All Saints and All Souls day are celebrations dedicated to every saint and every soul who has died and returned home into the eternal and everlasting love of God. Their lives may not be acknowledged by name throughout the year in the Church’s feasts but are a silent witness and testimony to their belief in Christ and the promise of eternal life. Only God knows about these saints and the holy souls who both enjoy and await the gift of His presence and eternal love. It is our belief that God has inscribed their names in the Book of Life and that our celebration of these feasts remind us of the sure promise of hope which we are called to live as believers. 
 
Pope Francis noted that in the example of the saints “holiness is the most attractive face of the Church” and that “we should not grow discouraged before examples of holiness that appear unattainable.” The important thing is that each believer discern his or her own path, and that they bring the very best of themselves, the most personal gifts that God has placed in their hearts … for God’s life is communicated ‘to some in one way and to other in another way.’” (Gaudete et Exsultate 9, 11). The celebration of All Saints day is an annual reminder of this call to holiness that each of us have received in Baptism and which we acknowledge is the collective face of the Church both here on earth and in heaven.

When we gather at the funeral celebration of a loved one we hear the final Prayer of Commendation which is both instructive and consoling to all who are present, “Before we go our separate ways, let us take leave of our sister/brother.  May our farewell express our affection for her/him; may it ease our sadness and strengthen our hope.  One day we shall joyfully greet her/him again when the love of Christ, which conquers all things, destroys even death itself.” (Order of Christian Funerals, 2016, p. 245.)

On November 2, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, (or more commonly known as the Feast of All Souls), we do not go our separate ways but rather come together to celebrate and remember in prayer those who have died. This universal day of prayer within the life of the Church allows those who mourn the death of a loved to be comforted (ref. Matthew 5:4) and to be strengthened in faith and hope in the promise of everlasting life that comes to us through Christ. Our human death may be a certainty but through, with, and in Christ, it receives new meaning.

The experience of dying embraces family members, friends, and eventually each one of us. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) states, “Death is the end of earthly life. Our lives are measured by time, in the course of which we change, grow old and, as with all living beings on earth, death seems like the normal end of life. That aspect of death lends urgency to our lives: remembering our mortality helps us realize that we have only a limited time in which to bring our lives to fulfillment.” (CCC, 1007)

​As Christians, our future mortality should convict us to live in the anticipation of being eternally with God. This faith and trust in God has the power to transform our understanding of death and places it within the context of the redemptive, salvific mercy of God as revealed in Jesus Christ who is as Pope Francis states, “the face of the Father’s mercy.”  (Misericordiae Vultus, Bull of Indiction of The Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, 2015.)  The Catechism expresses this truth in the following way:

The celebration of the feasts of All Saints and All Souls is the celebration of our unity and our communion with Christ, with one another in the call to holiness, and with His work of redemption. These feasts remind us of the Sacrament of our baptism, of the mission and promise of Christ, of holiness and eternal life, which should shape our lives as it did in those of the saints and holy souls who unite us in these days of prayer and celebration.  

It is with great pleasure that I offer a few words to honour Father Stefan Ganowicz on this very special occasion of his 50th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood! 

Father Stefan was ordained in his home town of Poznan in Poland on the 20th of May 1971 and on started his priestly ministry in the Diocese of Calgary in March of 1974. Although I have known Father Stefan since 1984 it was only in the early 1990’s that I had a chance to get to know him better when he became Pastor of St. Bernadette Parish here in Calgary. I sensed from the time I got to know him better that he was a priest truly inspired by the vision and spirit of the Second Vatican Council. His paradigm of being “Church” was deeply inspired by the Church’s own vision of empowering the People of God to claim more profoundly their Baptismal grace and together with their Pastor join in an awareness of the great calling to Apostolate of Christ as both ordained and laity.

Fr. Stefan would enthusiastically embrace any and all opportunities that would enkindle within the faithful he was serving, a greater love of God and an authentic expression of their call to Christian ministry as laity. It is to no surprise that Bishop Paul recognized his passion for this and utilized his giftedness as not only a parish priest but also to serve on the Diocesan Theological Commission as Chaplain for Mount Royal College and Bishop Carrol High School, as well as the Bishop’s Representative for Ecumenical Affairs within the Diocese of Calgary. Following this, he was also appointed as Chaplain to the Reserves of The National Defence Unit, Calgary Highlanders. 

Father Stefan recalls with sincere gratitude, how Bishop Paul graciously gave him special permission one year, to allow the newly confirmed youth of St. Patrick’s Parish in Medicine Hat to be prepared and to assist with the distribution of Holy Communion at a school Mass. Fr. Stefan wanted to use this a special teaching moment to show that the newly confirmed are now fully initiated into the Church. It was not the norm and so he recalls this moment as a real tribute to Bishop Paul’s willingness to go the extra mile to be supportive.

