 We’re excited to share Deacon Peter’s inspiring journey as he opens up about his vocation and the experiences that shaped his calling! From childhood moments in Seoul to serving as a deacon today, Deacon Peter’s stories are filled with faith, family, and incredible moments of grace. Can you tell us a little about yourself—where you grew up and about your family?
 Deacon Peter’s family and friends What inspired you to pursue priesthood? Was there a moment or experience that sparked your calling?
Many young people wonder how to recognize God’s call in their lives. How do we know God is calling us?
Now that you’re a deacon, what’s been the most awesome part of serving so far?
 Litany of the Saint - during the Ordination
Deacon Peter’s story is a beautiful reminder of how God calls us in unique and personal ways. May God, who began His good work in him, bring it to completion and fulfillment.
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The Global Slavery Index estimates that at any given time, there are 17,000 people affected by human trafficking in Canada. And yet The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking has estimated that although a high percentage of Canadians is aware that human trafficking is a significant issue in Canada, most Canadians don’t feel that they can recognize the signs of human trafficking, nor do they believe that Canadian citizens are among its victims. This is where organizations such as The Centre, and many other such organizations come in. HTEP is one such organization, with a specific focus to address human trafficking education in Southern Alberta. HTEP (Human Trafficking Education for Prevention) was created in Calgary in 2023 by a small group of Catholics (religious and laity) who shared a concern about troubling statistics indicating that a disproportionate number of marginalized individuals are being targeted for human trafficking in Southern Alberta. As members of the Diocese of Calgary, we believe that supporting anti-trafficking efforts is a meaningful way for the faithful to contribute to both Diocesan Renewal and personal growth in union with Christ, who spent His earthly life ministering to the poor and marginalized. While there are many groups and agencies fighting various aspects of human trafficking, HTEP decided to focus its efforts on the front end: an awareness campaign that can help prevent targets from becoming victims. HTEP believes that a community that knows the signs of human trafficking and understands the many ways traffickers operate is in a better position to protect its most vulnerable from becoming victims. By working with small regional groups and churches, school communities and educators, and local organizations, we can raise awareness, inform, and support grassroots community efforts right here in our own backyard. We also provide workshop study guides, pamphlets, and other resources that groups can use freely. As we continue to grow, we hope to offer more in-person workshops within Southern Alberta and other interactive sessions, allowing us to tailor these sessions to individual needs and demographics. To learn more about or join any aspect of the fight against human trafficking, please check out our brand-new website at htep.ca. Website content suggestions are welcome! Finally, please join us in a prayer of intercession to St. Josephine Bakhita, the patron saint of victims of human trafficking: O St. Bakhita, assist all those who are trapped in a state of slavery; Intercede with God on their behalf so that they will be released from their chains of captivity. Those who are enslaved, let God set free. Provide comfort to survivors of slavery and let them look to you as an example of hope and faith." Submitted by Human Trafficking Education for Prevention (HTEP) team.
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We pray for lawmakers to uphold the sanctity of life and ensure policies protect the most vulnerable. Please make your voice heard.
 Ascension Catholic Parish, Calgary Hope is only truly hope when the situation is hope-less, and the situation must have appeared hopeless to Joseph and Mary at times. We romanticize Christmas Eve in our beautiful nativity scenes, but Jesus was born amidst feces and fleas in the piercing cold. The manger had no warmth or security. Herod wanted them dead, and the Holy Family fled as homeless refugees to Egypt to escape the Massacre of the Innocents. For those families who watched their children murdered, the situation must have been hopeless indeed. The Diocesan Advent mission was thus aptly titled Renewed in Hope because we need courageous hope, not toxic positivity. The mission began with Brett Powell encouraging attendees to confront the brutal facts facing the Catholic Church in a post-Christian era. The harsh reality is this: despite wonderful programs and a golden era of freely available, high-quality Catholic content, Mass participation continues to decline. Even though we have well-run, publicly funded Catholic schools, nearly 80% of Catholic children leave the church by age 23. Only 1% of teens raised by lukewarm Catholics are highly religious in their mid-to-late 20s. Perhaps most shocking, Powell highlighted that only 30% of practicing Catholics in the United States believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist (see Turnley, 2024). All these statistics suggest that a lot of sincere work in evangelization and catechesis is not effectively passing along the torch of faith.
