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Solidarity Sunday 2023

3/20/2023

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March 20, 2023
Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Solemnity


Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Lent is the season of conversion. Through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving we seek an inner transformation to deepen our relationship with God, our fellow human beings, and with all creation.

We are reminded in Isaiah (58: 6-7): “Is not this the fast I choose: to loosen the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house, when you see the naked, to cover them and not to hide yourself from your own kin?”

For 55 years Development and Peace-Caritas Canada has engaged deeply in this work of seeking justice, building relationships, and advocating for the poor and the oppressed. Although, uncomfortable at times, the prophetic nature of the work of Development and Peace challenges us to consider our own role in social, economic, and environmental inequities that harm or impact those beyond our national borders.

A new campaign cycle, Create Hope, will be the guiding theme for the next five years. This was inspired by Pope Francis’ 2021 address to the World Meeting of Popular Movements, in which he stated, “you have the ability and the courage to create hope where there appears to be only waste and exclusion.”

In this first year, the campaign’s focus will be, Create Hope: Stand for the Land. We stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in the Global South who defend their homelands by protecting the land, waters, and environment that sustain not only themselves, but the planet as a whole.

Since 1967, the CCCB has set aside the Fifth Sunday of Lent as Solidarity Sunday, which this year, falls on March 26, 2023. I urge you to make a life-changing impact by giving generously. Contributions can be made online at www.devp.org/donate, by mailing a cheque, by phone at 1- 888-234-8533 or by using the donation envelopes available in your parish. I also encourage you to consider becoming a monthly donor through Share Year-Round at www.devp.org/shareyearround.

Let us open our hearts this Lent and heed the call of the Holy Spirit to renewal in the midst of a struggling world. 

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

Click here to download the PDF version of this letter.
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Most Rev. William T. McGrattan
Bishop of  Calgary

​March 20, 2023
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Food Loss & Waste

3/18/2023

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This young lady was in my daughter's class. She often stood outside our family home looking abandoned and anxious after being dropped off by her mother without any kind of call or discussion. It was becoming increasingly clear that she did not have enough to eat. Our family became a safe harbour for her – we would welcome her in and offer her sustenance. 

Every day, she collected a breakfast bar from the school’s reception area - sometimes her only source of nourishment for that day. But she was not alone. It’s hard to believe there are children in Canada who go hungry. But in Calgary alone, one out of three children go hungry every day in schools. 

Social justice is one of the pillars of the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) as well as being an essential aspect of our faith. All people are made in the image of God and so possess an equal and inalienable worth. Because of this essential dignity, each person has a right to all that is needed to allow him or her to live their full potential as intended by God.  

Food is an essential human right, yet too many people around the world are still going hungry. Hunger should not be an issue in a world of plenty
– it's something that can be addressed and prevented with the dedication of resources and commitment to addressing the underlying causes.

It is our shared responsibility as global citizens and Christians to ensure that everyone has access to adequate food so that no one goes hungry. The Catholic Women’s League has been looking into ways to reduce food loss and waste as a possible solution.

But what is the difference between food loss and waste, you may ask?

Food loss takes place at production, postharvest and during the processing and distribution stages, as well as waste from hotels, restaurants, and institutions. 82% of food loss and waste is created in these sectors. Food waste happens at the retail and consumer food level. They represent 18% of food loss and waste.


​In Canada, 11.8 million metric tonnes or 32% of food loss and waste is totally avoidable, and this has been costing Canadians $49.5 billion dollars annually, equating to 3% of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product. 

If this food loss and waste was redirected, it would feed every Canadian for almost 5 months!

We know that fighting hunger requires much more than just providing food. The root causes of food loss and waste that occurs in Canada is a culture of accepting food loss and waste. 

Four million Canadians have insufficient access to food. We need to support children and families not just with food but with societal change that develops sustainable solutions for reducing and redirecting food loss and waste in Calgary and Canada to feed those who are hungry.

In 2022, the National Catholic Women’s League passed a Resolution at their National Convention urging the Federal Government to enact federal legislation to reduce food loss and waste in the agri-food industry, including the industrial, commercial, and institutional sectors. 
  • Reducing food loss and waste at each step along the food supply chain can save Canadians money, approximately $110 billion annually. This number includes the water, land and energy resources used to produce food. 
  • Secondly, closing the gaps in food loss and waste is critical in addressing Canada’s food security and sustainability. 
  • Thirdly, law would provide a guiding framework that would guide and coordinate change across the Canadian food Agri supply chain. Presently, no ministry or level of government has ultimate responsibility or accountability for food loss and waste.

Please consider uniting with the CWL membership in addressing the issue of FLW in Canada. The following link provides templated letters to the Prime Minister of Canada as well as federal Ministers who hold portfolios that could create and change legislation to apply a coordinated and integrated approach that adds value and a life cycle solution to food loss and waste.  

A letter is also templated to the Premier of Alberta. No postage is necessary to send any of the letters. (Click here to access the letter templates)

Let's work together to make a difference this Lenten season! Signing a joint letter to both the federal and provincial governments urging them to reduce food loss and waste, will help secure our Canadian food supply and feed the hungry. By taking this action, we can create a positive impact toward eliminating food insecurity in Canada. Together we can make an invaluable contribution to society and make a lasting change that will benefit those in need for years to come.

Written by Jeannette Nixon for Faithfully. Jeannette Nixon is a wife to Bill Hannah of 41 years, mother to her amazing daughter Catherine, and grandmother to adorable grandson Casey. She  is a member of St. Patrick's Parish in Calgary.  She has completed Masters of Theological Studies  from Newman Theological College in Edmonton, and Masters of Sacred Art from Pontifex University in Atlanta, Georgia. Jeannette spearheaded the food loss and waste resolution with a team of CWL Members from St. Patrick's Parish in Calgary. In her spare time, Jeannette likes to create sacred art, advocate for food loss and waste, sew and participate in aqua lane walking. She loves being a Catholic and tries to emulate the CWL motto - Catholic and living it!
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If you would like a presentation on FLW with your CWL Council or your Parish, please contact Jeannette at jknenvjro@outlook.com.
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Written by Jeanette Nixon
​March 20, 2023

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Order of Consecrated Virgins Living in the World

3/8/2023

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Since the time of Jesus, women have been drawn to follow a life of chastity in imitation of His celibate life and the life of His Virgin Mother, totally dedicated to the plan of the Father. In this vocation to consecrated virginity within the Catholic Church, women dedicate themselves as virgins to follow Christ more closely. These women, called “brides of Christ”,  have given themselves totally and exclusively to God. While living in their own homes and maintaining responsibility for their own livelihood, they enhance their devoted lives with the Liturgy of the Hours, and pray for the Bishop’s intentions and the needs of the Diocese.  It is a beautiful, life-enriching commitment that has been carried out since ancient times. Some of the early virgin Saints, such as St. Agnes, St. Anastasia, St. Lucy, and St. Agatha, are mentioned in the Roman Canon of the Mass (Eucharistic Prayer 1). 

Having listened to the requests of women seeking to fulfil this vocation as Consecrated Virgins, Bishop McGrattan has now established in our Diocese the Order of Consecrated Virgins Living in the World. Consecrated Virgins can be found around the world and both Popes St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI gave beautiful exhortations to assist them in living out their holy resolution. 

As Pope St. John Paul said: “The state of consecrated virginity makes the praise of Christ more spontaneous, listening to His word quicker, service to Him more joyful, and the occasion of offering Him the homage of your love more frequent. Yet consecrated virginity is not a privilege, but rather a gift of God, which implies a strong commitment in following Him and being His disciple” (International Conference of Consecrated Virgins, Rome in audience with Pope John Paul II, 2 June 1995).

Pope Benedict XVI added: "That your whole life may be a faithful witness of God’s love and a convincing sign of the Kingdom of Heaven. Take care always to radiate the dignity of being a bride of Christ, expressing the newness of Christian existence and the serene expectation of future life. Thus, with your own upright life you will be stars to guide the world on its journey" (Pope Benedict XVI’s address to the participants in the International Congress-Pilgrimage of the Ordo Virginum 2008).

Some may ask how this way of Consecrated Life differs from that of women Religious (Nuns and Religious Sisters). A characteristic of this form of life is the insertion of consecrated virgins in the particular Church (the Diocese), and thus in a specific cultural and social context. Consecration reserves them to God without distancing them from the environment in which they live and in which they are called to give personal witness (Ecclesiae Sponsae Imago 37). 

When a woman enters a Religious community, she is then bound by obedience to the mission of that community and may be placed wherever the community has a mission or may be cloistered in a monastery and thereby apart from the world although still very much concerned with its needs through her prayer. The Consecrated Virgin living in the world is immersed in the culture of her society and lives out her vocation among its people. She does not wear distinctive clothing and her work can be of any sort that is appropriate for a disciple of Christ. She may choose to live with other virgins, or alone, or with her family, but she does not have the same commitment to community that a Religious Sister or Nun does through her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. 

