 Catholic Education Week will be celebrated Oct. 17–23, 2026, across Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Yukon. This year’s theme, “The Power of the Holy Spirit,” is inspired by Romans 15:13. The Bishops remind us that Catholic education brings faith and learning together, with formation beginning in the home, nourished in the parish, and strengthened in our schools through the shared witness of families, educators, clergy, trustees and the wider Catholic community.
Catholic Education Sunday (Oct 17/18)
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 Help support Elizabeth House, a Calgary home that provides a safe and supportive community for pregnant women and mothers experiencing housing instability.
Volunteers are collecting new and gently used items for an upcoming fundraising thrift sale, with proceeds supporting the women and families served by Elizabeth House.
Suggested donation items include:
Thank you in advance for your generosity and support of Elizabeth House. Every donation helps support the women and mothers who call Elizabeth House home.  Every girl has, at least once, dreamed of being rescued by a knight in shining armour, riding a white horse and battling dragons. Childish at first, this dream gradually matures: we want to be surrounded by men who are sincere, honest, decent, selfless, and willing to sacrifice for their beliefs. Is such a figure attainable today? Can we still find knights? The answer is yes. Many Catholic men aim to become true men of God, following the example of St. Joseph and their patron saints. Some interpret this more literally by donning “the armour” and becoming knights, like the Knights of Columbus. The Knights’ mission is to support the Church’s ministries, including caring for religious sisters, the brides of the Lord whom they serve. They assist sisters worldwide by sponsoring candidates, organizing vocation events, and supporting buildings and furnishings. I recently learned that when the Missionaries of Charity open a new convent, the Knights of Columbus provide the chapel’s tabernacle. They also support sisters facing challenges in defending human life, offering legal advocacy to the Sisters of Life and the Little Sisters of the Poor, who encounter religious freedom issues. They help print religious publications and host films that promote religious life. They provide financial support for the formation and education of religious sisters and brothers.
The Knights of Columbus at the council located at St. Luke’s Parish in Calgary have a special tradition of supporting religious sisters through their Annual Sisters Night. This event shows appreciation for the sisters' significant contributions to society. Organized by the Knights and their wives, and traditionally presided over by the bishop, this gathering joyfully celebrates the lives and ministries of religious women in the diocese. We are grateful for Evan Strong's annual contribution in offering each sister a long-stemmed rose. The evening also honours the jubilarians among the sisters. This year, they are:
While it’s true that God cares for those who serve Him and supplies our needs, His help often comes through ordinary means—most often, through the support of others. With this in mind, we encourage men in the diocese to prayerfully consider joining the Knights. It’s a special opportunity to enter a brotherhood that puts faith into action and actively supports the local Church. As for the ladies, if you find in your husbands the qualities that would make them great knights, do encourage and endorse that call that will also beautifully benefit your family and community! 
Written by Sr. Simon Grosicka, OP | Photos courtesy of Victor Panlilio.
 When the Assembly of Women Religious decided to offer a retreat for young women to explore the Consecrated Life, we decided that the Virgin Mary’s response to the Archangel Gabriel’s message seemed an appropriate inspiration for the young women who would come. Fiat is Latin for “Let it be done.” This year, another wonderful group attended the retreat day at St. Luke’s parish on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Twelve single women participated in the retreat with nine Religious Sisters and two Consecrated women. Beginning the day with Holy Mass with the parish was, in one woman’s words, “Grace to start the day.” Another pointed out the “beauty of celebrating with women on a similar journey of life and with the Sisters.” Fr. Fabio de Souza, the morning's keynote speaker, also celebrated the Mass with Fr. William Monis as concelebrant. The parish community truly welcomed us. Fr. Fabio’s talk about the Divine Will of God spoke to many hearts, both the young women and the Sisters. He explained to us what the Divine Will is: “It is not another person or another reality besides God. The Divine Will is God’s own willing, the one will of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Jesus Christ, we see what it means for a human will to live in perfect communion with that Divine Will.” Fr. Fabio took us through the New Testament, looking at various revelations of the will of God in Jesus’ life, in Mary’s Fiat, and in the Our Father, where we pray as Jesus taught us to say, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” He points out a strong connection between the Annunciation and the Our Father, where both Jesus and Mary respond to the Father: “Let it be done to me”; “Thy will be done.” In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus reveals another dimension of Fiat when He reveals His human will: “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will but Yours be done.” Fr. Fabio stressed that Fiat is precisely the trust that remains within the struggle of accepting the Father’s will for us. Fr. Fabio also spoke about Mary’s personal Fiat becoming an invitation to others when she says at Cana: “Do whatever He tells you.” We see her again at the foot of the Cross, expressing her Fiat through fidelity. Fr. Fabio had many other insightful things to say, but we will not reveal them here. Instead, we invite you to attend one of his talks on the Divine Will to experience his wisdom yourself. We could have spent the whole day with him, and many of the women commented that they wished they had time to ask him more questions. 
 We concluded the morning session with Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which many of the women appreciated. One expressed her “joy of sitting with Jesus.” Another said that she was glad that it was silent. Most found the time available for Adoration exactly what they wanted, calling it “a great time for reflection.” Fr. Paul Raj assisted us with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction at the end. We Sisters are really grateful for the young women's financial contributions toward the pizza lunch we offered. The Sisters donated all the other items so we could have a variety of food and drink to share. The lunch time was extended to allow for more conversation at the tables, and the women expressed their appreciation for this time to get to know each other and the Sisters. The afternoon session was composed of short talks by the Sisters about charisms, communities, mission, and vocation stories, as well as time in small groups to share thoughts about the talks and experiences of the retreat. A few of the women commented that they really did not know much about the various communities of Sisters, and they were grateful for the information they received. One shared: “I loved hearing the stories; it gave me things to relate to.” Others appreciated the “thought-provoking presentations” and “powerful testimonies”, saying it was “fantastic getting to know the Sisters.” They just wished that they had more time to ask more questions. Of course, they all have the contact information of the Sisters, so they are welcome to speak to them at any time. We ended the retreat with a communal celebration of Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours since this is an essential element of the Consecrated Life and worthwhile for the young women to experience it. Hopefully, this annual event with the Sisters of the Diocese will encourage many young women to consider the Consecrated Life and bring much fruitfulness to our local Church.
 Written by Sr. Dianne Turner, OSB, Assistant Director of Vocations.
The sessions explored the history and celebration of the Mass, ways to deepen love for Christ in the Eucharist, and the central place of the Eucharist in Catholic education, inviting participants to reflect more deeply on their faith and their call to serve as Catholic school trustees. The retreat also included Eucharistic adoration, celebration of the Sacraments, prayer of the Divine Office, small-group discussions, and opportunities for group sharing. Trustees were invited to reflect on the fruits of the Eucharist in their relationship with Christ, the Church, and their service to others as Catholic school trustees. They also considered the witness they offer to their Catholic school communities through their vocation of service. Following the retreat, the ACSTA Board of Directors gathered for two days of meetings, engaging in discussion and decision-making in support of Catholic education across Alberta.
