 Dec 3 - St. Francis Xavier
Dec 14 - Saint John of the Cross
Praying the O Antiphons The O Antiphons, used in Roman liturgy since the eighth century, reflect Old Testament titles for Jesus—like Emmanuel and Key of David—expressing the longing for the Messiah and inviting us to welcome Him into our hearts and family this Christmas. Read more
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 Image: Sr. Zacharia Hryc, OP - Shalom World TV. Does God hear the whisper of a mother praying quietly over her sleeping child? Yes, He does. Does God hear her cries and fervent prayers as she watches over a sick or dying child? Yes, He does, and He quietly whispers to her heart, "Entrust your child to me for I have the best plan for him." My name is Sr. Zacharia Hryc, O.P., and I am a Dominican Sister of the Immaculate Conception Province. The story of my vocation highlights a significant aspect of parents dedicating their children to God's care and His plan. The truth that the family is, or at least should be, the first school of values, rooted in faith, is often overlooked today. It is the responsibility of the Church to form families into communities of love and growth, as God intended. My parents married young. My mother had me at 19; my father was 24. They were inexperienced, anxious, and uncertain. My mother felt she couldn’t raise me without God's guidance. She often told me that each time she learned she was pregnant, she prayed earnestly for God's help and entrusted every part of her family life to God's care and Our Lady’s protection. This trust gave her peace of mind and the confidence that she wasn't alone in raising her children. However, she never expected that God and Mary would literally respond to the promise made in a moment of fear and dread for her child's life. That moment came when I was 3 months old. My mother, while changing my clothes, turned around and immediately saw me fall from the changing table, about 70 cm to the floor. The fall caused me to cry so loudly that I lost my breath. My mother quickly picked me up from the floor and held me tightly, saying a prayer that expressed her fear for my fragile life: "Mary, please don't take her now, and I will give her to you in the future." God heard my mother's cry; Our Lady listened and accepted her offering. The fall turned out not to be life-threatening; it left only a purple bump on my head. It was not mentioned for the next 18 years, until I stood before my mom to tell her that God was calling me to religious life and to a congregation where Mary is especially venerated. My mother cried profusely. It was a time to say “yes” to God again; to offer her child more intentionally and fully. The act of consecrating my siblings and me to God and the Mother Mary was an expression of deep faith and humility, recognizing that every life is a gift from God and that God has His own plan for each child. In the Letter of Saint John Paul II to Families, Gratissimam Sane, we read: “And so, both in the conception and in the birth of a new child, parents find themselves face to face with a "great mystery" (cf. Eph 5:32). Like his parents, the new human being is also called to live as a person; he is called to a life "in truth and love". This call is not only open to what exists in time, but in God; it is also open to eternity.” My mother entrusted my siblings and me to God's care so that God's Will and plan could be fulfilled in our lives, because she understood that "spouses, as parents, are collaborators with God the Creator in the conception and birth of a new human being…." (John Paul II to Families, Gratissimam Sane,1994), not their owners. Parents accompany their child on the path to discovering God through shared prayer, the Eucharist, and the expression of mutual love in service and forgiveness. Parents should help them find out their vocation and the plan God has prepared for their child. By offering their children to God and to Mary, parents help their children discover the mystery of their vocation and the plan God has prepared for them. “Nonetheless, in conjugal love and in paternal and maternal love we should find inscribed the same truth about man which the Council expressed clearly and concisely in its statement that God "willed man for his own sake". It is thus necessary that the will of the parents should be in harmony with the will of God. They must want the new human creature in the same way as the Creator wants him: "for himself". I invite you to watch the episode of “Vocare” by Shalom World, featuring my vocation story and our religious community. I urge you to pray sincerely and offer your families to God. Remember that He is the true source of all blessings, happiness and satisfaction; all that you truly want for your loved ones. And if your child is called to serve God in a more direct way in the priesthood or religious life, I ask you to pray for them and support them. This is a challenging, but also deeply fulfilling way of life: it will be the source of many blessings for your family now and in eternity. Written by Sr. Zacharia Hryc, OP
I thought I was doing well in the seminary when, suddenly, in my second year of theology, before the school year ended, the rector called me and asked me to take a one-year regency because I was receiving a lot of fan mail at the time. I was sent to a parish in our diocese to teach in a Catholic high school for one year. Then I returned to the seminary for my third year of theology. When I got to the fourth year of theology, I was caught having a mobile phone, and that was not allowed at that time. So, I was threatened with being sent out of the seminary. I really prayed hard about it because I wanted to be a priest. Eventually, I graduated, but I had to wait for some time while the bishop decided whether to ordain me. I waited for more than a year to be ordained as a deacon, and after seven months, on December 12, 2000, I was ordained a priest in my home parish, Holy Infant Jesus Parish, San Fernando, Masbate, Philippines. Deo Gratias! I was an associate pastor for almost 12 years in the Diocese of Masbate in the Philippines in different parishes and served also as a Youth Director of the Diocese for two years. Then I became a pastor for 11 years in three different parishes before I decided to take a sabbatical leave from my home diocese. Finally, I applied to come to the Diocese of Calgary. Prayer is important to me. I love the prayer of St. Francis; it is one of my favourite prayers, as is Psalm 23. I also have a great devotion to the Blessed Mother; I pray the rosary every day. I also make a habit of praying every day for the poor souls in purgatory, especially in my rosary and my daily Mass. There is only one thing I tell people who ask for advice on how to be closer to Jesus or on how to discern whether they have a vocation to be a priest. I tell them: Keep on praying. There is no better way than to ask God to guide and enlighten us in everything we do and every decision we make for ourselves. Ask the intercession of the Blessed Mother. Pray for the poor souls in purgatory as well because, when they get to heaven, they will intercede for us as the saints. Written by Fr. Paolo Cervantes. Fr. Paolo is the current administrator of St. Patrick's Parish in Medicine Hat.
