The World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests is marked each year on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On Friday evening we also marked the ordination of Deacon Peter An to the priesthood.    

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus invites all believers to look with the gaze of faith "on him whom they have pierced" (Jn 19: 37). In his last encyclical letter Dilexit Nos, “He loved us” (Rom. 8:37), Pope Francis offered a renewed reflection on the human and divine love of the Heart of Jesus Christ. It is through the symbol of the heart revealed in scripture and deepened through the Church’s teaching tradition that the devotional life of prayer invites us to rediscover the living sign of the invincible love of God as the inexhaustible source of grace which we receive through the sacraments and the ministry of the priest.

The one who is called by God and chosen by the Church, accepts in humility to receive the sacrament of orders, which conforms him to Christ and to the Church in serving the People of God as a priest in persona Christi capitis [in the person of Christ the Head].Through a life of service and ministry in the priesthood, he is called to develop a heart sacramentally marked by the grace of ordination, one that expresses itself in pastoral charity and selfless service, reflecting the love of Christ. This enduring mark of grace, sets the priest apart for service, in preaching the Word, the celebration of the Sacraments, and in the pastoral care of all people. The priest is called to encounter Christ in daily prayer, to know and love him by choosing the way of the Cross, which must be the source of his self-sacrificing love. 

The priesthood continues God’s salvation whose source flows from the Heart of Jesus Christ. As a sacred minister the priest is empowered to carry out this mission because, chosen by God, he lives with Christ and for Christ. If in a priest’s life this focus is lost then there is the risk that the entire basis of his pastoral activity can collapse into excess activism or fragmentation and thus, he loses the ultimate meaning or purpose of his pastoral service which is found in Christ’s loving gaze. It is those who have learned "to stay with Christ" who are truly ready to be "sent out to preach" authoritatively by him (cf. Mk 3: 14). The divine mystery of a priest’s convincing proclamation of Christ through his life and ministry is sustained through his passionate love for Christ. This is ultimately demonstrated in times of trial, of generous service and in the sacrifices that he makes on a daily basis.
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A priest knows from experience that “to remain in his love” is a daily challenge to grow in holiness. It is not based totally on our efforts but rather in allowing Christ to act in us, by making his attitudes, his thoughts and his behaviour our own. The mark of holiness for every priest is the extent to which Christ’s presence is in each of them, such that they strive to model their lives on him, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. ​

In the ordination ceremony there is the anointing of the hands of a priest with sacred chrism with the following instruction from the bishop: “May the Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Father anointed with the Holy Spirit and power, guard and preserve you, that you may sanctify the Christian people and offer sacrifice to God”. He then receives in his consecrated hands the paten holding the bread and the chalice containing the wine for the celebration of the Eucharist with the following exhortation from the bishop: “Receive the oblation of the holy people to be offered to God. Understand what you will do, imitate what you handle and conform your life to the mystery of the Lord’s Cross.” As outlined in the ordination rite, the holiness of a priest’s life and the sanctification of his ministry is found in his being conformed to the mystery of the Lord’s Cross and in a priestly heart that truly radiates the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
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I invite you to pray for the priests who are currently serving in our diocese, for the retired priests who have offered many years of dedicated service, and for Father Peter An, that the love of the Sacred Heart of Christ may always be reflected through a life of faithful priestly ministry.  

Photography by Bandi Szakony for the Diocese of Calgary. More photos from the Ordination

Written by Most Reverend William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary

June 29, 2025

In Edmonton this past week, Catholic leaders from Alberta's sectors of education, healthcare, social services, and post-secondary institutions came together with the bishops for the 5th Summit of the Mission Collaborative Initiative (MCI). This year’s summit explored Artificial Intelligence (AI) through a Catholic lens—navigating its philosophical, theological, and practical dimensions.

The Alberta bishops created the MCI in 2018 as a forum for those in leadership roles within Catholic organizations to advise the bishops on shared challenges that could impact the Church’s mission. It also serves to foster collaboration and a unified Catholic response in the public sphere. This initiative is unique in the Church in Canada and can serve as a model of synodal structure and process—one that promotes lay co-responsibility and communal discernment to strengthen the Church’s mission.

This year’s topic on AI was especially relevant to today’s context. We had excellent presenters who not only shared current information but also encouraged reflection on AI in light of Catholic social teaching.
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The first speaker, Mr. Matthew Harvey Sanders, founder of the platform Magisterium AI, continues to collaborate with pontifical universities in Rome to increase access to the patrimony of their literary resources. The second speaker, Fr. Michael Baggot, teaches in Rome and is recognized as an expert on the ethical implications of emerging technologies and the social impact of transhumanism. Mr. Joseph Pedrola, Product Owner – Training at Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute), shared practical considerations regarding AI usage.

In Mr. Sanders’ presentation, he emphasized why AI is too important a technology to ignore. He outlined the five levels of AI currently in use or development and explained how rapid advancements have led to exponential growth in capability and affordability. He pointed out that white-collar jobs are almost certain to be affected—trends already visible in business sectors. Quoting Elon Musk, he noted: “In a benign scenario, probably none of us will have a job.”

One especially noteworthy point was a recent survey highlighting changes in how individuals use AI. From 2024 to 2025, the top three uses were: as therapy for loneliness (often substituting transhumanist relationships for real human encounters), organizing one’s life, and searching for meaning and purpose. He described differing views on AI's impact—ranging from "doomers" to "boomers"—a contrast between nihilism and a hopeful vision in which humans seek fulfillment in God. He concluded that the Church is uniquely positioned to offer this vision of hope and provide an “off-ramp” for those seeking truly human encounters rooted in meaning and faith.

Fr. Baggot stressed that human beings must not be defined by technology. He called for ethical “guardrails” for emerging technologies and emphasized that the Church excels at fostering interpersonal relationships and communion—offering an antidote to the epidemics of loneliness, depression, and anxiety. He reminded us that we are made in the image and likeness of God, which is an image of communion. Where this communion is lacking, people often turn to inadequate substitutes. Quoting C.S. Lewis, he said, “The holiest reality next to the Blessed Sacrament is our neighbour.” Human capacities for empathy, compassion, and challenge enable us to flourish as beings made in God’s image.
All presenters agreed that we are at an "existential opportunity" and that the Church must advocate for economic, moral, and social safeguards to address the negative effects of AI on individuals and society. They also recognized the potential for “digital AI enrichment” in fields such as healthcare, education, social services, and within the Church. However, this enrichment must be guided by the “analog touch” of respect, compassion, and genuine human support.

Participants at the summit found it a valuable learning experience. Dialogue and table discussions, structured around “Conversation in the Spirit,” surfaced significant insights from Catholic leaders and young adults alike. These insights are being compiled and will be presented to the Alberta bishops for further discernment and response. In summary, the bishops received the following message:

1. Keep the conversation going
2. We are in a revolutionary epoch of change
3. The Church has something to offer
4. The Church’s teaching on Christian anthropology is foundational
5. Catholic institutions actively share in the Church’s mission and support the Alberta bishops

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​The conversation on AI will continue this fall at St. Mary’s University in Calgary, where the diocese will host a joint conference titled What Catholics Should Know About AI (Oct 17-18, St. Mary's University, Calgary). This is too important a topic to miss or ignore.

Written by Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary

June 2, 2025

​Photos during MCI Summit: Archdiocese of Edmonton