It was when he was appointed to the Hospital Chaplain’s team in the year 2000, that I really got a true sense of Fr. Stefan's great charism and passion for building the Kingdom of God primarily by supporting and embracing the opportunity to work alongside our Pastoral Care lay ministers in the acute care hospitals of Calgary. As the person overseeing the Health Care Apostolate of the Diocese at that time, I recall emails and letters coming from doctors and nurses thanking the diocese for the outstanding pastoral care ministry that Fr. Stefan provided at the Peter Lougheed Hospital. His ability to validate each human person in their most frail and vulnerable hours was a true testimony of Fr. Stefan’s effective pastoral care skills as a priest. His ability to include family members and staff into the rituals and prayers was a precious gift to all involved. 

On this beautiful occasion of Father Stefan’s 50 years as a priest he can truly look back on a vocation that has enriched so many people and helped make the Kingdom of God more visible in this world. At the heart of his ministry was a servant attitude that allowed the Lord to do the Lord’s work through his ministry as a priest and together with the baptized faithful become an instrument of grace in the apostolate of pastoral care for the sick. In the words of St. Paul in Philippians 1:6 "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Congratulations Fr. Stefan and may the Lord richly bless you with good health in mind and body as you continue to serve the Lord as a faithful priest, in the vineyard of the Lord! 

Fr. Stefan Ganowicz

Ordained: May 20, 1971 in Poznan, Poland. Arrival in Canada: 1972.

Pastoral assignments

• Associate Pastor: St. Patrick’s, Medicine Hat (1974-1976)
• Associate Pastor: St. Anthony’s, Drumheller (1976-1978)
• On Staff: Corpus Christi, Calgary June 23 (1979-1981)
• Member of Diocesan Theological Commission: (1980-1984)
• Pastor: St. Agnes, Carstairs and St. Francis Xavier, Crossfield (1981-1984)
• Associate Pastor: St. Mark’s, Calgary (1984-1985)
• Chaplain: Mount Royal College and Bishop Carroll High School (1985-1987)
• Bishop Representative to Ecumenical Affairs (1985-1987)
• Pastor: Sacred Heart, Strathmore (1987-1990) and St. Anne, Hussar (1988-1990)
• Chaplain to the Reserves of The National Defense, Unit of the Calgary Highlanders, Calgary (1990-2009)
• Administrator: St. Bernadette’s, Calgary (1990-1996)
• Administrator: St. Anne’s, Calgary & Chaplain Bishop McNally High School (1996-1999)
• Administrator: St. Anne’s and Chaplain at Peter Lougheed Hospital (2000-2001)
• Chaplain: Peter Lougheed Hospital (2000-2003)
• Chaplain: Peter Lougheed Hospital, Calgary (2003 to 2017)

Fr. Joseph Hau Duc Tran was born on May 19th, 1934, in French-controlled Vietnam.  He was educated in the French system, and left his native country at 19 years old in 1954 at the end of the war between France and Vietnam.  He spent the next four or so years with the Dominicans in Hong Kong, beginning his philosophy studies there, before being sent to Rome and France to continue his theology studies.
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Fr. Tran studied for his Doctorate in Sacred Theology in Rome, where seminarians were split into three groups — he was among those assigned to the Spanish group.  The Dominicans allowed for his ordination before his studies were finished, and so he was told to arrive at a certain basilica early on a Friday morning for his examinations, which were to be presided over by a cardinal.  His Eminence asked Fr. Tran a number of questions on philosophy and theology, which were to be answered in Latin; there were also a number of personal questions about ecclesiological ideas and languages spoken.  Soon enough, he was told to prepare for his pre-ordination retreat, and to be at St. Peter’s Basilica for July 2nd, 1961.

Fr. Tran says that he could talk at length about the ordination ceremony, about the papal liturgy of the time (which he says is not so different from how it is today), about how crowded the basilica was…  Yet, what impressed him most about the ordination was the morning of, where he and his fellow ordinandi were treated to special audience with St. John XXIII.  Fr. Tran was struck by the saint’s humility and accessibility.  He greeted each candidate personally and shook their hand; he looked very unofficial, as though he were just one priest among many brothers.  The rather rotund St. John XXIII also struck Fr. Tran with his impressive size and the presence that came with it, which seemed to chase away all fears.  Yes, indeed — St. John XXIII was truly “Il Buon Papa”, the Good Pope.

After obtaining his doctorate, Fr. Tran was sent to Manila in the Philippines to teach at the University of Santo Tomas, where he remained for 10 years.  This was followed by two years in France and Rome, and then to Los Angeles, where Cardinal Manning assigned him as assistant at Our Lady of Loretto Parish, and to work with Vietnamese refugees arriving to the United States.  He remained in California for 4 years before joining a cousin who was an associate priest in Illinois.  After his time as chaplain of the St. Francis Medical Centre in Peoria, Fr. Tran came to Canada.  Initially spending four years with Queen of Martyrs Vietnamese Parish in Edmonton, he was invited to Calgary to become administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bridgeland, and St. Francis of Assisi Parish downtown.

At this time, a number of parishes in the diocese of Calgary were being considered for closure, and Fr. Tran was concerned that his little church on Sixth Avenue was in its last days.  He wrote letters to the planning committee, asking for St. Francis to be kept open.  He invited Bishop Henry to preside over the next set of confirmations, and for a reception to be given.  This was the beginning of a fruitful relationship between Fr. Tran and Bishop Henry — after the reception, Bishop Henry informed Fr. Tran that his parish was not in danger of folding, and he was given the mandate to revive the parish to further serve the needs of the downtown community.  During his 19-year tenure at St. Francis, Fr. Tran advocated for the expansion of his little parish, including lobbying for a floor of The Bow to be given to St. Francis, which was unfortunately defeated, 7 to 6.  Due to his advancing age, Fr. Tran reluctantly retired in 2016, “only beginning to be fully alive”.