Photos courtesy of the Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association (ACSTA)
Already as a young boy, Dominic wanted to be a priest. To become one, a boy had to attend the minor seminary for his schooling. At age 11, Dominic entered the minor seminary, but two years later he contracted typhoid fever and was hospitalized for three months in the ICU. There was a kind, Buddhist doctor who knew he was a Catholic and treated him well. Dominic was so impressed by this doctor that he prayed that if God gave him a chance to live, he would become a medical doctor like this kind doctor. When he recovered his health, however, Dominic realized that he did not have the finances to pursue medical training, so he returned to his original vocational path of priesthood. Fr. Dominic credits the priests in Vietnam who guided him in the seminary for his vocation. In 1975, the communists came to the South, and the seminary went underground. Then began a time when many people escaped from unified communist Vietnam. The priests and seminarians were also escaping in secret, leaving no opportunity to complete his studies. It was time for him to escape, too.
Dominic lived with Fr. Dominic Pham Van Bao, OP, at St. Anne’s rectory where he learned English from the parishioners and attended Bow College for English lessons. Then he was sent to Mission, B.C., for his seminary formation along with Fr. Ignatius Tran. They were both ordained transitional deacons in 1985 and priests on September 5, 1986, by Bishop Paul. Fr. Dominic is very grateful for the support he has received over the many years of his life and priesthood. He is thankful to the three bishops under whose leadership he has served: Bishop Paul O’Byrne, Bishop Frederick Henry, and Bishop William McGrattan. Fr. Dominic is also grateful to all the priests, parishioners, and hospital staff with whom he served over the years: Medicine Hat as a deacon in 1985 and then as associate pastor with Fr. Michael Storey as pastor; 1987-1991 in hospital chaplaincy in Calgary; 1990-1991 at Cluny and Bassano as administrator on weekends along with missions in Gleichen, Husar, and Arrowwood; 1991-1995 in Claresholm where he was for the first time pastor of the parish, with missions in Nanton, Stavely, and Granum; 1995-2000 as pastor in Bow Island and Foremost, with eight missions; 2000-2002 Foothills Hospital Chaplaincy; 2002-2010 in Strathmore where the old church was eventually demolished and Mass was offered in the school; in 2007, the parish started a Catholic school in Strathmore; 2010-2015 in Milk River with missions in Allerston, Warner, and Coutts; 2015-2019 at St. Luke’s in Calgary; 2019-2021 at St. James in Calgary; 2021 to the present at Claresholm.
 Written by Sr. Dianne Turner for Faithfully, after an interview with Fr. Dominic Nguyen. We thank Solomon Ip and Sr. Dianne for coordinating this jubilarian feature and helping collect stories and materials. Photos courtesy of Fr. Dominic Nguyen and Fr. Iqbal Kurshid.
At the same time, he discerned a call to the priesthood while working as a computer engineer. He was able to sponsor his parents, two sisters, and a brother to the USA. While in Oregon, he discerned with the Jesuits there. He also discerned with the Priests of the Sacred Heart in Wisconsin through a friend. The third community he discerned with was the Dominicans, situated in Calgary, Canada. One of Vincent’s cousins was in the Vietnamese Dominicans in Houston, Texas. One Sunday, after he got home from teaching Sunday School, the phone rang, and the Vocation Director from the Priests of the Sacred Heart asked when he was going to visit them. He said, “Okay, let me look at my schedule and arrange vacation time.” This was his way of being non-committal. After he hung up the phone, it rang again, and it was the Vocation Director from the Dominicans in Canada asking the same question. He gave the priest the same answer as he had for the other community. He hung up, and it rang a third time; this time the call was from the Jesuits. They asked the same question, and he gave the same response. After such a succession of phone calls on the same day, asking the same question, he thought, “Someone is trying to give me a message.” He chose to follow his heart into the Dominicans. At that time, the motherhouse was in Calgary, and he arranged to visit them. Driving to Calgary from Portland in March of 1993 was very cold, requiring extra layers of clothing, and meeting no other vehicles on the road. Happily, he arrived safely in Calgary. Although he had planned to stay only one month, he ended up staying six months. He was attracted to their community life and study and experienced peace under the guidance of a Dominican Brother. In the summer of 1993, he entered the novitiate and was sent to Cincinnati for formation. In 1994, he made his first vows and was sent to Ottawa to begin his priestly formation. While the philosophy classes were offered in English, Vincent had to learn French because his Dominican community was French speaking and the theology classes were given in French. He remained in Ottawa for seven years, up to 2001, when he was ordained to the priesthood in his Order. He had felt very peaceful throughout his formation years with the students in Ottawa who came from various countries: Croatia, Mexico, Haiti, and Vietnam; the Student Master spoke three languages.
After ordination, he returned to Calgary, where he was assigned as editor of the Vietnamese magazine. It was a difficult transition back into the Vietnamese language. Expressing his willingness to live his vow of obedience with a peaceful heart, he said, “The community trusted me and assigned me to this. In each of the assignments that I was given, patience is the key.” Not knowing the written form of Vietnamese, he asked his brother for a Vietnamese dictionary so that he could learn. From his experiences, Fr. Vincent advises, “You will never be ready, but God will help you.” Many assignments followed, sometimes overlapping. From 2001 to 2006, Fr. Vincent was also associate pastor at Holy Trinity parish in Calgary. Then he switched roles with Fr. Liem Tran to become a chaplain at the University of Calgary. Fr. Vincent recalls, “Six years as chaplain, which I really enjoyed! I liked meeting the other chaplains and the many students.” A new challenge came when he was sent to Houston, Texas. He said of this, “I had never worked with the Vietnamese community. I didn’t think that I would be good there, but Fr. Liem said that we had no one else. It was difficult for me to be in that mission, but I stayed for five years, and I learned a lot. God did wonderful things. I was able to restructure the parish community.”  Then Fr. Vincent experienced a few more placements: pastor at St. Joseph’s parish in Vancouver for two years; back to Calgary for a brief time; parochial vicar in Arlington, Virginia, to look after the Our Lady of Lavang Mission; Calgary again in August of 2025 as pastor of St. Vincent Liem parish. Fr. Vincent’s advice for discerning one’s vocation: “Give yourself a chance and go from there. I have no regrets. You should experience peace. That is what kept me going. There is no perfect community, only in heaven. We are called to help build up the community. That is my experience with all my assignments.”  Fr. Vincent with Bishop McGrattan, and other Jubilarian priests at the Jubilarian Mass | Photo courtesy of Fr. Iqbal Kurshid Written by Sr. Dianne Turner after an interview wtih Fr. Vincent. We thank Sr. Dianne Turner and Solomon Ip for coordinating this jubilarian feature and helping collect stories and materials.
