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Behind the Shield - Warming Station Volunteer

12/20/2022

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The Salvation Army Community Services (Calgary) Mobile Warming Station is looking for volunteers! If you have a passion for working with vulnerable populations, this position may be for you!

​Volunteers will meaningfully engage with participants accessing the Mobile Warming Station, support Warming Station staff, monitor center activities, and provide a safe and clean space for all.
  • ​Click here to learn more about the Warming Station Volunteer Position and to apply today!
  • For more information, contact cscalgary.volunteerservices@salvationarmy.ca
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As well, here is a list of items the team has come up with that you could hand out at the warming station:

  • Men’s winter jackets
  • Winter gloves
  • Warm socks
  • Blankets
  • Boots for men and women
  • Scarfs or neck warmers
  • Snow pants
  • Backpacks
 
You are invited to collect these items and drop them off at the Warming Station.  For more information, contact Volunteer Services at (403) 410-1109 or email: cscalgary.volunteerservices@salvationarmy.ca
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Joy, hope, and love

12/5/2022

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The Advent season marks the beginning of a new liturgical year. In preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas, it is a time of spiritual renewal which invites us as Christians to reflect more deeply on the meaning of our common human history. To rediscover our vocation and mission in Christ which calls us to reach out to all of humanity, peoples, cultures, and across the path of time.
 
In our lives we can all experience the call to begin again, to rediscover the meaning and the goal of our lives in relation to God, and to all of humanity through Christ. It is similar for the human family in rediscovering the common path and horizon that unites us. This horizon of hope for all of humanity has been revealed to us in Christ, who was the incarnate Word of God.   
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The season of Advent can restore in each of us this horizon of hope. It is a hope which does not disappoint for it is founded on God’s word. It can be a time to deepen our longing and anticipation that God will do what the prophets of the Old Testament promised. To fully reveal the promise of His love, the promise of salvation that is founded on hope and which unites us in Christ to all of humanity.
Pope Benedict in writing about this season of Advent stated: “The purpose of the Church’s year is continually to rehearse her great history of memories, to awaken the heart’s memory so that it can discern the star of hope. It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us, memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope.” (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) in Seek That Which Is Above, 1986)

​Advent can also teach us that there are two ways of experiencing this common history of memories: one is a human or sociological vision and the other is religious that invites people of faith who believe in God to see a much deeper horizon in our common human history. The first experience of time or history is 
chronos, which is essentially cyclical and is often without the sense of purpose or meaning. The second, karios, is the living of our history, our lives through the lens of knowing we have been redeemed by God in Christ Jesus. This is the experience which brings us the joy and hope which we rehearse each year in Church’s memory of the celebration of Christmas.  
 
In Evangelli Gaudium “Joy of the Gospel” Pope Francis reminds us that “The joy of the Gospel fills the heart and lives of all who encounter Jesus. …  With Jesus Christ joy is constantly born anew.” (EG, #1) In Scripture joy is expressed or described through a multitude of personal and collective human experiences e.g., religious ceremonies and feasts. In the Old Testament, it was the most common experience that identified the presence of God or the awareness God acting in human history. The Psalms are filled with this experience of joy which celebrated the nearness of God in the life of our human experience.   

In John’s Gospel the experience of joy is the Messiah’s gift. It is what Jesus desired for his disciples that the joy that he experienced in the presence and nearness of his Father would be with his disciples, and that their joy would be complete. In the Gospel of Luke, the experience of joy proceeds the birth of Christ, that it is expressed by the angels and the shepherds. It is the same joy that accompanies those who encounter Christ each and every day, and which becomes attractive to those who are open to receive the Good News. Joy anticipates the coming of Christ, it is a sign of the God’s Kingdom, and as St. Paul stated, it is an enduring fruit of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives.
In the past few years during this time of Advent in preparation for our celebration of Christmas, we as a Diocese have introduced the I am Blessed campaign. It is an invitation to see how our lives have been blessed by God as a way of entering more deeply into the season of Advent and in preparation for Christmas. This year the theme is “We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)"
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Written by Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary
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​Dec. 5, 2022
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Christmas in Elizabeth House

11/19/2022

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Let us bring a joyful Christmas to the residents of Elizabeth House and help them fulfil their wish list!

​This year Elizabeth House has 7 moms, 5 babies (under 16 months), 2 more babies to arrive this month, and 4 children (ages 14,13, 7 and 5) living elsewhere. We welcome donations for these wish lists: 
  • Each family unit has created a wish list, and you can be paired with one family unit by emailing sarah.cormier@calgarydiocese.ca
  • Or donate items from the Collective House Wish List, which we will place under the tree for our families to share. Please let us know by email which items you are able to provide, so that we can keep track of the list on our end. 

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Elizabeth House is searching for volunteer mentors for our young moms!

​Duties may include: providing childcare; giving moms time for self-care; helping with household chores; leading recreational activities for mom(s) and/or baby(ies) in the home or out in community; accompanying mom and/or baby to appointments; supporting moms in running errands; preparing good food for and with moms and babies; connecting Moms and babies to fun activities in the community; helping with donation-sorting; helping with house events like milestone celebrations, annual events and recreation​.
  • Download volunteers information here
  • To apply click here,  or email Sarah Cormier

Double your donation

Today, your generous gift will ensure that Elizabeth House continues to provide this important support for women and children in need. More than housing, Elizabeth House also support pregnant and parenting young women to gain assistance for financial barriers, domestic violence, substance use recovery, mental health, basic needs, continuing education, building relationships, in addition to pregnancy and parenting.  

Starting now to Dec. 20, your donation to Elizabeth house will be doubled by one generous Calgary couple, up to $25,000! ​
  • Double your donation to Elizabeth House by giving online here before Dec. 20.
  • For cheque, make it payable to Elizabeth House and mail to Catholic Pastoral Centre (120 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2T2)
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Christmas is a season

12/27/2021

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Christmas is a season and not just a day. Watch this video and learn more about the days of Christmas.

Consider these during the Christmas season
  • Tempted to take down the tree this week? Give yourself a break and enjoy the tree until Sunday, January 9 on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. 
  • Christmas trees are often placed in the part of the home where the family gathers for fun and relaxation. Hang out more often by the tree during the Christmas season. Play board games, have your favourite snacks and drinks, play your favourite Christmas music, and make the days of Christmas different by relaxing the usual schedule and busyness. With the pandemic being this long, you will not regret celebrating Christmas differently this year. 
  • Greet others with a "Merry Christmas" and not a happy holidays. Christ is the reason for the season! 
  • Avoid shopping or returning /exchanging gifts you've received for Christmas. Keep your mind peaceful and don't lose that peace. It may be prudent to keep away from crowds anyway to avoid being sick. 
  • Have a bon fire if you have a fire pit and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa. Go ice skating and walk in the snow! 

Celebrate how blessed we are with the gift of the Christ child not in a day but for a season. He is Immanuel, God-with-us.
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Faithful Living: The joy of Christmas feasts

12/18/2021

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Feasts during the Christmas season are about family, friendship, and the expression of gratitude, but for many of us, often these feasts can lead to overeating. 

