In December 2024, my husband Don was diagnosed with terminal cancer. His prognosis was “a few months to a few years”. I was determined that he should remain at home as long as possible, but it was a grim Christmas marked by draconian changes to our routines. Somewhere in my fog of anxiety and exhaustion, I registered the start of the Jubilee Year of Hope. I decided then and there that I could either sink into despair or cling to hope. I actually did both, embracing both sorrow and consolation, like the pilgrims on the Jubilee logo who clutch a cross while dragging an anchor. 2025 became a year of unexpected spiritual growth. I discovered there are dozens of people in similar circumstances to ours - adrift following some drastic event, trying to adapt whilst grieving. This is my story, but it is also our story, all of us pilgrims of hope, still journeying beyond the end of the Jubilee Year.

Weary time for God
Before Don’s illness, I never seemed to have time to rest quietly with God. My prayers would be hasty thanks and distracted petitions. Now, having dropped all extraneous commitments, there was time to sit down, whilst Don was sleeping. Unfortunately, my brain felt too numb to pray, so I just listened to the quiet house or the sounds of wind filtering in from outside. I allowed the Holy Spirit to communicate for me “with sighs too deep for words”. Into this silence peace would creep. I became aware of God’s nearness. Those moments of connection, however fleeting, refreshed me. I realized I was being sustained by my Creator.

A year later, Don is still around (thank you, God), but new challenges arise every week. I am tired but grateful for small mercies and for the support networks we have. I have learned that extreme circumstances are paradoxical - I am angry but also accepting, worried but optimistic. I fear, but I continue to hope.                       ​

Written by Alice Matisz (All Saints, Lethbridge) for Faithfully.

Written by Ryan Schmidt, Director of Renewal. Save the date: April 17-18 - Renewal Conference on Missionary Discipleship - with Bishop Scott McCaig - St. Michael's, Calgary. Details coming soon!

This message feels especially relevant today. Many of us communicate more than ever, yet still feel unheard or disconnected. Pope Leo invites us to pause and ask how we are using these tools, and whether they are helping us grow in relationship or quietly pulling us away from it.
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Read more

• Vatican News overview
• Full message from Pope Leo XIV

As a long-standing tradition, the Bishop of Calgary and the Office of Vocations have brought together the current seminarians and their parents for a Christmas supper. Last December, it was held at St. Cecilia’s church with a delicious meal provided by the Catholic Women’s League and the Knights of Columbus of that parish. This event, which honours both parents and their seminarian sons, demonstrates the importance of strengthening family life to support vocations to the priesthood in our Diocese.
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A particularly edifying part of this gathering is the speech by the parents of a recently ordained priest. This personal sharing of the experience of these parents is offered as a support for the parents of the current seminarians as they navigate their own son’s journey towards the priesthood. Knowing how other parents have successfully supported their sons over the many years of discernment and formation demonstrates that, as a local Church, we are here to help one another.

This year, the parents of the newly-ordained Fr. Peter An accepted this role for which we are truly grateful. Here follows the speech of Fr. Peter’s mother, Jinhee An. With her husband, Sungchan An, at her side, she described her experience as the mother of a son called by God to be His priest.

The second thing I would like to share is that Ron Huntley, who is currently journeying with our Parish Renewal Team leaders, has recently released a new book titled Road to Renewal: How Faith, Vision, and Courage Are Fuelling a Church Comeback. The book gathers the voices of twelve pastors and lay leaders who have led their parishes along the path of renewal. What emerges is not a model or a program, but honest voices from the field, people who are learning as they go and sharing what has helped them continue moving forward. The book is available on Amazon for those who are interested.

​As we begin this new year, I am thankful for the full year of the Jubilee of Hope we have just lived. My hope is that the grace we received continues to shape our daily faith and deepen the renewal already taking root across our diocese.

Written by Ryan Schmidt, Director of Renewal, Diocese of Calgary.

During our Pilgrimage of Hope, Leisha and I escaped the Florentine rain to pray a rosary in Santa Maria del Fiore. We had completed the first decade when a pilgrim group from Texas entered and prepared to offer a Mass in English, an unanticipated blessing!