I knew that he was a priest, but I didn’t know that there were diocesan and Religious priests. Fr. Paleta said, ‘Don’t worry, I will help you. There is nothing to worry about.’” Later Andrew realized that Fr. Paleta was a member of the Salesian community. He arranged for Andrew to attend the Salesian minor seminary. He was there for two years to finish high school, then entered formation in the novitiate for one year. He made temporary vows and was sent back to Buenos Aires to study philosophy and the science of education at university. After four years, he was qualified as a teacher. His superiors sent him to Paraguay as a missionary, which also served as his internship as a teacher. He taught there for two years, then left the Salesians when Fr. Steve Molnar of the Diocese of Calgary invited him to continue his seminary training. Desiring to complete his education in Canada, Andrew came and was sent to St. Joseph’s Seminary in Edmonton to study theology until 1986, when he was ordained by Bishop Paul O’Byrne on Pentecost, May 17, 1986. Fr. Andrew’s first assignment was to St. Mary’s Cathedral, where he remained for three years. Then, in July 1989, he was sent to St. Joseph’s parish in Calgary as associate pastor with Fr. Don Vonbrack, the pastor. Sadly, Fr. Vonbrack died one month after Fr. Andrew arrived. Bishop Paul asked Fr. Andrew to take over the parish as administrator, a position he held for one year. He was then moved to High River as pastor for 1990–1992. At that time, the old church needed renovations, and Fr. Andrew oversaw these changes. He said the church was built at ground level with no basement, but the walls had soil piled around them, creating a hill that allowed children to climb up and touch the roof. There was no parish hall, only the church and rectory. The renovations took two years, resulting in the parish church we can see today. In 1992, Fr. Andrew received an invitation from some American priests to live in the USA to work for the US Bishops Conference Immigrants Pastoral Care Office. He served there from 1993 to 1998.
Bishop Henry later appointed Fr. Andrew as pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Cochrane, where he served for three years before being diagnosed with stage three cancer. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy, but as his health declined, he found he could no longer continue his ministry as before. Around this time, Bishop William McGrattan was installed as Bishop of Calgary. Fr. Andrew asked Bishop McGrattan for permission to retire, and his request was granted. Throughout these years of priestly ministry, Fr. Andrew had also been caring for his mother. She wanted to live in a house, and after his retirement, they moved to Lethbridge, where Fr. Andrew found a home they could afford. His mother passed away there last year. Fr. Andrew continues to assist other priests and serve in parishes as his health allows. Over the years, Fr. Andrew has also encouraged young women and men as they discerned the Lord’s call to a vocation in the Church. His advice to those considering a vocation comes from his own experience: “I just tell them that as long as my ego is alive, community life is difficult. Focus on the community instead of myself. It is worth trying the seminary and working for the people. Don’t wait to decide in the seminary or novitiate. Decide before you enter and stick to it. I relied on that inner voice that I heard over 50 years ago, and I never changed my mind to be a priest.”
 Written by Sr. Dianne Turner after an interview with Fr. Andrew Pyon. We thank Solomon Ip and Sr. Dianne for coordinating this jubilarian feature and helping collect stories and materials. Jubilarian group photo courtesy of Fr. Iqbal Kurshid.
 This week (21-25 September 2026), Bishop William T. McGrattan and the members of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) will gather in Montreal, Quebec, for the annual meeting of the Plenary Assembly. What is the Plenary Assembly? A meeting of the Plenary Assembly is a solemn and important event in the life of the Church in Canada because it brings together all members of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), which includes 80 Bishops of the Latin and Eastern Churches across Canada. The Conference's Plenary Assembly is its highest authority. Decisions taken by the Plenary Assembly represent the unity of action of all Bishops of Canada at the national level. Convoked at least once a year, the Plenary Assembly considers a broad range of topics related to the Church’s evangelizing mission, including reports and questions from the Episcopal Commissions and other advisory bodies of the Conference. The Permanent Council sets the agenda, which may also include discussions and pastoral reflections on special topics. The Plenary Assembly meets every year and includes discussion of a variety of topics that affect Catholics in Canada. During the meeting, there will also be reports from different committees and an address by the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada. Read: What will be discussed this year? The following are among the principal agenda items and topics to be considered during the week, in a spirit of prayer and discernment:
Follow the gathering through daily video highlights: Please keep Bishop McGrattan and all the Bishops of Canada in your prayers this week. Photo: Plenary Assembly 2025 - courtesy of CCCB.
The marriage tribunal may be one of the Church's best-kept secrets. Most Catholics have heard of marriage 'annulments' (though I prefer to speak of a declaration of nullity). Fewer know that their own diocese has a tribunal competent to judge marriage cases, so that only rarely does a case need to go to Rome at all. To close that gap, the Ecclesiastical Tribunal of the Diocese of Calgary offered a workshop at the Catholic Pastoral Centre earlier this month. We had three goals: to make our ministry better known; to help priests, deacons, and pastoral lay ministers walk with the faithful through the preliminary inquiry; and to train volunteers willing to assist the tribunal with interviews from their own parishes. Sixty people came, clergy and laity alike, from parishes across the diocese. We met for three hours, and the room was full of good questions. A court and ministry
By the time someone approaches the tribunal, the marriage is already over. We do not mediate between estranged spouses, and we do not offer counselling. We exist to answer one question: was this marriage valid from the moment consent was exchanged? Tribunal officers are entrusted with the stories of people living through the painful aftermath of a failed marriage. Our task is to receive those stories, examine them objectively, and seek the truth about the bond. What makes a marriage null?
Who should approach the tribunal?Marriage touches families, parishes, sacramental life, and pastoral care across the Church. Knowing that this ministry exists helps Catholics accompany others with greater understanding, avoid common misconceptions about declarations of nullity, and know where to direct someone who may need guidance. For those who may need its services, the tribunal is for anyone who has been divorced and would now like to marry in the Catholic Church, whether or not they were Catholic at the time of the first marriage; for anyone who has divorced and remarried and now wishes to regularize their situation in the Church; and for anyone who has divorced with no interest in remarrying, but who would welcome the closure of hearing the Church's assessment of the prior bond. What is the next step?Those who wonder whether the tribunal may apply to their own situation do not need to determine the grounds themselves. Make an appointment with your pastor. Every situation is different, and some require a different path than others. He will listen, guide you, and offer pastoral care. The Ecclesiastical Tribunal of the Diocese of Calgary offer our services free of charge and accepts only donations toward operating expenses. Do not let the legal character of the process intimidate you. The final canon of the Code of Canon Law puts the whole enterprise into perspective: "the salvation of souls, which must always be the supreme law in the Church, is to be kept before one's eyes" (c. 1752). By providing clarity and accompaniment, the purpose of this ministry, in the end, is to draw people into a new and living encounter with Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life.