​Watch the thought-provoking video by Fr. Mark Mary of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal on our relationship with food, material attachments, and our sisters and brothers in need. 
Consider these when eating especially during the Christmas season... 
  • Food is a gift from God, cherish the gift by treating food with respect and approaching it with gratitude. Remember to pray to thank God for the food and the company before beginning the meal. 
  • Avoid overfilling your plate. You can always help yourself to more later - pace yourself as you eat and do not panic. 
  • Be mindful of the food you are eating and savour it well. But do not give it too much attention to the detriment of enjoying the company. It is really not just about the food but instead, it is about eating together and sharing a meal. Compliment the cook and don't fixate on the food. 
  • Develop a healthy relationship with food. Avoid using food as an escape to loneliness, boredom, or stress. Do not eat or snack on autopilot. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. 
  • If you tend to spend so much on food, aside from reducing it, think of donating the same dollar amount to charities that provide food to those who are experiencing poverty. 

​Share with others the gift of food, made with an abundance of love.
Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it." 
Proverbs 15:17
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The Christmas Season

12/17/2021

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The Christmas season celebrates the mystery of the Incarnation and the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world: past, present and future.  The mystery and feast of Christmas (the Nativity of the Lord) is second only to Easter in the liturgical life of the Church. The Christmas season begins after evening prayer on December 25th and continues through the Baptism of the Lord. The first week of the season is the octave of Christmas which closes on the feast of the Mother of God (Jan 1). 

Find links to blessings and other resources to help you celebrate this season of joy and hope for salvation. 
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  • The Christmas/Nativity Octave mark the 8-day period, beginning with Christmas Day and ending on New Year's Day, January 1, 2022. The Christmas octave in 2021:
    • ​Dec. 25 - Solemnity - The Nativity of the Lord - Christmas Day
    • Dec. 26 - Feast - The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
    • Dec. 27 - Feast - St. John the Apostle
    • Dec. 28 - Feast -  The Holy Innocents
    • Dec. 29 - Feast - Fifth day of the Octave of the Nativity
    • Dec. 30 - Feast - Sixth day of the Octave of the Nativity
    • Dec. 31 - Feast - Seventh day of the Octave of the Nativity
    • Jan. 1 - Mary, the Holy Mother of God

  • ​Blessing your nativity scene at home 

  • Christmas giving
    • 7 “Gifts from the heart” to give loved ones this Christmas 
    • Faithful Living: Christmas shopping 
    • Faithful Living: Wrapped for Christmas
    • Giving, not receiving 

  • Resources for children: Christmas
    Jesus is the Son of God. We are so blessed that he became human and lived among us. His light overcomes darkness because God’s love for us is greater than sin. Jesus taught us how to love God by loving one another. (Loyola Press) 
    • Here's a 3D Nativity Colouring Kit for the whole family
    • Sunday Connection for Christmas (Gr. 1-8) 
    • Christmas crafts and activities for kids
    • Christmas activities that focus on Jesus 

  • Pray for others & their intentions

  • ​There are many ways to support the work you believe in. Donate now to make a difference
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  • What simple acts of service can we undertake right now
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Listen to The Real Joy of Christmas music (Spotify) playlist
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“Jesus, in fact, came to earth in the concreteness of a people to save every man and woman, of all cultures and nationalities. He made Himself small so that we could welcome Him and receive the gift of God's tenderness.” ~ Pope Francis, 2021
Family reflection: This first coming of Jesus is the promise that this Christ will come again. He is with us now – but also coming at some unknown time to complete all things in the perfect Reign and Kingdom of God. Today we marvel over God’s good grace. How will I behave with family and friends because Jesus Christ is with me and us today? (Source: Diocese of Springfield)
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The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

12/16/2021

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Find links to blessings and other resources below to help you celebrate this special feast of Holy Family with your family and friends. 

  • Blessing of family
    Many places have a tradition of blessing families on New Year’s Day or on the feast of the Holy Family. You may light a candle and pray these words… 

    “O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practising the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” 

  • Praying the Holy Family Novena
    Traditionally this novena is prayed during the nine days leading up to the Feast of the Holy Family on the Church calendar, but you can pray the Novena with whenever you are ready. 

  • Resources for children: Feast of the Holy Family
    • Gospel Reflection: Jesus is God’s Son, but he was still a child. He needed Mary and Joseph to be safe. He needed to obey them. Sometimes we may not want to obey our family’s rules. We can remember that Jesus obeyed his parents. We can ask him to help us. (Loyola Press) 
      • Kid's Bulletin for this Sunday
      • Colouring page this Sunday - Invite the children to colour in the accompanying illustration of Jesus in the Temple, and on the back to draw their own family. Encourage them to write what they like most about being part of a global family.
        Sunday Connection for the Feast of the Holy Family (Gr. 1-8) 
      • Children's Liturgy for leaders/parents (with intercessions and activities) - by CAFOD | Illustration
      • Children's Liturgy of the Word with Miss Heidi (Catholic TV)

  • Gospel Reflection  
    Family Life.  Even the pre-teen Jesus astonishes and worries his parents as they fret over their child! Those of us who are parents know this stress. But all of us, even us aged ones, are still children of God, dearly loved and called to be obedient. (Source: Diocese of Springfield)
    • How will I obey God this day?
    • What commandment will I keep?
    • What mercy work will I do? 

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The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

12/15/2021

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One of the only two Holy Days of obligation outside of Sundays in Canada is a Solemnity dedicated to Mary's motherhood. We close out the Christmas octave with a day to honour Mary as the Mother of God.  Find links to blessings and other resources below to help you celebrate this special feast with your family, friends and community. 
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  • Mass times in the Diocese of Calgary for Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

  • World Day of Peace (January 1)
    January 1 is also the World Day of Peace. Every year on January 1, the Holy Father marks the World Day of Peace with a special message inviting all people to reflect on the important work of building peace. Each year has a specific theme chosen by the Holy Father. To read the latest World Day of Peace message, visit this link closer to Jan 1.
    • Prayer for peace in our communities
    • Prayer for Peace of Pope Francis
    • Prayer of the Faithful for the Day of Prayer for Peace in our communities

  • Pope's Prayer Intention for January 2021 
    May the Lord give us the grace to live in full fellowship with our brothers and sisters of other religions, praying for one another, open to all. 
    • Pope's Prayer Intentions for 2022

  • Resources for family & children: Solemnity of Mary
    • Gospel Reflection: Because Mary honoured her commitment to God, she is a model for us of how to be a disciple. A disciple is a follower. As Christians, when did we make our first commitment to be disciples of Jesus? (at Baptism) How do we show this commitment? (Loyola Press) 
      • Sunday Connection for the Solemnity of Mary (Gr. 1-8) 
      • Marian colouring pages for children (and adults!)
      • Download a Mary, Mother of God Kit that contains prayers and activities to honour Mary, the Church’s greatest saint. 
      • Marian crafts & activities
      • Marian must reads for young Catholics
      • Three captivating books to make a Marian consecration with children

  • Gospel Reflection  
    The Manger.  The shepherds find Jesus, not in a crib, but in a manger, a feedbox for cattle. This image reminds us that he is indeed food for us now – Body and Blood in Communion. Let us also be amazed. (Source: Diocese of Springfield)
    • What continues to amaze me about Jesus’ gift of himself?
    • How can I glorify and praise God this day and this new year?
    • What mercy work can I do to help those in need of shelter?  