Advice from Fr. Cristino for those who feel called to the vocation of Consecrated Virginity: “Those discerning should ask themselves why they feel drawn to total consecration to Christ outside of a Religious community of women living the same lifestyle, and what draws them to making a public declaration of their interior vow versus keeping it private.”
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Written by Sr. Dianne Turner

​March 13, 2023

Learn more about this unique vocation here.
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Parish Visits: Recognizing the Work of God in the Parishes

3/6/2023

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At the beginning of the year, I resumed the canonical and pastoral practice of making an official pastoral visit of the parishes in the Diocese of Calgary. This past weekend I was at St. Luke’s parish where I also celebrated the Rite of Candidacy for our seminarian Peter An who is presently in his pastoral internship year at the parish.

According to the Code of Canon Law, the Bishop is expected to make routine visits to the parishes of his diocese in order to familiarize himself with the pastoral needs of his people: “The Bishop is bound to visit his diocese in whole or in part each year, so that at least every five years he will have visited the whole diocese.” (Code of Canon Law, c. 396.1). The pastoral visit enables me to maintain personal contact with the People of God. It is an occasion to reinvigorate those engaged in pastoral ministry, outreach, and evangelization and to evaluate the effectiveness of those structures within the parish designed to serve these various pastoral areas.

For the parishes, the Pastoral Visit can be an event of grace, reflecting in some way the visit of Christ who visits and redeems His people. The visit is normally organized and directed by the parish priest and staff so that they can coordinate the meetings and ensure that parishioners who are involved in liturgical, catechetical, spiritual, and pastoral outreach might come together to showcase and witness to their specific involvement through the parish. The visit helps the parishioners to gain a greater awareness and appreciation of the ministries and services within the parish and the gift which the parish is in being a community of families united in Christ.

Typically, the Pastoral Visit takes place over three days. Friday morning and part of the afternoon is spent visiting Catholic institutions within the parishes. The Catholic schools are a significant part of the parish community and one that supports the parents who are the primary educators of their children. I meet with administrative staff, student councils, chaplains, teachers, and the students. This helps me to see how to strengthen the triad relationship of parish, school, and family in the education and formation of our youth. The other important institutions that are visited are the hospitals, retirement, and nursing homes. This also enables me to meet with the parish pastoral care ministers who reach out to the sick and the elderly.

On the Saturday I address those involved in parish ministries, to recognize the dedication and sacrifice of parishioners, their best practices, and the unique contribution of their parish to the life of the Diocese, where I can also offer encouragement for future work. The importance of co-responsibility in the leadership of the parish by the priests and laity in offering pastoral programs of formation, outreach, and service is essential if the parish is to fulfill its mission.  Sunday is dedicated to the celebration and preaching at the Masses.

As the bishop I am privileged to see first-hand through the Pastoral Visit of a parish the lived experience of the parishioners, to hear their concerns, encourage them and to offer any insights on the spiritual and liturgical life or the potential apostolic activities that might strengthen the parish. No parish exists for itself and must always be reminded of being open to the Spirit and to the “wealth of best practices” that might be found in the other parishes within the Diocese. The recent experience of the Synod has awakened this reality in the Diocese by stressing the importance of listening and understanding how to be parish communities of encounter and witness. The importance of collaboration among parishes will be essential so that we do not become isolated but rather open to sharing in both the resources and challenges that we face as a Diocese.

The Pastoral Visit of a parish can also promote a lived experience of the new evangelization. To highlight the need to form parishioners as missionary disciples in fulfilling the essential identity of the Church by promoting the knowledge and witness of the Faith and to embrace its mission through the various forms of pastoral outreach.
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Pope Francis has always encouraged the shepherds of the Church to have “the smell of the sheep”. Through the Pastoral Visit of a parish, it has been my experience that this has in fact been a reality for me as a bishop. In the coming years I hope to be present to many more of our parishes in and through a Pastoral Visit.  
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Written by
Most Rev. William T. McGrattan
Bishop of  Calgary

​March 6, 2023
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Rite of Election: Chosen by God

2/26/2023

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Rite of Election, Feb. 26, 2023. Photo credit: W. Anderson.
On Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 the whole community gathered to witness something truly special: a joyous Rite of Election that welcomed 170 catechumens into St Mary's Cathedral as members of the Elect!  This event marked the culmination of their profound spiritual journey and preparation for receiving Initiation Sacraments at Easter Vigil.
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Signing the Book of Elect. Photo credit: W. Anderson.
What's happening during the Rite of Election?
During the Rite of Election, the Church recognizes those who possess the dispositions that make them fit to take part in the initiation sacraments. ​The catechumens are introduced one by one to the bishop and other attendees, and here they express their wish to receive the sacraments of initiation and become a missionary disciple. With these testimonies, the Bishop accepts the judgement of the Church and invites the catechumens to offer their names for enrolment. 

In the Rite of Enrolment of Names, 
the catechumens inscribe their names in the Book of the Elect as a pledge of fidelity, followed by the Bishop's declaration, "I now declare you to be members of the elect, to be initiated into the sacred mysteries at the next Easter Vigil."  From this moment onwards, the catechumens are known as "the elect" until they receive the Sacraments of Initiation.
The Bishop also calls to the Godparents, urging them to accept the responsibility entrusted to them in the Lord. He asks them to show their support and love for the chosen individuals by providing guidance and instruction so that they may partake in God's sacraments.

​Let us pray to the Lord for all the Elect and for ourselves, that we may be renewed by one another’s efforts and together come to share the joys of Easter. 
SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE RITE OF ELECTION
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An appeal from the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops in Canada - 2023

2/23/2023

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Read the appeal from the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops in Canada, on the occasion of the one-year commemoration of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (24 February). 
  • Read Letter
  • Give to Emergency Reflief Funds for Ukraine
  • How to support Ukrainian refugees in our Diocese 

24 February 2023
 
AN APPEAL BY THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS IN CANADA MARKING THE ONE YEAR COMMEMORATION OF THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE  
 
To the Reverend Fathers, Religious Sisters, Venerable Monastics, People of Ukrainian Descent, and all People of Good Will:
You shall not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day…” [Ps. 91:5]
Glory be to Jesus Christ!                                                                                
 
Dearly Beloved in Christ!
 
Today, on our calendars we mark a year since a new stage of the Russian-Ukrainian war began with brutal cruelty and destruction, cynicism and falsehood. Every day of the past year has been a repetition of February 24, adding to the bitter statistics of losses and multiplying the grief experienced by many. Thousands of innocent men, women and children have lost their lives; many have been  tortured, held in prisons and camps, and forcibly deported. Millions are forced to wander around the world, having lost everything, seeking refuge far from their homes. Many cities and villages have been erased from the face of the earth, leaving only traces in the history and memory of those who lived there. Countless are the deep emotional wounds from the losses, tragic memories, and longing for relatives, inflicted by the war on those who survive and are suffering - especially the children!
 
This war is not limited to the context of armed battles, but also occurs in the struggle for consciences, spiritual values and ideals with all the evils that war entails. Most importantly, it requires from everyone a clear  choice for good or evil. The war challenges us to demonstrate our love for Ukraine, for its God-given freedom, political and human rights. War challenges the very sincerity of our love for our neighbor and the Lord God. Every Ukrainian in and outside of
 
Ukraine  is called to discover a deeper awareness of his or her national, political  and ethnic identity. The enemy are those who want to stop this process and plant other values which contradict the truths of the Christian faith, the foundations of our spirituality and our Ukrainian identity. And they are looking for all kinds of insidious ways to achieve their goals.
 
We, the Ukrainian Catholics in Canada, call upon all people of good will to steadfastly resist the spread of  the evils of war, the killing of innocent people,  and the destruction of the nation of Ukraine. Let us draw our strength from the Lord at all times in our struggle (cf. Ps. 26:1). As the Apostle Paul says , let us gird ourselves with the belt of faith and take the armor of justice, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the spiritual sword to "resist the wiles of the devil" and "against the principalities, against the authorities, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of malice in the heavenly spaces" (Eph. 6:11-12). Fervent and constant prayer to the Lord is our weapon against which enemy forces are powerless, and with it we draw the grace of God. We pray not to succumb to feelings of hopelessness and oppression, excessive worries and cares (cf. Ps. 137:7).
 
Let us take the psalmist's words, "Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path" (Ps. 118:105) closer to heart and listen to God's voice in our lives. The word of God teaches us goodness, truth, love, understanding and ability to make right decisions that are sometimes very difficult, especially during times of deep tragedy and loss. In His word, we will find God who is near to us in solidarity, offering us comfort and healing.
 
Let us continue our works of mercy for the needy in Ukraine and those who seek refuge here in Canada, as a humble manifestation of our sincere faith and for the greater glory of God. In doing so, we share the time and talents with which the Lord has blessed us, knowing that everything will return a hundredfold. By giving temporal goods now, we will receive eternal goods in the future.
 
In solidarity and compassion with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, who continue to suffer from the lack of food, water and other basic necessities of life due to the ongoing war, let us renew our practice of fasting and abstinence to remind ourselves of the many blessings we enjoy in our peaceful, daily lives here in Canada.
 
