Each year the season Advent becomes a spiritual doorway through which the Church enters a new liturgical year. On the first Sunday of Advent, we hear from the Gospel of Mark where Jesus tells the disciples “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the Lord of the house is coming. What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

This is a reminder that our spiritual life as Christians must always be focused on the coming of our Lord. To be spiritually watchful and alert is to be open and to desire this daily encounter with Him.

​The season of Advent is a time of preparation for such a spiritual renewal to rediscover and to put into practice what it means to watch in this way. Our being alert and watchful however, does require some effort and preparation on our part. It begins with the desire of our heart, to anticipate the desire of Christ revealed in his first coming to meet us, for He has embraced all peoples in his becoming human. This is the mystery of his incarnation; it is the Christian belief which surrounds the deeper spiritual meaning and celebration of Christmas.

Christ’s coming into the world, his continued presence occurs in our personal lives each day when through faith we see in a new way. It is a spiritual focus that is watchful of our human experience, to see our relationship with others, and to enter into our daily activities in a way that anticipates and is alert to the divine presence of Christ in all things.   
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Jesus has come; in his humanity he has shared our life with its many blessings, challenges, and has revealed to us our hope in the resurrection.  It is also true that Jesus will come again, in glory at the end of time to embrace all of humanity, those who have anticipated and prepared for His final coming. As St. Augustine once stated, “we are to live our lives each day between these two comings of Jesus”. To be spiritually alert and watchful to his divine presence here and now, each day.

This is the spiritual focus of Advent to be waiting for the Lord who desires to find us attentive. The effort that we make to pray and to reflect on the Word of God helps to prepare us to be more Christ like, to become a reflection of Christ’s presence and to be the light of Christ to others on a daily basis. However, we all know how difficult it is to mirror the light of Christ when we have become disillusioned with life, content in seeing the shadowy existence of the world, or in accepting a degree of emptiness when we choose to follow paths that do not lead to Christ.

​Advent reminds us that we must be ready to meet the Lord at any and every moment of life. Just like the house alarm that wakes up a homeowner, Advent is intended to wake us up as Christians who may have become drowsy or who are in danger of being asleep to the very presence of God in our lives.  ​

On November 4, nearly 500 faithful from the Diocese of Calgary convened at Mary Mother of the Redeemer Church for a Renewal Gathering.

The Mass was also highlighted by the profession of faith and oath of fidelity made by eight deacon candidates due to be ordained on Saturday, Nov. 18. Following the Mass, participants engaged in a Lectio Divina session led by Fr. Tim Boyle, delving into the story of Zaccheaus and its significance to our call for Renewal. Later, Bonnie Annichiarico from the Renewal Leadership Team had a conversation with Bishop McGrattan about the call for Renewal. Bishop McGrattan shared some stories from his Synod time in Rome, remarking how amazing it is to be in a gathering larger than those on the Synod floor in Rome. He then highlighted the priorities of the Renewal and what it means to pursue this in our daily lives.

Our deep gratitude to Fr. Shibu Kalarakkal, all the parish staff and volunteers at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish for their warm hospitality and hard work, as well as to the ministries and vendors who enriched the event with their presence and ministries. 

Some feedback and key takeaways from participants: ​

We wish we could have accommodated more attendees at Our Lady of Assumption Church's parish hall in Lethbridge (All Saints Parish) but the gathering was heartily filled to its capacity with over 170 registered participants from the Lethbridge pastoral zone and surrounding areas.

The evening began with Mass at 5 pm, presided by Bishop McGrattan. Here, four deacon candidates from Lethbridge & area who are to be ordained on November 18, professed their faith and oath of fidelity. Afterward, everyone transitioned to the Parish Hall for a delightful lasagna dinner prepared by an amazing group of parish volunteers.

Much like the event in Calgary, Fr. Tim Boyle facilitated an enriching discussion on renewal, with a Lectio Divina focusing on the story of Zaccheaus in the Sycamore tree. Bonnie Annichiarico and Bishop McGrattan then engaged in a conversation about renewal, discussing key messages from this important Renewal.

One participant shared their experience saying, "​Like Zacchaeus, there are many out there who are waiting to be invited in, to become a part of something that makes people joyful. Reach out. Invite them in."