In my discussion with this well-travelled and well-seasoned man of God, it becomes apparent that Fr. Tran, like the saint who ordained him, has a very unique view of the Church, and its eternal nature.  “Nobody can say what the Church looks like — it is mysterious and yet human.  I have been a witness of the times, and I have been many places, the Church is changing all the time.  It is like a bouquet of flowers blooming, everlasting roses which are ever new… the Church is alive, impressive with tradition, but yet ever changing, ever new.”  At 88 years of age, Fr. Tran professes that each passing year only increases his loyalty to the Church, which is “something marvellous, something to be loved.”  His advice is that “we should let ourselves be led by our high goals”, and that “there is nothing to be worried about in the Church.”

Fr. Tran’s ordination motto is:  “You are a priest forever” (Psalm 110:4), which seems to have had some significance.  In my conversation with Fr. Tran, his understanding of the Christian life as being destined for eternity is truly a cornerstone.  “If He calls me away tonight, so be it — let His will be done.”  If not, then he will continue to do penance in this world.  But one thing is certain, Fr. Tran gives thanks to God for his sixty years of priesthood, “a marvellous blessing lasting to eternity.”

Fr. Joseph Hau Duc Tran, OP
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​Ordained:  July 2nd, 1961, St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome by St. John XXIII

Pastoral Placements in the Diocese of Calgary:

• Administrator:  Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Calgary (1996-1997)
• Pastor:  St. Francis of Assisi, Calgary (1997-2016)

Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully. Solomon is a born-and-raised Calgarian, who got letters after his name in Lethbridge. He worships at All Saints, Lethbridge; St. John the Evangelist, Calgary; and both the Calgary and Lethbridge chapters of the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy. He is an oboist by training, chorister by grace, hobby wordsmith, amateur calligrapher and museum enthusiast.

Where were you born?
I was born in a town called Laoang, Northern Samar, Philippines. There are five of us in our family. I grew up in a very religious family — we were nurtured by our parents by going to Church every Sunday and every single day to attend Mass.  I am the fourth in the line up. One of my sisters is a nun from the Religious Congregation of the Reparatrix Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Naples, Italy. After her nine years of formation in Italy, she was sent back to Philippines to serve in their congregation. My parents and my sister (the nun) are instrumental in my call to the priesthood.
 
How did you discern your vocation? 
I started my discernment in 1985 when I was in my 4th year of high school. My vocation was inspired by the priestly life of my two relative priests, Fr. Leandro Infante and Fr. Romeo Infante; and most especially my vocation was inspired when I witnessed an actual ordination in my hometown right after my high school graduation. I entered into my seminary formation in 1986 at the age of 18; and was ordained at the age of 28.
 
What is your favourite prayer?
Since my childhood, my parents would always put a rosary in my pocket to remind me of praying the Rosary; and since then, the Lord’s Prayer and The Hail Mary have become my favourite prayers.
 
What is your go-to advice when people ask you, “Father, how do I become closer to Jesus?” 
The best advice I give when people ask this question —  is PRAYER or DAILY MASS or Daily Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
 
Any advice for those discerning a vocation?
If anyone is considering the priestly vocation, let him be prayerful first, seek the help of his pastor and his parents and keep on responding God’s call through daily reading of the Word of God.

An interview with Fr. Marino Infante, October 2021

Fr. Marino Infante

Ordained: March 10, 1996 at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Laoang, Diocese of Catarman, Northern Samar, Philippines, by Most Rev. Angel Hobayan

Pastoral assignments in the Diocese of Calgary

• Associate Pastor: St. Peter’s, Calgary (2008-2011)
• Associate Pastor: Holy Spirit, Calgary (2011-2012)
• Associate Pastor: St. Luke’s, Calgary (2012-2016)
• Pastor: St. Michael’s, Bow Island (2016-2018)
• Pastor: St. Mary’s, Brooks (2018-present)

I believe that the priestly vocation is founded and grown in a believing family that sets a good example for its children. My father used to participate in Mass every day, and so did my mother. In addition, she was involved in spiritual activities in several churches near our house. My brothers and I saw their faith and were affected by their devout practice. In addition, my uncle was a bishop, and he visited us at home from time to time. My brothers and I enjoyed meeting him and listening to his words. His presence often made us wonder about the priestly vocation and the reasons that motivate a person to become a priest... 

The thought of the priestly vocation first came into my mind at the age of twelve when I said for the first time: "I want to be a priest." My parents didn't pay any attention to my words then because I was young and probably unaware of what I was saying. With time, I became sure of my desire to be a priest in the service of God and mankind. I moved away from my brothers and my parents at the age of eighteen to study philosophy and theology, and I was very happy. I was certain of the Lord Jesus' saying that “every sacrifice we make for Christ on earth, we get double it in this life plus eternal life,” and that there is “greater joy in giving than in receiving.” In my university studies, which lasted eight years, my theological knowledge was established, especially in the theology of Christ, the interpretation of the Bible and the meaning of the sacraments... As for studying philosophy, it gave me the ability to think logically, open up to the truth in others, and to accept the other as different. 