More than ever, we need to support each other through prayer, kind words and good deeds. A person who receives something through you will thank the Lord and praise Him always. "Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Heavenly Father" (Mt. 5:16).
 
The outcome of this war is crucial and will have global significance and consequences. We pray for victory, which will be realized only when we put all our efforts together.  Let us unite, pray, and work for the common good! Let this Lenten season be an opportunity to reach new spiritual heights and to better ourselves so that we can carry out our part in bringing to an end the tragedy of war.
 
May God bless the Ukrainian people both in their homeland and throughout the world. May He grant them the strength of a strong Christian faith, of enduring  good health and the support of a multitude of people of good will. May He grant victory over evil and peace to Ukraine!
 
 
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
​
+ Lawrence Huculak, OSBM
Metropolitan Archbishop of Winnipeg
Apostolic Administrator of Saskatoon
 
+ David Motiuk
Eparchial Bishop of Edmonton
Apostolic Administrator of New Westminster
 
+ Bryan Bayda, CSsR
Eparchial Bishop of Toronto
 
+ Andriy Rabiy
Auxiliary Bishop of Winnipeg
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Journey through Lent 2023

2/21/2023

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This year’s Lenten reflections from CCCB are delivered by His Eminence Gérald Cyprien Cardinal Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada, and the Most Reverend Brian Joseph Dunn, Archbishop of Halifax-Yarmouth. 
  • ​Watch weekly videos here

As we begin our journey of Lent, may we all walk the path of renewal that is ahead of us. May each and every one of us be blessed with the grace to grow closer to Christ with renewed purpose and spiritual insight as we journey through these 40 days.

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I'm worth it now

2/19/2023

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IWIN Backpack Assembly Day, October 22, 2023

“It started when a friend of mine told me about a backpack program for human trafficking survivors in Florida.” shared Kristin Fahlman, a parishioner of St. Michael's in Calgary, “I thought it was interesting, but didn't think about it again for several years.”

It wasn’t until that one fateful evening when she attended a movie screening organized by the Catholic Women’s League at her church. It wasn't just any film; "Over 18" documents society's damage caused by pornography industries across North America and beyond.

“On the way to the screening, God reminded me of the backpack program in Florida. And that I should start a similar program here in Calgary.” shared Kristin. After the movie screening, Kristin tried to speak to Paul Rubner, who had been invited as an expert local speaker at the time, but there were just too many people who wanted to do the same. So she went home, trying to put it out of her mind. But God persisted.

Shortly after, Kristin was invited to a human trafficking workshop and, seemingly by divine intervention, her normally packed schedule was free. At the workshop, she again noticed Paul, who provided a presentation on the issue of human trafficking in the Calgary and Alberta context. She decided then that if he was available at the end of the workshop, this was the person she needed to speak with. 

"When I explained my idea, Paul was extremely enthusiastic and, as it turns out, he was the key person in Calgary who would know how to implement a distribution system for the backpacks. He suggested involving the Catholic Women's League, a group I had just recently joined."

What followed was a series of meetings and brainstorming sessions between Kristin, a lawyer with a passion for social justice and deep compassion for a segment of society that very few people were aware of, and Paul, at the time a human trafficking investigator who had spent the last decade working with survivors of human trafficking and exploitation. Paul had an understanding of the needs and issues faced by survivors, along with the social agencies that sought to help them - but he knew there was more that could be done. All that was required was a group, or individuals, that had a realistic understanding of the issue that he could lend his experience and advocacy to.

“God has lined it all up for us every step of the way," said Kristin. Paul added, “We want survivors of human trafficking to recognize the strength inside of them and to realize that they are loved and accepted right in this moment.”

Long story short, IWIN - an acronym for 'I'm Worth It Now' - was born in 2019 with the support of the Catholic Women’s League (CWL). This program's mission is to make an impact on those who are often forgotten: survivors of sexual exploitation and domestic sex trafficking. And over three years later, the need for their ministry has only grown. Their services now extend to non-profit agencies in two provinces - with a vision to expand even further.

“The idea was to provide a tangible way to show trafficking survivors in Calgary, the vast majority of whom were born and raised in Canada, that people care and ‘nice things’ didn’t always have to come with strings attached.” shared Paul, who at the time was actively working with survivors and many of the agencies offering services for them.

“While IWIN doesn’t provide services directly, they provide backpacks containing essential items to the agencies that do. And given that these agencies are not-for-profit, every little bit of help they can receive means more resources they can devote to programming and helping their participants.” said Paul, adding, “One such agency in Calgary has received over $13,000 in ‘backpack support’ from IWIN in the past 2 1/2 years. The contents of the backpacks are items that the agency would have provided anyway, which means that those funds could be re-directed into other areas of the program.” 

IWIN also has partnerships with an agency in Edmonton and one in Saskatoon, who also exist to provide services to trafficked and exploited women, although the Calgary program is by far the largest. 

Survivors of human trafficking who received IWIN backpacks ware always filled with gratitude and appreciation for the kindness they had been shown.

"This backpack meant more than just a bag full of clothes.  It gave me hope there is still good in this world".

"Thank-you so much for helping me to feel a bit more human and a bit more like I matter".

"It was a really nice surprise when I wasn't expecting it and I feel like it's a great act of kindness and I'd love to take part in something like that one day.  It's really nice to get something and to feel like you don't have to give anything in return."

"This signifies that if one individual or organization believes in us, perhaps we can begin to contemplate having faith in ourselves."

The success of the IWIN program is largely attributed to the commitment of multiple groups and organizations who are dedicated to helping them achieve their goals, with a large portion coming from the Catholic Women's League in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

“Human trafficking can happen to any family in Canada and is happening mainly to Canadian citizens." Paul added.
  
This National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, February 22, it's critical that we consider why 95% of the trafficking survivors found in Calgary are Canadian-born. Our sisters and daughters are not exempt from the reality of human trafficking – so, it's essential that our brothers and sons join us in finding a solution. Let us not forget to open up the conversation about human trafficking, despite how uncomfortable it may seem.

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Kristin and Paul from IWIN have been delivering presentations – in person or via Zoom – to Catholic Women’s League and other groups, informing them of the reality of women's experiences, the need for services, and how best they can support IWIN. For more information on IWIN, or to book a presentation, contact:
iwincalgary@gmail.com or visit www.iwininitiative.ca.  You can follow them on Instagram @iwin_initiative and facebook.com/iwincalgary.
Photos courtesy of IWIN. 
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Something to think about on Family's Day

2/17/2023

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Watch this excerpt of an interview of Dr. Jordan Peterson on parenting and the impact on children.  >>> Watch video now
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What are your thoughts as parents? How has your experience of parenting and raising children been?
Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” ~ Hebrews 12:11
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Authentic love builds and requires a lot of effort. 
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Adoro te devote

2/16/2023

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>> Watch this video and take in the beautiful arrangement of Adoro Te Devote by Domenico Bartolucci during the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on June 10, 2010, on the eve of the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at St. Peter’s Square.
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Oh what treasure we have in the Church – the Son of God truly present! Let us adore Him.
In a world where there is so much noise, so much bewilderment, there is a need for silent adoration of Jesus concealed in the Host. Be assiduous in the prayer of adoration and teach it to the faithful. It is a source of comfort and light, particularly to those who are suffering.”

“Without the Eucharist, the Church simply does not exist.”

“Friends, do not be afraid of silence or stillness. Listen to God. Adore Him in the Eucharist.”
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Pope Benedict XVI
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The Beaver Tale

2/14/2023

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This St. Valentine’s Day, Jessica and Joseph Cyr celebrate a champagne wedding anniversary of sorts, with 14 years of marriage on the 14th. In that time, just as their family has grown to include five children, so has their extended family of faith.

The ceremonial ‘passing of the beaver pelt’ from one newlywed couple to another is a seemingly silly tradition that the Cyrs started in their Calgary Catholic community shortly after they were married, and never imagined would still be going strong today.
“I thought it would be fun to start a tradition within the Catholic community,” said Joseph Cyr. “I had the beaver hanging on my wall. It was unique to me, no one else had a homemade beaver pelt. I thought, ‘hey we can use that, and it’s something very Canadian, something that represents our heritage.’” 

At the time of publication, 48 couples, with more than 100 children combined, have written their names and wedding dates on the back of this storied beaver pelt. ​
PictureJessica and Joseph Cyr
History of the Pelt

​Back when Joseph was in high school, he earned his trapping license and trapped a beaver in a creek near his hometown of Pincher Creek, Alberta. He proceeded to prepare the beaver’s pelt for mounting onto plywood. While he had hoped to continue pursuing this hobby, the beaver was the only animal he ever trapped. 

Shortly after he and Jessica married, Joseph hung the pelt in the living room of their first home, but as it happened Jessica did not exactly share Joseph’s taste in home decor. Joseph then had the idea to gift the pelt to another young couple; Jessica was very receptive to the notion and thus a tradition was born.

The Cyrs presented it to Jared and Natalie Fehr at their wedding reception with the stipulation that they must display the pelt prominently in their home until the next Catholic couple involved with their young adult community married, at which point the ceremonial bestowing of the beaver pelt would continue. 