​In his homily, Rev. Jean-Oscar Nlandu said: “The journey of faith goes through struggle. What is hope? Hope is a refusal to let suffering have the last word.”
 
My faith life flashed before my eyes.
 
When I was 16, I immaturely understood faith as a series of impossible propositions, like the Apostle’s Creed we had made to start the rosary. We believe in a Creator of Heaven and Earth who sent His only Son to be immaculately conceived, crucified, and buried. The Son descended into Hell and rose on the third day. We also believe in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life in a world to come. At 16, faith was a checklist, and I didn’t believe in everything on the list, so I didn’t have faith.
 
I then left my Father’s house and ventured into the wilderness. Years later, when I found myself eating pig slop and became curious about returning to my Father’s house, faith became a precious commodity. My main concern became figuring out what spiritual payment I needed to make to acquire this thing called faith?
 
Then, during marriage preparation 18 years ago, Deacon Botari said to me, “I don’t know any priest or deacon who doesn’t have a problem with aspects of the faith; that’s where they concentrate their prayer and contemplation.”
 
Precisely. Because the journey of faith goes through struggle. 
 
Here’s how I now understand that journey. Faith and hope work together like two wings lifting the soul toward divine union. Faith is propelled by God's revealed truths—the eternal reality whispered through Scripture. Faith soars beyond reason’s doubts to pierce the veil of the unseen, but (to mix metaphors) this is a turbulent flight, evidenced in Mark 9:24: "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” Faith does not eliminate doubt but places trust in the story of salvation already revealed — the Incarnation, the Resurrection, and the sacraments that continue to pulse with Christ's Blood. Faith enables me to struggle with the divine mysteries I don’t and will never fully understand. Prayer and contemplation are the tools of struggle that allow me to embrace the divine IS. I do not need to delay my trust. I can completely trust now, even if I don’t completely get it. 
 
If faith is the intellect’s assent to revelation, then hope is its active will. Hope is the irresistible longing that lifts me from the now to the not yet. Faith accepts truth, and hope yearns for the fullness of truth in the heavenly homeland amid and beyond our earthly trials. Hope, according to the Catechism, “sustains him during times of abandonment” (1818). When God feels absent, when the effort doesn’t seem worthwhile, hope continues to pull me toward the narrow gate. Hope resides, not in wishful thinking, but in actions that align with faith’s acceptance of the promise.
 
Here’s how this plays out in discipleship: I find the resurrection of Jesus easy to believe. My faith comes from core facts about Jesus that almost all scholars agree on. Jesus was crucified, and His tomb was found empty. His followers believed they had experiences with Christ after his death, proven by their willingness to suffer death for their belief that they had met the risen Christ. Not one of Jesus’s early disciples ever recanted, and as Beckwith suggests in Return to Rome, Jesus’s resurrection is the ONLY explanation that makes sense for the saints’ behaviour and the endurance of the persecuted church.
 
Jesus’s resurrection revealed the reasonable basis for faith when Doubting Thomas placed his fingers in Jesus’s wounds. After Jesus ascended, however, and the Apostles were alone on their pilgrim journeys in hostile lands, hope gave St. Bartholomew the willingness to be skinned alive, and St. Simon the Zealot the courage to be sawed in half. And just like the irony of exalting the cross, Michelangelo depicts a glorious Bartholomew carrying his skin like a tattered old costume, and a muscular St. Simon is the patron saint of lumberjacks. That’s what hope looks like; winking at the suffering involved in discipleship because suffering is not the last word.
 
I have struggled in my diaconal journey, but hope has kept my pilgrim feet keep walking. As the pilgrim’s scallop shell models, our individual journeys will eventually converge at that place where we are completely united to God and each other in love. No matter how far I walk, I always arrive at the beginning, and in the beginning was the Word. 

Written by Jason Openo for Faithfully. Photos courtesy of Jason Openo.

It may come as a surprise that long-standing protections for good-faith religious expression could be weakened under proposed changes to Bill C-9, raising concern that even sincere expressions of Christian belief could be misunderstood or challenged.

Bill C-9 has passed the first and second readings and is now undergoing review by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, with the latest proposed amendment referenced above, subject to a vote possibly as early as this afternoon.

