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In our greatest need

2/10/2021

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Vanessa* carries something special with her every time she walks into the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. The NICU is where our city’s newest mortals, born early or with health problems, receive 24/7 care from teams of medical professionals, including Vanessa, a registered nurse. This is the kind of place where human beings routinely bear witness to some of the most powerful experiences life can offer. There, Vanessa has seen miracles happen. A faithful Catholic, she also knows that not every miracle ends with a baby carried home in the arms of loving parents. “You always pray for the best outcome, but it’s always in the hands of God.”

So, what does Vanessa carry that fortifies her vocation to serve one of the city’s most medically-vulnerable populations? Faith and experience, says the cradle Catholic, wife and mother. In addition to her nurse’s training, this front-line worker recalls what it was like to be cared for as a child prone to severe asthma attacks that kept her away from school and off sports teams. 

She remembers how medical professionals, doctors and two cousins who were nurses, sometimes came to her family’s home in India, which lacked public health care. The visits kept her out of the hospital, keeping her well without great expense. They also gave Vanessa a lasting appreciation for what it feels like to be cared for during some of life’s weakest moments.
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World Day of the Sick
Pope Francis invokes that same concept of selfless care for others in this year’s World Day of the Sick on Feb. 11. Writing to the faithful, Pope Francis reminds us that, when faced with “the needs of our brothers and sisters, Jesus asks us to respond in a way completely contrary to such hypocrisy. He asks us to stop and listen, to establish a direct and personal relationship with others, to feel empathy and compassion, and to let their suffering become our own as we seek to serve them.”

Working with the families of babies who have complex medical needs can be daunting, admits Vanessa, whose faith helps her focus on the task at hand. “My whole job is about taking care of people.” 

Eyes forward, in faith
The World Day of the Sick was instituted by Pope John Paul II on May 13, 1992. Celebrated on Feb. 11, the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes, the feast day is offered as a special time of prayer for the sick, including one’s own suffering. 
Ellen Dela Cruz experiences World Day of the Sick from the perspective of a mother and grandmother with a chronic form of leukemia.

Diagnosed in 2014, Dela Cruz found herself afraid and alone. Having moved to Calgary only a few years earlier, her husband and three children were in the Philippines. Physically and mentally exhausted by the disease, she was also fretful. “I was so worried. If I couldn’t work, how would I be able to bring my family to Calgary?” remembers Dela Cruz, a childcare worker. “When I am sick, I find myself crying and praying. Crying and praying. My family needs me.”

Overwhelmed with fear, she was also grateful for a health care system that gave her access to top medical professionals, including doctors who specialize in cancers of the blood. More than six years later, Dela Cruz says faith sustained her health and brought her family to their new home in Canada. Her family, which now includes her husband, three married children and three grandchildren, arrived in 2017. All four couples are committed to Couples for Christ.

Chronic fatigue and pain led Dela Cruz, who also has diabetes and fibromyalgia, to stop working in 2019. While she’s managed her symptoms without chemotherapy, she has been hospitalized with cancer-related issues and was to start treatment earlier this year. That plan changed when her oncologist noted positive changes in Dela Cruz’s blood work. Those changes were no surprise to Dela Cruz, who attends mass at several local parishes and loves to spend time praying the rosary in adoration chapels like the one at St. Bonaventure, where she heard “the voice of the Lord telling me the fire of my love will heal you. Every time I ask for the sacrament of anointing of the sick, my condition gets better, " adds a grateful Ellen.
*To protect her relationship with patients and their families, Vanessa asked that her last name not be shared. 
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A Prayer for the World Day of the Sick

​Tender and merciful God, you watch over your creatures with unfailing care, 
Keep us in the safe embrace of your love. 

With your strong right hand, make whole all who are suffering. 
Give them the strength of your power and the stillness of your peace. 

Minister to them through the compassionate service of others and heal their every affliction. 
Fill those who serve the sick with new hope and joy for the good they do in your name. 
Amen

Our Lady, Health of the Sick, 
I look to you for the comfort of a mother’s love, I pray to you on behalf of those who are suffering
And for my own healing needs.
Mary, your love strengthens me
And brings me peace. Pray for us,

​Amen.

Written by Joy Gregory for Faithfully
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Blessed are the sick

2/10/2021

2 Comments

 
PictureLisza Bruder
​My life used to be crazy fast-paced. I was always filling my time, planning for the future, and writing out the steps I needed to follow to get where I wanted to go. Now, I don’t know what I will be able to do tomorrow or a week from now, never mind in a few years!

​This has been one of my biggest challenges living with chronic illness. Letting go of what I thought and hoped my life would be and accepting what it is.

I had formed a large part of my identity around my ability to work hard. School was always hard for me, but through a lot of work I not only managed to successfully earn my PhD in biomolecular science, I was darn good at what I did.

​When my health made it clear I should switch careers, I moved into human services. My goal was to become a counselor so I did online courses towards a Masters program. As my health caused me to slow things down, I had to calm my stubborn and competitive sides and let go of this goal. With each step “backwards” I was very frustrated with the limitations I faced. However, I also found I preferred the little things to the big I had been pursuing. So I started an online business (Lisza’s Gifts) that allows me to use both the analytical and creative parts of my mind and might provide some long-term financial support as it grows. 

Through my many years of school I learned to ask questions and accept help. But I have discovered that it is not as easy to ask for help with personal things. My health is such that there are often days when showering is so exhausting I need to nap, so how am I supposed to clean my house? Or when I’m in a crazy amount of pain and I need my “good” painkillers but I can’t get up to get them, how am I supposed to prepare food? I knew that eventually my Crohn’s colitis and other conditions (both identified and those still under investigation), would leave me homebound, but in my early 30s? This was completely unexpected.

Right now, my life seems to be all waiting. Waiting to get lab results. Waiting for the referral to yet another specialist. Waiting for more tests. Waiting in the ER. In these times of waiting, grace upon grace is granted. I receive help from family and friends to shovel snow, grocery shop, pick up prescriptions, drive me to and from appointments and the ER. I have the prayers of many people and the time to pray for them in return. I get to spend more time learning about my faith and myself. I have started to learn how to focus on what I need more than what I need to do.

In 2020 my health went from inconvenient to unbearable. The worst part? The doctors do not know how to improve my situation. I don’t know why half my symptoms start or why some of them randomly stop. I either need to sleep a ridiculous amount or I get insomnia. If I’m lucky, I have 4 good days between my Crohn’s treatments every 4 weeks. I struggle with the loneliness and isolation; then I struggle with having patience with the people I do speak with. 

I believe that most people would say that I have more bad in my life than good, but I cannot control my circumstances. I can only control how I respond to them. It has been a steep learning curve to reach a place where I have largely accepted that my health will dictate more about my life than other factors. However, that doesn’t make it easy and I grieve every time. 

I think most of us learned in 2020 how we are less in control than we thought. I think the quote stating that we are all in the same storm, but in different boats applies well. There are things we can do to improve the ride even though we cannot change the storm, such as remembering that Christ is in the boat with each one of us. 


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Written by Lisza Bruder.

Lisza lives in Lethbridge where she earned her PhD in Biomolecular Science (specializing in Crystallography) in 2018. Having always been involved with various ministries within the Church, she is now serving through her daily prayer and online business Lisza's Gifts. Lisza feels welcome at both Lethbridge parishes. 
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Care from the heart & soul

2/10/2021

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Spiritual Care and Indigenous Wellness Teams. Left to right, Annella Wehlage, Suzan Heavyshields, Sylvia Ann Fox, John Moerman.
As COVID rages on we regularly see TV footage of health care professionals in hospitals. Yet barely visible is a small group of essential caregivers, often volunteers, who provide care for the soul, the Spiritual Care Teams. 
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I recently met some of these caregivers inside the Chinook Regional Hospital (CRH) in Lethbridge. After navigating entrance protocol to rival a military base, I was met by Annella Wehlage, the Roman Catholic Spiritual Care Coordinator. She guided me to her office in a quiet section of the ‘tower’ office block. There I met John Moerman, the Hospital Chaplain, and the Indigenous Wellness Core, comprised of Sylvia Ann Fox/”Singing Alone From Above” (Traditional Wellness Coordinator) and Suzan Heavyshields (Indigenous Hospital Liaison). This small group explained how they work together to provided spiritual care needs to patients, and how COVID has changed what they do.  

Wehlage has been a volunteer since 2015 following a long career as a nurse. She outlined her daily routine which used to begin with a list of patients who designated a religious affinity on their admittance paperwork. She and the team would discuss a plan and then begin what Moerman referred to with a smile as ‘rounds’, or personal visits to each patient desiring spiritual care. However, COVID has changed all that.

Now the imperative to prevent cross-contamination has reduced visitors to just one per patient, usually a family member. A second professional visitor is permitted in certain circumstances, e.g., a legal counsellor or a priest. And a limited number of additional visitors are permitted in end-of-life situations.

So now the Spiritual Care Team can only visit a patient when specifically referred by family or nursing staff, or in an end-of-life situation. Wehlage is saddened by the loss of her four-person team of volunteer Eucharistic ministers who used to faithfully help her to bring the Eucharist to everyone who wanted it. Now Wehlage’s main responsibility is arranging for a priest to visit when requested. This she does with the help of a weekly roster and an ‘on-call’ list for weekends and evenings. There is always a priest available 24/7.  

The six priests on the list work tirelessly to bring the Sacrament of the Sick and the Sacrament of Reconciliation to patients, sometimes visiting the same person more than once. Their presence in the hospital is a blessing for more than just the patients. Not infrequently, a family member will also ask for a sacrament. The day I visited, Wehlage paused at a coffee kiosk in the hospital atrium where the barista told her how gratifying it was for her to simply see a parish priest walk by because her shift schedule made it impossible to attend Mass.

Another uplifting aspect of Spiritual Care at CRH is how First Nation’s spirituality is often combined with Catholicism, for First Nations patients. Team member Fox explained, “Some people, their parents were strong Catholics and their grandparents were strong in our traditional ways.” So team members offer both forms of religious care concurrently. Moerman added, “That’s how God created us, with a traditional background, a family background, a cultural background, all together.”

The CRH Spiritual Care Team and the Indigenous Wellness Core are clearly cohesive. “We’re friends outside of work”, Wehlage said, “We support one another.” They also work together to accomplish some extraordinary feats. Fox told of one gravely sick man whose wedding plans were interrupted by his illness. When she visited she found his fiancée present. She asked if there was anything she might help them with and they answered, “We’d like to get married this afternoon!” Fox and Wehlage executed a frenzy of arrangements from legal paperwork, securing a priest and arranging a special exemption for two family witnesses. Then they peeked in from the hallway to watch two people realize a dream that COVID couldn’t take from them.