We express our deepest thanks to Fr. Kevin Tumback and the pastoral team, and all the hard-working volunteers who made this event possible. The warm hospitality you extended to the diocesan faithful were truly remarkable. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Some feedback and key takeaways from participants: 

It was also full house gathering in High River with over 130 registered attendees from the South Calgary pastoral zone and nearby areas. Following Mass with Bishop McGrattan and concelebrating priests, attendees were treated to a light supper at the beautiful parish hall of St. Francis de Sales. Here, Fr. Tim led participants on a spiritual journey through the story of Zacchaeus via Lectio Divina. 

John Wasch from the Renewal Leadership Team interviewed Bishop McGrattan on his Synod journey in Rome, and the Bishop shared his key insights for the Renewal. Feeling inspired, one participant shared, "Bishop gave some very compelling points about the Synod and has changed my somewhat pessimistic view. We are the change through prayer, hope and action. Be involved, and do not be afraid."

Our deepest appreciation to Fr. Mariusz Sztuk, SDS, the pastoral staff  and the amazing volunteers from St. Francis de Sales Parish for their exceptional hospitality and hard work in preparing for this event.  

Asked about key takeaways and action item from the session, participants shared:

Our series of renewal gatherings reached its culmination at Holy Family Parish, where over 230 parishioners from the Medicine Hat deanery gathered in joyous celebration.  We began with the Holy Eucharist, led by Bishop McGrattan and priests of the deanery. In his homily, the Bishop emphasized the vital role of faith as the foundation for renewal and our collective responsibility to share it with others.

The Knights of Columbus efficiently served a sumptuous BBQ hamburger dinner, skillfully organized, allowing the evening program to start ahead of schedule. Bishop McGrattan provided insight into the diocesan vision of renewal, shaped through a process of listening and consultation. Fr. Tim Boyle then guided participants in a spiritual reflection on Philippians 2:5, encouraging them to adopt the mindset of Christ on their transformative journey to His heart.

Small group discussions delved into the experience of this transformative journey, using the story of Jesus' encounter with Zacchaeus as a context. We are called to see others as Christ sees them. This is the heart of the renewal. The Q&A session with Bishop McGrattan was both informative and inspiring, showcasing his personal commitment to community engagement in the renewal process.

A delightful bonus to the evening was the Renewal Gathering photobooth, courtesy of Fr. Fabio deSouza, adding a fun and memorable touch to the event. The entire evening beautifully reflected the unity of the faith community on the shared path of renewal.
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We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Fr. Roque, the Holy Family parish team, and the Knights of Columbus for your dedicated efforts in hosting the Gathering. Your hospitality and warm welcome were deeply felt by all.

​On Saturday, at Mary Mother of Redeemer Parish in Calgary, we held our first Diocesan Renewal Gathering. The enthusiasm for this event meant that we had to close registration early in the week. Those in attendance were in excess of 480 which was more than on the Synod floor in Rome! I won’t fail to mention this to Pope Francis when I meet with him the next time in Rome!

These diocesan gatherings began with Mass, followed by an experience of communion, of coming together in faith to pray and reflect on the Word of God, to see how the encounter of Zacchaeus with Jesus could transform our lives. I did share some of my experiences of the Synod but wanted to show that the synodal path of listening and discernment have been guiding our initiatives of renewal in the Diocese of Calgary.

We continued to hold two more Diocesan Renewal Gatherings in Lethbridge and High River, and then this Monday, Nov. 13 in Medicine Hat (register here). I encourage all of the faithful to become engaged and to learn more about this renewal in this orientation phase.

​As one bishop stated at the Synod with respect to pastoral renewal and change “it is better to take smaller steps with more people that to take larger steps with fewer people”. In a similar way and guided by the Holy Spirit “let us take smaller steps but walk together” on this path of renewal for our Diocese.

Written by Sara Francis, and submitted by Saint Thomas More Lawyers’ Guild of Calgary. The Saint Thomas More Lawyers’ Guild of Calgary hosts the Red Mass as an opportunity for all members of the legal and law enforcement community to pray for the pursuit of justice and mercy at the beginning of the new judicial term and to build community together. 