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Epiphany of the Lord

12/14/2021

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Epiphany means “manifestation”, that moment when we suddenly understand something that previously was hidden from us. Christmas is about the Incarnation, the coming down of the Son of God to become human, one of us. Epiphany is the showing of the Christ Child’s divinity, which is beginning to manifest itself in the world.
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  • Blessing of Homes
    The tradition of blessing doorways on Epiphany is inspired by the three Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, who followed the star to a manger in Bethlehem where the Messiah was made manifest for them in the person of a newborn child. The Magi showed great hospitality when they came to honour the Messiah. The blessing of our own doorway reminds us to welcome strangers and travellers into our midst as though each were Jesus himself. Incidentally, the tradition of carolling is also associated with the journey of the Magi and is a suitable way of announcing the manifestation of the Christ Child in song.
    • Here is a simple prayer service to use at home when blessing the doorway. Or download it as PDF here

  • Continue Celebrating Christmas
    Even if your Christmas trees have come down and decorations have been returned to storage, we invite you to consider keeping out the Christmas crèche a while longer at least until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and placing it in a prominent place in your home where you can gather with family and pray.  Read: Continuing with the celebration of Christmas

  • Resources for family & children: Epiphany of the Lord
    • Today is the Feast of the Epiphany. We remember that the Magi, or Wise Men, visited Jesus. Let’s listen to learn about their journey and what gifts they gave Jesus to honour him. (Loyola Press) 
      • Kid's Bulletin for this Sunday
      • Colouring page this Sunday 
      • Sunday Connection for the Epiphany of the Lord (Gr. 1-8) 
      • Children's Liturgy of the Word with Miss Heidi (Catholic TV)

  • Gospel Reflection  
    Gifts. The Magi, these foreign interpreters of dreams, do the following: follow a star, travel a great distance, trust the words of others, bring and give gifts. In some countries, Epiphany and not Christmas is gift-giving day.  This twelfth-day (when on the traditional 6th of January) brings to completion the manifestation of Christ – first to the Jews and today to everyone. No one is foreign to God’s good grace. (Source: Diocese of Springfield)
    • How will I search diligently for Jesus?
    • Because God is merciful to me, what mercy work can I do for another?
    • What gifts will I give to others in need? 

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Faithful Living: What makes you truly happy?

12/12/2021

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In his recent apostolic visit to Cyprus and Greece, Pope Francis addressed the youth... 

​"Realize that your worth is in who you are and not what you have. Your worth is not in the brand of the dress or shoes you wear, but because you are unique.

Here I think of another ancient image, that of the sirens. Like Odysseus on his voyage home, in the course of this life, which is an adventure-filled journey to the Father’s House, you too will come across sirens. In mythology, the sirens by their songs enchanted sailors and made them crash against the rocks.

Today’s sirens want to charm you with seductive and insistent messages that focus on easy gains, the false needs of consumerism, the cult of physical wellness, of entertainment at all costs... All these are like fireworks: they flare up for a moment, but then turn to smoke in the air. I understand, they are not easy to resist." 
(Athens, December 6, 2021) 
Consider these during Advent... 
  • The Holy Father's message does not only apply to youth but to adults as well. What are those "sirens" that give you false hope and pull you away from true happiness?
  • Does the passing of each Christmas season add to the richness and meaning of your life or does it leave you feeling more empty after Christmas has come and gone? How might you try to make your Christmas different this year? Advent is not over yet. You have time to examine your preparation and planning for Christmas and make the necessary tweaks. 
  • It's important to be connected. Connect with God, first and foremost. Then connect with the people who may be significant in your life. Often, this is clear. We love these people in our lives. Sometimes, however, we dream these people away by wishing that they would be different. Ask the Lord if He wants these people in your life. If He does, He might like for you to find His presence in them and in the circumstances you find yourself. There might be lessons that needed to be learned. ​Put God first and everything else will fall in the right place. ​
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
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St. Nicholas - A Saint for Advent this year

12/5/2021

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On December 6th, the liturgical calendar of the Church notes an Optional Memorial for St. Nicholas, a Bishop. St. Nicholas is one of the most popular saints of the Church.  Folklore and legend describe him as a strong defender of the Faith with a heart for children. On this latter point, St. Nicholas is typically associated with Santa Claus and sometimes St. Nicholas and Santa Claus are described as one in the same person but the research that is available draws this latter notion into question. That said, there are many stories of his care for children by providing them with sustenance and saving them from the dangers of life.

St. Nicholas lived in the 4th century, and therefore little is known for certain about this saint. He was born in the village of Patara in Asia Minor, an area that was under Greek governance at that time. His parents were wealthy and they raised him to be a devout Christian. He is known to have taken the Gospels to heart especially the words of Jesus to sell one’s possessions and provide for the needs of the poor. After Nicholas’ parents died in an epidemic, he used his inheritance to assist those who were sick or in need.  He devoted his life to serving God and while he was still very young, Nicholas was made Bishop of Myra. Bishop Nicholas is known in legend and lore for his generous support of those in need, his love of children, his care for sailors and ships, and his devotion to the Catholic Faith.
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This legacy of charity to those in need, love of children, care for those who work in professions that support the operational functioning of our society, and commitment to the Faith are worthy virtues to ponder and appropriate as the Season of Advent begins this year.

The Season of Advent is designated as a penitential Season – a time to prepare spiritually for the coming of Christ at Christmas and in the fullness of time. It is a time to take stock and particularly this year, when the expressions and rituals of our Faith have been challenged by the health precautions we needed to take to curtail the spread of this pandemic, Advent provides us with the chance to focus the weeks of preparation on our spiritual lives.  Through prayer, ritual, acts of penitential preparation, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, in the words of the Catechism, Advent unites the faithful of the Church to the desire of St. John the Baptist:
When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming. By celebrating the precursor's birth and martyrdom, the Church unites herself to his desire: ‘He must increase, but I must decrease.’" CCC #524
It is this Faith dwelling in our hearts and lived in our lives that inspires charity to those in need, love of children and all people, and care for another.

CHARITY - Charity supports those living in our midst who lack the sustenance to enjoy a basic quality of life.  Homelessness and mental health issues often render people in circumstances that they might never have thought possible. I am grateful for so many in the Diocese who support either in person or through the gift of financial sustenance, the needs of those who are sorely challenged by unstable housing, employment, or poor health.