 Ascension Catholic Parish, Calgary Powell asked the Diocese to consider making a radical shift from self-preservation because (in the West at least), there is less and less to preserve. Instead, we must let the Holy Spirit lead a new Pentecost. This is easier said than done because we stubbornly believe that we are both smart enough and good enough to know what needs doing. The Church may not be able to save all its buildings, but that is not the mission; cooperating with God to bring souls to Christ is. And so Powell advocated for a seeking Church, one that prophetically listens and goes out to find the lost sheep (who are close by). We must go. You and I. The scandal of particularity is that the Incarnation occurred in a specific time and location to real people. God needed Mary to say, “Let it be done to me according to your will.” God needed Joseph to heed the angel’s message to protect Jesus from a hostile world. (The word "need" is tricky here because God needs nothing, and this is precisely why it is scandalous). Mary and Joseph could have said no. Bishop McCaig pointed out that God invites a free response, and that our “Yes” gives God permission to act in our lives. Our cooperation also enables us to bring Jesus to other people so that He can work powerfully in their lives.
Institutionally and individually, we are in a storm, and Mary Rose Bacani Valenti meditated on the storm of sin and suffering in which we find ourselves. When I was a child, I was scared of being buried alive. As an adult, I am far more terrified of pancreatic cancer, MS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, addiction, and watching my friends and family members die slow painful deaths echoing the crucifixion. Add to this sea of suffering a blizzard of technological distraction, and it becomes easy to lose our nerve and take our eyes off Christ. Prayer is not efficient, Valenti said, but it is the only effective means for building the disciplined self-control and joy that Maximilian Kolbe demonstrated in Auschwitz. He shone the divine light in the hopelessness of a concentration camp by walking the talk: “Without sacrifice, there is no love.” Hope is only really hope when the situation is hopeless, but it is never truly hopeless because God is with us. In Advent especially, we must slow down to “live life at the pace of the soul,” as Powell put it. St. Ambrose counseled the same: “If faith and hope are to bear fruit, patience is necessary.” Hurry to bring Him gifts, but don’t panic. He is coming, just as He promised.
 St. Joseph's, Calgary
 Members of Saint Mary’s Fraternity, Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) Calgary, along with Friar Dan Gurnick, OFM, Sister Dianne Turner, OSE, Sister Anne Adounkpe, FMM, and Deacon Tomas O’Toole, OFS, gathered in gratitude on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at Saint Luke Parish in Calgary. The occasion was a special dual celebration: honouring Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, patron saint of the Secular Franciscan Order, and commemorating the 10th, 15th, and 30th anniversaries of profession for fraternity members committed to living the Gospel in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. The celebration featured a presentation by Sister Dianne Turner, OSE, who led the Litany of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary and shared an inspiring reflection on her virtues. Sister Dianne encouraged attendees to reflect on which of these virtues God might be calling them to grow in today. The brothers and sisters we celebrated on November 17th bear witness to a lifetime of living the Franciscan charism. Their commitment is a testament to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and a model of perseverance and faith. As a fraternity, we give thanks for their deepening faith, steadfastness in living the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order, and their invaluable contributions to both the fraternity and the broader Church. Their journey reflects steady growth and a continued openness to God’s call. We rejoice as a fraternity, offering prayers of thanksgiving for the years of dedication, service, and love that these members have given to the Secular Franciscan Order. Together, we strive to walk in the footsteps of St. Francis, supporting one another in living the Gospel with simplicity, peace, and joy in the world. May these anniversaries inspire us all to renew our own commitment to serving our Lord and His Church with the same faith and dedication. Congratulations to all celebrating these special anniversaries!  Left to right: Cathy Pamer, OFS: 10 years; Robert Lowther, OFS: 15 years; Ron Semenoff, OFS: 30 years; Linda Schultz, OFS: 30 years Written by Erika Bancila, OFS, St. Mary’s Fraternity, Calgary.