More commonly the teams deal with end-of-life situations. “Sometimes if patients get a difficult diagnosis nurses will request a spiritual care visit,” Wehlage said. She also makes a point of accompanying the priest in cases where the Sacrament of the Sick is administered, especially if it was requested by family members who aren’t permitted to visit due to COVID restrictions. “If a patient sees a priest arrive unannounced at their bedside, they may get scared,” Wehlage said. The teams have many times sat with a person during their final hours. Fox explained softly, “Nobody wants to be alone when they’re going.”
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Wall mural in Chinook Regional Hospital
When asked how else COVID has changed their work, the teams agreed that the hospital was much quieter with fewer visitors. That makes the teams’ work more important than ever. “Patient care can’t be done from home,” Moerman said. He added, “I don’t treat a patient with COVID any differently.” Nevertheless, additional precautions are necessary both at work and when returning home. Moerman said, “Early on I had a knot in my stomach, especially as my wife was baby-sitting our grandkids at home. I would put my clothes in the laundry as soon as I got home. I still do.” He admitted to turning off the news some days as well, “You have to limit COVID news or the fear can rise in you.” Wehlage spoke of baking as a stress-reliever and Fox had taken up traditional beading and making moccasins. 

Asked if they have a message for the readers of Faithfully, the teams had excellent suggestions.

“Follow best practices, listen to the advice of professionals so we don’t overwhelm the 14-bed ICU at our hospital.”
“If you know of somebody who’s Catholic and in hospital, notify their parish priest because the person might not have been at church for some time and their family might be too distracted to think of it.”
“Check in with your extended family, just to talk, a wellness check.”
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It’s obvious that, both on and off the job, caring is deeply engrained in the nature of spiritual caregivers. Let us remember and pray for them in a special way this month.   

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Written by Alice Matisz for Faithfully. ​Alice lives in Lethbridge with her husband Don. She is a member of All Saints Parish where she volunteers to bring the Eucharist to a long term care home (pre-COVID). She enjoys reading, writing, baking and painting. 
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World Day of the Sick 2021

2/2/2021

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Resources

"The celebration of the XXIX World Day of the Sick on 11 February 2021, the liturgical memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes, is an opportunity to devote special attention to the sick and to those who provide them with assistance and care both in healthcare institutions and within families and communities. We think in particular of those who have suffered, and continue to suffer, the effects of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic." ~ Pope Francis.

The theme of this year’s message is “You have but one teacher and you are all brothers" (Mt 23:8), which encourages a trust-based relationship with the sick and the nurturing of integral human healing. Please find here some resources for the World Day of the Sick (Feb. 11) this year:
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  • Pope Francis' Message for the XXIX World Day of the Sick - English | French
  • Some themes for our reflection on World Day of the Sick - Download 
  • Liturgical notes for World Day of the Sick in the Diocese of Calgary - Download
  • World Day of the Sick resources (prayers, petitions, graphic/poster etc.) you can use: 
    • Prayer of the Faithful
    • Prayer and Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)

We would also like to direct your attention to the updated Bill C-7 webpage, and ask that you continue to pray and voice your concern on MAiD. "May our Lord both inspire and bring to accomplishment our efforts to embrace and protect the suffering and vulnerable, and to honour and uphold our rights and freedoms." ~ AB & NWT Bishops See webpage  
  • Statement by the group of disability advocates opposing Bill C-7. Read here
  • Calgary Catholic Medical Association (CCMA) is a lay association with a mission to foster personal and professional formation of healthcare professionals, in accord with the magisterium of the Catholic Church. Read an article from CCMA's website regarding the consultations on expanding MAiD here. What physicians are saying about the dangers of the euthanasia expansion. Read here 
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COVID-19
  • To get the latest update on COVID-19 Pandemic in the Diocese, click here
  • Revised article with notes from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith re COVID-19 vaccination. Read here
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National Health Care Week 2020

10/5/2020

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At the heart of Catholic health care is a deep respect for the intrinsic value and dignity of every human being and an unwavering commitment to serving all people, from all backgrounds and faiths – especially society’s most vulnerable. 

This week is the National Health Care Week (Oct 4-10) - we invite you to learn more about National Catholic Health Care by visiting Catholic Health Alliance of Canada 

Download: 
  • National Catholic Health Care - Awaken Statement
  • Daily Reflections
  • National Catholic Health Care Declaration
  • Letter of Gratitude from Minister Shandro

This is a time for us to reflect and give thanks for the gift of Catholic health care, and for the thousands of dedicated staff, physicians and volunteers who care for those in need. Like the Sisters who came before us, the Covenant family is united by a shared mission that calls on us to serve people from all backgrounds and society’s most vulnerable, according to our values.

During National Catholic Health Care Week, let us give thanks for the courageous gift of Catholic health care during these challenging times—in hospitals, community health centres, or seniors care homes. We pray:
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  • For the Church, a company of believers who journey with the risen Lord, and who stand in prayerful solidarity with the sick, poor and marginalized. We pray to the Lord.
  • For community health centers, and seniors care homes as they foster healing and hope for the people and communities they serve. We pray to the Lord.
  • For all people who serve our Catholic health care organizations – nurses, physicians, employees and volunteers - that they may reflect the face of Jesus as they care for those experiencing illness, disability, and end of life. We pray to the Lord.
  • For those receiving health care, especially those who are most vulnerable, that they experience empathy, compassion, and the love of God in the midst of health difficulties. We pray to the Lord.
  • For all who respond to challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to health care and our larger society; for courage to have important conversations about the experiences of illness, stigma, poverty or loneliness highlighted during this time. We pray to the Lord.
  • For the spiritual and physical well-being of all parishioners; for those who have died recently; and for those who mourn and suffer loss. We pray to the Lord.
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COVID-19 Pandemic in the Diocese

7/28/2020

 
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Face Coverings / Masks

Mask use is mandatory for everyone who enters our churches and offices

Due to a state of public health emergency which has been declared by the Province, the following are mandatory restrictions that apply to the Diocese and the parishes effective immediately. All parishes under the Diocese of Calgary are expected to comply with these restrictions, even in municipalities that currently do not fall under the list of communities under enhanced status.  Current health and safety measures in the Diocese remain in place unless otherwise indicated by the following new restrictions which must be observed in our churches and offices.

During Mass
  • The diocesan guidelines requires parishioners to pre-register for Mass and have walk-ins only before Mass begins as doors are shut and locked as soon as Mass is underway (not leaving opportunity for people to just walk in during the Mass). 
  • Mask use is mandatory for all the faithful. Parishioners who are not able to wear a mask for medical reasons can be exempt from this regulation except when receiving Holy Communion. All parishioners must wear masks when lining up for the distribution of Holy Communion, including those receiving a “blessing.” 
  • Proof of eligibility for exemption is not required when entering the church without a mask, however, we should remind everyone to wear a mask as they enter since they may have just forgotten to put them on.
  • Faith leaders and others speaking in front of a congregation are permitted to remove their masks while speaking provided they maintain 2 metre distance from others while doing so. Once finished speaking, the speaker must put on their mask again.
  • The only addition to the current mask use practise for priests and deacons is that mask must be worn while seated and/or while not speaking.
  • When the priest or deacon has touched the mask at any time during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, hands must be sanitized. 
  • Concelebration with priests, not of one’s cohort (Cohort = Pastor & Associate Pastor living in the same rectory), is discouraged at this time. Except for when the lector is at the ambo, the priest must be alone in the sanctuary.
  • Lectors are permitted to remove their face covering/mask when proclaiming/reading at the ambo. Note: Refrain from touching the microphone. 
  • Since the dispensation from the Sunday Obligation still applies, anyone who has difficulty and issues with wearing a mask may want to consider staying home and staying safe at this time.
  • Mask use is mandatory for everyone who enters our churches and offices. 
    • This applies to all employees, visitors, delivery personnel and contractors.
    • This includes all locations where employees are present and masks won’t pose a safety risk. 
    • Masks are mandatory in all indoor workplaces.
  • Working from home is mandatory unless the employer requires a physical presence for operational effectiveness. 

Gathering
  • Effective January 18, 2021, outdoor gatherings are allowed up to 10 people.  Indoor social gatherings remain prohibited. Social gatherings are where people share food, play games, have two-way conversations or move freely to mix with others. Examples of social gatherings include: wedding or funeral receptions, induction or award ceremonies, luncheons or potlucks, parties: birthday, retirement, baby showers etc.
  • Work and support group meetings are not social gatherings, but attendance should be limited and public health measures followed.
  • This does not apply to service visits from caregivers, health or child care providers.
  • In-person faith group meetings and other religious gatherings are not permitted in private homes while these measures are in effect. 
    • The in-person format for baptismal preparation is suspended at this time as these involve families. The parish should consider offering an online format of delivery or encourage them to enrol in the online course offered by Ascension Press. Enrolment cost is $9.95 US per family. The family will be given a certificate to show that they have completed the program.
    • The in-person format for sacrament preparation for children and youth is suspended at this time as these involve families. Instead, the parish should consider offering an online format of delivery. Portal for online Sacrament preparation for families: catholicyyc.ca/sacraments
    • The Diocese of Calgary at this time has chosen to suspend in-person sessions for the RCIA. We ask that parishes offer an online format for meeting.
    • Lay associations are not allowed to gather in parish facilities at this time. They should use an online format for meeting and programs.

Celebrations of Sacraments & Liturgies

The following directives will be effective in all of the parishes of the Diocese of Calgary. NOTE: Unless nuances are provided in this document, the directives provided in the Guidelines for the Reintroduction of the Public Celebration of Holy Mass are to be strictly followed. 

Maximum Attendance Allowable
  • The pandemic is still with us and existing health and safety requirements remain in place. Therefore, the increase in the attendance limit will not mean an immediate return to full churches. 
  • During Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, Marriage and Anointing of the Sick: Priests must wear face coverings/masks when celebrating the Sacraments which will put them in close proximity to the people.
  • The use of parish halls are no longer allowed as a way to increase occupancy. Services must be held at their normal location.