​LOVE - Love for children bursting forth with new life and youth awakens the soul to exuberance and vitality.  It is sometimes said that Christmas is a time for children.  And it is a magical time for children.  However, it is also a time that reconnects people with the memories from childhood and the desire to share the story from that First Christmas in Bethlehem with our youth, the now and the future of our Church.  In many ways, where life may have wearied the adult, Advent reawakens the inner child connecting us to the excitement on children faces and the anticipation of great joy in the words of Luke’s gospel:
But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord." ~ Luke 2:10-11
CARE - Care for those who look after our community in ways that are evident and hidden is a sign of respect and gratitude. There are so many heroes and saints in our midst.  Workers and professionals have faced many challenges brought on by the pandemic and the disastrous effects of climate change. Early in the pandemic, I am told that people spontaneously thanked others for coming to work. As the pandemic time persists and the spirits grow weary, perhaps the Faith in our hearts will inspire us to speak a kind word to another. A gentle word and our care are much appreciated acts of encouragement and support.

​During this Season of Advent, may God who calls you to prepare for the coming of His Son, inspire you with His peace, hope, love, and joy!
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Written by Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary
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Dec. 3, 2021
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Faithful living: Christmas shopping

12/2/2021

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In 2017, Canada Post broke a record for most parcels delivered in a day - 1.83 million. And this was pre-COVID. Watch this video and learn the best options out there for your Christmas shopping.

Consider these for faithful living:
  • Give the gift of presence and not just presents. Be there for others by reaching out to them by phone, text, mail, or through an in-person visit. Take an interest in them and pay more attention to them.
  • Issue "gesture of love" cards where you promise to do something for them that they would certainly appreciate. This could be promising to take them out for coffee/tea, going for a walk with them somewhere special, helping them buy Christmas presents for others, shovelling their driveway and walkways, driving them to their medical appointments... the possibilities are endless. 
  • Be prepared for presents to arrive late when purchasing online instead of insisting on a last-minute delivery. Just let your loved one know that the gift is on its way. A late gift is not necessarily a bad thing. Gifts received after Christmas Day do not compete with the other presents unwrapped on Christmas Day. Plus, Christmas is a season, not just a day. 
  • To take it up a notch, consider implementing at least one of these 3 #LaudatoSi Eco Christmas action items:
    • Buying even one fewer gift is a move toward a more meaningful and sustainable lifestyle
    • If you drive to purchase Christmas presents, make as few car trips as possible, or take public transportation
    • When buying gifts, commit to spending 5 to 10 minutes researching ethical and sustainable sources. 
Remember that Christmas ends after the the feast of the Baptism of the Lord on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. It does not matter what you give as presents for others. It's the heart and thought behind the gifts that matter. 
Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7
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Nativity postage stamps

11/8/2021

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Do you know that Christian-themed Christmas stamps are an example of successful resolutions by the Catholic Women's League (CWL) of Canada?  

National CWL Resolution 1959.12 resolved "that The Catholic Women's League of Canada in 39th annual national convention assembled at Saint John, N.B., request the federal government to plan a Christmas stamp depicting a “Nativity Scene” to be issued in Canada annually during the month of December."

This was followed by their Resolution 1980.11 which resolved that "The national council of The Catholic Women's League of Canada, in 60th annual national convention assembled, do commend Canada Post for the issues of postage stamps with religious themes and do recommend that each year one or more of the Christmas stamps issued have such a theme."  Resolution 2005.01 resolved "that the national council of The Catholic Women's League of Canada, in 85th annual national convention assembled, urge Canada Post to include a Nativity-related theme in its future Christmas stamp issues."  All of these resolutions were archived in 2016 because the action requested has been accomplished. Canadians have had a Christmas-themed stamp for several years now and deeply grateful for the effort of CWL in the process.

Canada Post began the tradition of featuring Nativity art on stamps in 1965, with an issue featuring the Gifts of the Magi. In the years since, the Nativity Scene has been portrayed in children’s illustrations (1970, 1975) stained glass windows (1976, 1997), gouache illustrations (1977), early Renaissance paintings (1978), icons (1988), Aboriginal art (2002), and more. The stamps have provided excellent opportunities to celebrate the birth of Jesus through Canadian art.
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Booklets of the 2020 Nativity stamp, the 2019 The Magi,  the 2017 Adoration of the Shepherds and 2018 "Away in a Manger" are still available on the Canada Post website.

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2021 Nativity Stamps

​Celebrate Christmas with this booklet of 12 permanent domestic rate stamps from the 2021 Christmas (Angels) stamp issue.
This year’s Christmas issue is inspired by the angels who served as messengers in the Nativity story. The stamp features a simple line depiction of a Christmas angel on a serene white background. 

Montréal-based artist Stéphane Huot and illustrator Luc Melanson, who resides near Montréal, produced simple line drawings on a crisp white background, evoking purity and peace through the Christmas season. Beloved symbols at Christmas, angels played an integral part in the Nativity story. In the Bible, these celestial beings, whose name derives from the Greek word for messenger, often serve as benevolent intermediaries between God and humanity. According to the Gospel of Luke, it was the archangel Gabriel who told Mary she would give birth to Jesus, “Son of the Most High,” and when the day arrived, it was an angel who announced the good news to shepherds tending their flocks in the region. A choir of angels singing God’s praise appeared around the messenger angel, and then the awed shepherds departed for Bethlehem to worship the newborn king. (Source: Canada Post)

These stamps are available in outlets as well as through the Canada Post website.  Some nativity stamps from previous years are still available through the Canada Post website.


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Written by the Catholic Women's League of Canada - Diocese of Calgary. 
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2020 Bishop's Christmas Message

12/22/2020

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Christmas: A Light of Faith, Hope, and Love in our World
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light… (Isaiah 9:2)
This Christmas Eve we will hear the words of the prophet Isaiah ring out “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light”. How does one begin to describe the experiences of this past year? It is as if a shadow has been cast over our lives by a “pandemic of darkness”.  Many here and across the globe have lost their lives to COVID-19 with their families left to mourn their passing, many have survived the virus with lasting effects, and others have risked their lives to provide medical care and to conduct the scientific research leading to a vaccine.  It has left many marked by profound sadness, isolation, and fear. 

There is also some understandable impatience with the health precautions and restrictions that place limits on our normal ordinary human interactions such as work, social activities, family interactions, and religious gatherings. Yes, we all have had to make sacrifices.

It is into this world, here and now, that God’s love is being revealed. It is a light that comes to us in darkness.

The Nativity of Christ which we celebrate at Christmas is not merely a recollection of an historical event or of a birth which took place in the past. It fixes our gaze on the future, on his second coming at the end of the ages while acknowledging His presence here and now in our lives, each and every day. With the challenges that we have faced this year we might be tempted to give up, to not see Christmas and its celebration through this light of faith, hope and love.
 
A prayer to the Immaculate Conception beautifully captures the action of God and the docility of our Blessed Mother, “Father, the image of the Virgin is found in the Church. Mary had a faith that your Spirit prepared and a love that never knew sin, for you kept her sinless from the first moment of her conception. Trace in our actions the lines of her love, in our heart her readiness of faith”. God has traced the lines of Mary’s readiness of faith and love through our lives during this Advent season in the acts of love and sacrifice which each of us have freely accepted for the good and the wellbeing of others. They have probably gone unnoticed in the eyes of the world, much like Mary’s “fiat”, which was a simple response of yes to accepting the will of God. In our Catholic tradition, Mary has always been a type or model of the Church’s response to the will of God. As Mary came to believe, to conceive and to give birth to Jesus, the Son of God, this same action of God tracing His grace and love in our lives can come to birth this Christmas with a renewed sense of hope.