 Join us for “Renewed in Hope,” a powerful three-day mission happening this Tuesday, Dec 3 to Thursday, Dec 5 at your parish from 7 pm to 8:30 pm each evening. In the midst of winter’s chill and the season’s busyness, take time to refresh your spirit and renew your hope. Hear from Brett Powell, Bishop Scott McCaig, and Mary Rose Bacani Valenti, who will join us live via Zoom, sharing messages on discipleship, building a faith-filled community, and nurturing family life. Their reflections will uplift and inspire us as we journey toward Christmas. Let's bundle up, brave the chill, and bring your friends and family!
We are in for a treat with our upcoming Advent Mission that features a talk from Bishop Scott McCaig. I can tell you that firsthand. Way back in the fall of 2002, I joined the Companions of the Cross, a Society of Apostolic Life (similar to a religious order) based out of Ottawa, Ontario. To commence my formation, I travelled the long road from the prairies, down to Ottawa, and then another a two-and-a-half-hour drive to a farm on the outskirts of Combermere, a small village tucked away in the forest along the Madawaska river. This area was beautiful like a storybook. I and twenty other young men had signed up that year, planning to become priests, and we were to spend the fall, winter and summer at this farm where the Companions hold their novitiate. We were going to learn how to live together, develop a disciplined life of prayer and learn more about our faith, all while deepening our relationship with Jesus Christ. We had two priests guiding us in our formation – Fr. Jim MacGillivray and Fr. Scott McCaig. When I think about spending that winter with Bishop Scott out on the farm, three things really stand out in my memory. He was a lumberjack, he was hilarious, and he was on fire for the Lord – and it came out in his preaching! While both he and I have a few more years on us now, I suspect none of those things have changed. Prior to his conversion to the Catholic faith and becoming a priest, Bishop Scott was a lumberjack. We learned that the hard way, because he was determined to teach all us seminarians to cut trees too! Every Saturday we would form a work crew under his guidance and head out into the forest. To this very day, I know all I could ever wish about chain saw safety, the exact way to bring down a tree, chop it up and stack it to dry. The farmhouse was also heated by this wood, so we had a schedule, and everyone had to take turns getting up in the middle of the night to keep the fire roaring and the house warm – Bishop Scott included – he led by example.
He would hold you riveted, his passion for the Kingdom of God reverberating through you as he spoke. Every time he finished preaching you were left inspired, itching to get out on mission for Christ. He is all about renewal, and always has been. As we continue the renewal in each of our parishes, I would really encourage you to sign up for the upcoming Advent Mission – and whatever happens, don’t miss Bishop Scott’s talk! A lumberjack Bishop with great stories and passionate preaching leading us deeper on our journey – what more could we ask for?
 On November 5, 2024, the Diocese of Calgary hosted a Prison Volunteers Appreciation gathering at St. Luke's Parish, bringing together dedicated volunteers who serve in the Prison Ministry. Bishop McGrattan and Father Wilbert Chin Jon expressed their gratitude and encouraged those who answered the call to this ministry. The gathering highlighted the resilience and growth of the Prison Ministry, which faced significant challenges during the pandemic. “Our prison programs were almost decimated by the Covid pandemic when we were down to having only four volunteers to run our weekly chapel programs at the three prisons,” shared Deacon Thomas Ha. "With the support of the Pastoral Center and Father Wilbert, we were able to recover." With new volunteers recruited from parishes across the Diocese, including four deacon candidates, the ministry is regaining its strength. “These are the faithful who have answered their call to come and provide spiritual support to the inmates,” said Deacon Thomas. “With the gifts they brought, we will be able to grow our faith in accompaniment with each other, to sing and to pray with the inmates, and for their families, the guards, and the victims of crimes.” Answer the Call to Serve Prison Ministry provides a profound opportunity to live out Jesus’ teaching: “I was in prison, and you visited me” (Matthew 25:36). Volunteers witness the face of Christ in those they serve, creating a space for healing, prayer, and reconciliation. “The unfortunate reality is that prisons are a permanent fixture in our society, and the need for prisoners to be visited is chronic,” said Ernest Baraniecki of the Calgary Correctional Centre. Despite having the most Catholic chapel sessions allocated per year, this facility has the fewest Catholic volunteers. “Please continue to answer the call to contribute your gift of witness and presence to this rewarding ministry: ‘The harvest is abundant, but the labourers are few’ (Mt. 9:37).” If you feel called to serve, consider joining this rewarding ministry. Volunteers commit to sharing the Gospel and offering their presence once a month, dedicating 1 to 2.5 hours each time. Training is provided to equip you for this meaningful work. For more information or to inquire about volunteering, please contact the Pastoral Centre at 403-218-5500 or email [email protected].