Given all that could be at stake if the amendment passes, the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has sent an open letter to the Prime Minister, with other government officials in carbon copy.

• In English
• In French​

What you can do right now
​

• Contact your Member of Parliament today
  Tell your MP you oppose removing the religious-text exemption in Bill C-9. Share your concerns about how the amendment could affect preaching, teaching, pastoral care, and the Church’s public witness. Even a brief message makes a difference. Constituency offices track every call and email. Find MP
  
  
• Read and share the CCCB's Letter: in English or French
  
  
• ​Stay informed and inform others
  Parishes, schools, lay leaders, and Catholic organizations are encouraged to help the faithful understand the potential implications of Bill C-9. Accurate information dispels confusion and strengthens our collective voice.
  
  
• ​Stand with other faith communities
  Many religious traditions are united in their concern. Collaborate with other communities committed to safeguarding freedom of belief and expression.
  ​
• Participate peacefully and constructively
  ​Sign petitions, write letters, join community discussions, and engage respectfully in democratic processes. These peaceful actions remain vital in defending constitutional freedoms.
  
  

Related articles:

• Catholics urged to take immediate action on Bill C-9 (Archdiocese of Edmonton)
• Canadian bishops ask prime minister to keep religious-text protection in hate-speech law (BC Catholic)

Source: CCCB & Archdiocese of Edmonton

Rerum Novarum Partners has secured a license to bring this film to Calgary as a community screening. Tickets will be approximately $7, and if the event generates any profit, half will be donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Society in support of those in need.

Screening Details
Triumph of the Heart - Introduction and Viewing
Sat, Jan 10, 2026, at 7 pm | Cardel Theatre – Quarry Park
180 Quarry Park Blvd, Calgary
​To get tickets, email [email protected]

This screening is an invitation to come together as a community to reflect on faith, courage, and the enduring power of love. Parish groups, families, and individuals are warmly encouraged to attend and invite others.

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:

• Join the Sunday Mass in your parish church this weekend. Spend quiet time thanking God for the gift of sacred space and for all who built and serve in your parish.
• Children & family activities here (Unleash the Gospel -52Sundays.com)
  
• Renew your baptismal promises. The Lateran Basilica represents the place of baptism and the promise of heaven. Reflect on God’s mercy and our call to holiness.
• Pray for the Pope and the Universal Church. Unite your prayer with Catholics around the world in gratitude for the Holy Father’s leadership.
• Chant the Akathistos (Akathist) Hymn. This ancient hymn of praise to the Mother of God has been sung at the Lateran for centuries. Singing or praying it together deepens our sense of the Church as a living temple of the Holy Spirit. Youtube | Music
• Reflect on your role in the Church. Write down one way you can help build up your parish as a “spiritual house.”
• Celebrate your parish’s story. Share photos or memories of your parish’s dedication or renovations as a reminder of your connection to the universal Church.

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.
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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

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.
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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.

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.  

At Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish in Calgary, a dedicated group of lay volunteer missionaries live this Gospel every week. Under the guidance of Deacon Ricardo Rosero and coordinator Gladys Alvarez, the Pastoral Care Ministry in Spanish serves those who are ill, elderly, or confined to their homes, bringing them Holy Communion, prayer, and companionship.

“Our commitment,” says Deacon Rosero, “is to foster a more humane and Christian culture in the face of pain, suffering, disability, loneliness, death, and grieving.”

Serving Christ in the sick

Eighteen commissioned Ministers of Communion and an equal number of Silent Apostles, companions who accompany and pray, visit the sick each Sunday. They carry the Eucharist to parishioners who can no longer attend Mass, offering not only the Body of Christ but also presence, comfort, and a reminder that they remain part of the Church.

Throughout the year, the team brings Communion weekly to nearly forty people across the city, whether in senior residences, hospitals, or private homes. Each pair of missionaries covers a different area of Calgary, ensuring that the whole city is reached “in one Sunday,” as Deacon Rosero explains. “Our mission is to bring the Kingdom of God closer to them through our service.”

Special visits are made on holy days such as Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Christmas, and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. In moments of serious illness, the pastoral team also coordinates with the parish priest so that the faithful can receive Confession or the Anointing of the Sick.