As announced in a joint statement by the Holy See and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) on Saturday, Nov 15, Pope Leo XIV gifted 62 Indigenous artefacts to the CCCB. This gift, initiated by the late Pope Francis, is linked to the Jubilee Year of Hope and represents the Church’s ongoing friendship with Indigenous Peoples, built on trust and mutual respect. [Read story from Vatican News] With profound gratitude to the Holy Father, the CCCB will proceed, as soon as possible, to transfer these artefacts to the National Indigenous Organizations (NIOs). The NIOs will then ensure that the artefacts are reunited with their communities of origin. Before passing earlier this year, Pope Francis had indicated that this gift was intended to help the Bishops in Canada take further steps in the Church’s reconciliation efforts with Indigenous Peoples. By honouring Pope Francis’ wish, Pope Leo XIV continues to support the Bishops in Canada in their relationship-building efforts with Indigenous Peoples. “The Holy Father’s gift is a tangible sign of his desire to help Canada’s Bishops walk alongside Indigenous Peoples in a spirit of reconciliation during the Jubilee Year of Hope and beyond,” said Bishop Pierre Goudreault, CCCB President. “It reflects our shared commitment within the Church to walk together with Indigenous Peoples, as well as our desire to support Indigenous communities in accompanying younger generations in passing on and valuing their heritage. Pope Leo’s gift marks another milestone in honouring Indigenous histories, customs, and cultures. As CCCB President, I would like to thank the National Indigenous Organizations for their openness and collaboration in this work. I assure them of the Church’s unwavering commitment to reconciliation.” Read the Joint Statement of the Holy See and the CCCB:
Learn about the CCCB’s work to walk alongside Indigenous Peoples:
Source: CCCB
So, in 1963, at just 13 years old, I left for Saigon to enter the Dominican Minor Seminary. At first, I cried almost every day because I missed my parents, siblings, and friends. But young hearts adjust quickly. Soon, I embraced the new life of prayer, study, discipline, and community with over 300 students living and learning together. I graduated from high school in 1972 and entered the novitiate in Vũng Tàu. In 1973, I made my first vows and continued my philosophy and theology studies in Thủ Đức. But in 1975, when the communists took over the South, everything changed. Religious houses were closed, properties were confiscated, and we had to continue our formation in secret, at great risk. Those were years of uncertainty. Many Dominican brothers left; some who tried to escape Vietnam by sea or land made it, while others died trying. In 1980, I, too, left by boat and ended up in the refugee camp in Palawan, the Philippines. Two years later, I was sponsored by the Dominican Vicariate Abroad and resettled in Calgary, Canada. Those first years were tough, studying English, working to support myself, and adjusting to an entirely new culture. But God was with me. In 1984, Bishop Paul O’Byrne ordained me a deacon, and on July 28, 1985, I was ordained a priest by the same bishop at St. Vincent Liem Church in Calgary. That was one of the happiest days of my life, the fulfillment of my dream. Later, my superior sent me to Rome to study at the Angelicum. I graduated in 1991 and returned to Canada, where I served in vocations and communications. Then, in 1997, I returned to Vietnam to teach at various institutes for seminarians and religious sisters in Saigon. Over the years, God continued to call me to different places of service outside of the Diocese of Calgary:
Fr. Peter Huong Pham, OP is currently on sabbatical leave until 2026.
Sr. Mae completed her initial years of formation and her theological studies in Manila and Quezon City, Philippines. During this time, she was actively involved in diverse ministries, serving as a parish catechist and working with children with physical and mental challenges, street children, and the abandoned elderly in various institutions. These early experiences profoundly shaped her compassionate heart and commitment to mission. She later served as Pastoral Care Coordinator at Bahay Puso, a Home for the Abandoned Elderly, under the Diocese of Balanga, Bataan, Philippines. Accompanying residents, especially those nearing the end of life, Sr. Mae worked tirelessly to reunite them with their families, offering emotional and spiritual care and bringing dignity to their lives. In preparation for this ministry, she obtained Clinical Pastoral Education. As a final professed Sister, she served in the Diocese of Balanga, Bataan, Philippines, volunteering at Klinika ni San Jose, a clinic for the poor. Initially, as a full-time patient screener, she met and assisted patients from various towns and remote areas. Later, she became the clinic co-director, continuing her screening duties. Known for her diligence and integrity, she ensured that those most in need received appropriate care and services. She also worked at Bataan General Hospital as an employee, assigned to the Medical Social Services Department, where she served in the charity wards. There, she conducted bedside interviews and strongly advocated for patients who could not pay their medical bills, defending their dignity with unwavering compassion, even when it involved personal risk. In 2007, Sr. Mae came to Holy Angels Province in Western Canada for a seven-month Cross-Cultural Formation Program before her final vows. After returning to the Philippines, she felt called to minister in Western Canada. In 2012, she joined Holy Angels Province and was missioned in Midnapore, Calgary. She earned her Health Care Aide certification in 2013 and ministered at Father Lacombe Care Centre. Simultaneously, she was appointed Vocation Director of Western Canada, a role she embraces with unwavering commitment. Elected as Provincial Councillor in 2017, Sr. Mae has devoted her life to service, faith, and mission. Today, as one of the Local Leaders of the Sisters of Providence of Western Canada and as Director of the Congregational Vocation Ministry Committee, she continues to guide and support communities, offering a living witness of God’s call and the joy of saying “yes.” “Every day is a chance to respond to God’s call with faith and joy.” Written by the Sisters of Providence
Let us remember the fallen and pray for all the departed this month, holding together the gift of life, the reality of death, and the hope of resurrection. May our remembrance lead us to gratitude, to peace, and to pray for those who served and those who continue to carry the cost of war.