As St. Ambrose said, “You also are blessed because you have heard and believed. Home - I am Blessed 2020A soul that believes both conceives and brings forth the Word of God and acknowledges his works. Let Mary’s soul be in each of you to proclaim the greatness of God” (Office of Readings, Monday of the 4th Week of Advent). This year as we approach the celebration of Christmas, the I Am Blessed campaign of the Diocese is once again an opportunity to witness to our faith despite the suffering we may be experiencing, to recognize the blessings from God in the midst of our daily reality, and to seek out opportunities to be a blessing for others through prayer, giving, and in our acts of service for others. 

As we prepare for Christmas, and the octave of this feast, let us rediscover how connected we are to one another. I invite us to experience in this coming year the hope that is found in the promises of God as did Mary. In the words of Pope Francis, Christmas is the feast that “returns us to the horizon of hope, a horizon that does not disappoint because it is founded on the Word of God” (Angelus, 1st Sunday of Advent, December 1, 2013).  The incarnate Word, the nearness of God which we celebrate on the Solemnity of the Nativity of Jesus, has transformed human history and can restore in each of us this profound gift of hope. 

In this time of pandemic when we look for that light in our darkness, I offer my Christmas greetings and heartfelt best wishes to all the faithful of the Diocese.

I express my gratitude and esteem for the witness of pastoral charity exhibited by the priests and the deacons who exercise the role of Christ the Servant, the presence of the religious communities that offer their unique charisms and a witness to holiness, the co-responsibility of the lay faithful - including the volunteers and parish staff - as a living sign of Christ in the world, the role of the teachers and catechists in our schools and parishes, and the essential gift of family life that is shared so readily in an expression of sacrificial love and an openness to new life. Finally, to those who have both in the past and now serve at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, I am grateful for the dedication and cooperation that is expressed in our desire to be of service to the parishes of the Diocese in these challenging times. May God bestow his blessings upon all of us as we look forward in faith, hope and love to the coming year.  

Sincerely yours in Christ,
 
+ William T. McGrattan
​Bishop of Calgary

Download Letter in PDF
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An attentive Advent

12/1/2020

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Though we all have new restrictions being put into place for the pandemic, it need not be the same for our preparations for Advent. Advent still remains a joyful season. A time to prepare our hearts and our homes for the coming of infant Jesus. What is more simple than a child? God Almighty presents himself to us in the form of a child, approachable, little and simple. God works outside of time, He sees all things and knows all things. He has known that we would go through this season with a different approach and perhaps that is precisely how He intended it.

​To approach this season without the hustle and bustle we typically endure, the endless wrapping, the loud and busy households with tons of visitors coming in and out for the holidays. We have been permitted such a time as this, peeling away at what has become the norm of chaos, back to the simplicity of our nuclear families or even just our single households. This season may have a different feel to it, more solemn, more quiet, but all the more able to be attentive. Attentive to the details of your home, relationships with people and especially to the coming of infant Jesus. 
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If you have yet to decorate your home or begin your Advent preparations, here are a few great local resources:
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​Check out an Okotoks local on Instagram (@withajoyfulheart17) or email Lauren at for Advent themed ornaments, available in English or in Latin ($15 for a set of 4) or stocking stuffer ideas on her Etsy page

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Check out a Lethbridge local at liszagifts.ca or email Lisza for her handcrafted Advent candles ($19 for a set) or a variety of shapes and sizes of beeswax candles varying from $2.50 to $46.

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100% Cotton Sleek Masks. Double Sided with Adjustable Nose Piece (Adult/Kids) other fabrics available ($10-$15 each)
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Available mask patterns
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Advent Wreath lego
​Lastly, check out Calgary’s local Catholic travelling gift shop Mary’s Nook on Facebook (@marys.nookyyc) or Instagram (@marys.nook) or email for great stocking stuffers or Christmas gift ideas.
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Locally handmade Crocheted Nativity Set ($15/piece)
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Be A Heart Design – O Come Let Us Adore Him Ornaments ($15 each)
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Holy Heroes – Advent & Christmas Colouring Book ($5 each)
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Sock Religious – Nativity Socks (Adult/Kids) and other styles available ($15-$20 each)
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Be A Heart Design – Our Lady of Guadalupe Ornament ($15 each)

Written by Rikka Borras, Beloved Daughters YYC
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Little one, we knew you'd come

11/24/2020

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Christmas time is such a beautiful time. I think of Mary often and wonder about the night she gave birth to Jesus. Did she look at him with awe? Did she stare at his button nose? Did she tickle his little toes? Did she put one finger in his little hand as his fingers wrapped around hers? Did she rub his hair and hold him tight? Did she cry? Did she say out loud, “This is my boy!”?
 
I am so blessed to be a mom of four beautiful kids. With each one I remember just staring at them through the night in awe of God and his blessings. Thinking that Mary was a mother just like me puts the very first Christmas in such a different light. Do we consider the anticipation that Mary and Joseph felt while waiting for the birth of Jesus? And the joy they experienced when he was born! As a parent, I know that this waiting time was very special.
 
A book that I read to my Kindergarten students is Little One, We Knew You’d Come, by Sally-Lloyd Jones. I invite the children to bring a baby picture to class and encourage parents to have a conversation with their child about the anticipation they felt as they waited for their child to arrive.
 
Do we take the time and look at the children we teach as the blessing that they are?
 
My sister (a doctor) just told me about a funeral she attended recently, for an eight-year-old girl. Fifteen hundred people were there. She loved school so much that she came hooked up to an oxygen tank to help her breathe. The principal moved his desk outside the teacher’s door in case the little girl needed help. Her parents spent the days at the school reading books and newspapers while their daughter was in class. Any moment could be her last. Everyone waited. Just like her parents had waited for nine months for her to be born – although this waiting was going to end with a goodbye. She went to school Friday, blueish because her lungs were failing. Her dying wish was to go to school. She would never miss the Remembrance Day Assembly. She LOVED school. She died two days later. 
 
Staff and families did not know that Friday would be their last day with this eight-year-old girl. The principal was asked to give the eulogy at the funeral. Everyone in the school was there. She loved stuffies, and her parents brought every stuffy she owned. When the children came in the church, they were offered a stuffy to cuddle. One last act of love… to love the things she loved most!
 
This Christmas, let us be mindful of the impact and privilege we have to be a teacher or work in a school. We play such an important role in bringing joy to the families of the students we teach. Families send their precious little ones (or big ones) to us daily to love, teach, support, help and nurture. Each child is a gift. God’s gift. Our mission is to look into the eyes of every child we teach and see the face of God. It is a blessing to be a teacher, a coach, a support worker, an administrator and custodial staff. We all have an opportunity to celebrate the life of a child.