A ministry of prayer and presence

Prayer remains the heartbeat of this ministry. Each month, parishioners gather for two evening liturgies:

• a Mass for the Sick on the first Tuesday, preceded by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and
• a Memorial Mass on the first Wednesday to pray for deceased loved ones.
  
  

Every February, the community joins the worldwide celebration of the World Day of the Sick, praying a novena to Our Lady of Health (Our Lady of Lourdes). During that Mass, all volunteers renew their commitment to serve.

“We pray for the sick, for their families, and for those who care for them,” Deacon Rosero notes. “It strengthens our own faith and the faith of the parish.”

When a patient dies, the ministry accompanies the family in mourning and remembrance. Last year, twelve people who had received Communion from the missionaries passed away. Their names were remembered during the Annual Mass for the Faithful Departed, celebrated on the final Wednesday of Ordinary Time.

Training new missionaries

A milestone this past year was the successful translation and launch of the Pastoral Care Ministry Training Course in Spanish. Deacon Rosero and Gladys Alvarez spent months adapting diocesan formation materials, written originally in English, so that Spanish-speaking Catholics could receive instruction in their own language.

The inaugural five-week course ran in May and June 2025 at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish, with thirteen participants completing certification. All now serve actively in the ministry.

​The new course covers the theology of suffering, pastoral listening, practical guidelines for visiting the sick, and the spiritual significance of bringing Holy Communion outside Mass. Participants also learn how to collaborate with clergy, maintain confidentiality, and accompany families with compassion.

​Beyond their Sunday visits, the volunteers cultivate fellowship and spiritual renewal through regular formation and prayer. They participate in parish retreats, Eucharistic adoration, rosaries, and processions. Twice a year, they attend workshops or spiritual retreats to deepen their understanding of mercy and pastoral care.

Moments of joy and friendship are also part of their rhythm: a summer gathering for volunteers and families, and a Christmas celebration where missionaries give thanks for another year of service.

​Witness of compassion

The Spanish-speaking Pastoral Care Ministry represents one of the many cultural expressions of faith flourishing within the Diocese of Calgary. Its volunteers bridge language and distance to ensure that no one is forgotten.

“Many of our brothers and sisters cannot come to church,” Deacon Rosero says. “When we arrive with the Eucharist, their faces light up. They know the Lord is with them.”

The ministry’s impact is measured not only in numbers, thousands of Communions distributed each year, but in transformed hearts, both of those visited and of those who serve.

As the Church celebrates the Jubilee Year of Hope, the volunteers of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish embody that hope through every visit, prayer, and gentle word offered to the suffering.

“Christ Himself comes to the sick through our hands,” Deacon Rosero affirms. “That is why we serve, with love, reverence, and joy.”

​In this ministry, the diocesan call to Renewal becomes visible. Every visit reminds the homebound and the sick that they matter, to God and to their parish family. And every volunteer, moved by compassion, discovers anew that they too matter in the mission of the Church. 

Written by Quinton Amundson, The Catholic Register

Calgary Bishop William McGrattan said the Church cannot ignore the profound implications of the rapidly advancing technological revolution that is artificial intelligence.

Speaking at the AI symposium hosted at St. Mary’s University in partnership with the Diocese of Calgary Oct. 17–18, McGrattan emphasized “we must not be an AI-illiterate Church,” urging participants — technology experts, theologians, ethicists, clergy and laity — to avoid both a “paralyzing fear” and an “uncritical embracing” of artificial intelligence.

The Calgary bishop shared a potential AI action strategy that arose out of a previous summit staged in Edmonton this past May by the Mission Collaboration Initiative (MCI). The MCI is a forum created by the Alberta bishops in 2018 to empower key Catholic organizational leaders to advise diocesan shepherds about key issues that could impact the Church’s evangelization mission.

Four pathways forward were formulated through synodal listening sessions, an exercise also conducted throughout the symposium at St. Mary’s.

Path one is education and formation where the Church needs to be open to dialogue and learning, as a sufficient knowledge base will enable Canadian Catholic leadership to effectively present its ethical voice.
​
“This is critical for us to have the sense of confidence and authority when dealing with issues of health care and education,” he said.