As interesting as the contents of “Pulpitations” are, the story of how the book came to fruition is even more engaging. In April 2024, on the occasion of his 45th anniversary of ordination, Fr. Edmund was urged by Jim Jarrell, an active parishioner at St. Michael’s, to compile the knowledge he’d gained over his decades of faithful service. Jim offered to raise funds to publish these thoughts and even wrote the book’s foreword. “If Jim didn’t come forward I wouldn’t have done this,” Fr. Edmund said. After sifting through his notes, Fr. Edmund selected just over 100 sermons and proceeded to translate and summarize them for a different audience. It helped that he had experience as a magazine writer and editor from his university days and beyond. A scant forty days later the book was finished. “I considered it my Lenten practice,” Fr. Edmund laughed. “It’s not like a novel,” he cautioned, suggesting that readers should take time to pray and reflect on, say, one piece a day. Fr. Edmund’s goals for the book are modest. He plans to offer it to his parish but also make it available to others who may be nostalgic for his approachable style of teaching. “People who’ve known me over generations might share it with their children”, Fr. Edmund posits, reminiscing about people he met early in his career who now have children and grandchildren raised in the faith. For others, the power of any Christian writing is in its ability to let us hear the voice of God and respond. To paraphrase Fr. Edmund, “Your thoughts become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your life, and your life becomes your eternity.”
In July, Pope Francis published a letter on the important role literature plays in priestly formation; it develops an imaginative empathy that enables clergy to see how others see. When the letter came out, my family and I were watching the 4-part mini-series Stories of a Generation, featuring Pope Francis (2021, available on Netflix). In one episode, the acclaimed film director Martin Scorsese reads a moving passage from Marilynne Robinson’s book Gilead to his daughter. Over the past couple of years of diaconal formation, I have read a lot of non-fiction theology, but I had not read a novel for pleasure in years. So, prompted by the Pope and one of the greatest film makers of all time, I took the nudge and found a copy of Gilead at the library.
I started to see “set asides” everywhere I looked, awakening in me a new fullness of life. Sunday is set aside as holy to remind us that all our fleeting time comes from and belongs to Him. We set things apart not to divide the world into what is God’s and what is not God’s, but to remind us that all is His. God commands us to honour our mother and father, Ames writes to his son, “because every human being is worthy of honour,” and singling out the mother and father teaches us the conscious discipline of respecting the dignity of every person made in God’s image. During Mass, we set aside a portion of our money and time, reminding us that we are offering back to God all the gifts he has given us. This conception of setting aside provides a valuable insight into the ancient symbol of the covenant, circumcision. The men of the covenant set aside a part of flesh and blood to remind them that every necessary and pleasurable rhythm of life belongs to God, as does all they give birth to. When entering the Church, the small containers of holy water (meaning water set aside for God’s purpose) remind me that clean water – a necessary element for life that I too often take for granted – is a gift from God, and that by my baptism, I too am set aside for God’s purpose. Being set aside for God’s purpose unlocks our identities as a “chosen portion.” St. Clement wrote to the Corinthians, “We are a portion of the Holy One,” so “let us approach him in holiness of soul, raising up to him hands pure and undefiled, out of love for our good and merciful Father who made us a chosen portion for himself.” Our status as God’s chosen portion ultimately frames and guides our actions with other people. Ames puts it this way: “people tend to forget that we are to love our enemies, not to satisfy some standard of righteousness, but because God their father loves them.” As a portion of the Holy One, we are commanded to love others as He loved us because they are also chosen portions. Pope Francis views literature as vital for formation because it educates the imagination and attunes us to hear the Voice that speaks through many voices, training us to hear the diverse needs in our community. Gilead successfully delivers what Pope Francis aptly describes as “a vision of the true and the good that discloses itself as beauty.” So, take the Pope’s advice, which is very similar to the call that prompted St. Augustine’s conversion: “Take up and read!”