​All are welcome to join Bishop McGrattan as he offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Everyone can purchase tickets for the reception and keynote address in St. Mary’s hall following Mass by contacting calgary.stmlg@gmail.com.

Ordination to the Priesthood
Rev. Mr. Santiago Torres will be ordained to the Sacred Priesthood on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus by Most Reverend William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary:

• When: Friday, June 16 at 7 pm - St. Mary's Cathedral. Door opens at 6 pm.
• Livestream available through the Diocesan Facebook Live. 
  
  

Masses of Thanksgiving
Soon-to-be Fr. Santiago Torres will celebrate Mass of Thanksgivings on:

• Saturday, June 17 at 9 am - St. Bonaventure, Calgary
• Sunday, June 18 at All Saints, Lethbridge
  • 11 am at St. Basil's Church;
  • 6 pm at Assumption's Church.

Last week I attended the 2023 GrACE Summit – Walking Together in Catholic Education which was held in Edmonton. Grateful Advocates for Catholic Education (GrACE) was formed in 2018 as collaborative initiative of the Catholic school trustees and superintendents with the Alberta bishops. Its mission is “to inspire, invigorate and embolden the spirit of Catholic education in order to unite, engage, educate and communicate with one voice on its behalf”. This week we celebrate Catholic Education Week in the province of Alberta. The theme “Walking Together” was taken from the scripture passage “As for us, we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.” (Micah 4:5). In the Alberta Bishop’s letter, we stated that this week “affords us the welcome opportunity to reflect on the crucial role Catholic schools play in educating our children and young people, by creating formative communities of love and care that witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ”.

What makes a Catholic school distinct and relevant in our current society? These schools are communities of faith and learning. They can be diverse in their configuration i.e., public, private or charter, yet focused on coming to know the truth, the goal of all learning through the use of reason which is animated by a faith and belief in God. In fact, Catholic schools are not intended to be exclusively for Catholics. They are school communities for all families, imbued with a Catholic world view, a Christian anthropology of the human person as being created in the image of God, a faith infused curriculum of learning, the Gospel witness of prayer and service which promotes a focus on community through a spirituality of communion.  

Catholic schools are not institutions of propaganda as some would argue nor are they to be controlled by ideologies, or educational trends of a government agenda. The Catholic educational tradition offers experiences of learning that allow for both evangelization and the catechetical support of young people in their faith through celebrating encounters that are centered in Christ. However, the task of education is broader. It is to promote a wholistic experience of learning that forms and completes the person, preparing them for life, to appreciate the value of their life and that of others by offering to society values and goods that they willingly share for the benefit of others through service. This is the distinctly Catholic approach to education which enhances the human formation and mature development of the next generation of young people as they grow in knowledge and wisdom.  

In recent years there has been a growing “educational emergency” in public education. It is marked by the increasing difficulty of transmitting the basic values of life, what is truth, what is good, what is beauty, to our young people. At the core of this “emergency” is the misconception that truth is relative, that what I subjectively believe to be true for myself is the “truth” and that it must be accepted by others. Pope Francis identified this tension and challenge for Catholic educators – “Dialogue, in fact, educates when a person relates with respect, esteem, sincerity of listening and expresses themselves with authenticity, without obfuscating or mitigating one’s identity. We cannot create a culture of dialogue if we do not have identity.” The Catholic identity of our schools, the witness of our Catholic school teachers who engage in this dialogue through their teaching can transform a society and culture which is becoming more relativistic and secular. 

The Catholic school curriculum of learning needs to address this important dialogue while balancing the relationship between religious enquiry and catechesis in the Catholic faith. This initiative of dialogue is distinctly Catholic in identity which we offer to society. Catholic schools have a core curriculum of learning where religious faith can permeate all subjects. For Catholic students, this might also serve as a pathway of catechesis which must always respect a wider and more meaningful integration within their family and the life of the Church. It is a curriculum which is primarily “knowledge-based” for those students who are not part of the Catholic tradition. It invites them to be reflective, to grow in religious literacy and knowledge while being open to a human formation that reflects the Christian understanding of the human person, their inherent dignity and destiny. 