General Protocols
  • Physical distancing of 6 feet or 2 metres must be maintained at all times from all directions between people who are not from the same household. This means that occupied pews need to be appropriately spaced out by marking or roping off pews that need to remain empty to ensure proper distance. 
  • Priests from demographic groups that are at a greater risk of serious illness, such as those 65 years of age or older or who are living with chronic medical conditions, are asked to meet with the Bishop to discuss their health and wellbeing and their capacity to serve. 
  • Attendees and volunteers from demographic groups that are at a greater risk of serious illness, such as people 65 years of age or older and individuals with chronic medical conditions, are encouraged to stay safe by avoiding public gatherings, but are not prohibited from attending these liturgical celebrations if they so choose.
  • Anyone attending any liturgical celebrations does so at their own risk. 
  • All staff, volunteers, and Mass attendees are required to wear face coverings/masks throughout the entirety of the Mass. The only time the face covering/mask is temporarily removed is when consuming Holy Communion to the side of the Communion line. All who receive Communion must wear masks. 
  • Concelebration with priests, not of one’s cohort (Cohort = Pastor & Associate Pastor living in the same rectory), is discouraged at this time. Except for when the lector is at the ambo, the priest must be alone in the sanctuary.
    • Only the celebrant partakes of the Precious Blood from the chalice. Only the celebrant can drink from any chalice.
    • A separate chalice is provided whenever there is a concelebrant or a group of concelebrants. They are not to sip from the chalice but instead must self-intinct. Concelebrants are obliged to partake of the Precious Blood.
    • The celebrant will be responsible for the purification of the vessels.
    • Deacons are only given the host. They are not obliged to receive of the Precious Blood.
    • Self-intinction is reserved for priests only.
  • Lectors are permitted to remove their face covering/mask when proclaiming/reading at the ambo. Note: Refrain from touching the microphone.
  • During the celebration of mass, singing by one cantor is now permitted under strict conditions. The singing at Mass by choirs or groups is not allowed. Please refer to the  Liturgical Guideline Update (Sep. 25) - re: liturgical singing  ​  Cantors are to use mask during the whole duration of Mass, including while singing.
  • Anyone who has even the slightest symptoms or feelings of sickness must remain home.
  • Separate points of entry and exit must be clearly designated with proper signage.
  • Collecting contact information of attendees if they would wish to participate voluntarily for the purpose of contact tracing
    • Parishes will have full ownership of their attendance lists 
    • Records should only be kept for 2 weeks then destroyed
    • Parishes will only be asked to share attendance lists with Alberta Health Services if a potential exposure occurs onsite
  • Attendees will be asked health and travel-related questions consistent with the self-assessment tool of AHS. 
    • To expedite the process for entry to the church, an attendance recorder will collect this information outside the church as the faithful arrive.
  • All attendees must be directed to the pews to manage seating and monitor occupancy.
  • Infants and children should remain with their parents or guardians at all times.
  • Space used for the celebration of the Mass and shall only include the seating area in the church nave and not any other spaces, such as the basement, children’s or nursing rooms, meeting rooms, hall or narthex. All unused spaces must be locked and access prohibited. 
  • Since the dispensation from the Sunday Obligation still applies, anyone who has difficulty and issues with wearing a mask may want to consider staying home and staying safe at this time. 

Sunday & Weekday Mass
  • The total maximum attendance allowed for Mass is limited to 15% of fire code occupancy for in-person attendance. Services must be held at their normal location.
  • Physical distancing between households must be maintained
  • Mask use is mandatory. 
  • Celebrants, Concelebrants, & Deacons
    • Only the celebrant partakes of the Precious Blood from the chalice. Only the celebrant can drink from any chalice.
    • A separate chalice is provided whenever there is a concelebrant or a group of concelebrants. They are not to sip from the chalice but instead must self-intinct. Concelebrants are obliged to partake of the Precious Blood.
    • The celebrant will be responsible for the purification of the vessels.
    • Deacons are only given the host. They are not obliged to receive of the Precious Blood.
    • Self-intinction is reserved for priests only.
  • During the celebration of mass, singing by one cantor is now permitted under strict conditions. The singing at Mass by choirs or groups is not allowed. For more details, please refer to Liturgical Guideline Update (Sep. 25) - re: liturgical singing  Note that Cantors wear mask during the whole duration of Mass, including while singing.
Funeral Masses & Services
  • Effective Jan. 8, 2021, the max. number of attendees for funeral Masses and services is 20.
  • This also applies to Masses for the Dead, i.e. “Memorial Masses,” as these involve families.
  • For funerals, the Diocese of Calgary does not consider the officiant, staff or organizers as one of the 20 guests allowed. 
  • This applies to any facility, including places of worship and funeral homes.
  • Clergy should wear masks at all times, including when meeting with the family for funeral reparation. Proper physical distancing must always be observed. 
  • Clergy and others speaking in front of a congregation are permitted to remove their masks while speaking provided they maintain 2 metre distance from others while doing so. Once finished speaking, the speaker must put on their mask again. 
  • The funeral directors are asked to direct the seating of the congregants. 
  • Receptions are not permitted.  
  • The use of parish halls are no longer allowed as a way to increase occupancy. Services must be held at their normal location.
  • To limit the possible exposure to the virus, the length of the Funeral Mass has to be kept short while maintaining solemnity and reverence.
    • No eulogies in the church before or after Mass.
    • Homilies should be limited to around 5 minutes.
    • No congregational singing
  • Up to two stringed instruments may be allowed to provide instrumental music, i.e. piano, violin, cello, guitar… Instrumentalists must observe the required physical distancing at all times. The use of the organ is also permissible.
  • The Mass may be livestreamed via the internet but cannot be streamed to another space in the church facility as only the use of the nave of the church is permissible.
  • Funeral Vigils & Viewings – The priest or deacon is advised to only have 20 in attendance of the immediate family and friends in the funeral home for the funeral vigil. Some families may arrange for a rotational viewing to take place with 20 individuals present at a time. Priests and deacons are advised not to remain for the viewing once the vigil service has concluded.
  • Interments and Graveside Services – The maximum number of attendees is 20. This does not include staff or organizers who are not considered an invited guest.
  • Funeral Services will only be allowed in the funeral homes. 
  • The funeral homes are asked to provide assistance in the cleaning and disinfecting of pews after the Mass using the “wipe twice” cleaning protocol as specified in the Workplace Guidance for Business Owners. The parish is to clean and disinfect the rest of the church facilities after the funeral. 
  • Parishes and/or Funeral Directors will be collecting contact information of attendees. Parishes will have full ownership of their attendance lists; Records should only be kept for 2 weeks then destroyed; Parishes will only be asked to share attendance lists with Alberta Health Services if a potential exposure occurs onsite.

Weddings
  • The max. number of attendees for weddings remain at 10. This includes the officiant, bride/groom and witnesses. 
  • Clergy should wear masks at all times, including when meeting with the family for funeral reparation. Proper physical distancing must always be observed.
  • Clergy and others speaking in front of a congregation are permitted to remove their masks while speaking provided they maintain 2 metre distance from others while doing so. Once finished speaking, the speaker must put on their mask again.
  • To limit the possible exposure to the virus, the length of the wedding has to be kept short while maintaining solemnity and reverence.
    • Homilies should be limited to around 5 minutes.
    • No congregational singing. 
  • Up to two stringed instruments may be allowed to provide instrumental music, i.e. piano, violin, cello, guitar… Instrumentalists must observe the required physical distancing at all times. The use of the organ is permissible. 
  • The liturgy may be livestreamed via the internet but cannot be streamed to another space in the church facility as only the use of the nave of the church is permissible.
  • Parishes will be collecting contact information of attendees. Parishes will have full ownership of their attendance lists; Records should only be kept for 2 weeks then destroyed; Parishes will only be asked to share attendance lists with Alberta Health Services if a potential exposure occurs onsite. 

Baptisms
  • The max. number of attendees for baptism remain at 10. For baptisms, the Diocese of Calgary does not consider the celebrant as one of the 10 guest allowed.
  • Limit the Baptism to one child at every celebration or several if they belong to the same family.
  • Clergy should wear a non-medical mask at all times. 
  • Clergy and others speaking in front of a congregation are permitted to remove their masks while speaking provided they maintain 2 metre distance from others while doing so. Once finished speaking, the speaker must put on their mask again.
  • Water: Rather than at the baptismal font, a vessel of water should be prepared in the sanctuary beforehand. There should be a second empty vessel over which the water will be poured so that the water poured over the person being baptized does not return to the original vessel holding the blessed water. The priest should use a pitcher to pour the water, not his hands. Following the baptism the water should be poured down the sacrarium or into the ground.
  • Signing with the Cross: The celebrant should sign the child without physically touching the child. The same can be asked of godparents should the parents prefer. 
  • Anointings: Before the celebration a cotton ball should be dipped into the Oil of Salvation and placed oil-side-down in a separate vessel. This should be used to anoint the child on the breast. Another cotton ball with the Sacred Chrism should be similarly prepared and used to anoint the child on the crown of the head. Both cotton balls should be burned after the celebration. 
  • Ephphatha: The celebrant should bring the thumb near the ears and mouth but not touch the ears and mouth while saying the text.  
  • Parish will be collecting contact information of attendees if they would wish to participate voluntarily for the purpose of contact tracing. Parishes will have full ownership of their attendance lists; Records should only be kept for 2 weeks then destroyed; Parishes will only be asked to share attendance lists with Alberta Health Services if a potential exposure occurs onsite.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
  • Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament – This liturgy can only be held in the nave of the church. The total maximum attendance allowed for Mass is limited to 15% of fire code occupancy or less if required for proper physical distancing.
  • Adoration chapels are not to be used for the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. For churches that have the tabernacle located in a chapel, please see below.
  • Parish will be collecting contact information of attendees if they would wish to participate voluntarily for the purpose of contact tracing. Parishes will have full ownership of their attendance lists; Records should only be kept for 2 weeks then destroyed; Parishes will only be asked to share attendance lists with Alberta Health Services if a potential exposure occurs onsite.

School Celebrations
  • Clergy are encouraged to provide a simple livestreamed Liturgy of the Word for schools within their parishes. This will provide an opportunity for clergy to address the current experiences of our students in light of the Gospel truth and foster a greater recognition of Christ’s presence and grace in the midst of the difficulties they face.
  • It is not required that the location of the livestream be in the parish church especially if your parish does not have the ability to livestream. Individual schools may be asked to assist in providing the means to broadcast from the school.
  • Liturgies also do not need to be presided by clergy. Schools may have their own teachers, staff or lay chaplains preside at lay-led Liturgies of the Word.
  • Schools are to communicate to their staff and students where the livestream may be accessed.

Sacraments of Initiation
  • The celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation, except for infant baptisms, are not addressed in these directives.  The Bishop and the Presbyteral Council will discuss the possible approaches to the celebration of these Sacraments after the reintroduction of publicly-celebrated Masses has taken place and sufficient time has passed for parishes to experience a level of stability. As well, further relaxations to government restrictions in Stage 2 of the Alberta Relaunch may be beneficial and necessary for the celebration of Sacraments involving a large number of people. 

Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation
  • The Sacrament of Penance may be celebrated in a manner that assures proper physical distancing while safeguarding the privacy of the penitents.
  • Confessions from behind a screen: the required distance needs to be maintained between the penitent and confessor and the confessional screens should be sanitized after each use. Due to the small space of some confessionals, it may be necessary to set up a separate reconciliation room to ensure the required distance between the penitent and confessor. The screen should still be sanitized after each use unless there is a distance kept between the penitent and the screen as well.  
  • Face-to-face confessions: these are permitted as long as the required distance is maintained between the penitent and the confessor. 
  • There should be no physical contact between the penitent and the confessor. 
  • Public penitential services are prohibited. Confessions should be made more readily available and much more frequently.
  • First Reconciliation – The celebration of the Sacrament of Penance must take place in a well-ventilated area. Every family should be seated and separated from other families at least 6 feet away from each other while waiting for their turn. At this time, we ask that we limit the people in the area 10 people at a time. The Confessor is not to be counted as one of the 10.

Anointing of the Sick 
  • Anointing of the Sick may be celebrated according to the following directives: 
  • Only immediate family, if present, may gather with the priest and sick person.
  • If confession is to be celebrated before the anointing, please maintain the required distance and safeguard their privacy. 
  • Use a cotton ball to apply the oil for the anointing. The cotton ball should be burned later. 
  • If the person to be anointed is in a health care facility, the priest has the obligation to follow the facility directives and protocols. 

Pastoral Care and Communion to Shut-Ins
  • Lay pastoral care ministers are to refrain from visiting and bringing communion to shut-ins and health care facilities. All requests must be forwarded to the parish priests.