 At the age of seventy- six, I have seen and lived through much of the ebb and flow of Catholic renewal that came and went in the 20th and now the twenty-first century. Candidly, I was anaesthetised to any Church change and continued practicing a rather lifeless faith. I left the Catholic church in early 2020 and only returned in 2023. I was curious to know if anyone had noticed that I had left and returned. Some believed I was dead. Imagine my reaction when I held a door open for a lady with a walker. I didn't know her but imagined her to be in her early eighties. I assumed she'd pass me, enter the church and I would probably never see her again. She stopped, looked me straight in the eye, fixed her gaze on me, put her hand on my shoulder and said, "Gerald, you've been away too long." I was thunderstruck, speechless. This was something I wanted and needed to hear since I never really felt at home in Catholicism. I thought that was all she wanted to say. It would have been enough. Still, she continued to meet me eye to eye, her right hand on my left shoulder. Since I thought her ready to enter the church, I moved accordingly, but she said, "Stop. There's more." "Welcome home," she said. I tell you I felt my knees buckling. She very carefully, very clearly articulated "son," and was gone, leaving me to wonder about the implications of this meeting. Way: A Personal Reflection on Renewalby Gerald Morton The old man in me of unbent knee, Written by Gerald Morton, All Saints Parish, Lethbridge.
 In a time when meaningful connection is essential, our parish gathered for a special Renewal Gathering on St. Michael’s Feast Day, September 29, 2024. This intentional choice set the tone for a day filled with faith and fellowship, centered around the blessing of our new St. Michael statue. This ceremony fostered unity and served as a powerful symbol of protection and courage in our faith journey. The gathering was a key part of our diocesan Pastoral Renewal initiative, aimed at deepening our understanding of being a community of missionary disciples, reminding us that we are called, we matter, and we belong.  After the blessing, we enjoyed a delicious lunch provided by St. Michael’s Knights of Columbus. Laughter and conversation flowed freely, reflecting the joy of being together and the warmth of our parish family. It was heartening to see parishioners of all ages in attendance, especially since we provided childcare for families with young children. With our hearts and minds prepared, we entered the sanctuary, warmly welcomed by our host, Mike Fitzsimmons. Uplifting praise songs led by the ‘Love One Another’ Community invited everyone to join in worship. The atmosphere was charged with the Holy Spirit as we engaged in a guided Lectio Divina and prayer led by Fr. Edmund and Fr. Kelvin, focusing on the Road to Emmaus narrative from Luke 24:13-35. This scripture teaches us to be open to the Holy Spirit, highlighting the need to recognize Christ’s presence in our lives, often in unexpected forms.
 Engaging with Scripture allowed deeper truths to be revealed, fostering spiritual growth. The breaking of bread symbolizes the significance of the Eucharist and community in encountering Christ. Ultimately, the disciples’ transformation from despair to joyful witnesses of the Resurrection illustrates how openness to the Holy Spirit leads to personal renewal and a commitment to sharing the Good News. The presentation on the Diocesan Pastoral Renewal, featuring a short video and slideshow, provided insight into our shared mission. This vision made our goals feel attainable, emphasizing our collective responsibility in living out our faith. It’s comforting to know we’re all in this together, highlighting the importance of community support in our journeys. Following the presentation, Christian Estrella led a reflection encouraging small group conversations about the three Pillars of Renewal. These discussions sparked new ideas and fostered a sense of ownership over our mission, providing a unique opportunity to ask meaningful questions that could help our parish become a vibrant hub of faith and outreach.
 St. Mary’s Cathedral was alive with colour and culture on Sunday, Sep. 29, 2024, as over 300 people gathered to pray and celebrate our migrants and refugees brothers and sisters. Fr. Avinash Colaco, rector of St. Mary’s, graciously presided over the Eucharistic Celebration in the absence of Bishop McGrattan, who was attending the Plenary Assembly in Ottawa. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Cathedral’s team, Catholic Calgary Immigration Society, and many dedicated volunteers, including the lively musicians from St. Mark's Parish choir —the evening was a true testament to unity, faith, and diversity within our diocese. Traditional attire lit up the pews, and the shared joy extended to the food and conversations after Mass. Alongside tasty sandwiches, Jollof rice, steaming hot congee, and other cultural dishes were shared and enjoyed by all. Fr. John Jwad, pastor of the Chaldean Catholic Community, and a son of Iraqi immigrants, delivered a moving homily during the Mass. He spoke of the challenges many immigrant families have faced, fleeing persecution and finding safety in Canada. 