Catholic schools both public and private have the potential to contribute to the cultural enrichment of society. Despite the hostility and indifference towards religion these schools serve as a witness to the importance of religious belief as a critical voice of dialogue in civic society. Therefor Catholic schools have a unique opportunity to teach about the value of religion, belief in God and through Christ to know how we are to transform the values of a wider society.

​The key to the future mission and identity of our Catholic schools is the commitment of the parents and teachers to see Catholic education as an enrichment of our culture. Education by its nature invites an openness to other cultures, without the loss of one’s fundamental identity. This is the rich tradition of Catholic education in Alberta and the mission of our schools to inspire, invigorate and embolden this Catholic identity for future generations. This week let us speak with one voice in walking together for Catholic Education.   

Resources:

• Suggested Activities for 2023 Catholic Education Week and links to prerecorded reflections of Alberta Bishops - Download PDF
• 2023 Catholic Education Week Letter from the Bishops of Alberta (English/French)

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

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

​March 6, 2023

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”. 

The Advent season marks the beginning of a new liturgical year. In preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas, it is a time of spiritual renewal which invites us as Christians to reflect more deeply on the meaning of our common human history. To rediscover our vocation and mission in Christ which calls us to reach out to all of humanity, peoples, cultures, and across the path of time.
 
In our lives we can all experience the call to begin again, to rediscover the meaning and the goal of our lives in relation to God, and to all of humanity through Christ. It is similar for the human family in rediscovering the common path and horizon that unites us. This horizon of hope for all of humanity has been revealed to us in Christ, who was the incarnate Word of God.   

Submitted by Bishop William T. McGrattan for Faithfully.
Photos courtesy of Yuan Wang | ​See all photos

Written by Mario Toneguzzi for Faithfully. Mario is a veteran writer living in Calgary with his wife Marlene and their three children. They attend St. Peter's and St. Stephen's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Calgary. 

Photo credits: Alejandro Henao & volunteers team​

Today September 5th marks the 25th Anniversary of the death of Mother Theresa. Pope Francis canonized Saint Teresa of Calcutta on Sep. 4, 2016 during the Holy Year of Mercy. Her witness of the Gospel and the profound example of “sharing poverty” with the must vulnerable is the enduring legacy and attractiveness of her religious life which bears fruit today throughout the world in the continuing ministry of the Sisters of Charity.
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Her vocation was first lived as a young Loreto Sister. Teresa enjoyed teaching for fifteen years in Loreto sponsored schools in India. In 1946 while on a train, she experienced a strong “call within a call” to go from a religious life of teaching to one that served those who were poorest of the poor, to care for the destitute in Calcutta. This call came from her experience of families in society at the time who were treated and labelled as ‘untouchable’, these people were born, lived and died on the streets. These were the people for whom Sister Teresa felt called to share her life. 

In Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s story, there are two distinct but related calls in sharing the love of the poor: one is to care for the broken, to bind up wounds and to ensure their dignity in the final moments of their life. The other is to advocate and educate people about the systemic injustices of greed and power which divides and destroys the common fabric of human lives. Since the Second Vatican Council, more emphasis has been given to advocacy work, to critique the structures that leave so many on the peripheries and without the ability and right to participate in society.

This tiny woman reached out to the most destitute of people, often overlooked by society, government organizations throughout the world because they fall through the cracks or don’t fit their categories and classifications of those in need. Saint Teresa brought dignity to those who died in pain, in slums and on street corners, alone and unloved. She chose not to deal with the root causes of poverty, such as the abandonment of widows in segments of Indian society, yet she campaigned vigorously against abortion and contraception in one of the world's most overcrowded cities and countries.

Her extraordinary witness of charity, the upholding of the gift of human life at all stages, her loving and selfless service of the poor did touch the hearts of people throughout the entire world. Yet despite the testimony of all these good works following her beatification in 2003 and the publication of her personal diary and letters, many journalists and newscasters chose to report the sensational narrative of her spiritual struggles: "Mother Teresa's secret life: crisis and darkness," or "Calcutta's Saint was an atheist". Some commentators wrote: "She lost her faith and the Church rewards her for it." Those who prepared the documentation for her beatification cited such letters as proof of her exceptional faith and not the absence of it. Mother Teresa reveals deeply personal experiences when she once felt God's powerful presence and heard Jesus speak to her. Then God withdrew and Jesus seemed silent. She experienced in her spiritual life of faith the withdrawal of any emotional consolation from God. It left her to rely only on the divine virtues of faith, hope and charity, the virtues given to all Christians, not just the spiritual elite. In the end Mother Teresa shared her spiritual poverty, showing that she was one of us after all.