“Every time I hear the beaver pass to another couple, I say a quick prayer: “God be with them in their first years and keep them close to you,” said Jessica, a parishioner at St. Bernard’s Parish in Calgary.  

“I feel connected to the couples in the wider Catholic community by the beaver tradition in a maternal sense, especially now that over a decade has passed and a new generation of couples - the age of kids I used to babysit - are having it passed to them.” ​
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PictureAdam Pittman presenting the Beaver pelt at the Toner's wedding.
The beaver’s lodge

Currently, the pelt is in the possession of Brian and Jennifer Toner. Per the directive, it is displayed above their living-room television in Cupertino, California – one hour South of San Francisco. 

Adam Pittman presented the pelt on behalf of the Catholic community at their wedding reception in November in Saskatoon. 

“For us, receiving the beaver pelt was a huge honour,” said Jennfier Toner.

“It felt like our marriage was being uplifted by the prayers and thoughts of the whole group, whether we knew each couple or not. We also felt excited, because it is a delightfully ridiculous ‘gift and re-gift ' process that we now get to partake in,” Toner added.  

The beaver travels abroad 

A large part of the fun of this tradition is figuring out logistics as it travels from one couple to another. Now that it was in the Toner’s possession, they needed to figure out how to bring it with them across the border.

To get home, they needed to pass U.S. Customs. They had to assure the border guards of their plan to wrap it in a white garbage bag and take it as carry-on luggage on the airplane and stow it under their two seats. The first guard they met started laughing when they told her they had a beaver pelt. Then they were brought over for a secondary inspection.

“The second guard was enthusiastic about the pelt, because he’d always wanted to see one,” said Jennifer. “He told us a lot about the history of the Canadian fur trade and asked if he could touch the fur on the sides where the beaver is the softest.”

This second guard then called a third person from Agriculture Canada.

“He referred to it on the phone as a “family heirloom” that gets passed down from person to person. Beaver isn’t an endangered species in Canada, and because it was tanned, came from Alberta, and had been across the border before, everything checked out,” said Jennifer.  

The whole process took about 20 minutes.

Years ago, one couple had taken the beaver across the U.S.A./Canada land border while on their way to present it at their friends’ wedding in Vancouver. Following a long back-and-forth involving both American and Canadian customs agents, the beaver received official "papers," and the pelt was officially stamped on the back, from both sides of the border. These papers have traveled with the beaver ever since, and proved helpful to the border guards in the Toner’s recent travels.
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Brian & Jennifer Tonner
PictureThe Beaver Pelt (2023)
A silly or serious tradition? 

In his own way, Fr. Cristino Bouvette feels very much part of the beaver pelt tradition. He has celebrated the weddings of at least half of the couples associated with the beaver pelt, and witnessed time and again the passing on of the pelt at wedding receptions.

“It is clearly a silly tradition, but not merely a silly tradition. It is also a sign of married life being one of openness to the wider community. People marry for the sake of expanding the community of believers, expanding the community of the world,” said Fr. Bouvette.

“In receiving this memento, albeit tacky, it’s a sign of belonging to a wider community outside of your married life, which is a very important testament to the mystery of marriage. You give yourself to the other for the sake of the other, and then in that one flesh union that opens up to all others,” Fr. Bouvette added.

“It’s such a great sign to me of our ever-expanding faith community.” 


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Written by Sara Francis for Faithfully. Sara is a writer living in Calgary with her husband Ben and their six children. They attend St. Bernard's / Our Lady of the Assumption Parish 

​Photos submitted by Sara Francis. Used with permission. 
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Madonna House: A Song of Love

2/13/2023

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Take a half hour break and watch Salt & Light Media’s documentary on Madonna House, a community of about 200 lay men, women, and priests who have dedicated themselves to Christ by living out promises of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

​Witness their joy and be inspired to find that same joy in Christ where you have been called to serve Christ in your ordinary life.

>> Watch video now
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How does our daily life and routine reflect to others?
​Will they find the joy of Christ?

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”  
Proverbs 27:19
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Pastoral Letter "That We May Walk Together"

2/10/2023

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On 8 February 2023, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the following four pastoral letters on reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Intended as a framework for local engagement with Indigenous Peoples, the letters are the fruit of many months of listening, encounter, and dialogue with them, including through Listening Circles, the Indigenous Delegation to the Vatican in April 2022, and Pope Francis’ Apostolic Voyage to Canada in July of the same year.
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Relief efforts for Turkey & Syria

2/8/2023

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On 6 February 2023, an earthquake with a devastating magnitude of Mw 7.8 and maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme) left thousands dead or missing from Turkey and Syria. The aftershocks included a powerful quake in the nine hours that followed the mainshock. The reach of this catastrophic event was far-reaching, affecting even those as far away as Israel, Lebanon, Cyprus, and the Black Sea coast of Turkey. With thousands dead or missing, rescue teams are overwhelmed and running low on resources to help save lives. 
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Your generous and prayerful support is essential in this critical moment — it could be a lifeline for those women, children and elderly people who have nowhere else to turn. Please consider lending a helping hand during this difficult time. Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated!
​
  • Donate through Development and Peace - Caritas Canada
  • Donate through CNEWA
  • Canadian Jesuits International
  • Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)

Let us pray: ​For the people of Türkiye and Syria suffering from the devastating earthquakes, may they experience the Lord in their midst through the support of the global community during this time of great loss, let us pray to the Lord.
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We can, and we must do much better

2/6/2023

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The World Day of the Sick, established in 1992 by St. John Paul II, is celebrated on the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. Each year we are called to reflect on our response to those in our midst who are sick, burdened with age, or afflicted with illness. This year Pope Francis chose the parable of the Good Samaritan to remind us that our response must always be one of compassion. It must reflect the words of the Samaritan traveler when he said to the innkeeper “Take care of him”. 

Beginning in January of this year we launched in our Diocese the “Horizons of Hope”. It is a four-week parish education resource which explores the human experience of dying and death, discerning and making decisions at the end of life, accompanying those who are at the end of life, and supporting and integrating palliative care within the wider community. This was positively received by approximately four hundred parishioners throughout the Diocese. Their involvement was a concrete response to understanding how we are to care for the most vulnerable.  
 
In his message this year, Pope Francis acknowledged that we are rarely prepared for illness. “Oftentimes, we fail even to admit that we are getting older. Our vulnerability frightens us and the pervasive culture of efficiency pushes us to sweep it under the carpet, leaving no room for our human frailty.” He goes on to note that “when evil bursts on to the scene and wounds us, we are left stunned”. In many ways these very words describe what has taken place in our country of Canada since 2016 with the introduction of assisted suicide, euthanasia, as medical assistance in dying or what has commonly become known as MAiD.
 
Regardless of the fact that the expansion of eligibility for MAiD to those who suffer from mental illness has been delayed by the Federal Government, this evil will continue to wound our Canadian society.  In an open letter to all Canadians from Religious Leaders in Canada who opposed Bill C-7 when it was first introduced, we acknowledged that “We Can and Must Do Much Better”.
 
As Pope Francis stated, “In our own moments of weakness, we may feel that we should abandon others in order to avoid becoming a burden. This is how loneliness sets in, and we can become poisoned by a bitter sense of injustice, as if God himself had abandoned us. It is crucial then, even in the midst of illness, that the whole Church measure itself against the Gospel example of the Good Samaritan. We are all fragile and vulnerable, and need that compassion which knows how to pause, approach, heal, and raise up.”  
 
The importance of our works of charity in caring for the sick cannot be overemphasized.  The Church’s pastoral presence to the sick is so that she may become a true “field hospital”, for her mission is manifested such acts of care.
 
The “elements of the inn” in offering such care has been the enduring witness of our institutions that have provided Catholic healthcare as a sign of the Church’s commitment to compassionate care for those who are sick and to accompany them in their suffering.  In fact, many religious congregations were founded to address the suffering of the sick and in so doing, they established hospitals, promoted education in the medical sciences and offered formation for those in the healthcare professions. This witness continues today around the world through the charisms of many religious congregations and Catholic lay faithful who serve as doctors, nurses, aids and researchers.  This affirms in our world the Christian belief in the sacredness of human life from the moment of conception to a natural end, even with the challenges that illness and suffering can bring into the life of a person.
 
As Pope Francis noted in his 2023 message, “Sick people, in fact, are at the center of God’s people, and the Church advances together with them as a sign of humanity in which everyone is precious and no one should be discarded or left behind”. In Canada our care for the sick, the elderly and vulnerable can’t be through the expansion of MAiD but rather to the expansion and access to palliative for in fact "We Can and Must do Much Better”.
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Written by Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary
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February 6, 2023
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MAiD changes are a call to Catholic action

2/4/2023

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PictureDr. Peggy Thomson-Gibson
Canadian Catholics who want a more fulsome public discussion of the law regarding medically-assisted death are being called to use their faith to move a legislative mountain. But take heart. The first item on the change agenda involves something as simple–and important–as writing letters to your Member of Parliament and key government ministers, says Dr. Peggy Thomson-Gibson.