House Blessings
At this time, entering homes for house blessings is discouraged. It is recommended that the priest or deacon bless the house from the outside or schedule the blessing at a later time. 

Access to Churches
  • Parishes are asked to keep the churches open during the day so that individuals may visit and pray before the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. However, groups are not allowed to assemble in churches. 
  • All are required to wear face covering/masks when inside our church buildings.  

Blessing with Holy Water 
When holy water is required for blessing, fill a clean vessel with fresh water. Bless the water either before or during the celebration. Immediately following the celebration, pour the remaining water down the sacrarium. You should not touch the water with your hands but use an aspergillum. 

For additional support and guidance, please contact the Moderator of the Curia, Fr. Wilbert Chin Jon, at 403-218-5529 or Wilbert.ChinJon@calgarydiocese.ca  
  • Liturgical Guidance for RCIA, Feast of Presentation of the Lord, Stations of the Cross, Lenten Penitential Services, Lenten Missions (Jan 19 2021)
  • Liturgical Guidance for the Optional Memorial of St. Blaise, World Day of the Sick, Ash Wednesday & Palm Sunday (Jan. 12)
  • Stricter Restrictions Memorandum (Dec. 9, 2020)
  • State of Public Health Emergency - Mandatory Restrictions Memorandum (Nov. 26, 2020)
  • Letters from the Bishops about Covid-19 Vaccine
    ​English | French
  • ​​Temporary Face Coverings Bylaw for Calgary & Banff
  • They Still Bring Forth Fruit in Old Age: A Lesson on Caring in the Midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic. A Message by the Executive Committee of the CCCB 
  • ​Download Guidelines of the Reintroduction of Public Celebration of Holy Mass (Date: May 26, 2020)
  • ​Bishop McGrattan's Letter to the Faithful (May 26, 2020)
  • ​Download Decree - Dispensation from Sunday Obligation 
Download Directives on the Celebrations of Sacraments & Liturgies in the Diocese of Calgary
  • Nov 26, 2020
  • June 1, 2020
  • May 14, 2020
  • March 24, 2020
  • March 16, 2020

COVID-19 Updates

  • COVID-19 Info for Albertans - Current Situation 
  • Guidance for Places of Worship ​
  • Updates from the Chief Medical Officer
  • Relaunch for Calgary and Brooks
  • Workplace Guidelines for Business Owners 
  • Alberta Biz Connect 
  • Call 211 for community and social services help line (for basic needs, financial support, food, housing information, etc.)
  • Call 811 for Health Link 
  • Centres for Disease Control and Prevention​​

For your 
​Mental Health

  • Calgary Counselling Centre: 403-691-5991 + online counselling
  • Catholic Family Service: 403-205-5295.  Rapid Access Counselling: 403-233-2360 or email intake@cfs-ab.org
  • Distress Centre: 403-266-4357  - available 24/7. 
  • Eastside Family Centre: 403-299-9696 - telephone and e-therapy. 
  • Kid’s Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
  • Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642  
  • Access Mental Health: 403-943-1500​
  • Healthy Parenting in time of COVID-19 | WHO 

Mental health matters

4/22/2020

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Catholics across the Diocese of Calgary are looking for ways to de-stress from the distress. Adjusting to the new normal foisted on the global community by COVID-19, a disease that didn’t even have a name just weeks ago, thousands are live-streaming daily and Sunday masses. Others turn to traditional Catholic prayers like the rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet, seeking grace for the dead, the sick, their families and caregivers. 

Sr. Donna Marie Perry, FCJ, knows the news is bad. But the Calgary-based social worker and psychotherapist wants people to remember that the steps we take to stay “physically healthy should also include a focus on our mental and spiritual well-being.”

That earns a quick nod from Dr. Peter Doherty, an associate professor of psychology and family studies at St. Mary’s University in Calgary. Dr. Doherty, whose work focuses on the integration of psychology and spirituality, agrees people should take mental health issues seriously in times of crisis.
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Mental health matters
Sr. Perry is the clinical director of Insight Counselling and Therapy Centre. This not-for-profit offers long-term counselling at sliding rates as low as $5 a visit. Insight delivers care through practicum students supervised by Sr. Perry. All of the students are finishing master of counselling programs with various universities. The organization is one of the community-based organizations that benefits from Together in Action, an annual fundraising campaign by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary. Given the imperatives of “social distancing” during the pandemic, Insight’s students currently offer support via phone. 

Sr. Perry herself lives in a seniors’ residence with strict pandemic protocols. With St. Mary’s University shuttered, Dr. Doherty is also staying close to home. They offered readers of Faithfully some ideas about how to make mental health a priority in trying times.

Stay informed. Make healthy choices. “Fear is a healthy response to the situation, and it makes sense to stay informed. But let’s be smart about how much news we watch and read,” says Sr. Perry. She recommends people listen to morning updates and check in again in the afternoon or evening. A 24-hour news cycle includes a lot of recycled information and “when you’re hearing the same news all the time that increases stress,” says Sr. Perry.

Hoarding items as basic as toilet paper shows “an emotional response to the crisis that doesn’t make rational sense,” adds Dr. Doherty. He also shakes his head when he sees examples of people not following recommendations for safe social interaction. 

One of the healthiest ideas he’s seen to date suggests people “not act as if you’re afraid of getting the virus. Instead, act as if you are trying to protect other people from getting it. The best information we have says most people who get this virus will survive. But we need to protect those who are vulnerable.” People who follow that advice should take mental comfort in knowing they are doing the right thing, says Dr. Doherty.

Strengthen family ties. The social distancing protocols recommended by public health officials isolate family units. Sr. Perry’s urges families to use the time to your family’s advantage. Play games. Share meals. Go for walks where you can be 2 m from other people. If you have a backyard, use it. 

Reach out. “It’s like we are disconnected, together,” says Dr. Doherty. Since our own mental health benefits when we interact with others, this is a good time to phone, text, email, FaceTime or Skype with people we haven’t heard from in a while, “especially if we know people who might be alone.” 

This is also a good time to reach out to people whom we’ve hurt and vice versa. The words, “I forgive you,” are a way to free ourselves from the heavy, energy-sapping emotional burdens we carry when we haven’t let go of real or imagined hurts, says Dr. Doherty. This kind of pain bleeds into how we interact with others and how we handle strife. “It can keep us from handling unrelated situations well.”

Pray. Pray together. Dr. Doherty encourages people of faith to use prayer as a conduit to deeper conversion. When we pray for the isolated, for those who’ve lost jobs and for people on the front lines of health care, prayer becomes a way to reach past ourselves to Christ, says Dr. Doherty. This can be helpful for people who grieve the fact that they cannot attend mass to receive the Eucharist. 

Family prayer is also helpful, says Sr. Perry. Praying for others teaches children that prayer is a way of helping others—and it reminds adults of the same thing.  “It’s really important not to get caught up in ‘self’ and to keep looking outward,” says Sr. Perry.

“Prayer can be very relaxing, too,” notes Sr. Perry. Following the Jesuit tradition of her charism, she uses her evening prayers “to look back on the day, to think about what went well and what didn’t go as well and to give thanks to God for the day.” 

She’s added more Hail Marys to her day by reciting that prayer while she lathers her soapy hands for the requisite 20 seconds (as recommended by public health), prior to rinsing off the soap with water. Sr. Perry says the Hail Mary is a good replacement for singing the ABCs or Happy Birthday songs.
 
Listen. Talk. Be kind.
People manage stress differently. If you see more anger than you’re used to, remember that unresolved fear may be expressed as anger, explains Sr. Perry. She encourages parents to listen when their kids talk about their fears. Be open to their questions and offer age-appropriate responses. “Let them know that you don’t know everything, but you will figure it out together.” 

Also, remember that children internalize messages from the external world and believe that everything that happens relates to them. It’s a matter of maturity, not selfishness, says Sr. Perry. “Children internalize information to make sense of their environment with limited experience. They use that information to make decisions about themselves and the world. They build what we call a script, and we live out of those childhood beliefs.”

Laugh often. Love much. With so much doom and gloom, Sr. Perry suggests people who are feeling sad work some comedy into their screen time. 

She and Dr. Doherty admit they are especially worried about individuals and families who did not go into the current pandemic in strong mental health. “Not all families are healthy,” says Sr. Perry. She urges people who see others struggling to reach out with kindness. Where appropriate, you can also recommend they access support from community-based organizations. 

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Calgary Distress Centre Helpline: 403-266-HELP (4357)

Written by Joy Gregory for Faithfully
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​Photo: Lightstock
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Guidelines during Influenza season - March 5

3/4/2020

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The Diocese of Calgary continues to monitor the current situation in regards to the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the province through updates from the Alberta Health Services. As of March 9, the current overall risk to Albertans is still considered low by medical experts. Get updates from Alberta Health Services and learn about the actions being taken to protect the health of Albertans here: https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx  

Here are general guidelines that were distributed to parishes on March 3. Please note that this is a proportionate response according to AHS risk assessment of the situation as at that date in the province.

General guidelines during Influenza Season in the Diocese of Calgary

  • Those who are ill or suspect illness should refrain from receiving from the chalice; Christ is fully present in each species.
  • At this time, we share the Sign of Peace using the second option, a bow, instead of shaking hands.  ​In the dioceses of Canada, the sign of peace is given by a handshake or a bow. However, it is appropriate that each person offer the sign of peace only to those who are nearest and in a sober manner. (The General Instruction of the Roman Missal no. 82)
  • Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should practice good hand hygiene through frequent handwashing with soap and water and/or the use of alcohol-based rub (ABHR) and find a replacement for themselves if they are not feeling well.
  • All the faithful are encouraged to practise good hand hygiene for the sake of others.
  • The obligation to attend Sunday Mass does not apply to those who are ill, especially those who suffer from a contagious illness; those with flu-like symptoms may choose to remain at home in order not to spread the virus to others. While televised Masses do not fulfill the Sunday obligation, those who are ill are dispensed from the Sunday obligation.​
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GUIDELINE POSTER
  • Download PDF - English
  • Download PDF - Chinese
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Caring for the sick in this world

2/11/2020

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Our Lady of Lourdes. Photo credit: Dennis Jarvis.
The 28th World Day of the Sick was celebrated on February 11, 2020.  Saint John Paul II initiated the World Day of the Sick to encourage the faithful to pray for those who suffer from illnesses and for those who care for and minister to them. February 11 is also the Optional Memorial for Our Lady of Lourdes.

In 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared many times to St. Bernadette in the hollow of the rock at Lourdes.  Since then, there have been many miraculous cures and conversions attributed to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes.  