Photography by Thiago Campos, Our Lady of Fatima, for the Diocese of Calgary.
Holy Trinity is a small parish in the heart of the mountains in southwestern Alberta. We’ve been part of this parish for six years, and before that, we were involved with All Saints Parish in Lethbridge. We are glad to be engaged in the Renewal Process. We felt inspired by the initial meeting and presentation that the Diocese held at St. Martha’s Church in Lethbridge. Father Joe is also encouraged by the Renewal Process. Even though we are a small parish with not much activity, we are taking small, concrete steps to create an atmosphere of belonging. We want the focus to be Christ-centered in a practical way—calling people to community, building friendships, and exploring possibilities for spiritual growth.
Written by Marie & Steve Burger, Parish Renewal Team Members at Holy Trinity Parish, Blairmore. Photo courtesy of Holy Trinity Parish.
It’s not every day that a priest, a deacon, and a seminarian take the stage as the evening’s headlining performers. But that’s exactly what happened on August 16th, when St. Mary’s Cathedral hosted its summer renewal gathering. After the 5 pm Mass celebrated by Bishop McGrattan, parishioners were invited to the Parish Hall, where they were greeted with live music and an array of sandwiches and refreshments. The band, featuring Fr. Avinash Colaco, Deacon Greg Barcelon, and other members of the parish community, set the tone. Praise and worship songs, led by seminarian Peter An and other parishioners, provided a beautiful start to the evening’s entertainment. The band later performed several classic hits that kept the dance floor packed all night! The evening also provided an opportunity for parishioners to express their gratitude to the beloved Associate Pastor, Fr. Julian Studden, on his retirement, and to welcome Seminarian Peter An, who will be with the parish for the upcoming year. 
 Meanwhile, outside, the children had their own section filled with games, a bouncy castle, arts and crafts, balloon animals, and face painting. There were laughter all around. The line for face painting also kept the volunteers busy, and the crafts table was never empty as kids’ worship songs played in the background. This renewal event offered activities for all ages—an important aspect recognized by the organizing committee. The youth and adult volunteers ensured that the children were kept busy, safe, and happy, allowing their parents to enjoy time in the hall with the community. It was heartwarming to see Bishop McGrattan engaging with the children at various stations, even taking time to sit at the craft table to make paper fish alongside them. 
The efforts of many parish groups and individuals were key to the evening’s success. The call for volunteers was shared after weekend Masses leading up to the event—and it worked! Both new and seasoned volunteers stepped forward, making it a true community effort. The sight of so many hands coming together to clean the hall after the event was, in itself, inspiring. The success of the Summer Gathering, which saw over 500 volunteers and participants, is a strong indication of the need and desire for continued pastoral renewal at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Written by Mary Ojo, a member of the Parish Renewal Team at St. Mary's Cathedral. As the youngest member of the team and a high school student, Mary also volunteers as an altar server at the Cathedral. Photos are courtesy of Mary Ojo.
The Seeds of the Word Community inaugurated its 3rd annual Sabbatical Year Program at the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy Mass, presided by Bishop McGrattan, on Sep 8, 2024. Seven companions are beginning their nine-month journey, during which they will go through the Bible, study the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and receive human formation. This program is designed to help them draw closer to the Lord, experience His healing love, and discern where He is calling them within the Church. It was a great joy for us to begin this year with the support of our Bishop, as well as the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy community, as the goal of the Sabbatical Year is to raise up missionary disciples for the Church, as Bishop McGrattan highlighted in his homily. At the end of Mass, the Bishop blessed the Bibles that the Companions will use during this time, to remind them that it is truly the Word of God that they will be in contact with each and every day throughout their journey. Beginning the Sabbatical Year are: Dreyton Kuffler, Jean-François and Ana Church (along with their children Naomi and Josef), Giselle Boudreau, Katia Van de Mosselaer, Carina Sprinkhuysen, and Isabelle Caddel. 