The catch? With people’s lives at stake, there’s no time to lose.

A Catholic and Calgary physician, Dr. Thomson-Gibson recently addressed MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) at a special meeting held at St. Peter’s parish. There, the medical doctor encouraged Catholics to learn how “we can defend our faith without raising our voices.” To do that, Catholics need solid information about their faith–and about what’s at stake, especially with proposed changes to MAiD law, says Thomson-Gibson.

The problem with MAID

Approved in 2016, existing MAiD law allows Canadians to choose a medically-assisted death when their death is “reasonably foreseeable.” Health Canada recorded 7,595 MAiD deaths in 2020, up from 1,108 in 2016. For information about why the Church rejects euthanasia or assisted suicide, visit this page.

Looking ahead, the number of MAiD deaths to date are a fraction of what was expected had proposed amendments come into effect this March. The now-delayed changes expanded MAiD’s accessibility while simultaneously decreasing oversight, says Dr. Thomson-Gibson.

Of primary concern was a change that allowed people with mental illness as their sole criterion to choose a medically-assisted death. People with a severe long-term condition or disability could also access MAiD, opening the door for medically-assisted death to be offered instead of treatment. Opponents say this confuses the notion of a “right” to die with a “duty” to choose death over treatment. This is especially troublesome in a public health system where disabled or mentally-unwell individuals could be made to think they are a financial burden on their families or society.

Information released in 2022 shows the proposed changes also cut a mandated reflection period for those whose death is “reasonably foreseeable” under current law. Instead of a 10-day period, the changes required a single day. Another change drops the legal requirement for two witnesses to one and the sole witness could be a paid health professional.

These amendments were scheduled to come into effect in March 2023. They were delayed in late 2022, and again last week. This provides more time for study and input.

That timeline underscores the opportunity for faith-based outreach, like letters to the Prime Minister and individual Members of Parliament, says Thomson-Gibson. She suggests letter writers model respect in their letters and conversations about MAiD. Catholics looking for more guidance about how “to shed light, not heat” on hot-button topics should check out information from Catholic Voices Canada (https://catholicvoices.ca), adds the doctor. 

TRAiD for MAiD

Dr. Thomson-Gibson also called on Catholics to speak up for what’s known as, “TRAiD for MAiD.” True Assistance in Dying acknowledges the role of palliative care in alleviating unnecessary suffering. Since 1980, the Church has formally upheld a compassionate response to end-of-life care, including medical support for pain and palliative sedation.

Catholics looking for more information can check out Horizons of Hope, a toolkit that parishes in the Calgary Diocese are using to improve lay understanding of the faith and moral issues involved with end-of-life care. 

“What it’s about is communication. We want to have had good conversations with people who are dying,” says Gail Monk. A retired RN certified in palliative and oncology care, she has more 20 years of professional experience in caring for the seriously ill and dying. A parishioner at St. Peter’s, Monk participated in one Horizons for Hope workshop and was a panelist at one held in January.

Her experience and training are augmented by Monk’s memories of caring for her own mother when she died of cancer. Monk, then 28, said the experience was transformative. “I helped my mom and my family through a difficult time and it was such a gift.”

Today, she is grateful to understand how the Church, which offers “good counsel in living, also offers true assistance in dying. As support people, we have to show the people we love that they are not a burden when they are sick.”
TRAiD for MAiD presentation by Dr. Peggy Thomson

Written by Joy Gregory for Faithfully. Joy Gregory is a writer, cradle Catholic, and long-time parishioner of St. Peter’s, Calgary, where she’s been active in preschool catechism programs, RCIA, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
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Letter writers are welcome to use a MAiD-focused template prepared by St. Peter’s CWL 
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Religious celebrates the the World Day of Consecrated Life

2/3/2023

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On February 2nd, 2023, religious from eight different communities gathered to celebrate the World Day of Consecrated Life on the Feast of Presentation of the Lord. It was a joy-filled day with the celebration of the Eucharist, meaningful conversations that deepened connections, and a delightful meal shared between those present.
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Hanging out with the Sisters!

1/30/2023

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On Friday, January 13th, I attended ‘An Evening with the Sisters’ at the Sacred Heart Convent in Calgary. Sisters from various communities of consecrated life gathered with unmarried women in our diocese to enjoy ourselves together. That is exactly what we did! There were Sisters from the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, the Faithful Companions of Jesus, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, the Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth, and the Seeds of the Word. There were also many single young women I recognized from the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy.

We started the evening by eating veggie pizza (since it was a Friday) and getting to know each other. I introduced myself to many of the Sisters and young women who were there. All the Sisters certainly had great stories about their interesting lives as Spouses of Christ. When one of the Polish Dominican sisters learned that I am half-Polish, she told me that I had to go and visit the beautiful country. I also got to see a few friends who are doing the Sabbatical Year program with the Seeds of the Word community. What a joy it was to hear their hilarious stories of community life while we ate dinner! I loved to hear all about their inside jokes and their sledding and skating mishaps.
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The whole group split into teams, and we all played the most intense game of Pictionary of my life. It was so fun to see how competitive we became, including the Sisters!

​After Pictionary, we broke off to play board games in small groups, and the Sabbatical Year participants taught us the ridiculous and fun Brazilian rules that they use to play UNO. Sr. Charbel Joseph O.P. played with us, and she told us the story of her namesake, St. Charbel. With a shining smile, she explained that he is “the Padre Pio of the East.” 
The evening ended with Night Prayer, which is the last prayer Sisters pray at the end of their jam-packed days. We left behind the rowdy games to enter the calm of the chapel, where the red light of the sanctuary candle was waiting for us. To pray Night Prayer, each side of the room took turns saying the lines of a psalm. Before Sr. Dianne said goodbye to us for the night, we had a few moments of silence together in the chapel. It was a good opportunity to turn to Jesus in the Eucharist and ask Him for the grace to say yes to my vocation, whatever it may be.

As I watched the diverse group of women genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament and leave the chapel, I wondered what my life would be like in a religious community. I saw such beautiful women around me, each of them open to the invitation of Jesus in her life. God has a fulfilling plan for each one of them, and for me.

After everyone cleaned up, I grabbed some pamphlets about consecrated life and said bye to my new and old friends. I almost caught myself skipping out of the convent, because I was feeling so excited to know what God’s call is in my life!
I am thankful that I had the chance to get to know the Sisters of our diocese in such a casual setting. It can be very difficult to work up the courage to visit a religious order. Watching the Sisters enjoy themselves, I understood that they are human beings just like me. They like to eat pizza and play games. They have their own fears and dreams. But each one of them had experienced, at some point in their discernment, the courage to interact with the Sisters they felt they might be called to join.
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I am reminded of a quote by Fr. Bede Jarrett O.P.: “What is love but choice, the choice of a friend? He calls us, because He loves us and He is always calling us. May He give us the silence of heart that will listen, and the discerning wisdom that will recognise, and the courage of love that will obey.”

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Written by Angela Blach for Faithfully. ​Angela is a member of the St. Francis Xavier chaplaincy. She is a student of business administration at SAIT. When she's not at school, she enjoys reading, hiking, taking walks, and spending time with her friends. 
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​Photos courtesy of Sr. Dianne Turner
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Money habits that keep you poor

1/30/2023

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Some Catholics believe that we should not think of money as we focus on God not recognizing that most common symptoms of spiritual problems involve finances. Greed, the lack of self-discipline, and corruption in the heart will manifest wherever they can, often dealing with one’s money or other people’s money. Some people are drowning in debt from excessive shopping, some have gambling problems to channel their loneliness, some steal money from others or from work to manage their finances problems… 

Now on the flip side, we cannot be money-obsessed either. Our money cannot own us or control us. God should be our center. Money is a tool to serve God and others, while making sure that we have what we need for a good, balanced, and an upright life. 
​
This accountant shares some basic financial approaches to overcome or prevent money issues. While not everything may apply to you, her tips should provide things to consider in the management of your personal finances. 

​>> Watch video now
As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.” 
​1 Timothy 6:17-19 

Be good stewards. Live with God by having Him at the center of your life. Keep everything in order.
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World Day Prayer for Consecrated Life

1/28/2023

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February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, is celebrated in the Church also as the World Day for Consecrated Life. In parishes, the celebration may be transferred to the weekend following February 2 to make the celebration more accessible. This is an opportunity for the Church to reflect on and celebrate the unique role and importance that Consecrated Life has in the Church. (CCCB)

The Consecrated Life includes all men and women who vow or promise to consecrate their lives to God and to provide a unique public witness as members of religious communities, apostolic societies, secular institutes, and consecrated virgins. (CCCB)
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The following is a prayer that can be offered for the local Church to ask the Lord for more vocations to these particular vocations in our Diocese.
The Consecrated Life, deeply rooted in the example and teaching of Christ the Lord, is a gift of God the Father to his Church through the Holy Spirit." ~ St. John Paul II: Vita Consecrata 1
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Prayer for Consecrated Life in our Diocese

O God our Father, Lord of the harvest, we ask You to send Your Holy Spirit to stir up the grace of Consecrated life vocations in the hearts of many within our parish community. Grant them the willingness and generosity to place their lives completely in Your hands as Religious priests, brothers and sisters, and consecrated virgins. Help us to support them by our own fidelity to Your call to holiness through prayer and Christian service. When You desire that members of our family and friends follow Your Son in this way, grant us the wisdom, love, and insight to support and encourage them to listen to Your voice and follow You without delay.  We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
  • Download prayer card: print ready | 4 in 1 sheet 
  • Download graphic: ​square | wide #1, wide #2

Submitted by Sr. Dianne Turner, Assistant Director of Vocation
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World Day Prayer for the Sick - Feb 11

1/27/2023

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The World Day of the Sick is celebrated each year on February 11, the liturgical memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is an occasion to pray for individuals who are suffering, and to find concrete ways to draw nearer to them.