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Written by Donna Green.
​Donna is a kindergarten teacher at St. Boniface School in the Calgary Catholic School District.  

Photos courtesy of Donna Green.
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The door of hospitality

11/24/2020

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​At the start of the Jubilee of Mercy (2015–2016), during a general audience on December 9, 2015, Pope Francis asked pilgrims: Why a Jubilee of Mercy? What does this mean? And what will it teach us? Pope Francis said that we must stand firm in the Lord and work to build a better world: despite difficulties and sad events, what really matters is how Christians are called to encounter the “Lord’s Day.”

This is the story of one of our grade 10 students, Sebastian.. At the beginning of the Jubilee Year of Mercy until the end of the 2016 year, Sebastian decided to put Pope Francis’ vision for the Year of Mercy into practice by graciously holding the front entrance door of our St. Martin de Porres School every morning for staff, students and visitors.

Sebastian welcomed and invited all of us to encounter the “Lord’s Day” with his warm hello and welcoming nature. In his own small way, he made a huge impact on our school community during our Jubilee Year of Mercy.

As I reflect on this small but impactful gesture, the themes of hospitality and welcoming come to mind during this Advent season, notably the innkeeper who welcomed Mary and Joseph. I also think fondly of my Italian parents who came to Canada well over 50 years ago and how they made a life in Canada for themselves and for my brother and me.

My parents, Serafino (age 87) and Letizia (89) have always practised hospitality. Even though they didn’t have much, they offered whatever they had with a humble, authentic and serving heart. They modelled for us, as children, the importance of how we live in relationship with one another. They stressed that our beliefs should impact our behaviour. Genuine Christian love is found in the way we respond to others, the way we greet strangers with hospitality, making them feel at home where they are.

This was the greatest gift my parents have given me, and it has served me well in my life. As we prepare to welcome our Saviour at Christmas, let us always practise the gift of being hospitable and welcoming people.

May the gifts of love, hospitality, peace and happiness be yours at Christmas and in the New Year.
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Written by MT Vecchio-Romano. MT is a Teacher Chaplain in the Calgary Catholic School District – currently serving at Bishop Grandin and St. Timothy High Schools.

Photos courtesy of MT Vecchio-Romano
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Bridges of New Year’s traditions

1/14/2020

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Photo credit: St. Anne's Korean Parish, Calgary
Many Calgary Catholics are pushing through the coldest week of the new year by holding onto fond memories of the Christmas past. Others in the city’s East Asian communities keep themselves warm by anticipating the opportunity to celebrate the Lunar New Year on Saturday, Jan. 25. Ditto for parishioners at other ethnic parishes in the Diocese, where being Catholic and Canadian means you can commemorate important secular events with festivities that include prayerful appreciation of the cultural traditions that moved to Canada with their families. 

Calgary’s Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese communities celebrate the Lunar New Year on the second new moon after the winter solstice. At St. Anne’s Korean Catholic Church in the community of Ramsay, parishioners will welcome the Lunar New Year with special prayers at the 11 a.m. mass on Sunday, Jan. 26, says parishioner and parish spokesman Nes (Luke) Noh. That service will be followed by a traditional New Year’s Day meal of rice cakes and soup in the parish hall. The rice cakes will come from a Korean market, the soup from parishioners. “We expect about 300 people,” says Noh. “No matter what the weather, people like to get together to celebrate. It’s tradition.”

Culturally, the Lunar New Year is also a good time to honour the memory of ancestors, so Korean Catholics will also offer prayers for their deceased family members, says Noh.

Week of Prayer about a shared faith

This year’s Lunar New Year falls at the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, says Theodoric Nowak, Director of Social Justice and Outreach Ministries with the Calgary Catholic Diocese. This year’s Week of Prayer, set for Jan. 18 to 25, calls for Christians to move from shared prayer to shared action. The theme also challenges Christians to show greater generosity to people in need. “In a Diocese as diverse as Calgary’s, it’s always important to remember the different backgrounds which people come from and the traditions they hold,” says Nowak. “The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity reminds us that despite the differences which exist between cultures and denominations, we find unity in our love of Christ and commitment to achieving the common good.” In addition to prayers for the faithful being offered for Christian Unity, the FCJ Centre and Ascension Parish will each host prayer events, adds Nowak.
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Tryzub Dancers at the Malanka celebration at St. Stephen Protomartyr Church, Calgary.
Cultural and spiritual traditions

New Year celebrations at St. Stephen Protomartyr Church also reflect cultural and spiritual traditions, says Fr. Gregory Faryna. The Jan. 1 liturgy at this Ukrainian Catholic church in Glamorgan, celebrated the naming of Jesus and the feast of St. Basil the Great. An early Church father who defended the orthodox faith, St. Basil the Great is especially important to Albertans of Ukrainian heritage. At Fr. Albert Lacombe’s request, St. Basil sent Basilian priests to the Edmonton area to serve European Catholics who came from the Byzantine tradition, explains Fr. Faryna.
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As the Ukrainian people historically followed the Julian calendar, Fr. Faryna’s parish also marked the Ukrainian New Year. While the actual date was Jan. 13, St. Stephen held a Ukrainian New Year banquet and dance on Friday, Jan. 8. About 200 people filled the parish hall for the event, which included a performance by a local Ukrainian dance group. Since many parish families are compromised of Ukrainians who married outside that ethnic group, events like these are an important way of sharing cultural traditions, says Fr. Faryna.

The Ukrainian New Year was also part of the Sunday liturgy on Jan. 12. There, the community offered special prayers for world peace and prayers for lives lost in the Ukrainian airliner shot down in Iran earlier this month. 

Ukrainian Catholics approach each new year with prayers that honour the past year and help people prepare for the year to come, adds Fr. Faryna. Some families also commemorate the new year by performing or attending a traditional Malanka (which means new year) play. The play reminds people living through the long nights of winter that spring is on its way. “It’s that anticipation of new life that’s coming around the corner,” says Fr. Faryna.
PictureChildren's Christmas celebration at Ste. Famille's Parish, Calgary
Over at Ste.-Famille Church just south of the downtown core, Msgr. Noel Farman says the arrival of 2020 got him thinking about how important his parish is to the local francophone community. Ste.-Famille is the only French-language parish in Calgary. Many of the children Msgr. Farman met when he arrived at Ste.-Famille 11 years ago are now adult parishioners attending post-secondary schools or working. “This Christmas I told them, ‘I consider myself as your grandfather.’”

As with Korean-speaking parishioners at St. Anne’s parish, Msgr. Farman knows many of his parishioners make a special effort to attend a French-language mass for special events, including Christmas and New Year’s. At this year’s Christmas Eve mass, children gathered around the priest’s chair and treated mass attendees to a special performance. “It was like a dialogue between three candles representing faith, hope and love,” says the priest. The recitation ended with the candles representing faith and love declaring that hope brought them together to help each other.

This Christmas season, Ste.-Famille weathered the deaths of four people with close ties to the parish. Msgr. Farman says he was touched by how so many of his parishioners travelled to funerals in Edmonton and Claresholm to show their solidarity to each other and to their faith. “I was thinking, this is how we show our belief in eternity, we pray for those who have passed.”