On Wednesday, Nov 19, 2025, Catholics around the world will mark Red Wednesday, a day to remember Christians who suffer for their faith and to stand publicly for religious freedom, a basic human right often taken for granted.
Interview and transcription by Sr. Dianne Turner, OSE.
Because of the Communist rule in the former Yugoslavia, there was no electricity or shops in our village. Electricity came only in 1985, and a road in 2004. The communist government ignored our village because we were considered “too strong as Catholics.” We even had school on Christmas Day, though I did not attend. The next day, the teacher asked why I had missed school. When I replied that it was Christmas Day, the teacher said, “There is no God and there is no Christmas,” and hit me on the fingers ten times with a stick until blood formed under my fingernails.
Feast days were very important to us. We would go to confession on saints’ days several times a year. The special feast in our parish was for St. Anthony of Padua. The whole Diocese was Franciscan. To honour the saint, people walked on their knees around the church while praying the Rosary. We fasted from meat on Fridays and before special feasts such as Christmas, Saints Peter and Paul, and the parish patronal feast. We supported the village's poor by cutting hay with sickles and scythes to feed their animals. Families kept sheep, cows, horses, and chickens. When wood was cut for winter, the branches were stored for feeding the sheep. We grew fruit trees and large vegetable gardens to feed ourselves, and we made wine from grapes and brandy from plums to sell, paying taxes, and buying clothing and school books. In 1973, my cousin was ordained a Franciscan priest. I attended his first Mass, and that is when I first felt called to the priesthood. I was 13 and had just finished eighth grade. I went to our parish’s Franciscan priest to ask about becoming a priest. He asked whether I wanted to be a Franciscan, a Jesuit, or a diocesan priest. I said I didn’t know the difference, we simply called them all “priests.” He then sent me to a Jesuit college, where there was a minor seminary (a high school) for boys. I studied there for four years, then attended university, where I completed two years of philosophy and psychology and four years of theology. After finishing all exams, the bishop ordained me along with other young men: six were ordained as Franciscans and six as diocesan priests. At my first Mass, the concelebrants were my parish priest, Fr. Pavo; my cousin, Fr. Nikola; and my neighbour from home, Fr. Vlado, who was also the godfather of my first Mass. My mother prayed many Rosaries each day and fasted four days a week for priests and nuns. She was very happy that I became a priest. At ordination, I promised the bishop that I would obey him and all bishops to whom I would be missioned. After ordination, I spent one year in Bosnia-Herzegovina, then was sent to Australia at the request of the Bishops’ Conference to minister to the Croatian people living there. I had volunteered to go. After a year, my mother came to join me and lived with me until she died in 2012 on the Feast of the Archangels. She and my aunt supported me through prayer and fasting throughout my priesthood. In Australia, I served at Holy Spirit Parish in Melbourne for six years and then at St. Ana Parish in Perth for four years. Australia is a good country with good people, but I was happy to go to my next mission in Calgary on December 10, 1996. I have been here for 29 years as a missionary priest. It is good work, but difficult, because Croatians in Calgary live across the entire city and beyond. We have both old and new immigrants, two distinct groups with different needs. The newer generations do not speak Croatian as well as the older ones. I try to support the community through Mass and the sacramental life, emphasizing the importance of Sunday Mass. Every Friday during the school year, we have Croatian school for language learning and catechism. Three teachers instruct the children in the Croatian language, and I teach catechism in both English and Croatian. I often pray: “Jesus, give me strength for my priesthood and patience for listening to my people.” I am a parish priest, but also a psychologist for parishioners, a taxi driver, and a hospital visitor. I receive many calls for the Anointing of the Sick. Once, I was called three times in one night to the Foothills Hospital. I write reference letters for Catholic teachers and letters for the Croatian Consulate for those seeking citizenship. I help parishioners find work, and I bless homes every year after Christmas. Because I serve Croatians in both Alberta and Saskatchewan, I travel to Lethbridge before Christmas and Easter for confessions and Mass, and sometimes for funerals, baptisms, and weddings. I also travel to Saskatoon for the same reasons. My great joy is celebrating Mass every day, praying the Liturgy of the Hours, and praying the Rosary. I love daily meditation and reading spiritual books. My advice to a young man discerning the priesthood is this: If you become a priest, this community will be so proud of you. The church will be full, and they will respect you. It is easy to think the work is too heavy or requires too much patience, but if God calls you, He will “catch you,” just as He caught me. Pray, and God will show you. I have no problem serving the Church because I pray every day for patience. I have no time for sin because I am so busy. It is the joy of my life. I thank God and the Blessed Virgin Mary for my priesthood. The team of Human Trafficking Education for Prevention — the anti-trafficking group active in the Diocese since 2023 — would like to share with you some of our recent activities and achievements, in the hope that you will continue to support our work with your prayers and, if possible, your collaboration. Many of you will have received our leaflets and become aware of our website htep.ca, which includes a helpful collection of resources for use in schools, parishes, youth groups, and more. All the material we have prepared to date is available to download from the website’s Resource section at no cost. A particularly useful resource is our study video, which explains different aspects of human trafficking in a way suitable for group use. We sent a letter containing the website link to each parish in the Diocese, as well as to every ordained deacon and all Catholic Separate School chaplains. In June, before the end of the school year, we visited each of the First Nations reserves to meet with school authorities, community colleges, and Band Police (or RCMP detachments) to share our materials. We learned that human