The Holy Father's 2023 message is entitled: "Take care of him - Compassion as a synodal exercise of healing". In light of the Church's synodal journey, Pope Francis invites us "to reflect on the fact that it is precisely through the experience of fragility and illness that we can learn to walk together according to God's style of closeness, compassion and tenderness." 
Pope Francis tells us in his Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti that “we cannot be indifferent to suffering” (68), and he proposes that we read anew the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). The condition of loneliness and abandonment of the sick in today’s world only “takes a moment of our attention, of being moved to compassion within us, in order to eliminate it.” In seeking the help of another to care for the sick man, the Samaritan asks the innkeeper to “take care of him.” Only with the help, courage, and innovation of others in a “face-to-face encounter” can we organize care for the sick in a spirit of fraternity and resilience. Many healthcare workers, family members, and community volunteers are daily witnesses of this accompaniment and caring compassion.
The World Day of the Sick is an occasion to pray for individuals who are suffering, and to find concrete ways to draw nearer to them. Mindful of this call, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops recently published an open-source palliative care toolkit for parishes, families, and communities in order that they may deepen their understandings of illness, suffering, dying and death. Drawing on Catholic moral and pastoral theology, medical expertise, and the Compassionate Community model, the palliative care toolkit facilitates conversations and learning, grounded in the mercy and tenderness of the living Christ. Users of the toolkit are invited to organize group-based engagement according to the toolkit’s four-module program so as to sustain and renew pastoral attention on the sick, lonely and abandoned. Learn more about Horizons of Hope, its training videos, facilitator guide, social media images, and take-home resources.
Pastoral suggestions for the World Day for the Sick (Feb. 11, 2023) for parishes and all the faithful:
  1. Read and share Pope Francis’s message
  2. Watch and share the video: “An experience of accompanying a loved one through palliative care”
  3. Visit a loved one, friend, colleague, or stranger who is shut in, lonely or sick
  4. Offer gratitude to a healthcare professional or volunteer
  5. Organize the Horizons of Hope program in your parish or community

Resources for World Day for the Sick:
  • Download resources to promote 2023 World Day of the Sick in your parish:
    • In English: Communications Toolkit - World Day of the Sick
    • In French: Trousse de communications – Journée mondiale du malade
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Let us pray
  • For the sick, lonely and abandoned, may the closeness and saving mercy of Christ bring consolation and peace, let us pray to the Lord. 
  • For families caring for loved ones through illness, loneliness, and old age, may relationships be nurtured, and that leaning on others to share their burden is made more possible, let us pray to the Lord.
  • For volunteers who accompany the sick, may they continue to be valued and cherished in care settings as they listen and provide steady companionship, a reminder of God to those who need it most, let us pray to the Lord.
To the intercession of Mary, Health of the Sick, I entrust all of you who are ill; you who care for them in your families, or through your work, research and volunteer service; and those of you who are committed to weaving personal, ecclesial, and civic bonds of fraternity." 
​~Pope Francis, 2023
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Voice your concerns

1/23/2023

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The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has been advocating against Medical Assistance in Dying (Bill C-14)  ever since it was brought forward and passed in 2016. At that time, it was only accessible to those whose death was reasonably foreseeable. An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying) (Bill C-7)  was passed on March 17, 2021, that will make it easier for the vulnerable to access Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). 
 
Did you know?
 
MAiD is publicly funded and has been made a health care right by the federal government which implies that it operates under the same guidelines across the country. Palliative care is the responsibility of the provincial health care system and is addressed differently in each province. This reveals a disconnect of responsibility.
 
Bill C-7 removed the requirement that death be in the reasonably foreseeable future. It has two tracks, one for those whose death is foreseeable and track two for those who have severe long-term conditions.

  • In Track One, for those whose death is reasonably foreseeable, Bill C-7 removed the requirement of a ten-day reflection period. (Could now be only 1 day!) It reduces the number of witnesses of the request from two persons to one, and that person can be a paid health professional. 
  • Track Two allows MAiD for those who have a severe long-term condition or disability. Although these persons will be legally informed of treatment options, there will no longer be any requirement to attempt those other treatments before choosing MAID.  We will be the only country in the world to offer MAiD as a first level treatment! After consent, there will be a 90-day reflection period before administering MAiD.

Bill C-7 passed on March 17 2021 allowing people with mental illness as their sole criterion to choose MAiD.  There was a “sunset clause” added to the Bill so that proper safeguards and requirements for MAiD under such circumstances will be put to committee, studied, and decided upon within two years, March 17, 2023.  On December 15, 2022 Justice Minister David Lametti and the Minister for Mental health and Addictions, Carolyn Bennet, announced the government would delay the expansion of MAiD, but not how long the delay will be.  Parliament resumes sitting on January 30.
 
Bill C-7 has raised the issue of "ableism" - a prejudice in which persons with disabilities are considered unable to lead a life of quality. Disability rights advocates are concerned that Track Two will encourage MAiD to be favoured over expensive supports for the disabled or those with severe long term chronic conditions. There is also concern over what safeguards Bill C-7 will provide for those with mental illness.
 
When Parliament resumes, there will be four working weeks in which they can draft legislation to modify Bill C-7 before the “sunset clause” expires on March 17, 2023.

We can express our concerns to our elected officials during this window of opportunity.

Article and Letter templates are prepared and written by ​St. Peter’s CWL Resolution and Legislation Committee. 
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LETTER EXAMPLES

Be informed

All are invited to join Horizons of Hope to learn and reflect upon end-of-life issues, as well as to promote the need for excellent palliative care.
Horizons of Hope
TrAID for MaID Presentation
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Spirituality & Mental Health

1/23/2023

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As human beings with both body and soul, we take good care of ourselves through healthy relationships, especially our relationship with God, and with the help of science.

​Watch this video and see how both science and the Faith connect.
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.” 3 John 1:2

We have been wonderfully made by God. We must always seek wholeness and holiness in everything so that in sickness or in health and through life’s joys and sorrows, we abide in God.
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Living God's Word in our Life

1/22/2023

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“Let your house be a Church”. These words of St. John Chrysostom emphasize the importance of the family as a domestic Church, where the Word of God is present to accompany, proclaim and witness to the ongoing encounter with the Lord, renewing hope and pointing to the nature and mission of the Church. 

“When it enters us, the Word transforms our hearts and minds; it changes us and leads us to direct our lives to the Lord…Here is Jesus’ invitation: God has come close to you; recognize His presence, make room for His Word, and you will change your outlook on life.” `Pope Francis, Jan 22, 2023.

Make Scripture a part of everyday life this year. Here are some practical tips from the Dicastery of Evangelization (Vatican) to encourage the love of Scripture:

  • Carry the Word with you, physically or on your phone (i.e., YOUCAT-Daily, Amen, Hallow, Living With Christ, The Bible in a Year)
  • Read: Dei Verbum, the document of the Vatican II that deals with Divine Revelation through Sacred Scripture and the Tradition of the Church | Video
  • When visiting a Church with mosaics or stained glass sacred art, ask children to identify the biblical episodes they recount, the details, or other aspects that may arouse particular curiosity
  • Enthrone the Bible in your home
  • Consider the practice of Lectio Divina
  • Have this Biblical Examination of Conscience handy for a regular examen

The Word shared within the family
In order to grow in an authentically human way, God must be present in the family; as a domestic church, one learns to be father, mother, son, brother... to understand what it means to be part of the mystical body of Christ, to grow strong, respecting generational bonds and, as a community of faith, fostering prayer among members, regular participation in the sacraments, reading the Bible and Christian traditions. We know that it is not easy to spread the faith and love of the Word in the family because it is a process that never ends (cf. Rom 12:18). 

What challenges are we facing? Family, sexuality and marriage are increasingly seen as personal achievements, and the first to be affected are the children who should be provided with a home that ensures their physical, spiritual and emotional growth. If Jesus used parables to reach people, family life could be a great call: to be a parable, to the charism of encounter, to be an evangelical internet, and to form spiritual networks together with Jesus Christ, so that «the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere» (2 Thess 3:1).