The Roman Catholic Church has a long history of founding and engaging in the provision of healthcare rooted in a faithful response to the Gospel call.  “After this the Lord appointed seventy others  … Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” (Luke 10: 1, 8-9.)  
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The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) reiterates this call and says, "Heal the sick!" The Church has received this charge from the Lord and strives to carry it out by taking care of the sick as well as by accompanying them with her prayer of intercession. She believes in the life-giving presence of Christ, the physician of souls and bodies.”  (CCC, 1509.)
The Pastoral Letter for Catholic Health Care issued by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops offers eight guiding principles:  
  • First, the health care ministry of the Church is rooted in and modeled after the person and compassionate healing ministry of Jesus Christ, the “Divine Healer.”
  • Second, like Jesus, the healing ministry of the Church is aimed at the health and well-being of the whole person: physical, spiritual, mental, emotional and even social.
  • Third, the ministry of health and healing is an unmistakable sign that the Reign of God is close at hand, present in the very midst of our wounded and vulnerable humanity.
  • Fourth, the healing ministry keeps every Christian in close touch with the deep mystery of suffering. In the presence of this mystery, every Christian is invited to become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ.
  • Fifth, there is a spiritual affinity between prayer and healing. Praying for those who are sick or suffering goes to the very heart of the healing ministry and thus to the heart of every Christian.
  • Sixth, yet another essential feature of the healing and caring ministry of the Church is a deep and uncompromising respect for human life – from its very conception to its natural death – and an equally deep reverence for the dignity of every person.
  • Seventh, the Church’s ministry of healing goes beyond the healthcare of individuals as such; it extends to the physical and social environment in which people live and work. This means that every Christian is called upon to be an advocate of justice and to help redress those unjust social structures that cause suffering to the disadvantaged groups in society.
  • Eighth, compassionate generosity is also an important dimension of the Church’s far-reaching ministry of healing. Christians are expected to give generously whenever people in distant lands suffer some unspeakable natural disaster, a tragic pandemic infection, or a severe human deprivation. Charity begins at home, but it must never stop there! 

    (Catholic Health Ministry in Canada, A Pastoral Letter by the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005.)

​Throughout Canada’s history, many women and men, clergy, religious and lay, have dedicated themselves to living out these principles by providing medical and spiritual care for the sick. In Alberta, communities of religious women founded the provincial hospital system and delivered quality healthcare with a preferential option for the poor.  The first hospital in this province was established in 1863 by the Sisters of Charity (Grey Nuns) in St. Albert.  The founding of the hospitals spread from this beginning and fostered the hospital system we enjoy today.  We are all indebted to this rich legacy of faith, fortitude, perseverance and care of the sick.   

Pope Francis’ Message for the World Day of the Sick, “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28), offers comfort to the sick saying “brothers and sisters who are ill, your sickness makes you in a particular way one of those “who labour and are burdened”, and thus attract the eyes and heart of Jesus. In him, you will find light to brighten your darkest moments and hope to soothe your distress.” 
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Pope Francis also offers timely encouragement to healthcare providers, “may you always strive to promote the dignity and life of each person, and reject any compromise in the direction of euthanasia, assisted suicide or suppression of life, even in the case of terminal illness.  I echo Pope Francis’ message and encourage healthcare providers “to be consistent with your “yes” to life and to the human person. Your professionalism, sustained by Christian charity, will be the best service you can offer for the safeguarding of the truest human right, the right to life.”

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​Written by Most Rev. William McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary
February 2020
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A community of faith to surround the dying

2/11/2020

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My hope is that our society – and each of us – will better recognize the profound human-ness of the tremendously important phase of life that we know as ‘end of life’ or palliative.  It might seem to be normal to fear this time, and perhaps to seek to avoid the experience of living when dying is inevitable due to an illness.  While we understand as compassionate humans the natural grief and concern that accompanies the possibility of dying, there are other ways to experience it – and I have seen these other ways in countless individuals. 

Those people have taught me that the time prior to their natural deaths can be a time of growth, of healing of relationships, of seeking and giving forgiveness, of preparation of hearts and souls for meeting their God, of internal reflection and openness, of teaching those around them through their example, even a time of profound peace and joy, and certainly a time of giving love unreservedly, and of accepting loving care from others while vulnerable and frail.

Society’s response to suffering is to enact a law that allows physicians and nurse practitioners to deliberately end a person’s life through the provision of chemicals that are specifically meant to cause death.  But suffering - whether physical, mental or emotional - can and should be a trigger for our spiritual and human selves to respond differently based on compassion.

All of us can protect and support those who are particularly vulnerable and who might otherwise choose assisted death as a way to stop their suffering because they cannot access society’s resources due to their vulnerability.

We should not be afraid to support conscience rights for people in medical professions.  We want people who are engaged in challenging health care tasks to be able to honour moral commitments for at least two reasons: a) so that they are not morally harmed by being forced to do things against their conscience; and b) so that they can do their best work for all the people they care for, by being whole to the deepest parts of their beings.  Since conscience rights are not absolute rights that prevail in all circumstances, supporting conscience rights can be done without impairing patient access to needed services.

Those of us who are able to, have a duty to advocate with decision-makers to minimize the harms of assisted death and to reject the further expansion of the criteria for assisted death eligibility.

We must do what we can to promote widespread availability of expert end of life care. The focus of this care is to reduce suffering from symptoms and also to assist people to live as well as they can as they approach the end of their natural lives. Palliative, end of life care has been so positive and helpful for so many people and simply should be universally available.

The very human act of dying and of preparing for death while we live demands a response that does not seek first to snuff out life, but rather that brings out our love for each other and communal support while we acknowledge the human conditions of frailty, vulnerability, uncertainty and eternal Hope.

Written by Dr. Eric Wasylenko, a palliative care physician and clinical ethicist. The Bishop’s of Alberta and Northwest Territories have written a pastoral letter on the proposed expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). They encourage Catholics to write a letter to their members of parliament to share their opposition to euthanasia/assisted suicide.
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Peace in the parks

1/15/2020

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“Pilgrimage, Sanctuary and Peace in the Parks”: A research snapshot and public talk on parks and nature at the end of life.

We all feel it – whether looking outside, in a field, at a beach, or on a mountain – nature gives us perspective about life and death. There is growing evidence of how natural environments impact our physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Little is known, however, about the place of parks and nature at the end of life, or the impact of parks and nature on quality of life during palliative care or in grief and loss…until now! 

A recent 2018 study discovered that experiencing “Peace in the Parks” was an opportunity for: Personal Exploration, Social Discovery and Institutional Transformation. Despite the challenges to get to parks and natural places, it was always “worth it.” Even brief opportunities were an opportunity to “park palliative care”, and to have sanctuary from the stream of appointments and persistent identity as a “dying patient” or “caregiver.”  

Research participants shared, “here [in the park] we can just be ourselves”.  The experiences were both calming and energizing – providing patients and family members a sense of their strength and the courage to take other journeys they had been previously cautious about undertaking. Everyone can make the connection with nature. Ultimately there is value in even parking or sitting in areas with views of nature or short walks or strolls with a stretcher or adaptive equipment. 

Access does take planning, information and communication, and the research team discovered that supporting access to parks and nature for those in palliative care and caregivers is not a call for a new program per se, but rather an invitation, and a mindset that can be influenced by training, information and coordination of services. Further program and study is underway now to extend and expand the discoveries made – the pilgrimage and the pursuit of sanctuary continues.
By Dr. Sonya Jakubec

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To learn more about Parks & Nature at the End of Life, to hear the stories and to be inspired by the pilgrimage of palliative patients and caregivers to Alberta Parks, join Dr. Sonya Jakubec (MRU) and co-researcher Jennell Rempel (Alberta Parks) for a free 
public talk and short documentary film screening with the Calgary Public Library on Thursday Jan 23, 2020 from noon to 1:30 pm at the Central Library’s Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall. 
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Faithfully remembered

11/7/2019

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Fr. Michael Storey knows he might not be able to attend a formal Remembrance Day service this November 11. As a hospital chaplain in the Diocese of Calgary, the Catholic priest could find himself beside a hospital bed when other Calgarians pause in reverent silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. But make no mistake. While Fr. Storey may not be able to hear the dying notes of the Last Post, he will feel the lament in his heart. And he will remember. November 11, for this priest, is a matter of country, family and faith.

Fr. Storey’s dad and brother served the Canadian navy in the Second World War. During the same conflict, where 42,000 Canadians died and another 55,000 were wounded, his uncles were soldiers in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). 

Having grown up in a family that sacrificed so much for so many, Fr. Storey admits it wasn’t difficult to step up when a friend and Calgary-based reservist mentioned the need for a military chaplain in Calgary. “I realized that military personnel needed spiritual support. I was also working at St. James parish, so it was easy for me to go back and forth between the parish and Currie Barracks.” Fr. Storey served that role in Calgary from 1987 to 1999.
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Fr. Sajo Jacob, parish priest at Mother Teresa Syro Malabar Church in Calgary, assumed the military chaplaincy about two years ago. He was introduced to the ministry by students he met while serving as the campus chaplain at SAIT and Mount Royal University, a role he held from 2009 to 2019. Some of the students he met there joined the military and invited Fr. Jacob to bring his ministry there. Two years into the role, he’s grateful for the chance to serve military personnel, many of them young people, as they encounter the challenges of military service in defense of the country. “They are often away from their homes, they face personal crisis, they sacrifice for the country and people, and I felt a calling that I will be able to help them.”

A ministry of presence
Unlike more typical priestly ministries which focus on bringing sacraments to the faithful, military chaplaincy is a “ministry of presence.” As a chaplain, Fr. Storey met military personnel at formal events. He also dropped by places like a military rifle range if he knew soldiers and reservists were there to practise. “You do what you can to remind them that you are there if they need you,” he explains.
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His formal role also included being one of two uniformed military officers who made next-of-kin calls to the families of military personnel who died in service to their country. “I was on three of those calls during my 12 years in the service. It was humbling,” he recalls.

The chaplain’s role is akin to “being a guide and mentor,” adds Fr. Jacob. “Sometimes you become a point of contact at a time of crisis and challenges. It is a vocation where you journey with people and you become God’s instrument to share peace and love.”

Whereas parish priests serve Catholic congregations, campus and military chaplains work in secular and interfaith spaces. “Chaplains are there for everyone and we guide and support whoever seeks help, regardless of religion, or orientation,” explains Fr. Jacob. His faithful presence in personal crises has included talking to people contemplating suicide. 

There is no question that military chaplains witness Christ for others, adds Fr. Storey. He remembers being touched by the words of a former altar boy who attended an event to commemorate the priest’s 40th anniversary in the priesthood. “He told me, ‘I was so proud of my parish priest when I saw him in his uniform,’ That meant a lot to me.”

He and Fr. Jacob both view military chaplaincy as service to their nation. “It is my role in the nation-building process,” explains Fr. Jacob, himself an immigrant from India. In addition to serving military personnel as a spiritual guide and mentor, Fr. Jacob helps organize religious services and advises commanding officers in matters of religious accommodations and spiritual and ethical issues. 

This Remembrance Day, Fr. Jacob will officiate at a November 11 ceremony. He says the events do more than remember fallen soldiers and veterans, they also inspire young Canadians in their message of service. 

Written by Joy Gregory for Faithfully
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The spirituality of dementia

10/2/2019

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Four years ago my mother had a stroke. Now she has vascular dementia. It is not exactly the same as Alzheimer’s. There is a tendency to lump all dementia together as Alzheimer’s, but there are actually several kinds of memory loss. Vascular dementia distinguishes itself because its progress is neither predictable nor consistent. Cognitive changes occur in steps. There are plateaus where the person’s memory holds steady followed by sudden changes. During each plateau I accustom myself until a new step occurs, inviting a new grief. 