I worked hard in my priestly ministry to be open to everyone, and to serve every person, and I realized how much people today are in need of people who would listen to them. So I trained in listening skillfully and worked hard on knowing people’s needs in order to help them meet those. What enhanced my skills were my master's studies at the University of Montreal in accompanying patients in hospitals. Therefore, studying for a master’s degree in theology taught me a lot about listening and its importance, and my first booklet came out under the title “Psychological and Spiritual Accompaniment.” As for my master's in philosophy, it taught me the importance of dialogue between human beings, religions and cultures in order to enrich humanity and to reduce conflict. And I reached the following conviction:  the difference between humans is natural, and their difference in seeing God is natural. As for their human intellectual and ideological differences, they are natural, logical, and necessary. 
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I thank God for granting me the grace of priesthood which I do not deserve no matter how hard I work for it; I ask him to abide in me till the end, because if I were to go back in time and age, my choice would be nothing other than the priesthood. The priest, in my view, is a father who loves all human beings in the example of his heavenly Father, and works to serve them, especially spiritually.

Written by Fr. Samer Naaman for Faithfully, October 2021.

Fr. Samer Naaman

Fr. Samer Naaman is ordained on June 29, 1996. He started his ministry in Calgary on July 1, 2020. He is the pastor of St. Basil's Melkite-Greek Catholic Parish
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​How we purchase, use and throw out used items make a big environmental impact that affect others and the world around us. The waste hierarchy above ranks the preferred approaches to waste reduction and management, so that we can be better steward to others, and to the resources entrusted to us. 

Consider these for faithful living

• Make buying a conscious decision and avoid buying on auto-pilot. Avoid shopping as a way to make ourselves feel better.
• Repairing instead of throwing away or buying; used or refurbished items instead of always getting the latest gadget.
• When possible, purchasing products that are able to be recycled, or manufactured using recycled content. This helps provide a market for recyclable materials.
• Learn how to recycle or dispose of specific items or wastes in your local community

For more information, visit "Reducing municipal solid waste" resources here

Image (above) rendered from: Govt. of Canada website

Born to Slovakian immigrant parents in the Drumheller Valley, Fr. Jack Bastigal's priestly vocation is a product of good seed sown in good soil, sown while he was still an altar boy at the tiny mission church of St. Francis of Assisi in Rosedale. The Drumheller Valley at the time was a patchwork of small mining towns, served by a team of three priests stationed at St. Anthony's Parish in Drumheller itself; one to serve Nacmine, Midland and Newcastle west of town, another to serve Rosedale, Wayne, East Coulee and Dorothy to the east, and the third to remain in Drumheller.

ln Fr. Jack's childhood, Fr. Stephen Molnar served the east leg of the valley, and was a frequent visitor at the Bastigal house, mostly for Mrs. Bastigal's cooking. However, there would come the questions and the suggestions from the priests growing up: "Maybe you might want to think about becoming a priest ... " Fr. Jack describes this as the planting of the seeds: "You really don't know if they're going to mature or germinate." 

The Bastigal family moved to Calgary, and Fr. Jack went to St. Mary's High School, where he graduated in 1954. The Basilian Fathers there kept planting more seeds, asking what he was going to do after graduation, a topic that was well-discussed among his "buddies" there - what kinds of jobs to get, what would be good work. Fr. Jack strongly considered engineering, and then finding work in the nascent oil industry in Calgary. He had applied to Gonzaga University in Seattle, and was accepted. His parents were thrilled - they had advocated that Fr. Jack get a good education, find good work, and avoid the difficult work that had been working in the Drumheller Valley coal mines. But lo and behold, the seeds stuck ... 

A month or so before his departure for Seattle, something seemed wrong.  It was impossible to verbalize, especially to his parents, but he needed more time to decide before jumping into this career; the Bastigals were decidedly less than thrilled. 

ln the mid-1950s, it was possible just to walk into a potential employer's office and see if they were hiring, and so Fr. Jack went down to the Imperial Oil Refinery looking for work- he was hired to the labs on the spot, thrilling his parents once again. But around Christmas, things just seemed wrong right again, and so Fr. Jack quit his job, causing another debacle with his family. One would have assumed that this cycle would not continue on, but it did twice more through the winter and spring of 1955 ... Fr. Jack was hired on in customer relations with the Electric Light Department of the City of Calgary, and all was going smoothly until the spring, when suddenly working in an office building on Sixth Avenue SW wasn't as appealing as being outside. Fr. Jack transferred to the Parks Department, and he still vividly remembers seeding the grass at 14th Street and Memorial Drive NW. Around this time, he reconnected with the president of his class from St. Mary's, Mike Tansey. Mike had been set on becoming a priest, and had gone to St. Joseph's Seminary immediately after graduation. Fr. Jack was hesitant. He had thought about going to seminary, but wasn't sure if it was for him. Mike was reassuring: "If it isn't for you, you'll know pretty quickly. lf you come up there, and you see it isn't for you, just let them know, and off you go!" So it was that Fr. Jack Bastigal made his decision to enter the seminary, at this point in time at the original St. Joseph's Seminary on 110th Street in Edmonton, where first year accommodations were in a 10' by 12' room, shared with another seminarian. It was a real testing of the vocation, whether or not one was serious about it. To make a long story short: along came ordination in 1961. 