traffickers are now targeting the reserves in the same way they have been targeted for years by drug traffickers. This reality is described in the documentary Into the Light, produced by a team from the Kainai Nation (Blood Reserve near Lethbridge). In September, we were invited to participate in an excellent event for school counsellors, sponsored by the Lethbridge Palliser School District in conjunction with Alberta Social Services. The Edmonton RCMP and police delivered a superb and thought-provoking presentation outlining the growing use of the internet for “grooming” and showing how easily young people can fall into traps set by “fake friends.” We also learned that youth are now more likely to engage in “sexting” (sending compromising photos of themselves to friends), unaware that these photos can later be used by hackers to victimize or blackmail them. Using artificial intelligence, human traffickers can now produce and distribute pornographic material using a person’s body, gestures, and voice, often without the individual’s knowledge. If you are interested in learning more or joining our team, please let us know by writing to [email protected]. Our next team meeting is on Monday, December 1st, 2025. Written by Kristy Bui
Being accepted into nursing school brought me immense joy, and I dedicated my heart and energy to this new path, feeling once again that I was fulfilling my calling. At this point in time, I was certain that I had found my vocation in nursing and had completely dismissed the possibility of religious life, believing it was not aligned with God's will for me.
That was until I heard a homily preached by a Dominican friar on November 2, 2022, for All Souls’ Day. There was something about this homily that made me leave the church feeling so passionate about living my life for souls, and only for souls. I began to pray more and offer more sacrifices for the souls in purgatory. Perhaps it’s because the love of God and the love of souls go hand-in-hand that somehow my heart was opening up to Him and His ways again, without me even realizing it. Since the day I heard the homily, I kept hearing the words “dòng kín” (Vietnamese for “cloistered life”) deep within the silence of my heart. I brushed this off as a funny thought, but it persisted every single day for about two weeks. During these two weeks, I found myself engaging in conversations with various friends on topics unrelated to religious life. Interestingly enough, these discussions invariably shifted towards religious life. Out of curiosity, I started researching cloistered Dominican nuns and ended up on the Archdiocese of Vancouver's webpage, looking at the link to the Dominican nuns in B.C. There was something inside of me that couldn’t stand being bothered anymore, so I finally clicked on the link and contacted the vocations director. However, I was still doubtful about this and, upon sending the email, made a small condition with God. I told God that the nun must respond to me within less than 24 hours, thinking that since nuns prayed all the time, they probably would not check their emails often. Then God turned the tables on me as the vocations director responded to me within 12 hours. I chuckled a couple of times when this happened and decided to play along with God a little longer. I met with the vocations director via Zoom, and by the end of the call, she told me I should consider visiting them to see for myself. I thought there was no way this nun was telling me I might have a vocation to the cloistered life. Yet again, I thought I’d humour God by playing along with Him for just a little more. I booked a flight ticket to Squamish, B.C., in February 2023 to visit the Dominican nuns. I went with the thought that as long as I just go, maybe I could get God off my back about this whole idea of cloistered life. I arrived on a Saturday by 2 pm, and I remember as I entered the chapel to greet Jesus, I felt a burden lifted off my shoulders. It felt as if I went someplace far away and finally came home. I initially ignored this feeling, thinking that wherever Jesus was, that was home. However, by 8 pm on that same Saturday, I walked back to my room thinking, “God, this is all I ever wanted, but I never knew that I wanted it.” As soon as I thought that I knew what God was asking of me. I spent the time in the monastery by myself in silence, following the nuns’ schedule while also giving myself ample time for personal prayer and leisure in silence. Perhaps in the eyes of the world, living the same schedule day-in and day-out seems boring; but for me, each day brought about a new adventure with God, making life so fulfilling. Living the life in silence showed me that I can be hidden from the world, yet fully present and attentive to its needs. The silence in the monastery brought a fulfillment and satisfaction in my life in which I have never experienced before. So, when my visit to the monastery was coming to an end, I couldn’t bear to leave. In obedience to God’s Holy Will, the guidance of my spiritual director, and the recommendation of the monastery, I did leave. Back in Calgary, I focused on finishing my studies in nursing school very diligently. I eagerly counted down the months and days until the time that I could finally enter the monastery as an aspirant. Although it was difficult at times with many temptations, it only solidified my conviction in following God’s will in discerning with the Dominican nuns. Over the past couple of years, I encountered many different people in the hospital through my schooling and in the work I did with the Serra Club, and everything pointed back to my purpose: to offer myself as a living Holocaust for the sake of souls. I am very grateful for my past discernment with the Dominican Sisters in Houston and for the years spent earning my nursing degree, because it all showed me the need for prayer and that every sacrifice offered is very worthwhile for God’s glory and for the salvation of souls. I can say that everything started because of God’s generosity in being patient with me and even allowing me to play with Him along the way. I never thought I would ever be called to the cloistered life, but God has a good sense of humour. As someone who desires to be His spouse, I should also have a sense of humour so I can play along with Him. I hope I can spend the rest of my life making God laugh by living the life that I initially thought was funny, offering every moment of it for His glory and for the salvation of souls. Most importantly, I hope that when the time comes, God will also say to me, “My love, what a good sense of humour you’ve got there.” Interview and transcription by Sr. Dianne Turner, OSE.