The following are some guidelines for sharing the Word in the family:
  • That the family be the central focus of the pastoral process of evangelizing action in our parishes, promoting the importance of family catechesis by participating in courses of Christian initiation, which celebrate the faith in the home and in the community.
  • Promote the mission and identity of the family in the Church and in society.
  • Participate in pro-life, pro-marriage and pro-family public affairs. -
  • Strengthen Sunday in the family, the Lord's Day as a time of agape and prayer

Reading the signs of the times today in the light of God's Word could make the home a stronger domestic church, one that touches deep emotional and vital wellsprings, one that inspires all members of the household to live their relationship with God in a new way, to practice silence, to love, to obey, to welcome and to work. It is essential that the revealed Word be fruitful in the family. As reality changes, God's revelation is revealing a new face of God: while retaining permanent features - the core of Christian identity- at the same time, it is being transformed to offer responses to new family situations.

Source: ​Liturgical and Pastoral Resources from the Dicastery for Evangelization on Sunday of the Word of God
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8 Days of Prayer for Christian Unity | Jan 18-25

1/16/2023

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Praying together for Christian unity allows us to reflect on what unites us and to commit ourselves to confront oppression and division amongst humanity. ​The prophet Micah points out that God has told us what is good and what God requires of us: “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic 6:8). To act justly means that we have respect for all persons. Justice requires truly equitable treatment in order to address historic disadvantage based on “race”, gender, religion and socio-economic status. To walk humbly with God requires repentance, reparations, and finally reconciliation

​Those wishing to undertake bible studies on the Week of Prayer theme can use as a basis the following biblical texts and reflections given in the eight days. As we seek greater unity, may it be in service to the love and justice God has revealed in Jesus.

Events for The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2023 in Calgary:
  • Tue, Jan 24 at 11:15 am - St. Ambrose University
  • Wed, Jan 25 at 6:30 pm - Parkdale United Church
  • Wed, Jan 25 at many schools throughout the Calgary Catholic School District
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Download Daily Prayers (PDF)
Week of Prayer Resources
The daily themes, Scripture readings, reflections, challenges, and prayers below were prepared by the Minnesota Council of Churches and the international Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Writing Team. 
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
DAY 4
DAY 5
DAY 6
DAY 7
DAY 8

Day 1 (Jan 18) - Learning to do the right thing 

Readings
  • Isaiah 1:12-18 Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan; plead for the widow.
  • Luke 10:25-36 He asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”​

Reflection
According to Isaiah, God wants Judah not only to practice justice but to embrace the principle of always doing the right thing. God wants us not only to care for orphans and widows but to do what is right and good for them and anyone marginalised by society. The Hebrew word for good is yaw-tab' and it means to be glad, joyful, pleasing, to do well, to make something beautiful. To be Christian means to be a disciple. All Christians sit under the Word of God, learning together what it is to do good, and who it is that stands in need of this solidarity. As society becomes more indifferent to the needs of others, we, as the children of God, must learn to take up the cause of our oppressed brothers and sisters by speaking truth to power and, if necessary, plead their case so that they may live in peace with justice. In doing this we will always do the right thing! Our commitment to eradicate and to be healed of the sin of racism requires us to be prepared and willing to be in relationship with our Christian sisters and brothers. 

Christian Unity
A lawyer asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” Jesus’ response asks us to see beyond the divisions of religion, tribe and nationality to recognise our neighbour in need. Christians likewise must see beyond these divides and the divisions within the Christian family to recognise and love our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Challenge
Who are the marginalised or oppressed in your society? How might churches together walk with these brothers and sisters, respond to their need and speak up on their behalf?

Prayer
Lord, you called your people from slavery into freedom,
​Give us strength and courage to seek out those who are standing in need of justice. Allow us to see this need and provide help, and through your Holy Spirit gather us into the one fold of Jesus Christ, our Shepherd. Amen.

Day 2 (Jan 19) | When justice is done . . .

Readings
  • Proverbs 21:13-15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but dismay to evildoers.
  • Matthew 23:23-25 Justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done.

Reflection
From the beginning the Book of Proverbs sets out to provide wisdom and instruction in “wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity” (1:2). Throughout its oracles of wisdom, the call to act justly and to pursue righteousness is a constant refrain, relentlessly shared and affirmed as more acceptable to God than sacrifice. In a one-sentence pearl of wisdom, the speaker testifies that the righteous rejoice when justice is done. But justice upsets the workers of iniquity. Christians, across their separations, should be united in joy when justice is done, and prepared to stand together when this justice brings opposition. When we do what the Lord requires and dare to pursue justice, we may find ourselves in a whirlwind of resistance and opposition to any attempt to make things right for the most vulnerable among us.

Those who benefit from the systems and structures buttressed by White supremacy and other oppressive ideologies such as “casteism” and patriarchy will seek to delay and deny justice, often violently. But to seek justice is to strike at the heart of the powers, making space for God’s just ordering and enduring wisdom in a world all too often unmoved by suffering. And yet, there is joy in doing what is right. There is joy in affirming that “Black Lives Matter” in the pursuit of justice for God’s oppressed, dominated, and exploited beloved.

There is joy in seeking reconciliation with other Christians so that we may better serve the proclamation of the kingdom. Let that joy manifest itself through our shared experiences of God’s presence in community in the known and unknown spaces where God journeys with us toward healing, reconciliation and unity in Christ.

Christian Unity
The religious leaders Jesus addresses in the Gospel passage have grown accustomed and comfortable with the injustices of the world. They are happy to perform religious duties such as tithing mint, dill and cumin, but neglect the weightier and more disruptive demands of justice, mercy and faithfulness. Similarly Christians have grown accustomed and comfortable with the divisions that exist between us. We are faithful in much of our religious observance, but often we neglect the Lord’s challenging desire that all his disciples be one.

Challenge
How can local congregations support one another to withstand the opposition that may follow from doing justice?

Prayer
God, you are the source of our wisdom.
​We pray for wisdom and courage to do justice, to respond to what is wrong in the world by acting to make it right; We pray for wisdom and courage to grow in the unity of your Son, Jesus Christ, who, with you and the Holy Spirit, reigns forever and ever. Amen

Day 3 (Jan 20) | Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly​

Readings
  • Micah 6:6-8 And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
  • Mark 10:17-31 Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Reflection
We – not me. The prophet warns the people what faithfulness to God’s covenant means: “ … and what does the Lord require of you? To do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.” In Biblical Hebrew justice and kindness (mercy) are not different or opposite from each other. They are in fact bonded together in a single word, mishpat. God has shown us what is good, asking us to do justice by loving kindness and by walking humbly with God. Walking humbly with God means walking alongside others and therefore it is not just about the individual: my walk, my love.

The love that God invites us into is always a love which gathers us into communion: we – not me. This insight makes all the difference in how we “do justice”. As Christians we act justly to manifest something of God’s kingdom in the world, and therefore to invite others into this place of God’s loving kindness. Within God’s kingdom we are all loved equally as God’s children, and as God’s Church we are called to love one another as brothers and sisters and to invite others into that love.

To do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with our God, calls Christians to act together in bearing a united witness to God’s kingdom within our communities: we – not me.

Christian Unity
“Walking humbly” was challenging for the rich young man who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. He had obeyed all the commandments from his youth, but he could not take the further step to join Jesus’ disciples because of his wealth; he was beholden to his possessions. How difficult it is for Christians to let go of that which we perceive as riches, but which keep us from the greater wealth of joining Jesus’s disciples in Christian unity.
​
Challenge
How can our churches better respond to the needs of our most vulnerable neighbours? How can we honour every voice in our communities? 

Prayer
Gracious and loving God,
​Expand our vision that we might see the mission we share with all of our Christian brothers and sisters, to show forth the justice and loving kindness of your kingdom. Help us to welcome our neighbours as your Son welcomed us. Help us to be more generous as we witness to the grace that you freely give us. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen

Day 4 (Jan 21) | ​Look, the tears of the oppressed

Readings
  • Ecclesiastes 4:1-5 Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed – with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power with no one to comfort them.
  • Matthew 5:1-8 …  Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted …

Reflection
“Look, the tears of the oppressed.” One can imagine that the writer has witnessed atrocities like this before with sickening regularity. And yet perhaps this is the first time the writer has truly seen the tears of the oppressed, has fully taken in their pain and their subjugation. While there is much to lament, in a new looking and a new seeing there is also a seed of hope: maybe this time this witnessing will lead to change, will make a difference.

A young woman looked and saw the tears of the oppressed. The video she shot on her phone of the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 was seen all around the world and unleashed a holy rage as people witnessed, and finally acknowledged, what African Americans have experienced for centuries: undue subjugation by oppressive systems in the midst of privileged blind bystanders. Acknowledging this painful reality has led to a global outpouring of overdue compassion both in the form of prayer and protest for justice.

The progression from simply looking to seeing and understanding gives encouragement for us as actors in this earthly reality: God can remove scales from our eyes to witness things in new and liberating ways. As those scales fall, the Holy Spirit provides insight, and also, conviction to respond in new and unfettered ways. One response the churches and communities made was to establish a prayer tent at George Floyd Square, the place of his murder. In this way, these churches and communities were united in offering comfort to those who mourned and were oppressed.