Fr. Jack stresses that discernment of the vocation is very personal; each vocation comes in a different way. For some, it is an automatic understanding, for others, less so. He is grateful to the priests who brought up the possibility of the priesthood over the years, as each one made him consider it seriously over the years. "It pushed me to make a decision, and- lo and behold!"

When asked about highlights in his years in ministry, Fr. Jack brings up treasured memories and friendships built up in ecumenical work. In the early 1960s, demarcations between denominations were still strict, but opportunities for ecumenism seemed to come up more regularly for Fr. Jack than his brother priests. One of his first placements was as assistant at St. Pius X in Calgary, and chaplain at the University of Calgary. It was initially a challenge, working with the other chaplains within the same offices: "When you leave the seminary, you're convinced that it's the Catholic Church, and the others aren't following the way of the Lord fully!" But the experience sowed its own seeds - as Fr. Jack was challenged and shared understandings with other professors and chaplains, it opened up a broader understanding of "who is acceptable by God, who is being used by God". Later on, these seeds would bear their own fruit.  

Years later, Bishop O'Byrne asked Fr. Jack to become founding pastor of Ascension of Our Lord Parish in Calgary. At the same time, he became aware that a good friend from Calgary Interfaith, Pastor Bob Schoenheider, was currently selling his congregation's small Lutheran church building in the downtown core, and looking for a space to build. Since both needed land they began discussing the possibility of a joint venture, an ecumenical centre to house both congregations. The idea was presented to Bishop O'Byrne and Lutheran Bishop Bob Jacobson, who were happy to endorse the project. And so was born the Sandstone Valley Ecumenical Centre, with two distinct worship areas, a common narthex, meeting rooms and offices; the beginning of a journey together in faith. 

Unfortunately, over the years, Mount Calvary Lutheran had its struggles, and eventually folded, but the friendships that Fr. Jack built with the people of Mount Calvary have stayed firm. He says that "it's those kinds of things that make such a difference: you recognize that you are all looking to praise, honour and worship the same God".  While Sandstone Valley Ecumenical Centre is no more, the seeds it has sown have borne fruit. Once past his term as bishop, Bob Jacobson of the Lutheran church and his wife were received into the Catholic Church. He was allowed to take Catholic orders, and became chancellor of the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan.

Again, while at St. James in Okotoks, Fr. Jack's experience in ecumenical settings was crucial. One of the teacher-librarians at the Catholic school, Marilyn Smith, had mentioned that her husband was an Anglican priest, and that he would like to meet with Fr. Jack. After the usual pleasantries, Fr. Jack asked Fr. Steve if there was anything specific he would like to discuss; the response was that he and his wife were thinking of becoming members of St. James' Parish! A while afterwards, Fr. Jack was struck while preaching one Sunday that Fr. Steve might consider becoming a priest in the Roman Rite. This matter was mentioned to Bishop Henry, and it was suggested that Fr. Steve might be assigned some readings and a course of study. After this study period, a letter of recommendation, and lightning-speed approval from Rome, Bishop Henry came to St. James' Parish in Okotoks to ordain Fr. Steve and to officially appoint him to serve in the parish. 

It is a strange fact of most grains, that in common speech, their fruit and their seeds are discrete ideas, yet they are one and the same, botanically speaking. After a priestly life bearing much fruit borne of good seed, one would assume that Fr. Jack would now be content to rest quietly in his retirement. Yet - for a good while after this formal interview was concluded, Fr. Jack and I discussed the current situation in the Church in this diocese. He has recently moved to Dorchester Square in the heart of Calgary and is settling into his new apartment, enjoying the companionship of his brother priests, and filling in when needed in various parishes throughout the diocese. From his new perch overlooking a busy part of the city, he has witnessed some of the effects that COVID-19 has had on the community. The number of people experiencing financial, psychological and spiritual needs has increased, and Fr. Jack wonders what could be done to serve such people, aside from the agencies that exist in the city; his compassion towards them is palpable through the telephone. His hope is that as the pandemic ends parish life will experience a resurgence - a resurgence of faith. It is clear that despite (or because of?) his long, fruitful life as a priest, Fr. Jack is still the sower, scattering the fruit of his vocation far and wide, looking for it to land in good soil. 