I continued to grow in faith through the Mass and spiritual direction from my parish priests. I joined the CWL, which had Bible study and women who lived the faith through the feasts and devotion to the Saints. We met weekly and talked about the Mass, the Liturgical year, the Saints, the Bible; basically, it was an experience of being catechized as an adult. The Mystical Rose Charismatic Prayer Group in Kelowna, where I lived, had Life in the Spirit seminars. I was prayed over and received a deeper inflow of the Holy Spirit. After that, we had weekly charismatic prayer groups where I experienced healing and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This is the foundation of my seeking to follow Christ. When the time came that my friends were dating, I started to think about marriage, but I had given myself to Jesus when I was 14. I spoke to my parish priest who was my spiritual director at the time, asking for his advice. He said that I had been very young when I had made that gift of myself, not knowing the full implications, and he advised me to date. I tried dating young men, but none of these men were who God wanted me to be with. My spiritual director at the time advised me that I might have a vocation to be a Religious Sister. Since I was a teacher, I had school breaks that allowed me to visit various orders of Sisters. I stayed for short times with both apostolic and cloistered Sisters of many communities, but did not feel at home with any of them. My spiritual director advised me to speak to the Bishop of our Diocese, and the Bishop told me to write down a detailed description of what God was asking me to live. Then I made private promises to God to live my Christian life in a dedicated manner. After my grandmother died, I no longer had any commitments that would keep me in Kelowna. My friend Jean was also searching for where God wanted us to be. She wanted to check out Madonna House in Combermere, Ontario. I did not know anything about that apostolate, though I had met them in Regina, Saskatchewan, many years before. We went to Madonna House, and I never left. The moment I got off the bus, I knew that I was home. My journey of faith led me to become a Staff Member of Madonna House, and I stayed for over a decade. My friend Jean left after a week and became a Sister of Charity. Catherine Doherty, the foundress of Madonna House Apostolate, was a great influence in my spiritual life. She had good insight into the souls of the members and guided them well in following the Lord. I am so thankful for the gifts that God gave me there. I learned how to pray the Liturgy of the Hours in the community, to integrate spiritual reading into my life, and to pray for the needs of others. Fr. Francis Martin gave us Scripture classes. Fr. Wild, who was my spiritual director, led me deeper into contemplation and meditation. Jean Fox, the women’s director, taught me about living in community in a spiritual way, how to deal with anger, frustration, and other interpersonal issues. I learned how to repair books, bake bread, make yogurt and cheese, type on a typewriter, spin wool into yarn, and basic drawing techniques. Because of the various departments in the community, I learned different skills that were of great benefit in my future life. It was time for final promises, and Catherine Doherty and my spiritual director discerned that I was not called to live permanently in the Madonna House community. Catherine sent me out from Madonna House to live in the world as both a contemplative and active person. The only resource I had was a stack of resumes that I could use to find a job. She also advised me to look into consecrated life as a virgin living in the world. So, I came to Calgary, where my father lived in a seniors’ home. I could not find any work or a place to live. In my desperation, I went to the cathedral and prayed to the Lord, asking Him to take care of me. Then, by His providence, God pointed me towards a businessman who had a job for me, and this man also helped me find a place to live. I ended up working for him for about seven years. During this time, I heard about a group of consecrated virgins living in the United States, and I visited them. I was not prepared, however, to move to another country and give up my Canadian citizenship, which would have been required for me to join them. I continued to live my promises to the Lord that I had made at Madonna House: Poverty, Chastity and Obedience in my state of life. Because of my love for St Francis’ teachings, I became a Secular Franciscan. Each step has brought me into a deeper understanding of who God has called me to be. Nothing is hidden from Him. Now I hear His Voice within me. He is calling me to be a Consecrated Virgin living in the world for the Diocese of Calgary. This is what I have learned: when you are trying to discover where God wants you to be, you need to determine what is most important. It is prayer, which includes a time of listening to Him, reading the Scriptures, which is a time of Him speaking to you, and spiritual direction for wise guidance. In all these ways, God will answer your question about who He wants you to be.
 This Sunday, we celebrate the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, the cathedral of the Pope and “mother and head of all churches in the world.” Built by Emperor Constantine in the fourth century, it was the first public church in Rome. This feast reminds us that every church building is a sign of the living Church and that each baptized person is a living stone in the temple of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray for the Pope, for unity in the Church, and for hearts renewed in faith.
Ways to commemorate this feast with your family or parish community:
As shared by Fr. Raymond Lowing, and transcribed by Sr. Dianne Turner.