For more about our tribunal, visit edmontontribunal.ca. If you would like to serve as a volunteer tribunal auditor, the application is available here.
Written by Sara Francis in 2018 when Fr. John Schuster retired from the position of Moderator of the Curia after 30 years of service. Fr. John Schuster passed away peacefully the morning of September 16, 2026 at 86 years old.
On the rare occasion that a journalist unexpectedly showed up to make plans for a future profile interview Fr. Schuster was caught with his socks off! God has a funny sense of humour, and so does Fr. Schuster. He was having one of those mornings where his socks just weren’t fitting into his boots, but getting to work on time during a snowstorm trumped the conventions of office style. So he ditched the socks. But don’t let appearances fool you, this humorous, hard-working, humble, holy man is comfortable in his own shoes. The 78-year-old priest has a gentle, lovable, unassuming presence. He loves reading and has a large collection of antique clocks. He has traveled to the Holy Land and met Saint Pope John Paul II twice. He was born a middle child in the same homestead and bed as his father, near Cliftonville, Saskatchewan, to parents of Germanic descent. One year later, he moved to Medicine Hat with his parents and five siblings. It was there that a quiet, unassuming parish priest named Monsignor Edmond James McCoy first inspired Fr. Schuster to a deeper faith.
The self-described soft-spoken priest, said that as a child, he inherited his mother’s quiet voice, a trait that’s characterized much of his life. Due to his throat, his ability to serve as parish priest had become increasingly difficult, so a new path opened up for him. Bishop Paul O’Byrne sent him to study canon law at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa. Upon return, he assumed the roles of moderator and vicar general, and has since worked under Bishop Paul O’Byrne, Bishop Frederick Henry and Bishop William McGrattan. Fr. Schuster said all three have completely different leadership styles, bringing their unique gifts and talents to the job, but he was unwilling to make any detailed comparisons.  A young Fr. John Schuster meets St. Pope John Paul II “In the past we would deal with a situation that Bishop Henry asked us to, but now (Bishop McGrattan) wants us to be more proactive.” While Fr. Schuster may largely stay out of the public eye, he has played a critical role in guiding the direction of the diocese. Most notably he submitted an influential report in 2001 at the request of Bishop Henry. For three years he headed the Diocesan Planning Commission, studying shifting and growing demographic patterns compared against a declining number of priests. “For the first year, we were spinning our wheels. We were scared to make any recommendations. So we said, okay, we have the information, now we have to determine what we say about each parish.”
Very Rev. John Schuster previously served at the Catholic Pastoral Centre as Moderator of the Curia and Vicar General. Fr. Schuster was born in Cliftonville, Saskatchewan, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 1, 1965, by Archbishop Jordan. Fr. Schuster served at the Catholic Pastoral Centre and several parishes of the Diocese of Calgary as Pastor and Assistant Pastor. Additionally, his brother priests elected him to the positions of Dean and Vice Dean. Fr. Schuster was a respected priest in the Diocese whose ministry supported the growth of the Diocese and its faithfulness.
Read more about Fr. Schuster’s life and ministry:
On Sundays, it was never, “Oh, it is a nice day today—maybe we should go to the beach instead of Church.” It was always, “It is a lovely day, so let’s go to the beach today—right after Mass!” Looking back, I deeply appreciate, too, how the day ended with Mom reading the Children’s Bible or fairy tale bedtime stories, followed by Lives of the Saints and prayers. There was a kind of easy familiarity with the Church, as Jesus’ house. My brother had always wanted to be a priest. He visited and joined the Legion of Christ seminary in 1989. Although I had always been around the Church, no one had ever asked whether I was considering priesthood, but when I visited my brother at the seminary in Cheshire, CT, it planted the seed of a vocation. During that first year at university, I remember thinking: “Of the 50,000 students here, how many have ever thought about the priesthood? How many are still considering it?” Perhaps somewhat pessimistically, I concluded that probably not more than a handful. And then I thought: “If I don’t give God a chance, with all my interest in the faith… well, then, who will?” I entered the Novitiate that fall. What I most appreciate from my years in the seminary was learning to have a real, interactive relationship with Jesus. We were taught to spend a quiet, attentive hour each morning in personal dialogue with Him: speaking, listening, reflecting, resolving. Although I had been around the Church my whole life, this was something new for me. There are many ways we can hear His voice, but it is different to hear Him from “inside.” That little experience has stayed with me. God calls each person personally, but sometimes He uses another person to help us hear the call. My brother’s vocation helped me discover mine. As a priest, most of my years were spent as an instructor of novices, teaching young men as they began the path toward religious life and priesthood. Then, for seven years before coming to Calgary, I served on our Seminary Formation Staff in Rome. That was a true privilege: to accompany generous young men who had so many other options, yet were willing to follow Jesus and dedicate their lives to serving others. What is especially rewarding is seeing those seminarians now being ordained priests themselves. Very early in my journey, a wise priest told me: “You are light, but you also need to be warmth.” I have never forgotten that. It captures something of the challenge of being a priest: to love and proclaim the Truth, but also to love people—to love their wellbeing, to love their souls, and not wield the truth like a battle-axe. Some of the most beautiful hours of a priest’s life are in the confessional: there you see, first-hand, that Jesus is alive and present, raising souls up out of darkness and gloom and fear into radiance and freedom and joy. In this aspect, as in so many others, we look towards Jesus and try to develop a heart like His. My parishioners may know that my favourite (even if very short) prayer is: Jesus, make my heart more like Yours! A heart that is meek, humble, pure, patient, generous, forgiving, strong… a heart like His. After 25 years, I can say that the priesthood has become more beautiful to me, not less. There is deep joy in giving oneself to Christ and in offering Him a fatherly heart to serve the young and the old, the newly married, and those who mourn. Everyone needs a sign that the Living God is real, that He has not forgotten them, and that He is still seeking them out. As I celebrate 25 years as a priest, I ask you to pray for me and my brother priests, for our diocesan renewal, and especially for vocations. May we priests always radiate something of the joy that comes from following Christ. And may our lives help others discover what I continue to see throughout these 25 years: Jesus is alive. He is risen. He wants us to be well. He seeks us out, desiring to raise us up.  Submitted by Fr. JP Luxbacher, LC. We thank Solomon Ip for coordinating this jubilarian feature and helping collect stories and materials. Photos courtesy of Fr. Iqbal Kurshid.
