ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF CALGARY
  • About
  • GIVE
  • News & Events
  • Ministries
  • Contact Us
  • Mass Finder

God called

4/2/2019

2 Comments

 
Picture
Bill Yin and his son, Eric.
“I was raised in the People's Republic of China. I had no religion because it is a communist country. Then, God found me. He called me. 

My family was going through a challenging time as my nine-year-old son was hospitalized for a year. From birth, he was diagnosed with bleeding in the brain. A vein in his brain burst, and he almost died. My life was work, home, hospital for that year. We were so tired and desperate. One day, someone gave me a wooden cross. That was my first time trying to get in touch with God. 

My friend said, there is nothing you can do but ask God for help. Every day I went to work, and in the evening I stayed in the hospital with my son.  I prayed daily, ‘God please don’t let him die.’ My son recovered and was released from the hospital. However, he had brain damage and many problems.  

One day, in a box, I found the wooden cross again. And I realized that I didn’t keep my promise to God. I had prayed that if he saved Eric’s life, I would follow Him. Not having any idea of where to start and what to do, I contacted Ascension Parish. I learned a lot from going through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). The more I learned about God, the more I listen to him, the better my life gets. We still have a lot of problems with Eric’s recovery, but God supports me. My life is getting much better. 

My relationships with others was a mess. I complained all the time. I would get so angry; now my relationships are better. I am a different person. Every day I ask God for forgiveness, and I also forgive others. Eric can see the change in me. He is now 14, and he goes to the youth sacrament. He can no longer use one of his hands. Daily, he lives with a four per cent chance of bleeding in his brain. We pray to God and figure a way to deal with each situation, day-by-day. There is nothing more the doctors can do. But God hears my prayers.”

Bill Yin,
An elect from the Ascension Parish, Calgary (2019).
2 Comments

The aftermath of World War II was my beginning

4/2/2019

2 Comments

 
Picture
Sr. Carmelita Cusay, FMM, Catechist (middle) with First Communicants in St. Joseph's Parochial School in Manila, Philippines, 1961.
“I remember being four or five-years-old, walking through the ravages of WWII feeling determined to make something good out of the chaos, destruction, death and suffering brought on by what I think of now as a senseless war.

My outlook on life then and now was inspired by a devoted and loving dad and a dedicated and faithful mom. They taught me to love others as God loves you, be good to others as God is to you and to be a giver and let God give you as much as He is sure to give – these are the lessons that I tried to live up to. My thoughts of becoming a nun were triggered by the musicale that was part of our graduation in 6th grade. I was asked to sing my role in the song: “I wonder what I’ll be when I am big someday.” I was told to sing: “ I want to be a nun (3 x) when I am big someday.
Although on the inside I said, No, I don’t want to! My heart softly pondered on the thought. ‘Will Jesus want me? A nun?’ Throughout those High School and early College years – that question, now growing into a kind of song, became a strong force that led me to sneak hours after school to spend time before Jesus in the Eucharist at our church. Mom sensed my silence. Dad was confident that something beautiful was being nurtured in me.

Eventually, when I decided to leave home, it was not so easy to leave. I said Au Revoir as well as come and visit me. My dad eventually said to me, ‘why would I not offer my dear child back to God? She belongs to Him. She is ours as His gift and should we not offer her, to Him as our gift in thanksgiving?’ So, this has been my journey. Now I’m serving in Calgary with the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM). There were rough roads, slippery roads, lots of smooth roads—a lot marked by many blessings.” 

If you would like to know more about becoming a nun, let's chat. 


​Sr. Carmelita Cusay, FMM | Religious Sister in Calgary
Caseworker for the Marriage Tribunal at the Canonical Services Department, Catholic Pastoral Centre. 
Picture
2 Comments

Letting Go & Letting God

4/2/2019

2 Comments

 
I was a public school teacher when I lost my job; then, a friend told me about a vacancy at the Catholic School. I thought for sure I wouldn’t get the job because I was not Catholic. However, I applied and I got the job. I love this job and wanted to learn more about becoming Catholic. So, for the past several months I have been journeying through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process. I attend St. Anthony’s and I’ve been engaging more with my faith.
​

At the School, we have morning prayer and the staff have been helping me out so that I understand how to go about it. My mentor, the senior high gym teacher, answers all my silly questions about religion and faith. However, he assures me that there are no silly questions, as we all have an independent journey towards God. I always thought it was more complex, more hell fire and brimstone. I thought God would be upset with me. I got caught up in routines. Now, I know it’s just trusting in God’s plan. The hardest thing is to let go and be open. ​
Picture
I’ve always believed that I get put somewhere for a reason. I went through all these steps—losing a job, applying for another one—so I could be where I am supposed to be. God put me here. Now I am looking forward to being baptized. To make sure that I continue learning about God on my faith journey, I’ve added apps to my phone, and I go to Church more. It has been so rewarding. I used to be fearful, but now I feel incredible love and acceptance. I have a big sense of family that I never had before.

Robert Rowland
Kindergarten teacher, St. Anthony's School 
Christ the Redeemer Catholic School Division
2 Comments

    Author

    Catholic Pastoral Centre Staff and Guest Writers

    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018

    Categories

    All
    Advent & Christmas
    Bereavement
    Bishop Emeritus Henry
    Bishop McGrattan
    Book Review
    Care For Creation
    Catholic Charities & Development
    Catholic Schools
    Conversion
    Culture
    Diocesan Event
    Discipleship
    Elizabeth House
    Euthanasia
    Evangelization
    Faithfully
    Family
    Feed The Hungry
    From The Bishop's Office
    Fundraising
    Funeral
    Health Care
    Homelessness
    In Memoriam
    Interfaith
    Jubilarians
    Lay Associations
    Lent & Easter
    Liturgy
    Marriage
    Mary
    Migrants
    Miscarriage
    Movie Review
    One Rock
    Ordination
    Parenting
    Parish Life
    Pastoral Care
    Permanent Diaconate
    Prayer
    Pray For Peace
    Priesthood
    Prolife
    RCIA
    Refugee
    Religious Education
    Religious Freedom
    Religious Life
    Safe Environment
    Saints
    Scripture & Reflection
    Seniors
    Social Justice
    Vocation
    Youth And Young Adults
    Youth Ministry

    RSS Feed

GET TO KNOW US
Our Bishop
Offices & Ministries
​Our Staff
Read our Blog
Catholic Community
​Lay Associations
CONNECT WITH US
Contact us
​Find a Parish/Mass
​
Parish Boundaries

News & Events
Faithfully

​Reporting Abuse
NEED INFO ON
Becoming Catholic
Marriage Preparation
​Vocations
Annulment 
Sacraments Prep
Catholic Funeral
GIVE TO
Diocesan Ministries
Together in Action
Feed the Hungry
Elizabeth House
Your Parish Church​ 
​Other Ministry

Catholic Pastoral Centre  | 120 - 17th Ave SW, Calgary, AB  T2S 2T2 | ​Phone: 403-218-5500 | communications@calgarydiocese.ca
Charitable Number: 
10790-9939-RR0076​. Donate Now.
  • About
  • GIVE
  • News & Events
  • Ministries
  • Contact Us
  • Mass Finder