As the years went on, he was sent as associate pastor at St. Michael’s parish in Pincher Creek, then St. Anthony’s parish in Drumheller. His first appointment as pastor was at St. Peter’s parish in Milk River, where he stayed for several years. After this, he was sent to serve as pastor at St. Augustine’s parish in Taber, and then at St. Rita’s parish in Rockyford, where he oversaw the construction of a new rectory. Then new responsibilities were on the horizon. Fr. John was sent to study Canon Law at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa. From there he received his licentiate in Canon Law in 1989. This degree prepared him for the next assignment that the Lord had in store for him. Bishop Paul O’Byrne appointed the newly-trained canon lawyer, Fr. John, as Moderator of the Diocesan Curia. In this role, he oversaw various aspects of the Diocese as assigned to him by the Bishop. The Bishop also appointed him as Vicar General, which assigned him the task of overseeing all Diocesan matters under the direction of the Bishop. He held this office throughout the time of Bishop O’Byrne and Bishop Henry. Fr. John retired as the Moderator of the Curia in 2018. Since retirement, Fr. John has been involved in the administration of the clergy pension plan. He also took part in a committee composed of clergy and laypeople to establish Dorchester Square as a residence for clergy, some of whom are retired. At present, he is still living in Dorchester Square and is helping to manage the administration of this residence. Over the years, Fr. John enjoyed travelling and was fortunate to be on several cruises, particularly in Europe. On one of those trips, he visited an area in Ukraine near Odessa, the place from which his immediate ancestors came to Canada. His grandfather was the first in the family to come from Odessa to Canada when the Soviet revolution endangered the people of German background. This experience of connecting with his roots was of great worth to Fr. John. As Fr. John celebrates his 60th anniversary of ordination, we give thanks for his many years of faithful service and quiet leadership, a priest who has devoted his life to God and His Church. May God bless you, Fr. John, with continued strength, peace, and joy in your priesthood. Happy anniversary!
 On Tuesday, October 28, parishioners, families, clergy, and pro-life advocates filled St. Mary’s Cathedral for the Diocese of Calgary’s inaugural Mass for Life, a Eucharistic celebration devoted to honouring the dignity of every human life, from conception to natural death. Presided over by Bishop William McGrattan, the Mass invited all to rediscover the heart of the Church’s mission to defend life. In his homily, the Bishop reminded the faithful that the protection of life is not a political stance but a spiritual mission, one rooted in Christ’s sacrificial love. His words made a deep impact, encouraging each person to witness to the Gospel of Life with courage, charity, and compassion. Several pro-life and pastoral organizations were present, including ALIES, the CCCB’s Horizons of Hope Palliative Care initiative, the Catholic Women’s League, 40 Days for Life, the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform, and the Calgary Pro-Life Association. Each offered practical ways for parishioners to learn, pray, and act in support of a consistent ethic of life. After Mass, attendees visited the display tables to ask questions and learn about new opportunities to serve. Organization representatives noted the high level of interest and engagement, describing the evening as a clear sign that this shared mission is sustained by faith and grace. The Diocese will celebrate the Mass for Life annually, offering the faithful a chance to grow in faith and unity around the Church’s call to protect life.
Photos by Bandi Szakony for the Diocese of Calgary.
The Red Mass, which was brought back to Calgary by the St. Thomas More Lawyers Guild in 2014, has historical origins in Paris in 1245, or possibly began with Pope Innocent IV in 1243, and is recorded to have taken place in England in 1310. Regardless of who began the tradition, it has been meaningful in Canada since it was celebrated in Quebec in 1926 to highlight the opening of the Courts. It is said to be “red” because of the scarlet robes traditionally worn by English Supreme Court justices, and with a deeper theological meaning, symbolizing the coming of the Holy Spirit and commissioning of the Apostles. “There is a hunger for fellowship with those who share in the same work, and who share a passion for their faith,” said co-organizer Tom Ross, acknowledging that the celebration of the Eucharist together will be the high point. Cardinal Collins is expected to deliver the homily at Mass and will speak about Church topics of recent interest at the reception following Mass, which requires a ticket. When he was young, Collins, whose mother worked for a lawyer, said he “had thought of being a lawyer,” himself. “To speak and to be learned in the law, I just thought I would be a lawyer like Thomas More. I thought that would be wonderful.” With admiration for those in the legal profession, Collins will speak on the key elements that made St. Thomas More an example to follow, not only for his time, but for ours. He emphasized that a key commonality that legal professionals today share with the era of Thomas More, who lived from 1478 until he was executed by Henry VIII in 1535, is the issue of conscience. “We know exactly what he thought about conscience because he wrote letters from the dungeon in the tower to his dear daughter Margaret. He explains in great detail what conscience means,” he said. “He said he had studied the issue (of Henry VIII’s desire to divorce Catherine of Aragon, and make himself the head of the Church) and was clear on the history of the Church, and the fathers of the Church, and it was clear that Henry’s claim was false.” “It wasn’t just his ego,” said Collins, referencing media depictions of St. Thomas More’s individual decision, “it was that he had studied the case. Con-science means ‘with knowledge,’ so it wasn’t his ego, it was the truth.” In the present day, Collins said he recognized that there is a lot of pressure on lawyers to conform in ways not always aligned with our Christian faith. “That’s a lot of pressure. They’ve got – like Thomas More – families to think about.” Cardinal Collins pointed out that St. John Fisher, a contemporary of Thomas More, who was also imprisoned and martyred, “could be courageous because he was a celibate and he didn’t have a family to lose.” “I would say that because he had a family to think about, it was in some ways more difficult for Thomas to lose everything – his position and his money. The money was for the sake of his family.” Collins emphasized that Henry VIII and his counterparts made great efforts to try to convince Thomas, including to use his daughter Margaret to appeal to his emotions, but that he could not simply change his mind. “He could not live a lie. He was an honourable man.” Comparing More’s troubles to today, Collins said, “I would say there’s a lot of pressure on politicians and lawyers, and that they have to be like Thomas. Thomas was careful in how he did things, and he was faithful. He didn’t take unnecessary risks, but when push came to shove, he stood up for the faith.” Cardinal Collins looks forward to the Red Mass and sounded confident that he could find a lot to say about one of his personal heroes. “He's a great hero, and there are wonderful lawyers and politicians, and so we should celebrate them and celebrate a model of someone who did it very well and who lives forever. In all the struggles, we can look to Thomas More for guidance.”