To this day, Fr. Antonio can read Latin, but speaking in Latin is still a difficulty. One of his favourite pastimes as a minor seminarian was to play soccer, a mean sport! Every Friday, he and his classmates would inflate the balls, often to the point of bursting them. His rector was suitably unimpressed… Minor seminary was followed by another nine years of study at the major seminary, before ordination on January 30, 1986. Fr. Antonio’s first 20 years of ministry were spent in various parishes in Goa. He spent much of his time in youth formation, including 12 years as the diocesan chaplain for the Young Christian Students, which led him across India for various youth meetings, and even as far as Malaysia. He also served as a primary school principal and organized training programs for Basic Christian Communities. Fr. Antonio first came to Canada in 2006 to surprise his niece for her wedding in Edmonton. He had asked his archbishop for a year’s dispensation to check out the situation in Canada before settling in the Diocese of Calgary. Fr. Antonio has become what he likes to refer to as a “peripheral priest.” Aside from his first placements at Sacred Heart and St. Bernadette’s Parishes in Calgary, the last 12 years of his ministry have been spent in far-flung corners of the diocese: Coaldale, Picture Butte, Hanna, Oyen, Acadia Valley, and now, Carstairs.
 Written by Solomon Ip, who coordinated the jubilarian features. Photo courtesy of Fr. Iqbal Kurshid.
 Something new is stirring at St. Mary’s Cathedral. After months of prayer, planning and preparation, the parish launched its first Renewal Gathering Night, bringing parishioners and guests together around Faith, Food, and Fellowship. The evening was not intended to be simply another parish event. It marked the beginning of an ongoing journey of renewal rooted in a simple conviction: authentic renewal happens when people encounter Jesus Christ, allow Him to change them, and carry that encounter into their homes, ministries, and community. Participants were also encouraged to “bring someone with you.” That invitation captured the gathering's missionary spirit. Renewal is not meant to remain within ourselves. A parish becomes missionary when its members begin noticing and inviting those who may simply be waiting to be welcomed. It was fitting that the first gathering focused on the Eucharist as the Source and Summit of the Christian Life. Following praise and worship and a shared meal, Fr. Avi offered a reflection centred on a challenging question: if a parish continued all its ministries, meetings, social activities and charitable works but stopped celebrating the Eucharist, would it still truly be the Church, or simply a very active organization? His message was clear: The Church does not live from its programs. The Church lives from Jesus Christ. The Eucharist is the source because everything begins with Christ giving Himself to us. It is the summit because everything the Church does should ultimately lead people into deeper communion with Him. We come to the altar hungry. We leave carrying Christ. From the altar to the mission This insight lies at the heart of the Pastoral Renewal taking place at St. Mary’s Cathedral and throughout the Diocese of Calgary. Renewal is not simply about adding activities or asking volunteers to do more. It begins when our encounter with Jesus changes how we welcome strangers, notice the lonely, serve those in need, and accompany one another. Fr. Avi reminded those involved in ministry: We do not serve so that Christ will love us; we serve because Christ has already loved and served us first. Our gifts may appear ordinary: a warm greeting, an hour of our time, preparing a meal, visiting someone who is lonely, remembering someone’s name, or patiently listening to another person. Yet, like the bread and wine offered at the altar, ordinary gifts placed in Christ’s hands can become instruments of extraordinary grace. A parishioner welcoming someone at the door, sitting beside a person who seems alone, or serving quietly behind the scenes may become the very means through which another person encounters Jesus. Our “Amen” becomes missionFr. Avi also reflected on the word “Amen” spoken when receiving Holy Communion. It means more than simply acknowledging the Eucharist. It expresses: Yes, Lord, I believe. Yes, Lord, change me. Yes, Lord, live through me. When we receive the Body of Christ, we also accept the call to become the Body of Christ for others. This is why the Mass does not simply end. We are sent. The Christ received at the altar is carried into our homes, workplaces, neighbourhoods, hospitals and encounters with the poor, lonely and forgotten. The pattern of renewal is therefore simple: We receive Christ. We carry Christ. We bring Christ to others. As the first Renewal Gathering Night concluded with praise and prayer, one thing was clear: the evening may have ended, but the journey of renewal had only begun. St. Mary’s Cathedral is being called to become more than a place where people attend Mass or participate in programs. It is becoming a spiritual home where the hungry are fed, the lonely are noticed, the wounded are welcomed, the discouraged find hope, and all are invited to encounter Jesus Christ. Perhaps the question at the heart of renewal is not simply, “What more can our parish do?” It is something more personal: “Having received Christ, whom is He sending me to today?” 
 Submitted by Deacon Greg Bercelon. Photos from the St. Mary's Cathedral Parish Renewal Team.
 The Miraculous Draught of Fishes (Jacopo Bassano, 1545) Before reading the new CCCB reflection, The Evangelizing Mission of the Church in Canada, here is a simple question for us to consider: How are we doing in helping others encounter Jesus Christ?