Dreyton, in sharing about why he chose to do the Sabbatical Year, said that after having received so much from God over the past year, in thanksgiving he wanted to give back to God some of his time and allow God to work in his life during these next 9 months. For more information about the Sabbatical Year, visit: seedsoftheword.org/sabbatical-year. Written by Sr. Clarisse from the Seeds of the Word. Photos courtesy of Bandi Szakony.
 Photo courtesy of Annie Chirka, St. Peter's, Calgary The following links on FORMED.org will take you to testimonies, teachings and stories that will help to deepen your understanding of the priorities of the Diocese of Calgary’s Pastoral Renewal. The links are all video or audio links. We encourage you to view and share as we come to understand and embrace the priorities of renewal. Form Missionary Disciples in Christ
Strengthen Family Life
Be a Church of Encounter and Witness
 I started working at St. Gerard’s Parish in Calgary in 2021 and soon came to know the spirited community there. Each parishioner brings a unique gift, contributing to the warmth, faith-filled essence, and camaraderie that you feel as you walk in. Getting to know them personally is the best part of my job. Rozi Zorko is a long-term member of St. Gerard’s Parish. At 99 years old, she still drove to daily morning Mass! I was impressed and convinced that I had to meet her personally. One morning, as I was sitting at my desk, I saw her park her car. I wanted to meet this legend before she reached the entrance. As I stepped out of the office, she tripped on the pavement, just a few steps from the church entrance. Oh no! Gordon, our maintenance guy, and I rushed to assist her. She graciously stood up like nothing had happened. When I asked her if she was okay, she replied, “I am fine!” Thankfully, she truly was, and we escorted her to the door. I also got to know her daughter Mary, who informed me that Rozi was turning 100 in August 2021. However, Mary was having trouble getting a special certificate for Rozi’s 100th birthday from the Papal office in Rome. Due to time constraints, I managed to create a 100th birthday certificate to honor her, with a signature from our pastor, Fr. Ignatius Tran. The following year, thanks to the assistance of the Bishop's Office, I finally got Rozi her official 100th birthday certificate from Pope Francis. I believe it’s important to recognize milestones with simple gestures that mean a lot. This led to the celebration of monthly birthday and wedding anniversary celebrations every Friday after the 9 am morning Mass, as well as the posting of special occasions in our weekly newsletter and on our monitors.  Rozi at her 102nd birthday with her daughter Mary. Celebrations like Rozi’s birthday bring the community together. We are called to be a Church of Encounter and Witness every day. At St. Gerard’s, visitors and strangers are always welcome to share a meal and their story. A family member visiting her mom had this to say: “One time when we attended Mass, a lady named Rozi had her 102nd birthday, and we were invited by her daughter to attend the party afterward.” The minute you walk into our space, you are part of our family! Pull up a chair—we’re here to listen to your experience. Mary graciously shares a few details below about her mom, Rozi, on her 103rd birthday, August 24, 2024. Please join me and the community in celebrating Rozi’s wonderful milestone.
My chest ceased into a tight ball that evening in October when Dad told our family he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Just three weeks previous, his childhood friend had died of stage 4 pancreatic cancer. And in just three weeks my parents planned to move from their Winnipeg home to Calgary to be closer to me and my two siblings and our families.
The Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Back in October, my mother, Joyce Loftson, had noticed my father had unusually bright yellow skin; skin that was becoming increasingly itchy all over. Often pancreatic cancer is not caught until it’s in a late stage because it grows hidden without warning signs. But by God’s grace, Dad’s growth was obstructing his bile duct, causing noticeable symptoms. His family doctor ordered up the scans and tests, and he got into the queue for a Whipple surgery. Whipple surgery is a major operation to remove the head of the pancreas, part of the small intestine, gallbladder and bile duct. Surgical consultations in Winnipeg began at the same time my parents were packing up their U-Haul. With much prayer and discernment, they decided to go ahead and move to Calgary, giving up their surgery spot, and being placed back on the waiting list in Calgary. For me, it felt like a race against time to remove this growth before it spread any further. The move would delay the surgery but ensure Dad had a home in which to recover.