Written by Jessica Cyr for the St. Thomas More Lawyers Guild
 Priest Assignment; Deacon Assignment; Clergy Personnel Announcements; Pastoral Assignment; Priests Move
 Children's resources this Advent & Christmas
Advent & Christmas Books (source: Catholic All Year)
 Seeking the quietness in the day, in the midst of your usual routines, The Seven Sisters Apostolate is a Eucharistic Association of women who feel called to strengthen the church by ensuring that a Holy Hour is prayed each day of the week throughout the year for the sole intentions of a specific priest in their Parish. The Anchoress of our Apostolate is charged with assigning each sister one Holy Hour to pray alone before the Blessed Sacrament for a pastor chosen for us. Although we pray alone, we gather once a year, close to the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to celebrate with our pastors and sisters and to renew our commitment to the Apostolate. On June 28 this year, the Apostolate at St. Luke’s Parish held our third annual Potluck Lunch at the church. Our Pastors, Fr. Fernando Genogaling, Fr. Derek Remus, and Fr. Barnabas Esegine, joined us and offered thanks for our prayers for their intentions. We were grateful for the opportunity to “break bread” together, and judging by the volume of chatter in the room, it was clear that our pastors and all of the sisters of the Apostolate enjoyed each other’s company. To date, the Seven Sisters Apostolate at St. Luke’s Parish has 42 sisters who pray every week for the priests who shepherd us and for Bishop Rev. William McGrattan. Although our commitment to pray for our pastors is for one year, the members of the apostolate may choose to recommit for a further year, as many of our sisters have done.
History of the Seven Sisters Apostolate This Apostolate was started in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 2011 by Jeanette Howe and Fr. Joseph Johnson. Through their prayers and advocacy, the Apostolate has grown from a group of seven women to over 2600 groups on six continents, in 50 States in the USA, and in almost all of the Provinces of Canada. If your Parish is interested in this ministry and would like more information about the Seven Sisters Apostolate, please visit sevensistersapostolate.org We thank our anchoress, who belongs to the Seat of Wisdom presidium of the Legion of Mary, and as part of her Spiritual Works of Mercy, is committed to starting this Apostolate at our Parish. We are grateful for her leadership and the opportunity to be part of a powerful prayer group whose commitment to prayer for the pastors of our Parish has enriched our own lives. Written by D. Gibson, member of St. Luke’s Parish in Calgary.
Photos courtesy of Victor Panlilio, and The Sisters of the Apostolate who pray for the Parish priests and our Bishop.
I want to recognize and celebrate the work of Mission Mexico over these past 25 years. This program is a testament to the faith and generosity of the people of Calgary, reaching out to the poorest of the poor with arms of faith, hope, and charity for the people in the mountain regions of Guerrero. This program has given them hope and a better future for themselves and their families, firmly grounded in the love of God.  On Saturday evening, Oct 25, 2025, Mission Mexico celebrated their 25 years of service! The celebration took place at St. Anthony’s, where about 45 friends gathered for tacos, burritos, and lively conversation.
We were privileged to welcome Mike MacDonald, who leads the charity’s work in Mexico. After showing the celebratory anniversary video, Mike recounted the impact of his ministry among the poorest families in the mountains of Guerrero, and recalled the recent visit of board members, John Paul and his wife, Harriet. Board chair Sean Lynn announced that, in honour of the 25th anniversary, the scholarship bursaries will be increased to 64 awards and several one-time projects. This is just one of the many initiatives that parishes can support, whether by fundraising for the bursaries or by contributing to the other projects supported by Mission Mexico.
It began with a request in Grade 9 to serve at Bishop Francis Carroll’s weekday Masses. Three of the altar servers in St. Joseph’s Parish, Calgary, took weekly turns, serving the Mass and having breakfast with Bishop Carroll before going off to school. Around my 11th Grade, Bishop Carroll, and my pastor, Monsignor Neville Anderson, initiated the plot to have me consider the priesthood. That I couldn’t imagine. Yet upon graduating from St. Mary’s High School, Bishop Carroll registered me in St. Joseph’s Seminary in Edmonton. He counselled me not immediately to buy a black suit but to cooperate with the seminary staff in the discernment of a vocation. Five years later, on a stairway landing, the seminary rector, Monsignor Howard Griffin, asked me if this (Ordination through Subdiaconate, Diaconate and Priesthood) was right for me. I had come to a realization that the practice of Faith had enriched my life, and if I could facilitate such enrichment, refuge and identity for others, I should answer yes. And I did. Upon ordination in 1965, too young to be entrusted with parish responsibilities, I was asked to serve as a chaplain at Camp Cadicasu for the summer. It turned out to be some 18 years of fun and adventure, attempting to open eyes to the world and the people around them. In the fall of 1965, at the ripe age of 23 and a half, I was assigned to St. Michael’s Parish in Calgary. The following years were spent at St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Augustine’s, Taber; St. Francis High School, Calgary; St. John’s, Calgary; St. Basil’s, Lethbridge; St. Michael’s, Pincher Creek; and retirement from parish responsibilities in the summer of 2010. In 2011 until 2021, I served a chaplaincy in the Calgary Catholic School District. Gary Strothers, the superintendent at the time, asked Bishop Henry if he could ask me to help out. Bishop Henry told me as he was leaving the dining room table one evening: “Strothers asked me if he could approach you. I told him, you could do worse.” So, with that resounding endorsement, I served again in a rich, engaging environment. From it, I resigned when they took Bishop Vital Grandin’s name from the second-oldest Catholic high school in the City of Calgary. It has been a climb, rich in memories and in supportive and challenging relationships with families of origin and families of choice. I am deeply grateful to my Mom and Dad, my sister and brother and all who have engaged in the struggle with me. The Church and beyond have provided enabling encouragement and support. For all those who read this, I hope an abiding experience of gratitude for their outstanding goodness. Written by Fr. Eric Nelson for Faithfully.