The Canadian bishops remind us that evangelization is not simply about sharing ideas, but about introducing others to the person of Jesus Christ. They also call Catholics to share the Gospel with confidence and humility, while respecting the freedom, conscience and dignity of every person. As individuals, parishes and ministry teams, we might ask:
What is one thing we could do differently to help someone encounter Christ? The new CCCB reflection invites Catholics across Canada to consider these questions more deeply and to renew our participation in the Church’s mission in the ordinary places of daily life. Read The Evangelizing Mission of the Church in Canada (English | French)
 My ordination in Taiwan - May 26, 2001 In 2000, I left my homeland and arrived at Fu Jen Catholic University to learn a language completely foreign to me: Mandarin. Just over a year later, on May 26, 2001, I was ordained a priest. A long-deferred calling was finally fulfilled. For the next four years, I served in Taipei and Ilan; parish ministry shaped my faith and pastoral heart in ways I could never have anticipated. Then came another closed door. Because of Taiwan's immigration policies regarding foreigners, my future dimmed once more until a providential encounter changed everything. I met Father John Mak, who was visiting Taiwan then. He was on the verge of retiring from Calgary's only Chinese Catholic Church, with no Chinese priest to succeed him. Through him, I was introduced to Bishop Henry, who generously sponsored my work permit for Canada with a visitor visa. What followed was a decade-long pilgrimage of patience: navigating complex applications, meeting rigorous English requirements, and trusting, always trusting. By God's grace, I finally obtained Canadian citizenship. I arrived in Calgary in February 2005, not knowing a single word of Cantonese. But I have learned this: great things happen when we say “YES” to God. When we cooperate with His plan, He equips us for every challenge. I learned Cantonese not from textbooks, but from the parishioners themselves – by immersing myself in their lives, speaking and listening, fumbling and growing. I am no genius. But God has never failed to provide.  Celebrating Mass in Vietnam: Back after 10 years.  My first visit back to my hometown in Vietnam, accompanied by 40 parishioners from OLPH. Today, I have served as Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church for over twenty years. OLPH is my home now. I never dreamt of this. I never planned to serve the Chinese community in Canada. And yet, here I am. How did this happen? How was any of it possible? Over the years, I learned Mandarin and Cantonese to serve the community. I performed magic tricks just to see the children's eyes light up. I taught myself to mend broken antique clocks and raised funds so the youth could journey to World Youth Day. I sharpened my chef skills to gather two hundred parishioners annually on New Year's Eve, like one big family around the supper table. I got my hands dirty with handyman work, saving the parish every penny I could. I buried myself in secretarial books and accounting ledgers, trimming every extra cost from the parish office. Now, I fully support opening a daycare at OLPH, a place to nurture children with bilingual, Catholic education rooted in compassion and love. Except for Mandarin, I never sat in a single classroom for these skills. They all came, simply and quietly, through God's grace. And what lies ahead? Only God knows. Looking back, I see it clearly now: every step, from Vietnam to Taiwan to Canada, was guided by a hand greater than my own. What began as a search for direction became a journey of trust, surrender, and unexpected provision. The same God who opened doors in Taipei opened them again in Calgary, reminding me that vocation is never a single destination; it is a lifelong pilgrimage. Today, I carry with me the languages I have learned, the communities I have served, and the quiet certainty that great things happen when we say “YES” to God. I am never walking alone.  The Chrism Mass at St. Mary Cathedral (March 30, 2026), with jubilarian priests marking their milestone.  Jubilarian Mass & Dinner (Sep. 14, 2026) Stories drawn from an interview by Anne Lam, coordinator of The OLPH Echo Magazine. We thank Solomon Ip for coordinating this jubilarian feature and helping collect stories and materials.
Photos courtesy of Fr. Minh Doan Nguyen.
His seminary years, however, were soon disrupted by the realities of war. In 1972, a major military offensive brought instability to South Vietnam, forcing seminarians to leave the seminary and return home. Although formation eventually resumed, the fall of South Vietnam in 1975 brought another interruption. Under Communist rule, religious life faced significant restrictions, and the dream of priesthood seemed increasingly uncertain. For the next five years, Ignatius lived amid persecution and limitations on religious freedom. Yet God's call remained strong in his heart. In 1980, seeking both freedom and the opportunity to continue his vocation, he joined countless others fleeing Vietnam by boat. The journey was filled with danger from the very beginning. The vessel was old and leaking, and its engine barely functioned. Realistically, the prospects for a safe voyage looked slim. 
Looking back, Fr. Ignatius sees God's hand guiding every step of the journey. Shortly after reaching Hainan Island, a powerful storm struck the region. Had the refugees remained at sea, the consequences could have been devastating. After about a week, the voyage resumed. Along the way, local residents warned them of a dangerous whirlpool in their path, allowing them to steer safely away. For Fr. Ignatius, these moments were clear signs of God's providential protection. The refugees eventually reached Hong Kong, where they spent several months in refugee camps while awaiting resettlement. Then, on October 27, 1980, Ignatius arrived in Canada and began a new chapter of life. His vocational journey continued with renewed hope. Through the support of the Diocese of Calgary, he studied English at Newman College in Edmonton before entering Christ the King Seminary in Mission, British Columbia, in 1981. The challenges were significant, as he completed all studies and formation in English, his second language. Through dedication, hard work, and God's grace, he persevered. On September 5, 1986, Ignatius Tran was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Paul O'Byrne. Since then, he has faithfully served parish communities throughout Alberta, including St. Bonaventure, St. Agnes, St. Francis Xavier, Sacred Heart, Ascension, Holy Spirit, and St. Gerard's Parish. As Fr. Ignatius celebrates the 40th anniversary of his priestly ordination in 2026, his life stands as a witness to God's faithfulness. Through war, exile, language barriers, and decades of ministry, one truth has remained constant: "Without God I could do nothing." His story reminds us that when God calls, He never abandons those He leads, but faithfully guides them through every storm and every blessing. Article & photos: St. Gerard's Parish for Faithfully. We thank Solomon Ip for coordinating this jubilarian feature and helping collect stories and materials.
Photos were taken at the celebration of Fr. Tran's 40th anniversary on Sep. 12, 2026 at St. Gerard's Parish.  Vocations Rally 2025 The Diocese of Calgary continues to support people as they discern and respond to God’s call to serve the Church. Through priesthood and permanent diaconate formation, consecrated life, the Ordo Virginum, and prayer for vocations, the Church accompanies those discerning how the Lord is calling them to serve.
Accompanying Future PriestsFor the second year, Bishop William T. McGrattan expressed gratitude for parishes throughout the Diocese, both rural and in the City of Calgary, that welcomed seminarians into their communities on weekends. The Summer Seminarian Placement Initiative has become a fruitful part of their formation, giving seminarians the opportunity to gain pastoral experience in parishes that are often new to them. The placements allow them to become better acquainted with priests throughout the presbyterate, while giving parishioners the opportunity to encounter their future priests.
Forming Permanent DeaconsPermanent deacons serve across parishes, diocesan ministries, hospitals, care homes, prisons, and outreach, bringing Christ’s love to those in need. They assist in the liturgy, proclaim the Gospel, and minister through baptisms, marriages, funerals, sacramental preparation, and pastoral care. Formation prepares men for ordained service through discernment, study, and pastoral formation. Group 11 has seven candidates who may be eligible for ordination in 2026, while Group 12 has four candidates currently in formation. For Group 13, interviews and assessments are being completed to begin formation in September 2026.  Sacred Grace Wedding Mass for civilly married Deacons also accompany couples through Sacred Grace, supporting civilly married couples as they prepare for a sacramental union. In 2025, deacons accompanied 91 civilly married couples through preparation, paperwork, interviews, formation, and marriage integration courses. One couple shared, “Your care and dedication in helping our civil marriage become a sacramental union is truly a wonderful work of God, and we feel deeply blessed.” Discerning Consecrated LifeThe Office of Vocations continues to accompany women and men discerning a call to Religious Life and the Ordo Virginum. In 2025, outreach continued through Catholic school presentations, confirmation retreats, and young adult ministries.
Praying for VocationsPrayer remains at the heart of fostering vocations. In 2025, the Diocese marked the second year of the 40 Hours Devotion for Vocations, a tradition of 40 hours of continuous prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in solemn exposition. Throughout the year, the devotion was held in 27 parishes and 13 Catholic high schools, for a total of 1,200 hours of devotion. Bishop McGrattan established the devotion on Ash Wednesday 2024, asking that it be held in different parishes each week of the year so that it becomes “a perpetual tradition in our Diocese.”