McGrattan also stressed that “it is incumbent upon us to double down on the formation of the human person.” We must be mindful of the “competing visions at work in our society and culture” undermining Church teaching about personhood.

“Not to generalize, but we have these ancient heresies that continually resurrect themselves in various forms,” said the native of London, Ont. “The Gnosticism that in some ways the human person is disembodied, that our consciousness, our thinking, is what defines us solely as a human person without reference to the gift of the body. Or the reductionism of the human person to what is just simply material, to what we’ve heard as the temptation of this transhumanism, to actually see our humanity be transformed into a material machine.”

The second path ahead is developing guidelines for the responsible discernments and adoptions in the use of AI.
McGrattan first outlined some of the key ethical considerations — AI challenges. These quandaries include privacy concerns, job displacement, social isolation, idolatry, environmental impacts, algorithmic discrimination and depersonalization. He also detailed the Catholic doctrines, linking with these aforementioned dilemmas, that must be championed during this unfolding sea change.​

The dignity of work principle acutely corresponds with the concerns of mass job displacement. This creed could be promoted by advocating that the affirming value and purpose of labour could be safeguarded by ensuring there are meaningful human-centric roles available for workers who see some of their assignments overtaken by automation.
For example, if AI takes charge of administrative tasks, healthcare workers can devote more time to personalized patient care.

Fostering authentic community and human accompaniment is the third pathway.

Strengthening community life can help to confront the loneliness epidemic at work in society today and could magnify further as AI development continues to proliferate. McGrattan also suggested that cultivating authentic bonds of fellowship can “be a way of mitigating unhealthy dependence and reliance on AI for companionship.”

Pathway four is continued proactive engagement with technology leaders and policymakers.

“The goal here is to have the Catholic Church’s voice heard and also integrated into the development of AI,” said McGrattan.

He concluded by spotlighting AI's potential to advance the Church's mission, such as amplifying evangelization efforts by overcoming language barriers, enriching catechetical formation through personalized learning and freeing clerical staff for more pastoral care.

The next steps for the Alberta bishops are to establish a commission on technology, advocate for the inclusion of AI ethics in school curriculum and Catholic institutions and organize public forums to engage the broader community on artificial intelligence.  ​

Photography by Bandi Szakony for St. Mary's University. 
​More photos: Day 1 | Day 2

At St. Albert the Great Parish in Calgary, Homecoming is a beloved fall tradition, a joyful time when parishioners come together to reconnect, welcome new faces, and celebrate all that God is doing in their midst. This year, however, Homecoming 2025 carried a special focus: Parish Renewal.
 
Our renewal journey has reminded us that renewal is not only something happening within our parish; it begins in each of us. As we come home to our parish family, we are also called to come home to Christ through prayer and personal conversion. That message of “Welcome Home” was visible everywhere throughout the celebration, from the joyful greetings at our doors to the heartfelt words shared from the ambo.
 
Homecoming began with Name Tag Weekend, a parish tradition, where everyone attending Mass was invited to wear a name tag, from work, school, or even a creative homemade one designed by the children. It was a fun and meaningful way to get to know one another better and to recognize that each name represents a unique story of faith that makes our parish family stronger. At the same time, the parish hall came alive with the Ministry Fair, where parishioners explored the many ways to serve, grow, and share their gifts. It was a beautiful expression of how renewal becomes visible through active discipleship and stewardship.
 
The following weekend featured our Volunteer Appreciation Tailgate BBQ a spirited, faith-filled celebration where volunteers and their families came together as one “home team.” Wearing the colors of their favorite sports teams, parishioners shared food, laughter, and fellowship in gratitude for all who serve so generously throughout the year.

Homecoming 2025 concluded with the joyful unveiling of our Parish Renewal Plan, marking a milestone moment for the community. After two years of listening, prayer, and discernment, the Parish Renewal Team presented the plan and invited all parishioners to join this new chapter of faith and mission. Each person received a printed copy of the plan, along with a comfort cross and prayer card featuring the parish’s new Mission Statement.