What is truly prophetic about Mother Teresa and her sisters is that when they speak of loving God and neighbor, and "sharing poverty", it defies the logic of many of our institutions and agencies that prefer political agendas and programs for the poor instead of deep, personal communion and a presence which respects the dignity of the person. The individuals and communities committed to this type of communion and accompaniment of the poor are dismissed as being irrelevant. Some have said that in Mother Teresa there was no prophetic witness of social justice in her teachings of her lifestyle. Yet she and her sisters moved into neighborhoods and befriended people and spoke only of 'sharing poverty’.  

For the last 29 years the diocese has provided outreach through Feed the Hungry to the vulnerable and poor within the inner-city neighbourhood of Calgary. During COVID this diocesan outreach continued by the offering to individuals and families warm meals in care packages distributed outside of the Cathedral hall. Now is the time to renew our “sharing poverty” in the spirit of Saint Teresa of Calcutta.

In April 2022 I had the privilege of accompanying the Indigenous Delegation to Rome to meet the Holy Father. It was historic in many ways but it was also a step of preparation for his visit to Canada. In his meeting with the survivors he made the commitment to “visit their ancestral lands, where their families live” and to accompany them on this journey of healing and reconciliation.

The Papal Visit takes place next week, and has been described as a “penitential pilgrimage” by the Holy Father. Early in June the Vatican confirmed that the Holy Father would visit three hubs in Canada: Edmonton, Quebec City and Iqaluit. Given the Holy Father’s advanced age, limited time frame for the visit and the size of Canada, the host communities will minimize travel for the Pope and allow for events to take place in close proximity to these cities.
 
Edmonton is home to the second largest number of Indigenous people living in urban Canadian centres. It is near Lac Ste Anne, a place of annual pilgrimage for thousands of Indigenous peoples from across Western and Northern Canada. The Holy Father will visit the site of a former residential school, an inner-city Indigenous parish, celebrate an outdoor Mass at Commonwealth Stadium and on the Feast of St. Anne be with the pilgrims who make this annual pilgrimage to Lac Ste Anne.
 
In travelling to Quebec City, he will meet with the Indigenous peoples from Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. This region is also home to the Shrine of Ste. Anne-de-Beaupre which is one of the oldest and most popular pilgrimage sites in North America which annually draws people from throughout Canada and around the world.
 
The final stop for the Holy Father will be in Iqaluit which is the capital of Nunavut and home to 3,900 Inuit People. During the private encounter in Rome the Inuit Delegates invited Pope Francis to visit this northern part of our country and he expressed his openness that this meeting would take place.  
 
In the planning of this Visit we have been committed to ensuring Indigenous participation from across the country on programming and other key elements of the visit. Fr. Cristino Bouvette, a Calgary priest has also been asked to assist in the planning of the liturgies. His own Indigenous background and knowledge of working with these communities has been invaluable. There are also a great number of volunteers from our diocese who are committed to making this visit to Alberta a meaningful and faith filled experience for Catholics.  
 
This visit will be a new chapter of healing, hope and reconciliation that we pray will be a watershed moment for Indigenous peoples of this land and the Church’s relationship in our journey together.
 
It is important that we each commit to holding this papal visit in our prayers and to undertaking the reparations with Indigenous Peoples we are each able to accomplish in our own lives. For some, this may mean learning more about or participating in the Indigenous cultural or spiritual celebrations. For others, learning about the history and making contributions personal and financial to support the journey of healing and reconciliation. This is a whole Church effort and each one of us needs to hold this in prayer and make a real and practical effort to support reconciliation. 
 
The journey involves words, for sure – and the Holy Father will echo the apology he made to the Indigenous Delegation when we visited Rome. Let’s each commit to offering our own efforts so that in the experience of Indigenous Peoples, we can collectively make real and palpable the Apology of Pope Francis on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church.