Most difficult for me has been the loss of abilities that, to my mind, most clearly identify my mother. For example, my mother can no longer remember how to bake the German cakes, which for decades have marked the seasons of our family life – Schwartzwälderkirchtorte on my birthday, Sachertorte on my father’s. These cakes symbolized her love for us. What happens to my mother’s love now that the symbol of that love is gone? Loss of memory can feel like the loss of a person, a death before death. In fact, the social worker assigned to help me calls it ‘ambiguous grief’ because the losses occur repeatedly without finality. 

Recently, I attended a liturgical congress for which the theme was anamnesis or liturgical remembering. My earlier reflections on memory had to do with the memorization of liturgical texts and how the things we remember become part of us and identify us with certain cultures and communities. I found myself wondering: if my mother no longer remembers the things that identified her, who and whose is she? 

One of the papers at the conference, given by Rev. Prof. Liam Tracey (OSM), was about worship in the age of dementia. Tracey referred to the practical theology of John Swinton, who proposes that we are not what we remember rather, God remembers us. Although it may be satisfying to use memory to construct our own identity and to connect with others, Tracey explained that God’s memory is not a neurological act; we are not as we think. One of the things experts say is that when you visit people with dementia you have to enter into their reality. While I tend to identify my mother in relation to how I remember her, a spirituality of dementia invites me to consider instead how God remembers. 

When we recall God’s saving deeds in the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass, we fulfil Christ’s command to “do this in memory of me.” This anamnesis is distinct from non-liturgical recollection in that it actually makes the past events of salvation present again. It is not our individual memory of what God did for us in Jesus Christ, but God’s memory given to us in the liturgy that continues to save us. Although I grieve the changes in my mother’s cognition, her being is not ultimately determined by what she can remember. Losing memory does not have to mean a loss of identity because, for Christians, it is God who remembers. 

Written by Dr. Simone Brosig, Liturgy Consultant / Director, Diocese of Calgary
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A Special Mass in Calgary with the Autistic Priest

7/2/2019

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“Father, can I tell you a question?” Nervous giggles whisper about the church. It is always a tad risky for a Catholic priest to invite children to sit quietly near the altar during a homily. This particular moment seems more fraught than usual. Rain pounds the roof at St. Patrick’s church in southwest Calgary. The lights in the nave are dimmer than one might expect. The pews are a bit more restless. This is the regular 5 pm mass at St. Patrick’s Church in Shawnessy. Truth told, there is little regular about this mass—and that’s why most of the 200-plus people are there on Sunday, June 22. 

Catholics the world over are accustomed to bringing their individual petitions to mass. But this mass at St. Patrick’s is different. This is a Special Needs Mass. Lest there be any confusion over what that means, this mass is for people whose special needs require medical, mental or psychological support. The pews are mostly populated by families with children whose normal behavior would raise the eyebrows (and sometimes the ire), of other churchgoers. An adult man in the front pew talks, out loud, through the service. When he needs a washroom, a fellow parishioner helps him find his way.
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Fr. Matthew Schneider, LC at the Special Needs Mass, St. Patrick's Church, Calgary
For parents like Brenda-Lee Kearney, the mass is delightfully chaotic, yet peaceful. She and her husband Mike have an 11-year-old son with FASD, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. They love Jacob and they love their church. But bringing Jacob to mass is difficult and after Kearney approached her parish priest with an idea, the Special Needs Mass began.

The once-monthly, then bi-weekly masses became a regular 5 pm Sunday mass after pastor Fr. Jerome Lavigne moved to St. Pat’s in 2018. And the Kearneys are grateful. With a mission to create a loving, supportive and compassionate community that renews and restores faith and hope to families and children with special needs, the mass shows “God is really at work here in our parish,” says Brenda-Lee Kearney. Parents with special needs children often stay after mass for welcome fellowship. While most participants are from the parish, others attend as word of the mass spreads. “I believe most of us are parenting our kids in a community that doesn’t understand our reality. We are understanding of each other because we are living it.”

That message resonates with Fr. Matthew Schneider. “There is a natural sense of community when we come together to worship. Where possible, it’s nice to be able to add elements that make worship more meaningful to certain groups of people,” says Schneider, who said the Special Needs Mass at St. Pat’s on June 22. 

A former Calgarian now living in Washington, D.C. where he’s working on a Doctorate in Theology, Schneider says one Catholic church in Washington hosts a regular mass that features an interpreter for the deaf. Other masses are conducted in languages other than English. He likes what St. Pat’s has consciously done to accommodate a group of believers often marginalized in the greater society.

In addition to the dimmer lights, the 5 pm Sunday mass features visual “cue cards” that tell parishioners went to sit, kneel or stand. The pictures show the appropriate action along with a simple message such as, “Please kneel for the communion rite.” 

“Typically, we have the same songs at these services. It’s all part of dialing back on the sensory experience. Many of these children benefit from a very calm environment,” explains Kearney. ​
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Left to right: Tony Makowski, Breanda-Lee Kearney and Fr. Matthew Schneider.
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Fr. Matthew Schneider, LC during the interview with Joy Gregory.
The autistic priest

Fr. Schneider’s appreciation for the Special Needs Mass is more than professional. Diagnosed as autistic three years ago, Schneider went public with his diagnosis on World Autism Day this past April. The diagnosis came after Schneider, then in his mid-30s, reached out to medical professionals for help understanding why one of his first priest assignments was terminated one year into a three-year post.

What he learned helps Schneider make sense of how autism impacts his social interactions. For Schneider, autism manifests as an inability to decipher the social cues most people use to ease interpersonal interaction. “Let me give you an example. When you see someone smile, how do you know if that smile is real? Most people understand that subconsciously. I don’t. I have to really think about it. I have to make decisions about what I think I am seeing.”

Less than three months after going public with his diagnosis, Schneider has more than 50,000 followers on Twitter and Instagram. He writes about the intersection of autism and spirituality and argues for inclusion of what some define as the neurologically-diverse. 

At St. Pat’s, that same approach to inclusion is present in the weekly Special Needs Mass, says Kearney. “This is good for us as parents. It is also good for people like our Jacob. The Mass has given families a place to worship together, a place their children can deepen their personal encounter with Jesus, a place to claim their own faith.”

The Special Needs Mass is held at St. Patrick's, Calgary every Sunday at 5 pm. Follow Fr. Matthew Schneider, LC, @Autistic Priest

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Written by Joy Gregory for Faithfully
Photography by Karla Subero, St. Patrick's Church
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A Life Witness

5/1/2019

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In 1992 my husband and I were expecting a son, and at about 18 weeks into the pregnancy, doctors saw serious anomalies on the ultrasound. The baby’s kidneys were not developing, and there was serious concern about lack of enough amniotic fluid for the baby to continue to grow in time. We took a wait and see attitude, and we were now managing a ‘high-risk pregnancy’.

From the time you find out that you are pregnant, you become active parents. You start making decisions for that baby’s life right away.
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Baby Brandon Joseph
As my pregnancy progressed, medical concerns for the baby’s life and my own life were discussed. The doctors recommended ‘terminating the pregnancy’ at around 27 weeks. I refused all ideas of ‘terminating.’ Then the doctors suggested testing to see if the baby would have chromosomal issues. This would not change my decision, but the result may have affected their ideas on how to treat this high-risk pregnancy with respect. The test came back normal, and we learned that we were having a son. We immediately gave him the first gift that parents can give their child, his name. Brandon Joseph.

It became ‘medically necessary’ to deliver the baby early, thereby terminating the pregnancy, but not necessarily the baby. Immediately after birth, baby Brandon was baptised.

Every day of Brandon’s life had value because of the effect his personality had on each person who met him – his parents, his sister, and the doctors, nurses, volunteer cuddlers, interns, roommates, and extended family. Brandon lived for seven months. Just as any loved one who dies in a family, his memory continues to influence our family to this day.
Today, I am the educational resource consultant for Calgary Pro-Life Association. School teachers invite me to their classrooms to give presentations on positive self-esteem, and the miracle of life/fetal development, to students in grades five to 12!

During one presentation, students hear the sound of the fetal heartbeat that started between 18 and 22 days; then learn that at four weeks, they were the size of my thumb nail; at six weeks their brain was developing, and at 12 weeks they were the size of my thumb! We continue to talk about the development of the fetus until birth.

All of us have a responsibility to affirm life in our culture. We need to ask ourselves: How are we modeling the virtues of motherhood to our daughters and the virtue of fatherhood to our sons? How are we raising men who will support women in that natural affection that they ought to have for their children?
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Tell everyone you meet, no matter the age or stage in life, that they really matter and that they have a life purpose that is exciting to watch as it continues to be revealed day by day! This is how we share the pro-life message so that women and men will know that they have the right to life; and the right to choose life for themselves; for their own children now, and in the future.

Written by Moniqe Achtman, ​parishioner of Holy Spirit Parish, and Educational Resource Consultant for Calgary Pro-Life Association. www.calgaryprolife.com 

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Monique Achtman
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Rest in peace, Ted Andrew

4/30/2019

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Ted Andrew at Chrism Mass, April 2019. Photo: Bandi Szakony.
One of the humbling privileges of serving as the vocation director of our diocese is coming into contact with young men who sincerely desire to give their lives to our Lord and the service of His Church. I would like to briefly share with you the impact one such of those young men has had upon me in the last year and a half. 
 
You may recognize the young man in the photograph as the one who presented the oil to be blessed as Oil of the Sick only two weeks ago at the Mass of Chrism. He and I first came into contact over Skype while he was still serving on a NET Ireland team. He had been diagnosed with cancer there which threw a wrench in his plan to return home at the end of his missionary year with the hope to enter the seminary for our diocese. His doctors were confident that he would recover there and return home well. 
 
That never turned out to be the case, and although he did make it back to Canada, he went through a roller coaster ride of sickness and health. His longing for the priesthood never wavered but at the beginning of April, when his doctors prognosticated that he would have only three months to a year left to live, he resigned himself to the fact he would never be ordained. Nevertheless, I asked him to consider himself my "assistant vocation director", wherein he would unite his sufferings to the Cross of our Lord for the intention of many and holy vocations to the priesthood for our diocese. He was unwaveringly committed to this spiritual work. Being present at our Chrism Mass was an opportunity for him to feel a share in our presbyterate.
 
Much sooner than expected, our assistant vocation director, Ted Andrew, peacefully passed from this life in the early hours of an Easter Octave morning, April 25, with his loving parents by his side. 
 
He will be laid to rest in his hometown of Youngstown following the funeral Mass at Sacred Heart in Oyen on Tuesday, April 30. Please join me in offering your prayers and Masses for this spiritual brother of ours, that His Father will look upon him with mercy, and in His goodness, favourably hear his prayers for the growth of our presbyterate. 
Presentation of the Oil of the Sick at the Chrism Mass (April 15, 2019). 