​Simple reminders that parish renewal begins with personal renewal, and personal renewal begins with prayer. Following each Mass, the parish gathered for fellowship and refreshments graciously hosted by Couples for Christ, while viewing the newly released Diocesan Renewal video, connecting St. Albert the Great’s journey to the wider renewal movement across the Diocese.
 
Homecoming 2025 was more than an event…it was a living expression of renewal and welcome. As we move forward, may every heart at St. Albert the Great continue to be renewed in faith, hope, and love, so that together we may build up the Church and make our parish a true spiritual home for all.
 
Welcome Home, to renewal at St. Albert the Great!

Written by St. Albert the Great's Parish Renewal Team.

Infographics 1 | Infographics 2 | Infographics 3

Other resources:

• Dilexi te: Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Leo XIV on Love for the Poor (Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development)
  • Synthesis
  • Infographics 1
  • Infographics 2
  • Infographics 3
• 3 Key Takeaways from Pope Leo's First Exhortation (Word on Fire)
• Pope Leo in 'Dilexi te': Faith cannot be separated from love for the poor (Vatican News)
• 12 Quotes from Dilexi Te (OSV News) 

This weekend marked the beginning of the third year of our Diocesan Renewal… You are Called, You Matter, and You Belong. It also coincided with a Worship Conference for liturgical ministry coordinators entitled The Church at Worship, held at St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Mary’s High School.
​
Those who attended the two-day gathering participated in a solemn Evening Prayer, the celebration of the Eucharist, three conferences delivered by Fr. Frank Scalia of the Archdiocese of Montreal, and several practical workshops, all designed to renew the heart of liturgical ministry. The Conference focused on deepening our understanding of the Church’s liturgical worship through prayer and the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist. General liturgical principles were introduced to guide our celebrations and to reflect on the various forms of liturgical leadership that serve the Body of Christ in our parishes.

On Friday evening, participants gathered at the Cathedral for a chanted Evening Prayer that began with the Service of Light, or lucernarium. In the silence of the darkened church, the assembly gathered in procession with the Easter Candle, as the proclamation of light was chanted, “The Light of Christ – Thanks be to God.” The sharing of the flame among the assembly became a powerful symbol of our faith in Christ’s resurrection and triumph over death.
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Fr. Scalia’s reflections were both rich and instructive. On Friday evening he offered a foundational vision of liturgical worship, emphasizing that the Church’s liturgy is a spiritual and sacramental encounter with the living Lord in His Paschal Mystery. He reminded participants that the rites and prayers of the Church, handed down through the generations, have become the language of our Faith, enabling us to know it, celebrate it, and live it. Lex orandi: the way we pray together informs, lex credendi: the way we understand and believe the Faith, and leads to lex vivendi: the way we live as baptized Christians and missionary disciples of Jesus Christ.

On Saturday, Fr. Scalia outlined the principles of liturgy that form the foundation of renewal, drawing upon the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium. He emphasized that the Eucharist is the sacramental reality that makes present the one and same sacrifice of Christ offered for our salvation. To celebrate this sacred mystery with dignity, devotion, and adoration, several principles must guide us:

• Noble Simplicity: A celebration that removes what is non-essential and redundant, incorporating instead noble solemnity, beauty, and prayerful devotion.
• Sacramental Realism: A Spirit-filled expression of faith that signifies a real and living encounter with Christ, avoiding empty ritual or routine.
• Source and Summit: The sacred liturgy, especially in the celebration of the Eucharist, is both the source of the Church’s life and the goal toward which it journeys.
• Full, Conscious, and Active Participation: As members of the Body of Christ, we are called to enter into the mystery of the Eucharist with heart, mind, soul, and body, that we may be nourished as branches on the vine and bear much fruit.

In his final conference, Fr. Scalia reflected on the meaning of liturgical leadership, drawing from several Gospel passages where Christ reveals the deeper truth of Christian leadership, a love expressed in service that seeks the good of others. He reminded participants that every liturgical role, whether visible or unseen, must always be exercised as a form of service for the good of God’s People gathered in worship.