 This summer, several of our seminarians spent time serving in parishes throughout the Diocese of Calgary through the Summer Seminarian Placement Initiative. The placements gave them the opportunity to experience parish life in communities beyond their home parishes, while learning from priests, and getting to know parishioners along the way. Now in its third year, the initiative continues to be an important part of their formation, giving seminarians a chance to experience the day-to-day life of a parish and the ministry of a priest before beginning their pastoral internship. Here are their reflections on their time in the parishes this summer.  Mikhel Sari with the community of St. Gerard's Parish, Calgary The goal of the Summer Pastoral Placement is to provide an extended pastoral formation for the seminarian during the summer months outside of the seminary. This summer, I was assigned to St. Gerard's Parish in Calgary. With Fr. Ignatius Tran as parish priest, St. Gerard's Parish is a vibrant community that is living out the Catholic faith in the spirit of the Diocesan Renewal. I learned much from Fr. Ignatius and the parishioners, but my main takeaway is that Jesus Christ is present in everyone. The people of St. Gerard's Parish showed me the face of Jesus Christ through their generous support, prayers, and even in the Sunday coffee conversations. I am eternally grateful to Fr. Ignatius and the faithful of St. Gerard's Parish for welcoming me and supporting me in my formation. May God bless them richly. -Mikhel Sari During the summer months, I was blessed with the opportunity to spend my weekend pastoral assignment at the twin parishes of St. Ambrose in Coaldale and St. Catherine in Picture Butte. During my time there, I experienced the joy and beauty of smaller rural parishes, where the faithful come together with a strong sense of community and belonging. This experience helped me grow in my formation and deepened my understanding of the importance of community in fostering a vibrant and thriving parish. I was particularly inspired by the way the people of these parishes supported one another and shared in the life of the Church. I am deeply grateful to the parishioners and to the pastor for welcoming me so warmly and for allowing me to share in the life of their communities. My time in these parishes provided me with many insightful and meaningful experiences that have contributed to my growth in formation as I continue to discern my vocation to the priesthood. - Matthew Gensorek This summer, I was assigned to St. Albert the Great Parish in McKenzie Towne. It is a large, vibrant parish with five weekend Masses and many weekday activities. I was warmly welcomed in May by Fr. Andrew and Fr. Krys, Deacon John, Deacon Joseph, and all the volunteers and parishioners. The parish community quickly became like family to me. I was greatly edified by the community’s living out of the Lord’s command to love God and neighbour, shown especially in their generous spirit of Christian hospitality. Their commitment to their faith, to each other, and to the Diocesan renewal uplifted me in my discernment, and continues to inspire me as I begin a new year of studies at the seminary. I am immensely grateful to the clergy and community of St. Albert for welcoming me, and I look forward to visiting over my holidays! - Jeffrell Painaga During Summer 2026, I was placed at St. Bonaventure Parish in South-East Calgary. I was particularly excited about this placement as I attended St. Bonaventure Junior High School many years ago, and visited the Church during those years. It was a moving experience to be able to return to the Parish as a Seminarian and to serve in that capacity. At the Parish itself, Fr. Colin, and Fr. Lawrence welcomed me kindly and put me to work altar serving, and reading at various weekend Masses. I was grateful to serve and inspired by their Priesthood. I also had the opportunity to serve alongside Deacon Rey, and many enthusiastic altar servers. Finally, during my weekend visits, I was moved by the many kind words of support I would receive from Parishioners after Mass. Thank you all for welcoming me into the St. Bonaventure Parish community! - Adam Kucharski My weekend parish placement at Corpus Christi Parish in Calgary was a deeply meaningful part of my formation and a beautiful reminder of why I am discerning the priesthood. Because the parish community is small, I had the opportunity to get to know many of the parishioners personally, and I was genuinely touched by the love, warmth, and hospitality with which they welcomed me into their community. Their generosity and faith allowed me to experience something of the joy of belonging to a parish family, and spending time with them helped me to see more clearly the people whom I hope one day to serve as a priest in the Diocese of Calgary. In the midst of classes, assignments, and the many demands of seminary formation, it can sometimes be easy to lose sight of the purpose behind it all. My time at Corpus Christi brought that purpose back into focus. Being with the faithful, praying with them, listening to their stories, and simply sharing in the life of the parish reminded me that I am not preparing for a career, but for a life given in service to Christ and His people. I came away from the placement grateful not only for the warm welcome I received, but also for the renewed sense of joy and purpose it gave me in discerning the call to the priesthood. - Benjamin Taylor
My final highlight was the opportunity to altar serve at various Masses over the weekend, which allowed me to get to know the altar servers and the volunteers who worked so diligently and joyfully to prepare for Holy Mass. In summary, it is clear that lay Catholics play a substantial and vibrant role in the growth of the parish alongside the priests, which I am blessed to experience powerfully in the community of St. Luke’s. - Evin Kurian My summer placement was very joy-filled, inspiring, and above all, very fun! Seeing families, young and old, come to Holy Mass each week and getting to know names and faces was a great experience. I really enjoyed meeting the various volunteers engaging in ministries, from altar servers to sacristans to those charged with distributing Holy Communion to the sick. It's inspiring to see the many different ways the local People of God serve our brothers and sisters. - Jake Klassen We are grateful to the parishes who welcomed our seminarians this summer and to our seminarians for sharing their experiences. Please continue to keep them in your prayers as they discern God’s call and prepare for a life of service to Christ and His Church.
In the early years of my career as a special education teacher, I worked with the most vulnerable students, students who struggled academically for many different reasons. They were often written off for any chance of student “success” long before anyone gave them the chance to rise. It was fitting that our school took a phoenix as its mascot: a phoenix for these students would rise from difficult circumstances… from ashes.