 Sanctification through Suffering I was struck by my parents’ fortitude, courage, humility, and surrender throughout this entire diagnosis and treatment. While Dad couldn’t formally begin his ministry right away in Calgary post-Whipple surgery, he intentionally accompanied his hospital roommate Debbie. As a fallen away Catholic, Debbie began joining my parents for Mass upon discharge. In his suffering, Dad taught his family the value of faith and gratitude, never complaining about his lot. He remained hopeful and positive, pushing himself to do small things with great love; like getting up to sit at the dinner table with us when it felt excruciating to walk or nearly impossible to bend his swollen hand to hold a fork from the effect of the chemotherapy drugs.  Ordained as a Permanent Deacon by Archbishop Albert LeGatt of Archdiocese of St. Boniface. Cancer had overshadowed my parents’ move from their lifelong hometown – a huge transition at their age. It’s the place where my mom served as a dietitian for 40 years. It’s the place where my dad owned and operated independent toy stores for two decades, and worked as an accountant in the Winnipeg film industry after completing a late-in-life film degree. It’s where my parents met and raised their children: Christopher, Samantha, and myself. It’s where my Dad had his conversion from essentially atheism to Catholicism in his 40s. On August 9, 2018, he was ordained a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of St. Boniface. He credits my mom’s steadfast faith for being the gateway to God working in his life. And he credits my mom’s steadfast support for anchoring and buoying him during his cancer journey.
 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops Participants. Photo: Vatican News. In preparation for the second session of the Synod on Synodality which will take place in October 2025, dioceses in Canada were tasked with highlighting 2-3 themes from the 2023 Synod Synthesis Report, using prayerful discernment with the Holy Spirit to reflect and summarize their insights. The CCCB's May 2024 synthesis report highlights eight key themes: the Church's mission, becoming a listening and accompanying Church, enhancing structures of participation, embracing diversity, recognizing women's roles in the Church, adopting a synodal approach to formation, focusing on Christian initiation, and acknowledging the role of people in poverty as protagonists in the Church’s journey. 
 Have you ever been asked to give a speech? Perhaps it is to say “Thank you” for a gift, or to toast the bride and groom at a wedding, or to introduce an idea to a group. Maybe you have been called upon to witness to your faith in Christ or explain why you are a Catholic. How do you organize your thoughts to make engaging, memorable, even humorous, comments for your audience? How do you overcome the shaking knees, the rambling thoughts, the need to say “umm” in between? Let me tell you about Toastmasters and what I learned. I had been giving presentations for years, but I was like a golfer who went out twice a year and whacked the ball down the fairway, not consistent, not effective, but eventually would get the ball onto the green. Yes, I could give speeches, but I needed to do better. In 2021, I was invited to join a new Toastmasters public speaking club, initiated at the request of Bishop McGrattan. Knowing that there are more than 400,000 Catholic speakers in the Diocese, he wants to encourage us to become better speakers. Bishop McGrattan supports Toastmasters as an excellent way to support the faithful in our role as witnesses to the Gospel, a theme central to our ongoing diocesan renewal. You may be wondering, what happens at Toastmasters? What makes “Heart of the Rockies” Toastmasters special?
 Toastmasters International is the parent organization that supports Toastmasters clubs around the world. Club members gather in person or online to practice their speaking skills using professionally developed education programs. These programs guide the members through speech preparation, from planning and structure to delivery using effective vocal variety, gestures, courage, and confidence. Basically, you learn how to give engaging speeches to any size of audience. Heart of the Rockies takes the tools of Toastmasters and applies them using a Christian spirit. Members share their experiences and skills in a safe and fun environment. They become equipped to live out the invitation from the Gospel according to St. Matthew: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) We, at Heart of the Rockies, invite you to join us for one hour each week to grow in your skills as a witness of Christ to the world. Heart of the Rockies meets online Monday evenings from 7 to 8 pm and is open to everyone ages 18 and older. For further information on how to connect or to visit Heart of the Rockies Toastmasters club, please email me at [email protected]. As a long-term toastmaster and member of Heart of the Rockies once said, “Toastmasters told me to be better, and I am better because of Toastmasters!”
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January 2025
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