This spirit of service prepared participants for the Saturday afternoon workshops, which focused on the specific ministries that contribute to the beauty and reverence of our liturgical celebrations: altar servers, sacristans, lectors, choir members, hospitality ministers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, liturgical environment, and liturgical committees. These sessions were led by lay representatives, permanent deacons, and priests of our Diocese, fostering dialogue, learning, and collaboration… a true sign of the fruits of our ongoing Renewal.
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As we continue to implement parish pastoral plans and sustain our Diocesan Renewal, we must always return to the primacy of grace received through the Church’s liturgical life, in prayer, the Sacraments, and most especially in the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of the Christian life.

Photography: Bandi Szakony, for the Diocese of Calgary

On August 16, 2025, I made Perpetual Vows with the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJs), an international congregation of women religious, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Calgary. It was, for me, a day of great joy and the culmination of a journey of many years. I was reminded that St. Mary’s was my first parish when I moved to Calgary in 2001, and I was also struck by the fact that the FCJ Sisters have been part of this same parish for 140 years, when they came to the region to found the first Catholic schools in 1885.

I was never someone who always knew she would be a Religious Sister. I was 37 years old when I first heard the call to religious life. Up until that time, I had been working as a teacher and living a very pleasant existence in Calgary, Canada.  I was aware that something was missing from my life, although I wouldn’t have been able to put my finger on exactly what that missing element might be. “Church” and “God” were both parts of my life, but certainly not my highest priorities.

I then entered a particularly difficult time in my life, dealing with the sickness and death of a loved one.  It was in that space that I had a profoundly personal experience of Jesus, an experience that could not be ignored or forgotten, and it spurred me over the coming weeks and months to want to know God more deeply. As St. Augustine wrote, “You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours.” 

My journey eventually led me to meet the Sisters Faithful Companions of Jesus. The FCJ charism of accompanying people in the experience of their contemporary crosses takes its roots from the witness of the women, like Mary of Magdala, who journeyed with Jesus during his ministry, stayed with him at the foot of the cross, and then went on to spread his message of the joy and hope of the resurrection. For me, this charism mirrored my own extraordinary experience of Jesus entering with me into my suffering to lead me to new life. So, over the next several years, I took the plunge, entering into the formal stages of religious life. 

Written by Sr. Michelle Langlois, FCJ for Faithfully. Photos courtesy of FCJ Sisters. 

Photos courtesy of  Jenn Pashula and St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy.

Not one, but four groups of women came together to study and reflect on the teachings of St. Teresa of Avila and how they apply in their lives.  

​They arrived with beaming smiles that lit up every corner of the parish basement, eager to learn. These women are part of ENDOW (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of a Woman) at St. Albert the Great parish. 

Endow was founded in 2003 in Denver, Colorado, by Betsy Considine, Marilyn Coors, and Terry Polakovic. It is a Catholic apostolate that calls women together to deepen their faith by exploring the timeless wisdom of the Church. Drawing from the writings of Pope St. John Paul II on the “new feminism,” the founders emphasized that every woman should recognize her God-given dignity and the unique gifts she brings to the world. Today, Endow reaches more than 40,000 women in over 130 dioceses worldwide through study and community.

Participants greeted each other warmly before sitting at their assigned tables. The atmosphere was alive with openness and readiness to share their spiritual journey. 

Each woman took turns reading two to three sentences from the chapter, followed by reflection questions. At first, the conversation was serious and thoughtful, but as it went on, laughter and light-hearted moments filled the room. 

It was an ordinary conversation, yet every word shared a firm conviction: to trust Jesus with all their hearts. 

Sitting among them was spiritually enriching; it was a fruitful opportunity to learn alongside faith-filled, insightful women about how to deepen one’s faith in God.

One conversation about obedience became especially meaningful. We discussed how obeying God makes difficult things easier, and that His grace is always present when we follow His will.

The moderator said, “If I persevere, good fruit will come because God is good.”

“He wants the best for me because He loves me. I trust Him,” shared Kaitlin, a participant at my table.

The members shared their different perspectives on obedience, but ultimately agreed it meant listening to God’s voice and saying ‘yes’ to Him. It requires letting go of the world’s pull toward pleasure, fame, and wealth, and becoming a follower of Christ. Though difficult at times, the gift of perseverance and God’s grace make it possible.

Written by Mary Joy Mendonza for Faithfully. Photos courtesy of Mary Joy.