 On Sunday, Oct 5, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Bishop William T. McGrattan installed four permanent diaconate aspirants into the Ministry of Candidate during the Sunday Mass at noon. The Rite for Admission to Candidacy is an important step for each aspirant on his journey toward becoming a permanent deacon in the Catholic church. Having already completed one year of formation training, this rite is an opportunity for these aspirants to express publicly their intention to continue in the diaconate formation program. Here is the list of candidates who have just begun their second year of formation and were instituted as candidates on Sunday:
We ask the faithful to keep these men and their families in prayer as they continue their journey toward ordination and a life of service as permanent deacons in the Diocese of Calgary.
Written by Deacon Dale Laing for Faithfully. Photography by Victor Panlilio for the Diocese of Calgary.
After the First World War, a chastened Joe returns to his family’s homestead, desiring to live a quiet life. Decades later, and now ordained in the Diocese of Calgary, Fr. Joe is an itinerant priest in rural Southern Alberta. In 1939, he willingly leaves this peaceful life for the chaos of the Second World War, feeling a call to comfort soldiers on the front lines. But there’s a deeper mission from God which Fr. Joe senses but cannot identify. Galeski does an excellent job of describing the terror of battle and the anger and helplessness felt by victims of violence. However, Fr. Joe’s reactions are completely different from those of his comrades. So, when they are ordered to retreat to safety, Fr. Joe refuses to leave. He responds only to the movement of the Holy Spirit within him, with quiet, inexplicable confidence. At every stage of his increasingly fraught journey into the heart of occupied territory, Fr. Joe follows his interior compass, no matter how problematic the resulting decisions turn out to be. Galeski contrasts Fr. Joe’s behaviour with that of a young German soldier who has rejected the faith of his family in order to follow Nazi doctrine. These chapters contain graphic details of concentration camp atrocities. The book also contains chilling references to demons, which presumably are included to allude to the general atmosphere of evil which permeated the Third Reich. When Fr. Joe and the German soldier-cum-guard eventually meet, the priest recognizes what his mission was all along. Their confrontation, though harsh, is surprisingly moving, and the consequences far-reaching. In Fr. Joe Benson, Galeski presents an antihero, a person who does not kill, does not hate, seeks neither glory nor vengeance, and refuses to despair. A person who faces violence, not passively, but peacefully. It’s an example worth noting. Written by Alice Matisz for Faithfully.
“Through Whom the Light Shines” are available from Justin Press (www.justinpress.ca) or by emailing the author at [email protected]. Last weekend, on October 18th, our choir, the St. Hildegard Singers, presented a concert centered on the Holy Rosary. We sang all the prayers of the Rosary: the Creed, Our Father, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer, and the Salve Regina, along with ten different settings of the Hail Mary. It was such a beautiful opportunity for all of us to pray to Our Lady in a new way, and we even gave people the chance to have their Rosaries blessed by a relic of the True Cross. The initial idea for the concert came from our co-director, Nate DeMong. He suggested that we sing ten Hail Marys for the Feast of the Rosary, and we thought, why stop there? Every prayer has a musical version, so we decided to sing them all. The music was a mix of chant and classic choral works. Some we discovered along the way, such as The Prayer of Fatima by Laurence Rosania, which is a stunning example and quickly became one of our favourites. Others were pieces we already knew, like Victoria’s and Haydn’s Ave Maria settings. We spent many hours listening to choral music on Spotify and YouTube to find the right selections. One of the most memorable pieces was a women's-only version of Ave Maria by Canadian composer Eleanor Daley. The music in that one is so ethereal, it almost makes the air shimmer. We hope that those who attended the concert left having discovered a new way to pray through music. We also hope the pieces touched them more deeply than words alone could. For any non-Catholics who came, we pray that the experience may have sparked curiosity about the faith. Above all, our hope is that this concert helped people see that the Catholic tradition is rich and full of beauty, and that we can draw from it to bring greater depth and reverence to our liturgies. The St. Hildegard Singers (SHS) were founded alongside the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy (SFXC) in March 2019. The Chaplaincy’s mission has always been to equip young adults to become active disciples who will grow into leaders in their own communities and parishes. SHS not only teaches its twenty members how to be musical leaders but also strives to renew our liturgies through sacred music. If you missed the concert, you can watch the full performance on our YouTube channel. If you would like to support us and the work that we do, please consider donating here: https://www.catholicyyc.ca/donatetosfxc.html
Written by Maryna Szojka, founder and director of the St. Hildegard Singers at St Francis Xavier Chaplaincy.  St. Hildegard Singers at the Litany of St. Joseph's Concert, Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgary. |
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January 2026
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