For more information on this 2020 Week of Prayer for Christian unity, please download this poster.

By: Joy Gregory
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May the Baby Jesus bless you

1/13/2020

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An early family Christmas weekend this year brought special blessings to our family.  My three children, their spouses, our seven grandchildren, my husband and I gathered at our family cabin at Pigeon Lake for some time together, exchange of presents and Christmas fun.  On the agenda was mass at 10 a.m. Sunday morning at St. Theresa’s Church in Mameo Beach.  Even though the little ones (seven children under five years old) were up at 6 a.m., it was still a scramble to get us all dressed, strapped into car seats and to the church on time.  With just minutes to spare, we walked through the doors of St Theresa where the ushers met us with warm smiles and a sincere welcome.  “Would you like to bring up the gifts?” they asked.  My husband agreed and said he would bring the four boys (all 3-4 years old) with him.

We seated ourselves at the front in the hopes that the kids would be more attentive.  Armed with coloring pages, stickers and some goldfish snacks we settled in.  Mass was beautiful and the gathering of parishioners was intimate.  There were a few squawks and cries from the front row but all in all the kids did pretty well.  During the offertory, my husband took the four boys to the back of the church.  Never one to be left behind, within seconds little Abby (19 months) was on her way as well, so her mom moved quickly to follow her.

The parishioners beamed as my husband and daughter walked up the aisle with the bread and wine.  The kids followed.  During communion, Father blessed every child individually as he placed his hand on each little head and said, “May the Baby Jesus bless you.”  As mass came to a close, the usher came to the front and asked if there was anyone with an upcoming birthday.  One of the ladies raised her hand, and he responded that we would now sing the blessing song to the birthday girl.  In the same breath, he turned to us and he added, “And I think we should bless this family and all the little ones who have brought us such joy this mass.”  The entire congregation raised their hands and sang the blessing song to us and the special parishioner.  Amazing!
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As Father began his closing prayer he turned to our family and said, “These children are the future of the church, and we are so glad that you brought them all to mass today.”  The entire congregation applauded, and we were invited to stay for cookies and coffee and the decorating of the Church for Christmas.  As a mother and an educator, I know that early childhood experiences form children.  I also know that children are spiritual beings who instinctively love God and all of His creation.  Having my whole family together at this mass and to be so warmly welcomed by St Theresa’s community was a gift beyond words.  Thank you, St. Theresa’s for embracing us and blessing us so kindly.
By: Bonnie Annicchiarico
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​Continuing with the celebration of Christmas

1/3/2020

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With the disappearance of decorated Christmas trees from bay windows and the appearance of dried up evergreen trees free of ornaments, tinsel and lights now lying on our curbs we can easily perceive an atmospheric change in focus. However, Liturgically, Christmas ends with the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on Sunday, January 12. 

So, even if your Christmas trees have come down and decorations have been returned to storage, we invite you to consider keeping out the Christmas crèche a while longer and placing it in a prominent place in your home where you can gather with family and pray. 

You may light a candle (mindful of everyone’s safety) and pray these words…

“O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practising the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. ”

Did you know that the Vatican has their life-size nativity scene up until February 2?

Just as the Blessed Virgin spent 40 days contemplating the Divine Fruit of her womb before going to the temple to fulfil the Law, we also can ponder, explore, and live out the fruit of the Incarnation in the period of Ordinary Time leading up to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2. While this feast day is not part of the Christmas season, it is a feast that points back to Christmas and leads us forward to Easter.

And so, building on the #I Am Blessed campaign, we invite you and your family to keep in mind the words of Pope Francis: “The nativity scene is like a living Gospel rising up from the pages of sacred Scripture. As we contemplate the Christmas story, we are invited to set out on a spiritual journey, drawn by the humility of the God who became man in order to encounter every man and woman” Pope Francis, Admirabile Signum. 
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A Christmas Message from Bishop McGrattan

12/24/2019

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Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
 
The holy days of the Christmas season are upon us. 
 
This year, at the Vigil Mass for the Nativity of Our Lord, we hear the familiar narrative from Matthew’s Gospel of Jesus’ humble birth among us in fulfillment of the scriptural promises.   Joseph, a “righteous man” is faced with a situation he does not fully understand and yet in the simple words of the Gospel, “he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.”  And in that moment, Joseph becomes a model of trusting in God and following His Will.
 
These inspiring events of Mary and Joseph, annunciations and dreams, angels and shepherds, stars and adoring magi serve to captivate our imaginations and invite us to celebrate the profound simplicity of God’s presence among us as a humble and innocent child. The Son of God is born into the human world and gives flesh to God’s saving power.  These scripture passages announce hopeful messages of “Peace on Earth,” “Good will to all,” and the absolute steadfastness of God’s promise to save His people.  Indeed, such messages of “Good News” are welcomed among the poor, the vulnerable, and all of us who recognize the need for God’s salvific love in our lives.
 
This year Pope Francis, in speaking to the United Nations, offered the following reflection about Christmas:
 
“These are days in which we raise our eyes to heaven and commend to God those people and situations that are closest to our heart.  In this gaze, we acknowledge ourselves to be sons and daughters of one Father, brothers and sisters. We give thanks for all the goodness present in this world, and for all those who freely give of themselves, those who spend their lives in service to others, those who do not give up but keep trying to build a more humane and just society.  We know well that we cannot be saved alone. … May Christmas, in its authentic simplicity, remind us that the most important thing in life is love.”  (Pope Francis, December 20, 2019.)
 
As our communities in Faith look heavenward at Christmas, let us invite the Christ child to be born into our hearts spiritually, to transform our lives, and to strengthen the witness of our faith so that we might grow in humility and confidence as missionaries of charity for our brothers and sisters.   May we proclaim His Birth with great joy and announce the saving love of Jesus Christ in the daily living of our lives. 
 
I offer you the assurance of my prayers as you gather with family and friends to celebrate these holy days of Christmas.

Merry Christmas!
 
Yours in Christ,
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+ Most Reverend William McGrattan
Bishop of the Diocese of Calgary 

​December 24, 2019
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Blessing your Nativity Scene at home

12/18/2019

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​Close to the celebration of Christmas, after the Nativity scene has been set up, gather around to bless and praise God for sending his Son, Jesus.  Here is a blessing prayer you can use at home with your family: 
PictureNativity scene at the Catholic Pastoral Centre.
Introduction

Sing a Christmas hymn or carol. 

Leader:  Glory to God in the highest.
(R/.) And peace to God’s people on earth.
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Scripture Reading

Leader: Let us listen to these words of Scripture.

A reader proclaims one of these readings from Holy Scripture:
  • Hebrews 1.1-3a – God has spoken to us by his Son
  • Titus 2.11-14 – Live lives that are self-controlled
  • John 3.16-17 – God’s love for us
  • Luke 1.28-33 – Our Saviour is coming
  • Luke 2.1-5 – Bethlehem
  • Luke 2.6-7 – Birth of Jesus
  • Luke 2. 8-20 – Shepherds

Reflect in silence for a short time after the reading.

