life Ministries group and pastor of Holy Trinity parish in Spruce Grove, introduced Encounter Ministries. This Catholic organization seeks “to demonstrate the love of God through the power of the Holy Spirit in their sphere of influence.” Specifically, they offered a prayer service for healing. All attendees were invited to ask for physical healing and to be prayed for by those around them. 

There were many healings that night, and I experienced it first-hand. When an invitation was extended for people with shoulder issues to stand up, I decided to participate - I had nothing to lose. 

I have not been able to raise my right arm past the height of my shoulder without rotating it due to calcification in the ligaments for the past 12 years or so. I must admit, I was sceptical. I was sitting next to my mom, so when people around those standing were invited to lay their hands on us, my mom had her hand on my right shoulder. I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary - no lightning bolts, no hot flash; nothing. Later, my Mom told me her hand felt hot as she prayed for me. 

As soon as the group prayer was done, they invited us to test our healing. I went to try to lift my arm up, outstretched, past my shoulder, fully expecting the familiar pain that usually prevented such movement. But I was able to keep going higher and higher until I held my arm straight above my head! I looked around at the people who had just prayed for me, and shrugged my shoulders in disbelief because I didn’t know what else to do. I had actually been healed! ​
A few minutes later, they invited people who had abdominal issues to stand. I have suffered from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) for most of my life, and as time went by, I was only able to eat a very restricted diet to the point where I literally couldn’t eat at a restaurant without causing painful symptoms to ensue. I thought if it happened once, why not give it another shot?

I stood, people prayed, then they asked us to test our healing. The only way I could verify this was to eat something I normally couldn’t and see what happened. The next morning, I did just that. Then, I waited. The usual symptoms that I would have experienced from consuming such food never occurred. I waited some more. Then I ate something else that would normally set me off. No reaction! I honestly thought that maybe it was like a placebo effect; that I wanted it to be true, so my body responded in kind. Three days later, I was still testing the healing. Now a month later, I can happily say that I was also healed of IBS! 
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Healing service with Encounter Ministries at Family Life Conference. Photo credit: Catholic Family Ministries.
The day after the healing service, a wave of excitement went through the camp as people began to share their stories. A lovely lady that we knew from our parish in Calgary always had to walk and pace at the back of the church during Mass because a back injury made it too painful for her to sit and genuflect. That morning she had the biggest grin in the world. She spoke about how she was able to sit and kneel for the first time in many years. 

My husband Sean, my family, and our friends were all amazed and overjoyed by my healing. As a person who had been living without gluten, dairy, many vegetables and spices that upset my system, it still feels surreal to enjoy salsa again, and rediscover how food can truly taste without causing pain! Sean loves to make savoury food, and I’m grateful he no longer has to prepare a bland and restricted version of his dishes for me. We can now enjoy meals that we prepare together. 

Fast forward to August 2023, I find myself continually praising the Lord for what He has done for me. I’ve lived with a few chronic issues in my life, accepting the suffering, and making it my goal to offer these tribulations to the Lord for the sake of my salvation and others. But that night, I just felt a calling to participate and ask God for the gift of His healing. 

Still I question from time to time, feeling almost guilty for this gift of healing, because, after all, God had allowed this suffering in my life and I trust in His will and felt grateful for the opportunity to offer these little things back to Him.  I felt I was given these opportunities to be able to walk with Him in His passion, much as Simon was able to do when He helped Jesus carry His cross.  At first I wasn’t sure if I should be sharing this with others - as the healings felt more like a personal divine gift and revelation. However, I am now certain that it’s necessary for me to share this with others, to praise God for what He has done, and to instil hope in others with assurance of God’s love. 

With upcoming healing services coming up in our diocese, I encourage you to participate and ask God for what you need in your life to fulfil His will. Go and trust what God has in store for you. If He wills you to heal, you will heal when you ask for it. Trust that God gives us what we need for our salvation, whether that be strength and perseverance to bear what He has given us, or healing.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” ~Hebrews 10:23

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Written by Michele Lynn for Faithfully. Michele lives in Calgary with her husband Sean. They have 8 adult children, and 14 grandchildren. They attend St. Peter’s Parish. Michele assists Sean as an administration assistant for God Squad Canada when she’s not happily spending time with her children and grandchildren. In her spare time, Michele enjoys being outdoors, gardening, and attends daily Mass and spends time in adoration of Our Lord as often as time permits. Photos courtesy of Michelle Lynn and family.

Upcoming opportunities in and around our Diocese for healing prayers: 
  • Family Healing Retreats with Fr. Joseph Edattu, VC -  in participating parishes - see schedule here  (Aug 15-19, 2023)
  • Jesus Heals - Mass and Healing Adoration with Fr. Jilito George CMI - in participating parishes - see schedule here (Aug 15-23, 2023)
  • Encounter Ministry Healing Service with Fr. Paul Moret at Holy Trinity parish in Spruce Grove (Aug 26, 2023) - More info 
Related article and video:
  • Healing ministry reports miracles and renewal of faith (Archdiocese of Edmonton, March 2023)​
  • Watch Fearless, a documentary. Filmmaker Maura Smith takes us on a compelling journey of discovery into the world of supernatural divine power. Through the lens of Encounter Ministries, we witness God's miracles performed by everyday people, transforming lives instantly through divine communication and healing.
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Sacred Hearth Parish, Strathmore: Breaking Ground, Building Faith

8/4/2023

1 Comment

 
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"I was amazed to see one of our senior parishioners who broke her hand from shoulder to elbow on Saturday came on her wheelchair holding her hand in a sling to be part of this long-awaited groundbreaking ceremony for our new parish church. Nothing could stop her and all others to come and witness this great event," exclaimed Fr. Tomy Manjaly, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Strathmore Parish in Alberta. This touching scene unfolded at their official groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, August 1, 2023.