Fr. John (Jack) Bastigal

Ordained: May 27, 1961, St. Mary’s Cathedral by Bishop Carroll

Pastoral Placements

• Assistant: St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary (1961-1962)
• Assistant: St. Pius X, Calgary; Chaplain, University of Calgary (1962-1966)
• Diocesan Director of Vocations (1966-1967)
• Administrator: St. Victor’s, Gleichen; St. Columbanus, Arrowwood; St. Ann’s, Hussar (1966-1967)
• Assistant: St. Luke’s, Calgary; Assistant Director, Catholic Information Centre (1967-1968)
• Studies: Research Coordinator, Institute of Social Research, Fordham University, Department of Sociology, New York City (1968-1978)
• Visiting Professor, University of Puerto Rico (1976)
• Director: Council of Social Affairs — Diocese of Calgary (1978-1984)
• Pastor: Ascension of Our Lord, Calgary (1982-1994)
• Pastor: St. James, Okotoks (1994-2008)

Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully. Solomon is a born-and-raised Calgarian, who got letters after his name in Lethbridge. He worships at All Saints, Lethbridge; St. John the Evangelist, Calgary; and both the Calgary and Lethbridge chapters of the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy. He is an oboist by training, chorister by grace, hobby wordsmith, amateur calligrapher and museum enthusiast.

I don't believe that vocations come from any dramatic events, insights or extraordinary experiences;  I believe that vocations often come from large, generous and committed families, with very generous parents.  In my case, it was a large family of twelve children with hard working, generous parents and grandparents. No one urged me to become a priest, but many people contributed to facilitating my vocation.

I attended Catholic school with the Sisters of Charity of Halifax teaching and serving as administrators; the pastor and his various assistants were very present to the school.  I was especially influenced by the pastor who was very committed, very prayerful, and very much involved in the community. He served in the parish for more than thirty years. Although it was a fairly large school, about 1,100 students from grades one to eleven, he knew all the students, their families and their history. He was very involved in facilitating sports, social events, and Summer Camps for the children. It was at the parish Summer Camp that I was especially impressed by his prayer life.  He spent hours in the camp chapel in prayer and had daily Mass for the campers.  

I also had the privilege of having two uncles who were parish priests in my home diocese.  Although I wasn't very close with them, they gave me the confidence that a vocation to the priesthood was not beyond the realm of possibility.  One of the most interesting bits of advice I received when getting ready to go the Seminary was from one of those uncles who told me that if I felt like leaving the Seminary, then leave. I think he was telling me that I should not feel obligated to be a priest just because he had two uncles who were priests, and not to go through with it just because other people expected it of me. On the other hand, it was very important to me that people did in fact expect me to enter the Seminary.
       
Another support for my vocation was attending Xavier Junior College and St. Francis Xavier University in my home diocese. There were a number of priests on staff at these institutions and they were very encouraging to any student who might be considering a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. They taught the courses that were required, especially Latin and Philosophy. They were almost like recruiters who would recognize candidates for religious vocations, and they were always available for counselling, spiritual direction and sacraments.

I began theology studies at St. Augustine's Seminary in Scarborough, ON in September of 1957 after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from the university. My home diocese in Nova Scotia at that time had an oversupply of priests. They also provided many priests for the Scarboro Foreign Mission Society and various other religious communities also. The bishop there decided I wasn't needed in his diocese, so I applied to the bishop of Calgary who accepted me. I was ordained on May 27th, 1961 in Antigonish, NS, for the Diocese of Calgary. The seminary life was rather spartan, but I felt at home there because my life growing up was similar. I appreciated the opportunity to get to know clergy and seminarians from various parts of the country.

After ordination, I was appointed the secretary to Bishop Carroll which was a great challenge, but also a privilege. I learned much of the history of the diocese and the priests, and got to travel about the diocese for Confirmations and other occasions. I learned a great deal from Bishop Carroll and the other priests who worked at the Bishop's Office in my time there. However, I was more attracted to work in parishes, and in 1968, I was appointed pastor of the small parish of St. Clement’s (now Mary, Mother of the Redeemer) while still acting as Chancellor of the Diocese during the episcopate of Bishop Paul O'Byrne.    

In 1972, I was appointed Co-Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Calgary, along with Monsignor John O'Brien and Fr. Duncan T. Sullivan.  It was a very busy parish with very active lay people, and many marriages and funerals.  One of the requirements for a priest is to be able to work with the laity, and to be supported by them.  I have been greatly assisted in my ministry by the support, encouragement and involvement of the parishioners I have worked with. We have great need of active lay involvement in the parishes. 

In summary, vocations come with the support and love of family members, the clergy, and the wider community, along with a generous willingness to endeavour to follow where the Spirit is leading us.  

Written by Fr. William Stephenson for Faithfully, October 2021.

Fr. William Stephenson
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Ordained: May 27, 1961, Antigonish, NS by Most Rev. William Power

Pastoral Placements

• Episcopal Secretary (1961-65)
• Chancellor (1965-70)
• Pastor: St. Clement’s, Calgary (1968-1971)
• Studies: Lumen Vitae, Brussels, Belgium (1971-1972)
• Co-Pastor: Sacred Heart, Calgary (1972-1977)
• Pastor: Sacred Heart, Calgary (1977-1982)
• Rector: St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary (1982-1993)
• Sabbatical: (1993-1994)
• Pastor: St. Bonaventure, Calgary (1994-2006)
• Administrator: St. Anthony’s, Calgary (2008-2009)

It's fitting for God's people to offer public thanks for all the gifts we have received. The bountiful produce of the earth is a visible sign of the many blessings God wants to shower on us through Christ. Our God also wants us to share the goods of the earth with all people. (Ordo 2021). 