The synodal journey in the Diocese of Calgary was a process of encounter, listening and discernment. There were many who questioned if undertaking such a journey would bear any fruits personally and communally. Like on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit breathed new life and hope into the weariness that we had been experiencing in these past few years. One parish synod leader described the experience in these words: “The synod allowed our parishioners to move from a period of isolation to gathering once more and in doing so discovering each other’s stories of faith. This was just the beginning of a renewal for our parish and Church in listening to the hurts of the past and to forge forward with hope to grow stronger together.”
 
There were many challenges that surfaced during these listening sessions but there was one overwhelming concern which was voiced and that was for families, youth and children in the life of the faith community. The responses on a family's experience of the Church reflected both ups and downs, and at times, quite serious challenges. Not all families felt welcomed, acknowledged, or appreciated in their communities. Many shared their personal accounts of frustration, hurt, and pain experienced when they had approached the Church. There is a general lack of understanding and acceptance of the uniqueness and conditions specific to families and the stages of life they are in. Often this results in the parishes’ inability to make connections with families in a truly effective way.  
Outreach, inviting, and being welcoming were emphasized over and over again. Families need parishes to make intentional efforts to foster relationships with them, help them to connect with other families in the community, and to work to strengthen these bonds. Special consideration also needs to be given in all our outreach activities to gauge how effective they are in addressing the broad spectrum of families and their living situations. These differences can include: ethnicity, culture, language, age, marital status, single parents, families with young children, and those without access to or familiarity with the latest technology. In addition, people and family circumstances change over time as we age, and communication modes and styles need to be adapted appropriately to the targeted age group.

One person stated “our children deserve a place where they can learn to know, love, and serve God.” This passionate appeal is echoed time and again by many in the community. Do we make consistent and intentional efforts to make sure youth get involved, feel welcome, be encouraged to participate, and have opportunities to be formed in the faith? Have we made space for our youth? Are we fostering an environment where experience and learning are encouraged without feeling scolded or frowned upon? A common concern repeated many times was a lack of organized events specifically to provide opportunities to engage youth, with a focus on ensuring they feel welcome, connected, needed, and loved. Many asked if we are proactively and properly funding youth programs to keep them engaged. The idea of sharing ministry with youth between smaller communities was raised as a possible way to share resources and maximize effectiveness. There is a need for perseverance, creativity, occasional re-evaluation, and a never-ending need for continuous innovation in our communication, outreach, and welcoming efforts as we journey with our youth and their families.

Ultimately, our youth want to journey with us. Thanks to the dedication of our teachers and parish catechists, over 500 youth participated informally in the synodal journey as they shared their experience of Church. As can be expected, the various responses provided a wide-range of answers, reactions, and perspectives; ranging from experiencing the Church as a community that welcomes, supports, inspires, and teaches, to feeling unwelcome, uninspired, and/or judged by the Church.

When asked how we could grow together as a community of faith, responses from our youth included a wide spectrum of ideas for activities to make faith and Church life more appealing. There was an expressed desire for the life of faith to be more inviting, inspiring, and to know God (Holy Spirit) personally. They felt that the Church needs to find new ways to pass on the message of faith in ways that consider individual interest, intellectual level, and age so as to lead young people to make personal decisions about their faith and their relationship with God and the Church. There must be a greater degree of collaboration and openness in accompanying them in relation to addressing modern-day issues and challenges pertaining to faith and morals. They want a better understanding of the sacraments, including the Mass so that the celebrations can be more personal and understandable.

Finally, an important and recurring theme found in our youth responses is the desire to see personal witness among those professing to be people of faith. Noteworthy of mention is their feedback relating to the impact schools, teachers, parents, and the Church have had in providing opportunities for growing in the knowledge and experience of faith.
These themes and others are found in the Diocesan Synod Synthesis Report.

​In this month of June there is also the World Meeting of Families (WMF) in Rome, June 22-26, 2022 which coincides with the closing of the “Amoris Laetitia Family Year”. This gathering, which is part of the current synodal journey of the Church, will place the priority of families at the center of the Church’s discernment of its pastoral accompaniment and outreach. Pope Francis is inviting every Catholic family to join virtually via live streaming. It could potentially be a valuable experience of walking together in the “participation, communion and mission” for families in the life of the Church. I encourage those in our parishes and lay associations to learn about initiatives at the national level by going to the Family and Life webpage at cccb.ca. 