The unwavering support and commitment of the community were palpable at the event. It is a significant milestone for the Sacred Heart Parish - the transformation of the former IGA Grocery Store located in downtown Strathmore into a place of worship. Led by Fr. Tomy Manjaly who blessed the site, the ceremony marked the transformative period for the parish. 

Parish Council Coordinator Tomas Rochford shared his delight at the community's participation in the event. "It was wonderful to see all the parishioners and local residents come out to enjoy the celebration; it was a cross-section of our community: patriarchs and matriarchs from long-established families, families with small children who recently joined our parish, members of our large Filipino community, and even some individuals who have been ‘testing the waters’ to learn more about the faith as they contemplate ‘swimming the Tiber’ to become Catholic," he said.

Fundraising Chair Nettie Hendricks also shared her emotional connection to the project. "I saw the tears on the faces of some members who were here when the previous church was built in 1953, and I felt a connection to them since I have been there myself since 1960," she said.

Indeed, the persistent  support of the community underscores the significance of this project - not just as a physical transformation of a building, but also as a spiritual journey for the entire community. As Hendricks pointed out, “Strathmore has grown exponentially over the past few years and the number of parish families has increased dramatically since Covid retired. The new church will be an anchor for these families to celebrate Sacraments and faith.”

Rochford added, “It will encourage many former or distant Catholics to return and come ‘try it out’, which would be wonderful because we have such a holy pastor who is our spiritual leader, who celebrates Holy Mass in a manner that inspires prayer and sacrifice, and our parish has been striving to offer many means to welcome and form new and experienced members in the fullness of the Catholic Faith.”
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A space for prayer & centre for the work of mercy

Sacred Heart church is not only undergoing a transformation of a former grocery store into a place of worship, it is also set to house relics from St. John Paul II, making it a significant site for prayer, contemplation, and pilgrimage. (Read “St. John Paul II’s relics in our Diocese”, by Sara Francis in Faithfully, 2021). Rochford hopes that the new church space can serve as a hub for faith formation activities, drawing inspiration from the teachings of St. John Paul II.  See walkthrough video for the anticipated Shrine Chapel of St. John Paul II.

The new church design will also  include a commercial kitchen, which anticipates the need to assist families struggling to make ends meet and the growing homeless population in Strathmore. The community hall, part of the new design, will provide another gathering place for special events such as wedding receptions and smaller conventions.

Hendrick expresses her delight at this development. "As a Christian, we are called to work for social justice so I am especially happy to see the commercial kitchen because it represents the first step to setting up an outreach program for the less fortunate," she says. 

Rochford resonates with this sentiment, visualizing the central location of the church as an important opportunity to serve the local residents through corporal and spiritual acts of mercy. "From running potential weekday soup kitchens to weekly Bible studies to 24-hour adoration, we aim to offer Christ to all who step foot in our new building," he shares.
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The Way of Beauty

Rochford, a local resident whose parents moved to Strathmore six years ago to be near his family, shares their anticipation for the completion of the new church. “They are especially excited by the fact that we have tried to build a church that is in architectural and artistic continuity with the entirety of the Catholic tradition," he says. His parents, who grew up before the Second Vatican Council, hold fond memories of beautiful Masses in beautiful churches.

Rochford also shares their deep longing after witnessing many churches lose their sense of beauty. Quoting Bishop Barron, he says that the Catholic community is finally moving out of the period of beige Catholicism, re-embracing the Way of Beauty in the universal Church. "Our small-town parish church will be a humble contribution to this renaissance of Catholic culture in Canada,” he adds. 

"Our architecture team, led by Mr. Jun Lee, was able to design a beautiful neo-Romanesque style church from the bones of a grocery store!" Rochford says. (Read more: “Transforming a Grocery Store into a Church” by Brent Wiley, 2018)  He reassures that no one will mistake the new building for any secular building because the external look and the internal forms speak the language of the Catholic faith in wood, metal, and drywall. 

Interest continues to grow in the unique transformation of this downtown building. For a glimpse of this transformation, the Parish has shared a video link on their website: https://youtu.be/ASEc_JutFgA
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Relying on your prayers & support

Fr. Tomy Manjaly conveys his deep appreciation for all those who have supported their church transformation project through their time, talent, and resources. "I can't stop thanking God for all those who have helped us in various ways to make this day possible," says Fr. Manjaly. He acknowledges that while they've made a strong start, the journey is far from over. "We continue to depend on the generosity of so many good people to complete the task which we have just begun."

The project cost is approximately $10M. To date, just over $6M has been collected through the generous support of the parish community. The parish remains optimistic about addressing the remaining capital shortfall of $3M through the collective efforts of the community.

Hendricks, committed to continuing fundraising efforts both within and outside the parish community, expresses her hope for the future. "With the tangible presence of construction, we will see some additional donations to help us cross the financial finish line," she says.

As Sacred Heart Parish commences this monumental journey, the energy and anticipation within the parish remain vibrant. They extend their heartfelt gratitude to the good people of the Diocese for their unwavering prayerful and financial support. They humbly request the continued generosity and prayers of the community to help them bring this project to completion. 
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Photos courtesy of Lynn Dumont, Sacred Heart Parish, Strathmore.
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