Written by Fr. Cristino Bouvette, Director of Vocations
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God called

4/2/2019

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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).
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Sawbonna: Another route to forgiveness

3/5/2019

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From the day my Father, Theodore was brutally and callously murdered in Toronto, on Easter Monday, March 27, 1978, I wanted to meet his killer. I wanted to know how it was possible to do such a horrific thing. I wanted to know how he felt about destroying the lives of so many; my family’s, and his own. 

We did meet. The meeting occurred in July of 2007. Because of reading about an award I received for my Therapeutic Writing Workshops and the publication of my books about healing, voice, and agency, he emailed me. Our meeting, our reconciliation, even those many years after that dark, dark day, was a rich blessing in my life and proved helpful for him too.

The word forgiveness is one that can lead to great suffering for victims and offenders alike. Victims are told that if they do not forgive, they cannot heal. Offenders are told that if they are not forgiven, they cannot move on from the crime they have committed. Forgiveness is a loaded word, with as many understandings, expectations, and definitions as there are experiences of savage loss, savage grief, savage pain.

In 2012, after too many years of thinking that my life did indeed end with my Father’s, I completed a Master’s Thesis. The title: Sawbonna-Justice as Lived-Experience. Sawbonna means shared-humanity. It also means I see you, you see me. 

Sawbonna means that no one is better in the eyes of God. It means that we are good, bad, ugly, amazing, loved, loving, and free. Free to know that whether we can forgive or are forgiven by another human being, we are deeply known, cared-for, and embraced by God. A God who invites us, gently and generously directly back into our very own hearts. Hearts of love. Hearts of justice. Hearts of Sawbonna. We are seen. We each matter.
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Margot Van Sluytman

​Sawbonna: A New Model of Restorative Justice, CBC 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmkuZkkh-D8

©Margot Van Sluytman, February 2019.
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Code name Project Rachel: The woman behind post-abortion healing ministry.

3/5/2019

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If you ever wonder what God can do with a little help from the willing, look no further than to the example of Vicki Thorn—wife, mother, grandmother and foundress of the large, and still-growing post-abortion healing ministry, Project Rachel. Thorn is a well-educated, faithful, woman from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has for over 30 years spearheaded the healing of thousands of people around the world. 
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She was inducted into the Pontifical Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, a Roman Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the Holy See, as Lady Vicki Thorn. Over her life, she has received many awards and accolades including the People of Life Award from the Pro-Life Secretariat of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for her pro-life service to the Church. She has also been recognized as a “Woman of Faith” from the Sisters of the Divine Savior. In humility though, she continually gives credit to God for her life’s work.
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Vicki Thorn
About God’s Work

As a testament to what a determined woman can do with God’s help, Thorn began Project Rachel while raising her family of six children. Project Rachel began as a diocesan initiative in 1984, and from there it gained momentum and widespread support across the United States and then Canada, which includes the Diocese of Calgary. 

She recalls at that time there were no experts to call upon when she developed Project Rachel. However, she was convinced then and still now practises a post-abortion healing ministry that offers anonymity, has a strong spiritual element and includes a psychotherapeutic component. The name Project Rachel is inspired by Scripture: “Rachel mourns her children, she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more” (Jeremiah 31:15).

Thorn knows that mothers of aborted babies go through different types of grieving and often seek forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. They are not the only ones who are traumatized from the loss of their child. Fathers who didn’t want the abortion, grandparents and siblings who later learned about it are also devastated. 

Thorn has travelled to 28 countries speaking to thousands about not only the impact of abortion on men, women and on our culture but of what God’s ultimate plan is for humanity revealed to us through the science of the human body. 

Family Matters

Thorn takes great joy in seeing her children value life. Now they’re all grown, and there are 14 grandchildren for her and her husband to enjoy. Each of her kids, she says, along with their loving partners and her grandchildren “are just a delight to my heart.”

Despite needing to lay low for health reasons, she said she’s still busy looking to expand and develop a framework for post-abortive healing in places around the world because, she explained, “you can’t just use an American model in other countries.” Her research has led her to seek communities of sisters who are already, as she said, “the boots on the ground” serving the people where they are. 

In Milwaukee she says, she’s running a program for African American pastors who want to learn about post-abortive healing. There is a great need but “not a lot of help.” 

Theology of the Body

This March, she’ll find herself at the Theology of the Body Conference in Calgary to speak to attendees about the science that undergirds the Theology of the Body, much of what she says is “well researched, but not well known.”

We have been seeing the effects of the sexual revolution since the 1960s culminating in what many in the Church refer to as a culture of death. Thorn spends a lot of her time explaining the wounds many of us experience as a result, with scientific studies to help her show the audience hard facts. 

What we will hear from her is much deeper than what we heard from high school sex education. 

Armed with the facts of male and female biology, the science of attraction and the biochemistry of sex and conception, Thorn will take us through the beauty of God’s plan for the human body.

“We haven’t really understood how awesome we are in terms of our sexuality,” she said, adding that over time the wonder and beauty of sex have been lost. What she’ll share with us will be concrete, uniting what the Church teaches with scientific fact, which will further our knowledge of what she says is “God’s intentional plan.”

Looking at all she has achieved and the ministry she continues to grow, attendees to the upcoming conference will be blessed to be part of her journey and work.

Written by Jessica Cyr
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Retirement home sweet home

2/6/2019

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From the moment Phyllis and Clem Steffler walked into Evanston Summit, they knew it was destined to be their new home. “Phyllis was ready to move in the next day,” laughs Clem. Retired and living in Airdrie, the couple was seeking greater ease in their lives, without the worry of maintaining a home and cooking their meals. They’d been looking at options when Judy, from Covenant Living’s Evanston Summit, met them at their local church and invited them to a BBQ. They walked in and immediately loved the welcoming, attractive front entrance.

Their instinct was confirmed several months later when their daughter, a public health nurse in Toronto, was in town. “We took her to several retirement residences,” Phyllis recalls. When they got to Evanston Summit, she turned to her parents and said, “Dad and Mom, this is the place for you.” The couple moved in on July 18, 2018.
Seven months later and they are completely settled and content in their two-bedroom suite. The staff are kind, generous, and thoughtful, “just like Judy,” they say. Friendships are borne over home-cooked meals served in a common dining room, and there are plenty of activities to keep them busy. They especially enjoy the Tuesday afternoon spiritual discussion where readings are the foundation to delve into questions that help them better know each other and themselves. “Opening up to one another makes for a closer-knit community,” says Clem. The couple appreciates the weekly outings that are organized by the residence and the convenience of walking from their home to several amenities including a drug store, hair salon, doctor’s offices, grocery stores, and banks.
 
Phyllis and Clem chose a life lease, selling their house and investing the funds into the cost of their suite at Evanston Summit, paying only a monthly amount that covers meals and amenities. Those funds are in a trust, and they are guaranteed a 99% return when the suite is vacated. The life lease model offers three levels that reduce monthly fees and generates a return on investment that is over 5%, which is better than what is offered at banks. Renting suites is also an option.
 
“This works right out for us,” says Phyllis. “We are happy, and our children are happy that we are in such a wonderful place.

​Written by Salima Bandali
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Phillys and Clem Steffler

Covenant Living is part of the Covenant family of three non-profit Catholic organizations. Rooted in a 150-year legacy, the Covenant families are leaders and innovators in their fields, being of greater service and transforming the health system to create vibrant communities of health and healing.
http://covenantcare.ca
World Day of the Sick 2019 Resources: 
  • Letter from Bishop McGrattan re: Catholic Healthcare - Download 
  • Pope's Message for the 2019 World Day of the Sick - Download 
  • Reflection for World Day of the Sick from Dr. Moira McQueen - Download
  • Covenant Care & Covenant Living Poster - Download 
  • Diocesan World Day of the Sick | Poster | Prayer Card

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Movie Review: Fatal Flaws

2/5/2019

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Are euthanasia and assisted suicide laws leading society down a dangerous path? 

Over the past two years, Canadian filmmaker Kevin Dunn has travelled throughout Europe and North America to ask one of the most fundamental, philosophical questions of our time: should we be giving doctors – or anyone – the right and law to end the life of another human – and how do these laws affect society over time? Kevin investigates how euthanasia and assisted suicide laws are shaping the culture around us and what we can do to stem the tide. The film features powerful testimonies from patients, doctors, lawmakers and advocates from both sides of the debate. Produced by DunnMedia in association with the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition. 

Fatal Flaws is more than just a great documentary film. It is a clarion call to restore decency to the House of Medicine. For every doctor or patient who wants to understand the difference between medical killing and medically-responsible caring, this humane and sensitive film is a must-see.
~ 
Ronald W. Pies, MD (Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, and Lecturer on Bioethics, SUNY Upstate Medical University; Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, Psychiatric Times). 

A groundbreaking film. The assisted dying movement is trying to redefine the ethics of medicine while the doctor-patient relationship hangs in the balance.
~ Steven S. Sharfstein, MD (Former President of The American Psychiatric Association) 

Written by David Krebes

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​You are invited to Fatal Flaws film screening on Thursday, Feb. 21 Holy Spirit Catholic Church (10827 24 St. SW Calgary) at 7 pm. 

Watch the trailer here: www.fatalflawsfilm.com 
For further information contact David Krebes 
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In memory of Micheline Paré

2/5/2019

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​Laura Tysowski pays homage to her late role model  and author of The Passion of Loving, Micheline Paré. In her letter Laura shares what she learned from the book and what she wished she told Micheline before her death. Micheline Paré worked as a Compassionate Care Consultant and as the Diocese of Calgary Pastoral Care Coordinator at Rockyview Hospital. Her message of love and hope is something we all could benefit from at a time of loss.

My Dear Micheline.  

When we met for the first time somehow our souls locked. I was sitting in the front row and you came up to me with a smile and touched my hand and whispered in my ear "You are beautiful". It's been months since we last talked. I'll never forget the day we first met at St. Cecilia's Roman Catholic Church.  It was May 17, 2018 at the Diocesan Pastoral Care Course #84. "Caring with Compassion".

I sincerely apologize for not getting back to you sooner. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. From this I learned the value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it.  No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination:  never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

I was wanting to go and have coffee with you at the Rockyview General Hospital and maybe I could volunteer with you in working with the elderly.  I did complete the course, "Caring with Compassion" and now I'm an Exemplary Pastoral Minister.

I have the two books titled "The Compassion of Loving" you signed and gave me during the course. I have two because I promised that I would get one signed by the Honorable Senator Dan Hayes who wrote the preface to your book "The Congruent Compassionate Approach".  
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I did indeed get this done but not soon enough. On December 7, 2018 my mentor Rita Gerwing, advised her ministers of your passing.  Coincidently that same day Kathy Hays dropped off the autographed books. As I wasn't home she left them by the door. My husband, Bert went out to retrieve something from the front porch and found the books. When he gave them to me I couldn't believe my eyes. I knew then that you were trying to tell me something.
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I listened and read your book "The Passion of Loving".   I have this picture of who I am and ultimately who I would like to be. It consists of my goals and ambitions and is forever changing. I have a positive attitude and I'm full of energy. When I see people I see "LOVE". 
Your book literally touched my heart. In some of your excerpts I felt as if you were talking about me. In my teens I volunteered in a Nursing Home helping to feed people unable to feed themselves. They so wanted to eat but there were so few people to assist. Later in my life, my father, Guido was in a nursing home before he passed. He was, oh so lucky, as he had nine children, including his immediate family who would attend his every need and if not just sit and be there with him. I would usually take him to supper with the other residents. I can't tell you how many times I'd meet your "John" there. For no reason, than to help, I always tried to attend to their needs. Now I know why.  