​Pope’s Prayer Intention for June 2022:
For Families – We pray for Christian families around the world; may they embody and experience unconditional love and advance in holiness in their daily lives.

This Easter Season I will once again have the opportunity to visit parishes, meet young people and their families, and confer the Sacrament of Confirmation.  In the months preceding the celebration of Confirmation at the parish, young people have completed a period of catechesis through a parish-based sacramental program which was offered in person or on-line due to the pandemic. The reception of this sacrament completes their initiation into the life of Christ and the Catholic Church. They are prepared by the priests and lay catechists in learning about the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit which they receive in the Sacrament. They deepen their understanding of the Faith through study, by engaging in apostolic service activities, and exploring the lives of the Saints who witnessed to Christ in ways that they can relate to in their lives.

The candidates also write a letter to the Bishop and express in their own words why they are choosing to be confirmed.  In many instances they describe the example of sacrifice that they recognize in their mother or father a concrete sign of love that supports the family. In their own words they also sense that they are called to deepen their relationship with God through prayer, and to be more faithful in living their faith by becoming a better person in drawing closer to Christ. These are the seeds of hope that I read and which are inspiring young people in the Church now.
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During this Marian month of May, Pope Francis offers this prayer for young people, “We pray for all young people, called to live life to the fullest; may they see in Mary’s life the way to listen, the depth of discernment, the courage that faith generates, and the dedication to service.”

Young people are naturally inclined to identify with our Mother Mary. Our Blessed Mother faced a challenging moment of discernment in her youth, a moment that tested the strength of her faith and trust in God, the Father.  Yet courageously, with her ear inclined to listen to the Lord, and her heart open to serving the purpose He set before her, she answered, “yes.”  Young people can reflect this courage and determination. In their zeal for social justice initiatives, their care of creation, and their commitment to building a more just and peaceful world, young people give witness to their Faith. And to pursue and accomplish these good works, young people need to engage in prayerful discernment supported by their families and the faith community of our Catholic schools and parishes.
 
It is this invitation that Pope Francis extended to young Catholics in his prayer intention for the Marian month of May which has been captured on video.

The video begins with six empty chairs which quickly become filled by three generations of a family: grandparents, parents and children – all of whom share a role in the discernment process. As Pope Francis speaks about the importance of family, a girl draws an image which gradually is revealed to be the Blessed Virgin Mary. Addressing the youth, Pope Francis points to Mary as a role model for young people.  The Holy Father highlights the attributes and gifts of Mary’s faith that continue to inspire young people today.
 
Pope Francis issued a pastoral document entitled, Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment in 2018.  The three sections of the document provide a much deeper reflection upon the themes presented in the video.

• The first section presents the importance of schools and parishes in the lives and spiritual development of young people while stressing the need for authentic witnesses to the faith especially the laity who are formed pastorally to accompany young people alongside the clergy.
• The second section examines the development of the mission and vocation of young people and the essential elements of accompaniment and discernment which can support them at critical times in their personal and faith development.
• The third section outlines the synodal dynamic of “listening” for the Church and the need to move from "I" to "we", from “me” to “us”. The Holy Father recognizes that this is important to help young people understand the varied perspectives and cultures which they will experience in society today and in which they will be required to engage in dialogue and collaborative service throughout their lives.

 
In Christus Vivit, Pope Francis states, “If we journey together, young and old, we can be firmly rooted in the present, and from here, revisit the past and look to the future. To revisit the past in order to learn from history and heal old wounds that at times still trouble us. To look to the future in order to nourish our enthusiasm, cause dreams to emerge, awaken prophecies and enable hope to blossom. Together, we can learn from one another, warm hearts, inspire minds with the light of the Gospel, and lend new strength to our hands.”  (Christus Vivit #199)
 
Young people are the future of the Church at a time yet to be and they are the now in the present moment. Through receiving Confirmation and being sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit we cannot underestimate young people in their contribution to the ongoing synodal process of the Church. I encourage every youth ministry group, school, classroom, campus ministry group and others to see the synodal process as one that invites a dialogue with the voice of our youth and their experience of living the faith. The Church, especially the Bishop, needs to hear the voices of our faith-filled young people!