St. Joseph of Cupertino’s feast day is approaching on September 18th. How fitting that this is also the date marking the 40th anniversary of our Catholic post-secondary institution, St. Mary's University in Calgary. Was this founding date a deliberate choice, or just one of God’s many divine coincidences? That answer is lost to history. Either way, St. Joseph of Cupertino is a perfect heavenly friend to honour as St. Mary’s continues to pursue great heights. St. Mary's mission is to become Canada's preeminent Catholic university: serious scholarship, faithful teaching, and high standards. Yet like St. Joseph of Cupertino himself, its strength won’t be found in ability alone. One aspect that makes St. Mary's distinctly Catholic is that academic excellence and genuine care for student success can rise together. Right now, that conviction takes shape across campus in many ways, including these important examples:
These are just a few examples of how St. Mary’s University leans into its identity as a truly Catholic university. As St. John Paul II wrote in Ex corde Ecclesiae, a Catholic university must "penetrate and inform" every part of university life, so that learning and genuine love for the person go hand in hand. At the heart of that identity is holiness. Like St. Joseph of Cupertino, St Mary’s University won’t fly because of anything but praying without reserve. This is where you come in. We invite you to join St. Mary's Prayer Guild, an individual prayer commitment to pray for the spiritual needs of the university. Guild members offer weekly prayer for the students who are trying to rise, the faculty who form them with patience, and the benefactors whose generosity makes this mission possible. St. Joseph of Cupertino, pray for us. St. Mary's Prayer Guild is an individual commitment to pray for the intentions of St. Mary's University each week. If you would like to join us, please email Kimberly at [email protected] to receive a prayer booklet and the current prayer needs of StMU. Submitted by Kimberly Cichon, for St. Mary's Prayer Guild
 Join us for a Eucharistic Celebration with Bishop William T. McGrattan, Wednesday, Sep 30, 2026, at 5 pm at St. Mary's Cathedral, on National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. All are welcome! National Day of Truth & Reconciliation On Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Canadians commemorate the work towards reconciliation by honouring residential school victims, survivors, and their loved ones.
On August 29, 2026, I stood at the doors of St. Mary’s Parish in Cochrane, greeting the people who had come to witness one of the most significant moments of my life: my Profession of Solemn Vows as a Franciscan Friar. As I welcomed family, friends, friars, priests, religious, seminarians, professors, co-workers, members of Couples for Christ, and people I had encountered through the years, tears began to flow.
Each familiar face brought a memory back to life. I remembered communities that welcomed me, people who accompanied me, places where I served, and moments when God quietly led me from one chapter to another. Again and again, I was reminded of God’s overwhelming love, faithfulness, mercy, care, and compassion. So much of that story unfolded in the Diocese of Calgary. I came to Canada from the Philippines in 2010, and the Diocese of Calgary became my first home in Canada. The humble St. Francis of Assisi Parish in downtown Calgary became one of my first spiritual homes. There, I encountered CFC Singles for Christ, a community that gave me a deep sense of belonging and accompanied me in the pursuit and discovery of my vocation.
One particular encounter remains vivid in my memory: I was invited to sing the Exultet during the Easter Vigil with the Precious Blood Sisters of Calgary. There, I met Fr. John Schuster. After the Vigil, he made sure to get my contact information and soon sent me details about a diocesan vocations information session.
It seemed like a simple invitation, but a seed had been planted. Slowly but surely, its roots grew deeper. At that point, I did not know exactly where the Lord was leading me but through prayer, community, ministry, and the people God placed along my path, the question of vocation continued to grow in my heart. Calgary was also where my vocation in healthcare developed. For eight years, I worked in various healthcare settings—from supporting people living with brain injuries, to hospital and community care, and eventually becoming a Registered Nurse. As a nurse, I worked in dialysis, cardiology, and internal medicine before discovering a particular love and passion for Mental Health and Addictions. 
Those years brought me face-to-face with human vulnerability. I encountered people in moments of illness, uncertainty, loneliness, suffering, healing, and hope. Nursing helped me understand that the love of God cannot remain simply an idea. Love must become flesh. Compassion must become presence. Mercy must become encounter.
In many ways, Calgary became a training ground where the Lord taught me what it means to incarnate His love, mercy, and compassion through being present to another person. My first significant encounter with Franciscan spirituality came through the Secular Franciscans of Calgary. I met Dennis Grady, OFS, through "Francis and Friends", a group dedicated to accompanying people struggling with alcohol addiction. I was later given the opportunity to join them on a two-week music mission in the Dominican Republic. Then, through the Diocese of Calgary’s One Rock event, I encountered the Franciscan Friars at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre. Something stirred within me. The possibility of a Franciscan vocation began to move from a distant thought to a question demanding a response. In 2019, I left nursing to serve full-time as a lay missionary and pastoral worker with Couples for Christ. During that year, particularly while serving in British Columbia, the call to Franciscan life became stronger. In 2020, I officially entered the Order of Friars Minor. Six years later, I found myself standing at the doors of St. Mary’s Parish, Cochrane, surrounded by around 300 people who had gathered for my Solemn Profession. As I greeted them, I realized that I was not simply looking at a congregation. I was looking at my story. 
My brothers, my family, my friends, Couples for Christ, religious sisters and brothers, priests and seminarians, professors and co-workers—people with whom I had prayed, served, studied, worked, laughed, struggled, and journeyed. Looking at them, I realized that my Solemn Profession was not simply a celebration of my “yes.” My yes carries within it countless other yeses.
It carries the yes of my family, who first taught me faith and love; the yes of my Franciscan brothers, who welcomed me into fraternity; the yes of communities that gave me a home and the yes of people who prayed for me, challenged me, encouraged me, taught me, served with me, and believed in the vocation God was slowly revealing. A significant part of those countless yeses came from the people of the Diocese of Calgary.
Written by: Friar Aldin Francis Canobas, OFM | Photos courtesy of Friar Aldin Francis Canobas, OFM
 On August 9, parishioners at Mary Mother of the Redeemer Parish gathered for the annual Feast of the Nations, a day of food, cultural performances, and fellowship. Now in its 13th year, the Feast has become a much-anticipated day for the parish family, bringing together people from different countries and cultures to celebrate the richness of their diversity while sharing in the unity of their Catholic faith. This year’s celebration was especially rooted in the Diocese of Calgary’s call to parish renewal: “You Are Called. You Matter. You Belong.” The day began where parish life begins — at the Eucharist. During Mass, the parish’s cultural diversity was reflected in the liturgy, including an offertory procession that incorporated African traditions. After Mass, parishioners carried flags representing countries from around the world as they processed to the outdoor celebration, where they enjoyed cultural performances, food, and activities for children and adults. 
For Fr. Shibu Kallarakkal, pastor of Mary Mother of the Redeemer Parish, the Feast is about more than showcasing different cultures. It is a day when the parish comes together as one. “It is almost a day of our parish,” he said. “We all come together. We are all eating together. We are all celebrating the Mass together. We are all enjoying the show together.” Despite their different backgrounds and traditions, parishioners spend the day celebrating as one family. “Regardless of our cultural difference, regardless of all other differences, we come together,” Fr. Shibu said. The Feast also included opportunities for families to learn and connect. Police were present to provide information to parishioners, while activities throughout the day gave children and adults a chance to take part in the celebration. An estimated 1,000 to 1,500 people attended this year’s Feast, which also raised $33,000. For Fr. Shibu, the Feast is ultimately a reminder of what it means to belong to the parish community. “You are called, you matter, you belong.” In a parish made up of people from many nations and cultures, the Feast was a chance to celebrate what they share: their life together as one parish family. “We are one, and we are one family,” Fr. Shibu said.
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