Note that the Catholic Pastoral Centre will be closed on Monday, Oct. 11 for Thanksgiving Day, and will reopen on Tuesday, Oct. 12.  ​

Resources

• Share Thanksgiving Day greeting online 
• Christian Thanksgiving Ideas & Activities (The Catholic Toolbox)
• 12 Thanksgiving Prayer Ideas (OSV)
• Thanksgiving craft for Kids (Catholic Icing)
• How to celebrate Thanksgiving if you have to stay home alone (Aleteia)
• Giving thanks: A permanent attitude and a lifelong mission (Aleteia)

Thanksgiving Day Prayer

​Lord, we thank you
for the goodness of our people
and for the spirit of justice
that fills this nation.
We thank you for the beauty
and fullness of the land
​and the challenge of the cities.

We thank you for our work and our rest,
for one another, and for our homes.
We thank you, Lord:
accept our thanksgiving on this day.
We pray and give thanks
​through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Written by Mike Paonessa for Faithfully. ​As Superintendent of Schools, Mike Paonessa is honored to serve and support the staff and students of Evergreen Catholic Schools, and to work directly with the Board of Trustees to support their goals and activities.  Mike feels very blessed for the opportunity to work alongside and learn from numerous talented colleagues and has built many wonderful friendships over his 37 years in education. Mike attends St. Charles Catholic Parish in Edmonton

In June, the Blended and Foundations students at St. Francis of Assisi Middle School joined together at St. Mary's Church for Mass. This was an opportunity a Grade 9 student requested that the class celebrate Mass at church before the end of the school year. He was overjoyed and brought to tears when the staff told him that they would be able to grant his wish. It was a deeply moving day as most of the students had not attended mass in a long time.

After mass, the students were invited to explore the altar. One of the students knelt in front of Mary and prayed. It was beautiful! His action led other students to do the same. They ended their time in the parish's rosary garden. Again, the same student knelt in front of Mary to pray. His classmates surrounded him and prayed. You could feel the most amazing energy of prayer at that time with many of the staff moved to tears.

Written by LeeAnn Arsenault for Faithfully. As the Faith Permeation Lead Teacher, LeeAnn Arsenault serves all Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools by supporting religious education, curriculum, faith permeation and faith life. Her greatest joy is witnessing students share their unfailing faith through their gifts and talents, their servitude and their transformational spirit.

As I reflect on 40 years of priesthood I am reminded of God's faithfulness and love. I am reminded of how Jesus has helped me in my priesthood and in all of my life.  Giving thanks to God is a good place to begin.

I also give thanks to God for my parents and family, my extended family and friends. I especially want to mention the witness and good example of my mom to my Catholic faith and life. She attended Mass almost daily, brought us to Benediction every Sunday night, and was very faithful to the Church. She was also a good listener to others in her life.

I remember the priests and parishioners of St Joseph's Parish in Calgary where I grew up, the teachers and students of St Joseph's Elementary and Jr. High schools, and St. Francis High School. It was the boom era right after the Second World War, and the parish was beginning to flourish as families moved into the neighbourhood. Msgr. Neville Anderson was the parish priest at the time, a strict man, but a good, holy man; many young priests were assistants at the time.  It was a difficult time in the Church during the transition during the Second Vatican Council, and lots of good example came from the teachers at the school, who led from their personal faith lives and religion schools.  The school was strict in its discipline, but the priests were kind to the students and would explain why things were done.

My call to the priesthood came through Fr. Louis Malo and Sr. Barbara Gette, sms. One day after Mass, Fr. Louis asked if I'd ever thought about being a priest or religious life.  Sr. Barbara had worked as a cook at St. Pius X Seminary in Saskatoon before she came to St. Joseph’s Parish, and she mentioned to others that I might be a good candidate.  She was very outgoing, and reached out to people in the parish — I remember she reached out to elderly neighbours across the street from us.  After that, I went on a vocation weekend where I decided to try to become a priest. I was thinking about the priesthood, but I was hesitant to start. Fr. Louis Malo asked me to go to the retreat at the school at Midnapore. This weekend was held every year, where young men and women would hear from different priests, nuns and vocations directions to see if they had a vocation.  I went there to see what it was about, and it was a chance to start and ask questions and have a chance to think and reflect on vocation. Bishop Paul O'Byrne accepted me and sent me to St. Pius X Seminary in Saskatoon and then to St. Joseph's Seminary in Edmonton for my formation.

One of the best things I have liked about being a priest is the many different places that I was assigned and the many different people I've met. I think it's a wonderful gift to meet so many different people and to share their lives and friendship in helping to build the parishes and later in the hospital chaplaincy.

People have all kinds of vocations:  single life, marriage, priesthood, and religious life. Each one has its particular struggles, but also has its particular blessings. To discern a particular vocation, it’s helpful to reflect on the particular struggles each has:  an easy life isn’t guaranteed as a priest or religious in this age. But also it is important to have the courage to listen to God’s call, follow His call, and he will give you a happy life. There are many difficulties, but there are many joys — if you hear the Lord’s call, you should follow it, he will help to live out your vocation.  The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few — and we need more labourers in the Church.