Christian Unity
Matthew’s account of the Beatitudes begins with Jesus seeing the crowds. In that crowd he must have seen those who were peacemakers, the poor in spirit, the pure in heart, men and women who mourned, and those who hungered for justice. In the beatitudes Jesus not only names people’s struggles, he names what they will be: the children of God and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven. As Christians we are called to see the holy struggles of our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Challenge
How have you engaged with Christian groups addressing oppression in your neighbourhood? How can the churches in your locality come together to better show solidarity with those suffering oppression? 
​
Prayer
God of justice and grace,
​remove the scales from our eyes so we can truly see the oppression around us. We pray in the name of Jesus who saw the crowds and had compassion for them. Amen

Day 5 (Jan 22) | Singing the Lord’s song as strangers in the land

Readings
  • Psalm 137:1-4 For there our captors asked us for songs, and our tormentors asked us for mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
  • Luke 23:27-31 Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

Reflection
The lament of the psalmist originates in the exile of Judah in Babylon, however, the pain of exile is one that reverberates across time and culture. Perhaps the psalmist shouted this refrain towards the heavens. Perhaps each verse was given voice between deep sobs of grief. Perhaps this poem emerged with a shrug of indifference that can only come from living within injustice and feeling powerless to effect any meaningful change. However the words were brought forth, the heartache of this passage finds resonance in the hearts of those who are treated as strangers in other lands or in their own lands.

The demand in the psalm comes from the oppressor to smile and make merry, to sing the songs of a “happy” past. That demand has come to marginalized people throughout history. Whether it was in minstrel shows, 1 or Geisha dances,2 or Wild West cowboy and Indian shows,3 oppressors have often demanded that oppressed people perform happily to ensure their own survival. Their message is as simple as it is cruel; your songs, your ceremonies, your cultural identity, that which makes you sacredly unique, is only allowable so long as it serves us.

In this psalm generations of the oppressed are given their voice. How could we sing the Lord’s song when we are strangers in our own land? We sing not for our captors but to praise God. We sing because we are not alone for God has never abandoned us. We sing because we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. The ancestors and saints inspire us. They encourage us to sing songs of hope, songs of freedom, songs of liberation, songs of a homeland where a people is restored.

Christian Unity
Luke’s Gospel records that people, many of them women, follow Jesus even as he carries his cross to Calvary. This following is faithful discipleship. Furthermore, Jesus recognises their struggles and the suffering that they will have to endure in faithfully carrying their own crosses. 

Thanks to the ecumenical movement, Christians today share hymns, prayers, reflections and insights across traditions. We receive them from one another as gifts borne of the faith and loving discipleship, often enduring struggles, of Christians from different communities than our own. These shared gifts are riches to be treasured and give witness to the Christian faith we share. 

Challenge
How do we raise up the stories of ancestors and saints who lived among us and have sung songs of faith, hope, and
liberation from captivity?
​
Prayer
God of the oppressed,
Open our eyes to the harm that continues to be inflicted on our sisters and brothers in Christ. May your Spirit give us the courage to sing in unison, And raise our voices with those whose suffering is unheard. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Day 6 (Jan 23) | Just as you did it to one of the least of these…you did it to me


Readings
  • Ezekiel 34:15-20 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.
  • Matthew 25:31-40 I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me

Reflection
In the Gospel of Matthew, we are reminded that we cannot separate our love for God from our love for others. We love God when we feed the hungry, give the thirsty something to drink, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick and visit the prisoner. When we care for and serve “one of the least of these,” we are caring for and serving Christ himself.

​The years 2020 and 2021 made visible the immense suffering among God’s family members. The world-wide COVID-19 pandemic, along with economic, educational and environmental disparities, impacted us in ways that will take decades to repair. It exposed individual and collective suffering throughout the world and brought Christians together in love, empathy and solidarity. Meanwhile, in Minnesota, the murder of George Floyd by police officer Derek Chauvin exposed continued racial injustice. Floyd’s cry of “I can’t breathe” was also the cry of many suffering under the weight of both the pandemic and oppression.

God calls us to honour the sacredness and dignity of each member of God’s family. Caring for, serving and loving others reveals not who they are, but who we are. As Christians, we must be unified in our responsibility to love and care for others, as we are cared for and loved by God. In so doing, we live out our shared faith through our actions in service to the world.

Christian Unity
The prophet Ezekiel describes the Lord God as a shepherd who makes the flock whole by gathering in those who have strayed and binding up those who are injured. Unity is the Father’s desire for his people and he continues to bring about this unity, to make the flock whole, through the action of his Holy Spirit. Through prayer we open ourselves to receive the Spirit which restores the unity of all the baptised.

Challenge
How are the “least of these” invisible to you or your church? How can our churches work together to care for and serve “the least of these?”

Prayer
God of Love,
​We thank you for your unending care and love for us. Help us to sing redemption songs. Open wide our hearts to receive your love and to extend your compassion to the whole of the human family. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Day 7 (Jan 24) | ‘What is now does not have to be’ 

Readings
  • Job 5:11-16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth. 
  • Luke 1:46-55 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly

Reflection
Job was living the good life and unexpectedly suffered the loss of his livestock and servants, and endured the devastation of the death of his children. He was suffering in his mind, body, and spirit. We all have suffering that is manifested in our minds, bodies, and spirits. We may pull away from God and others. We may lose hope. Yet, as Christians, we are unified in our belief that God is with us in the midst of our suffering.

On April 11, 2021 in Minnesota, Daunte Wright, a twenty-year old, unarmed African American man, was fatally shot by a White police officer during a routine traffic stop. This incident occurred during the Derek Chauvin trial for the killing of George Floyd. 

It is easy to feel hopeless when we are once again reminded that we live in a fractured society that does not fully recognize, honour, and protect the human dignity and freedom of all human beings. According to Fr. Bryan Massingale, a leading Catholic social ethicist and scholar in racial justice, “Social life is made by human beings. The society we live in is the result of human choices and decisions. This means that human beings can change things. What human beings break, divide and separate, we can, with God’s help, also heal, unite and restore. What is now does not have to be, therein lies the hope and the challenge.”

In prayer, Christians align their hearts to the heart of God, to love what he loves and to love as he loves. Prayer with integrity therefore aligns the hearts of all Christians beyond their divisions, to love what, whom and how God loves, and to express this love in our actions. 

Christian Unity
The Magnificat is Mary’s song of joy for all that she sees God is doing: restoring balance by raising up the lowly; righting injustice by feeding the hungry; and remembering Israel, his servant. The Lord never forgets his promises or abandons his people. It is easy to overlook or undervalue the faith of those who belong to other Christian communities, particularly if those communities are small. But the Lord makes his people whole by raising up the lowly so that the value of each is recognised. We are called to see as He sees and to value each of our Christian brothers and sisters as He values them

Prayer
God of Hope,
​Help us to remember that you are with us in our suffering. Help us to embody hope for one another when hopelessness is a frequent unwelcomed guest in our hearts. Grant us the gift of being grounded in your loving Spirit as we work together to eradicate all forms of oppression and injustice. Give us the courage to love what, whom and how you love, and to express this love in our actions. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Day 8 (Jan 25) | The justice that restores communion

Readings
  • Psalm 82:1-4 Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
  • Luke 18:1-8 Will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night?

Reflection
The Book of Psalms is a compilation of prayer, praise, lamentation, and instruction from God to us. In Psalm 82, God calls for a justice that upholds the basic human rights to which all people are entitled: freedom, safety, dignity, health, equality and love. The Psalm also calls for the overturning of systems of disparity and oppression, and fixing anything that is unfair, corrupt, or exploitative. This is the justice that we, as Christians, are called to promote. In Christian community we join our wills and actions to God’s, as he works his salvation for creation. Division, including that between Christians, always has sin at its root, and redemption always restores communion.

God calls us to embody our Christian faith to act out of the truth that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institutional structure in society is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of each person. Every person has a right and responsibility to participate in society, seeking together the common good and wellbeing of all, especially the lowly and the destitute.
​
In Jesus and the Disinherited, the Revd. Dr Howard Thurman, who was spiritual adviser to the Revd Dr Martin Luther King Jr., states that: “We must proclaim the truth that all life is one and that we are all of us tied together. Therefore, it is mandatory that we work for a society in which the least person can find refuge and refreshment. You must lay your lives on the altar of social change so that wherever you are, there the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

Christian Unity
Jesus tells the parable of the widow and the unjust judge in order to teach the people “about their need to pray always and not to lose heart” (Lk 18:1). Jesus has won a decisive victory over injustice, sin and division, and as Christians our task is to receive this victory firstly in our own hearts through prayer and secondly in our lives through action. May we never lose heart, but rather continue to ask in prayer for God’s gift of unity and may we manifest this unity in our lives.

Challenge
As the people of God, how are our churches called to engage in justice that unites us in our actions to love and serve all of God’s family?

Prayer
God, Creator and Redeemer of all things,
teach us to look inward to be grounded in your loving Spirit, so that we may go outward in wisdom and courage to always choose the path of love and justice. This we pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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