I so agree with you when you say "illness or age makes the task of daily living, and the quality of the relationship between the resident and the caregiver presents one of the most pressing challenges, but also one that is among the most satisfying".
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These words bring tears to my eyes. My husband, Bert, who is a gentle soul, got sick in 2015 and it's been the most challenging years of my life. We would have these fights and to relieve the stress I would leave the house for a while and cry. I've spent a lot of time trying to figure out a way of dealing with this so that both our needs are met. What I didn't know then was what was inside your book.  

The transformation in our relationship after reading your book has been nothing but a miracle for me, and I'm so grateful. Although I was compassionate and caring, I was also so very angry inside. I would see him cross the room and notice how frail he's getting and it would break my heart.  To change and be able to show him compassion, sympathy, empathy, considerateness, tenderness, kindness, sensitivity and my unconditional love that I feel for him has changed our lives.  

Today I am now the Coordinator at Swan Village Evergreen, and I cherish every minute of my Ministry. I have a mentor, Rita and a helper, Editha. They are both beautiful souls. Together we say the rosary and do Communion Services with the Seniors every week. Once a month Father comes from St Patrick's Parish to do a full mass.  

Now finally we have come full circle. "The Passion of Loving" has given us the expertise, understanding and all the lessons we can take and cherish from your book. You were an exemplary role model, and your dedication was so admirable that others would do well to copy it. 

For me, a lesson learned. For the rest of my days, I will try to emulate you. I know I have big shoes to fill so I may need a nudge once in a while. I heard what you were trying to tell me. 

I shall keep you close, Micheline Paré, in my heart and prayers always.  

Thank you for sharing.
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Laura Tysowski
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1 Comment

When grief hurts: coping with loss

1/16/2019

2 Comments

 
There are days Annemieke Henri has to make herself leave her home in Bowness. Widowed just months ago, she knows that it’s important for her to be around other people. She knows it’s good for her to get her own groceries, attend Mass and meet up with long-time friends to golf, bowl or snowshoe, activities she enjoys. Henri also knows that her forays into the world sometimes do little to stem what can feel like a rising tide of sadness. Grief is like that. Even when you have others to grieve with, you grieve alone.

Henri’s husband, the beloved Deacon Albert Henri, died August 28, 2018. Diagnosed with stage four lung cancer just 48 days earlier, “he’d never been sick before, never been in hospital,” recalls Henri. A mother and grandmother, she grieves Albert’s loss in her family. “I also grieve his loss as a deacon’s wife. We were deeply connected to the parishes of St. Bernard’s and Holy Name.”

Does Henri take comfort in her faith? Absolutely. “At this point, I hope and believe that Albert is in heaven; that he is home. Without my faith, I would have been really lost.” But make no mistake; while faith gives Henri a kind of life raft, there are days—and moments in almost every day— when it doesn’t feel like the raft will hold. 
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When grief fuels despair

Peggy Tan knows what it feels like when grief fuels despair. Several years ago, Tan lost her mother and father-in-law in close proximity. “It was devastating to our family.” Struggling through the intense emotional pain, she joined a grief support group at her parish, St. Michael’s. 

Now known as Grief Share, the program runs for eight weeks beginning in January and September. Those who need more immediate support are linked to a companion program. “We are not counselors, but we listen. It’s good for the person who is grieving to know they are not alone,” says Tan, one of the three parishioners who coordinate grief support at St. Michael’s. 

While most GriefShare participants are Catholic, many begin the program angry with God. Following a Christian program developed in the U.S., GriefShare uses prayer to help participants rekindle their trust in God, says Tan.
Seeking support

Annemieke Henri hasn’t ruled out joining a support group in the future. For now, she seeks comfort in family and long-time friendships, including one with the widow of another deacon. She is also learning that it’s okay to sometimes want to be alone in her grief. On Christmas Day, for example, Henri took a few hours away from family to be alone. “I started fretting about that first Christmas alone way before Christmas. I took some time that day to feel that deep loss, to want it to wash over me and to feel my connection with God.”

As grief is a profoundly personal experience, it’s not uncommon for people to reach out for grief support years after a loss, says Tan. “People have to be ready and the Holy Spirit will guide them.”

Written by: Joy Gregory
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For information on a grief support program in your parish, contact your parish office.

​The Catholic Diocese of Calgary also offers support through its Office of Health Care & Pastoral Care programs.
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Unleashed - A book review

1/14/2019

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​People seek out therapy for a variety of reasons including: a crisis, increasing dissatisfaction, increasing emotional distress or a repetitive experience of being unable to overcome a destructive pattern in their lives.  Sonja Corbitt, in her book Unleashed, eloquently describes how God utilizes these sequences or “patterns” in our lives to create a journey in which we can experience His healing.  These patterns typically have a dark emotion driving it like anger, shame or fear.  “Salvation in the scriptures is synonymous with shalom, or peace.  It’s a great big, full, unleashed word, meaning integration wholeness, fulfillment, and sanctification.  Not merely about behavior, salvation, and peace involve motivations, and often these are buried deep in denial and the subconscious” (p.11).  This was the quote in Unleashed that hooked me to read the whole book - only 8 chapters long but each sentence appears carefully crafted and directs us to the teachings of the Church and Sacred Scripture.

Reading this book was the result of a series of patterns in my own life.  The first pattern was an emotional one.  In the last 2 years a persistent frustration had been growing and spreading to multiple areas of my life indicating that development needed to occur and my own strength was insufficient.  The second pattern was directional.  I was not sure where to begin in the busyness of my life, and someone shared and encouraged me to read Unleashed (btw - thank you), but I had not prioritized it.  Then in a recent confession, the priest, who was unfamiliar to me,  recommended I complete some reading as part of his spiritual direction, but the chosen book did not arrive in time for the Christmas break.  Unleashed did.  
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Unleashed by Sonja Corbitt Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, IN - 2015. Reviewer: Eunice Peterson.
Sonja Corbitt’s personal transparency of her humanity and wounds invites the reader to consider their own families of origin and subsequent life choices.  Each of us have wounds and our protective responses created hurdles to the healing Christ longs to give us through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Sacred Scripture, his Mother Mary and the Church.  Often these hurdles will present themselves as patterns as God, our creator, is a God of order.  They have value in our spiritual growth as our predominant fault will be revealed providing opportunity for the Holy Spirit to heal.  The revealing, though painful and humbling, allows for us to see and experience the tenderness and persistence of our Lord.  He desires wholeness for us.  It is through cooperating with his grace we let go of fear, learn to trust, and He tenderly releases us from destructive relationships, habits, circumstances and desires.

However, Ms. Corbitt does not delude the reader into thinking this will be a quick fix.  She recognizes that God allows patterns to reveal exactly where He wants to work.  Ms. Corbitt recognizes the courage and challenge required of the reader to identify the worldly comforts that have become unsatisfying but provide an illusion of control or protection.  Her heart-felt examples articulate her understanding of suffering and the hope it brings when God’s mercy is allowed to mold it and we submit to his timing.  Furthermore, she is delightfully brash in encouraging us to ask of God and seek the desires of our heart. 

Ms. Corbitt presents a solid foundation and understanding of scripture, church teachings, and lives of Saints on which to build the map to “unleash” the reader from the “patterns” which have become destructive.  The Holy Spirit works with us - as is - and through the Word.  He creates order from disorder.  “The Holy Spirit works outward to inward and in an upward spiral to God” (p. 37).   Ms. Corbitt is gifted as a writer, and intertwines personal narratives, scripture and teaching. Therefore, one reading will not be sufficient to fully comprehend her message.  Ms. Corbitt finishes each chapter with a review and invitation to guide the reader to deeper understanding and healing.  This book could be utilized as a devotional, reference or group study.

The new year encourages us to reflect and pursue newness, change or growth.  Even if you are not at a point of dissatisfaction or crisis, but you have come across this brief review - consider it an invitation to explore your spiritual development.  If like myself there has been a pervasive experience that is demanding change, or begging for healing - grab a copy of Unleashed, cooperate with the Holy Spirit, risk trusting and embrace the journey of healing.
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​​​Eunice Peterson is a Registered Psychologist in private practice.  Her practice’s primary focuses includes: trauma integration from a neurobiological perspective, disorders on the anxiety spectrum, grief and loss and life transitions.  She, her husband and five children have resided in Calgary since 2010.
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7 Keys to Spiritual Wellness - A book review

1/14/2019

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Society has conditioned us to seek instant gratification, even in matters of spirituality. We see store shelves lined with quick self-help books promising wealth and happiness in ‘four easy steps’. Ultimately, though, these formulas lead to disappointment, disillusionment, and distorted notions of how spiritual well-being is truly fostered. The beginning of a new year is a perfect time to take a step back and appreciate that the spiritual path is, truly, a journey of a lifetime. It rightly calls for the virtues of patience and grace, for critical reflection and self-examination – all of which can only emerge from everyday moments of conversion and growth.

With this in mind I encourage us to take a look at a book written a few years ago by Joe Paprocki, entitled ‘7 Keys to Spiritual Wellness’ (Loyola Press, 2012). Now, right away it’s important to think of each key not as ‘quick fixes’ to spiritual issues, but more as guiding principles to help us navigate the complex landscape of our spiritual journeys. Each principle Paprocki offers serves to keep us alert to signs that we are on a healthy path. In a fresh and engaging style, he relates each key to what he calls “the seven most provocative and important questions you will ever ask yourself.” 
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7 Keys to Spiritual Wellness, Joe Paprocki (Loyola Press, 2012). Reviewer: Dr. Lance Dixon
Through insightful illustrations and applications, Paprocki helps us orient ourselves to seeking the good of others, of recognizing and setting limits, of rediscovering the beauty in the ordinary, and seeing ourselves as we truly are; mortal human beings unconditionally loved by our Creator.

​Perhaps fittingly, the most insightful question Paprocki challenges us to reflect on is in the final chapter. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, Jesus challenges us to see ourselves within the story of Scripture, to open our eyes to the mystery of God’s presence, and let our hearts be kindled for the journey ahead. Paprocki asks us, ‘What sparks a fire within your heart?’ then leaves us with these words; “The God we seek is on fire, has a mission, and invites you and me to be a part of it. Imagine that.”


Dr. Lance Dixon currently serves as Director of Campus Ministry at St. Mary’s University. Formerly an Anglican priest in Toronto, Lance moved to Alberta with his wife and children when he became a Catholic educator with Christ the Redeemer school division, and most recently with Calgary Catholic school district. He is passionate about the new evangelization of the Church for mission in today’s world.
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Dr. Lance Dixon currently serves as Director of Campus Ministry at St. Mary’s University. Formerly an Anglican priest in Toronto, Lance moved to Alberta with his wife and children when he became a Catholic educator with Christ the Redeemer School Division, and most recently with Calgary Catholic School District. He is passionate about the new evangelization of the Church for mission in today’s world.
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