I am grateful for the help, guidance and support of many priests and bishops. Celebrating the Mass and the sacraments has been a great blessing to me as a priest. Personal and communal prayer has been a great source of strength for me: the Rosary, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Scriptures and reading the spiritual writings of the saints. One of my favourite prayers is the apostolic blessing as it invites God’s goodness and blessing upon us, and invites us to share that goodness and blessing with the world: 

The Lord be with you.
R:  And with your Spirit.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
R:  Now and forever.
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R:  Who made heaven and earth.
+ May almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
R:  Amen.
Go in peace.
R:  Thanks be to God.

Fr. Terrence (Terry) Connolly

Ordained: May 14th, 1981, St. Joseph’s, Calgary, by Most Rev. Paul O’Byrne

Pastoral Assignments

• Associate Pastor: St. Mary’s, Brooks (1981)
• Associate Pastor: Holy Name, Calgary (1981-1983)
• Associate Pastor: Christ the King, Claresholm (1983-1984)
• Associate Pastor: Crowsnest Pass Parish (1984-1987)
• Pastor: Christ the King, Claresholm (1987-1991)
• Pastor: Sacred Heart, Oyen (1991-1997)
• Pastor: St. Agnes, Carstairs (1997-2001)
• Pastor: Sacred Heart, Strathmore (2001-2002)
• Chaplain: Foothills Hospital, Calgary (2002-2009)
• Chaplain: Lethbridge Regional Hospital, St. Therese Villa and St. Michael’s Health Centre (2009-2013)
• Calgary Hospital Chaplaincy Team (2013-2020)

​As a young altar server in Boekel, Netherlands, Fr. William Trienekens saw his parish priest at Mass on a regular basis, and knew he “wanted that same job”.  It was never of any question to him — he was going to be a priest.

The third child and eldest boy of a family of ten, Father describes growing up in Boekel as relatively easy until the Second World War broke out. His father died in May 1944, two or three weeks before D-Day, upon which he suddenly became man of the household, and had to assume the role of surrogate father for his family, looking after the garden and taking on a major share of the household chores.  He describes this as his first ministry position.

By 1955, Fr. Bill was still very much interested in becoming a priest. With not much by way of finances, he sought the help of his parish priest in finding out the addresses of dioceses abroad who were accepting foreign students; Calgary was one such diocese. Bishop Carroll responded to his correspondence immediately, and within half a year, the paperwork was ready and the soon-to-be Fr. Bill was on a boat to Canada in August of 1955.

Fr. Bill describes his first meeting with Bishop Carroll as the best piece of advice he ever received. He was received by Bishop Carroll at his office, and in his interview, Bishop Carroll gave this request:  “I’m going to tell you a sentence, and you will repeat what you heard me say.”  For Fr. Bill, this was the best demonstration of how to really listen to someone he had ever received.  “After half an hour, we really understood each other. I walked out of his office… knowing I had a new father.” His new spiritual father sent him to St. Joseph’s Seminary, and would write him a letter every semester, closing with “Your tenacity will help you reach your goal.”  Fr. Bill was ordained on May 27th, 1961, along with Fr. Jack Bastigal, Fr. Louis Geelan, OFM, and Fr. Bill Stephenson (who was ordained in his home diocese of Antigonish).

When asked about his priestly ministry, Fr. Bill stresses his desire to work in parishes to strengthen community. The Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Women’s League, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Christian Family Movement, and Small Christian Communities come to mind easily as communities he helped strengthen. So too does his time celebrating Mass with the deaf community, his mountain hikes and retreats with schools, directing the permanent diaconate program, and the Evenings for the Engaged, in which a lead couple married for over 5 years would invite one or two engaged couples to their home — and often found their own marriage strengthened by the encounter.

Fr. Bill has many favourite prayers:  the Lord’s Prayer and the Hail Mary, both learned as an infant; and later on, the Prayer of St. Francis, and Psalms 100 and 131. Psalm 34:8 holds particular meaning for him:  “O taste and see that the Lord is good, happy are those who take refuge in Him.” As a family in the Netherlands in the Second World War, taking refuge in God was of great importance, and this passage has reminded him to take refuge in prayer in all of the difficult moments of his ministry since then. His favourite prayer of all is silence: “St. John of the Cross wrote: ‘God’s first language is silence.’ We can pray non-stop, and kill our relationship with God, because we don’t take time to reflect and meditate.”

His advice on how to discern one’s vocation?  Pray for the right choice — “Here I am Lord, I come to do Your will” is a necessary prayer. The ability and interest to pursue it is necessary too. However, “if you want holiness [in vocation], go to bed every night at 10, get up in the morning at 6, and dedicate yourself again to God.  Say your prayers, do exercise, serve others, enjoy life, and be happy.”
​
At 90 years of age, Fr. Trienekens says that it has been a happy life. It has been a struggle at times to reach this place, with personal sorrow and distance from family, but overall, “it has been a happy, graced life”, the guiding principle of which has always been:  “Taste and see that the Lord is good, happy are those who take refuge in Him.”