Litany

Leader:  Let us praise our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, who was born for our salvation. Our response to each intention is “Glory to God in the highest.”

(R/.)  Glory to God in the highest.

Leader:  Eternal Word, you have scattered the darkness of sin and death. (R/.) 
Word made flesh, you have made us children of God most high. (R/.) 
Incarnate Son, you have united heaven and earth. (R/.) 
Lord Jesus, you are the revelation of God’s love. (R/.) 
Eternal Son, you are the light of the nations. (R/.) 
Emmanuel, you are fullness of God’s glory. (R/.) 
Son of God, you were born of Mary with Joseph as your protector. (R/.) 
Bread of life, you were laid in a  humble manger. (R/.) 
Son of David, the shepherds came to worship you. (R/.) 
Light of the world, the Magi brought you gifts. (R/.) 

Prayer of Praise

Leader:  Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation: 
you have sent your Son
as the promised Saviour of the world
so that he might share with us your divine life.
Bless us as we prepare this crib,
and let it be a reminder of the Lord Jesus,
who was born of the Virgin Mary in the City of David.
Grant that we may always serve you in faith
as did the angels,
praise you for your saving deeds
as did the shepherds,
and surround you with the warmth of our love,
as did the animals of the stable.
Glory and praise to you, eternal God, 
through Jesus Christ our Saviour,
who lives with you and the Holy Spirit,
for ever and ever.
(R/.)  Amen.

Conclude by singing a Christmas hymn or carol.

From Blessings and Prayers for Home and Family.
Ottawa: Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2004.



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Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples

12/5/2019

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The Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples is celebrated annually on December 12th and it normally falls during the second week of the Advent Season.  This initiative was started in 2002 by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ through the work of Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council.  This Day of Prayer encourages the faithful to pray for the needs and intentions of Indigenous Peoples and to seek from God the wisdom that will inspire and guide us in the efforts to address the past with justice and to walk forward together in peace. 

In his homily to Native Peoples of Canada in 1987, St. John Paul II said, “Life in God’s kingdom is based on a true sense of solidarity, sharing and community. His is a kingdom of justice, peace and love. It is our task to build a society in which these Gospel values will be applied to every concrete situation and relationship. … It is a time for reconciliation, for new relationships of mutual respect and collaboration in reaching a truly just solution to unresolved issues.” (Homily of His Holiness John Paul II, September 20, 1987)
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In 2016, Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle was founded to develop and further relations with Indigenous peoples.  The Circle takes its name from Our Lady of Guadalupe who Saint John Paul II named the Patroness of the Americas. This devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe demonstrates how the Catholic faith is to be celebrated and lived in Indigenous cultures. 

The Circle brings together representatives from the Catholic Church in Canada - Indigenous peoples, bishops, priests, lay associations and members of institutes of consecrated life. The Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle includes membership from seven national Catholic organizations and four Catholic religious orders. Member-at-large positions were created to allow for additional Catholic Indigenous representation. The Circle is committed to making a conscientious effort to ensure a balance of Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices who are united by their common baptism and faith as Catholics.    

The members of the Circle are engaged in renewing and fostering relationships between the Catholic Church and Indigenous Peoples in Canada.  The vision of the Circle is “Catholics Engaging in Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.” The Circle describes its mission and purpose to be in four key areas:  
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  • To provide a forum for dialogue to encourage a deeper understanding of the relationships between the Church nd Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous spiritualties in Canada,
  • To serve as a united Catholic public voice on relations and dialogue between the Church and Indigenous Peoples,
  • To assist Catholics in engagement with the Truth and Reconciliation process and its Calls to Action, and
  • To carry out agreed upon initiatives and concrete actions. (OLGC)

These four dimensions of the Circle speak to the importance of listening, of entering into prayer, dialogue, the understanding of indigenous spiritualties, an openness to reconciliation, and the commitment to concrete action. The coming together to form a Circle also serves to communicate the symbolic image of God’s presence in their midst and the desire for its members to be united in one voice. 

On the First Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis spoke of Advent as a season of awakening to the needs of our brothers and sisters, “The sleep from which we must awake is created by indifference, by vanity, and by the inability to establish genuinely human relationships and to take care of our brothers and sisters ...” (Pope Francis, December 1, 2019)  The Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle seeks to bring about this awakening of the need to be in solidarity with our Indigenous brothers and sisters and to speak with one voice in their initiatives to bring this about. 

As we celebrate this Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples during the Advent Season, let us embrace a new spirit of accompaniment with our Indigenous brothers and sisters so that we might seek a deeper understanding of one another and thus respond with charity and generosity which is a sure sign of our mutual faith in Christ. As we seek to journey together in Christ, is this not what the Advent Season invites us to do as we prepare for the celebration of Christmas?  

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A message from
Bishop William T. McGrattan,
Bishop of Calgary

Written by Bishop William T. McGrattan | December 5, 2019
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Christmas Mass Times

12/4/2019

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"To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord." (Lk. 2:11)

You are invited to spend the Christmas season with Our Lord Jesus Christ with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary.  ​Check out the Mass times for the Christmas Season in parishes throughout the Diocese of Calgary. Click here.
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O come, O come, Emmanuel

12/4/2019

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While shops, television, and radio are filling our ears with Christmas music during the “holiday season”, for Catholics most of the worldly festivity does not take place during Christmas at all. It falls rather, during the liturgical season of Advent.
 
Unlike the red and green of the secular season, the liturgical colour of Advent is violet – the colour of a penitential season. We use candlelight to soften, not eviscerate, the darkness to invite prayer and introspection. We cease singing the Gloria and our hymns reflect the twofold character of Advent.

  • In the first half of Advent, the liturgical texts cultivate in us expectant waiting for the Glorious Second Coming of Christ at the end of time.
  • The texts of the second half of Advent shift focus to the historical first coming of the Son of God in Bethlehem.
 
One of the most popular Advent hymns is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”.  The text of this hymn originates with the medieval O Antiphons, one of which is prayed each day in Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours and as the verse for the Alleluia verse of the Gospel Acclamation in the Mass from December 17 – 23. 
 
The O Antiphons introduce us to several names given to the Messiah in the Old Testament. Each of the seven antiphons has three parts:
  1. Addresses the Messiah by the title
  2. Praises the coming of the Savior by a different name
  3. Petitions the Savior in reference to the title
 
O Sapientia
O Wisdom,
O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care.
Come and show your people the way to salvation.
 
O Adonai
O sacred Lord of ancient Israel,
who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush,
   who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain:
come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.
 
O Radix Jesse
O Flower of Jesse’s stem,
you have been raised up as a sign for all people;
    kings stand silent in your presence;
    the nations bow down in worship before you.
Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.
 
O Clavis David
O Key of David,
O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of heaven:
come, break down the prison walls of death
    for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death;
    and lead your captive people into freedom.
 
O Oriens
O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
 
O Rex Gentium
O King of all the nations,
the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man,
come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.
 
O Emmanuel (“God is with us”)
O Emmanuel,
king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people,
come and set us free, Lord our God.

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