Because of the Communist rule in the former Yugoslavia, there was no electricity or shops in our village. Electricity came only in 1985, and a road in 2004. The communist government ignored our village because we were considered “too strong as Catholics.” We even had school on Christmas Day, though I did not attend. The next day, the teacher asked why I had missed school. When I replied that it was Christmas Day, the teacher said, “There is no God and there is no Christmas,” and hit me on the fingers ten times with a stick until blood formed under my fingernails.

Feast days were very important to us. We would go to confession on saints’ days several times a year. The special feast in our parish was for St. Anthony of Padua. The whole Diocese was Franciscan. To honour the saint, people walked on their knees around the church while praying the Rosary. We fasted from meat on Fridays and before special feasts such as Christmas, Saints Peter and Paul, and the parish patronal feast.

We supported the village's poor by cutting hay with sickles and scythes to feed their animals. Families kept sheep, cows, horses, and chickens. When wood was cut for winter, the branches were stored for feeding the sheep. We grew fruit trees and large vegetable gardens to feed ourselves, and we made wine from grapes and brandy from plums to sell, paying taxes, and buying clothing and school books.

In 1973, my cousin was ordained a Franciscan priest. I attended his first Mass, and that is when I first felt called to the priesthood. I was 13 and had just finished eighth grade. I went to our parish’s Franciscan priest to ask about becoming a priest. He asked whether I wanted to be a Franciscan, a Jesuit, or a diocesan priest. I said I didn’t know the difference, we simply called them all “priests.” He then sent me to a Jesuit college, where there was a minor seminary (a high school) for boys.

I studied there for four years, then attended university, where I completed two years of philosophy and psychology and four years of theology. After finishing all exams, the bishop ordained me along with other young men: six were ordained as Franciscans and six as diocesan priests. At my first Mass, the concelebrants were my parish priest, Fr. Pavo; my cousin, Fr. Nikola; and my neighbour from home, Fr. Vlado, who was also the godfather of my first Mass. My mother prayed many Rosaries each day and fasted four days a week for priests and nuns. She was very happy that I became a priest.

At ordination, I promised the bishop that I would obey him and all bishops to whom I would be missioned. After ordination, I spent one year in Bosnia-Herzegovina, then was sent to Australia at the request of the Bishops’ Conference to minister to the Croatian people living there. I had volunteered to go. After a year, my mother came to join me and lived with me until she died in 2012 on the Feast of the Archangels. She and my aunt supported me through prayer and fasting throughout my priesthood.

In Australia, I served at Holy Spirit Parish in Melbourne for six years and then at St. Ana Parish in Perth for four years. Australia is a good country with good people, but I was happy to go to my next mission in Calgary on December 10, 1996. I have been here for 29 years as a missionary priest. It is good work, but difficult, because Croatians in Calgary live across the entire city and beyond. We have both old and new immigrants, two distinct groups with different needs. The newer generations do not speak Croatian as well as the older ones. I try to support the community through Mass and the sacramental life, emphasizing the importance of Sunday Mass.

Every Friday during the school year, we have Croatian school for language learning and catechism. Three teachers instruct the children in the Croatian language, and I teach catechism in both English and Croatian.

I often pray: “Jesus, give me strength for my priesthood and patience for listening to my people.” I am a parish priest, but also a psychologist for parishioners, a taxi driver, and a hospital visitor. I receive many calls for the Anointing of the Sick. Once, I was called three times in one night to the Foothills Hospital. I write reference letters for Catholic teachers and letters for the Croatian Consulate for those seeking citizenship. I help parishioners find work, and I bless homes every year after Christmas.

Because I serve Croatians in both Alberta and Saskatchewan, I travel to Lethbridge before Christmas and Easter for confessions and Mass, and sometimes for funerals, baptisms, and weddings. I also travel to Saskatoon for the same reasons. 

My great joy is celebrating Mass every day, praying the Liturgy of the Hours, and praying the Rosary. I love daily meditation and reading spiritual books. My advice to a young man discerning the priesthood is this: If you become a priest, this community will be so proud of you. The church will be full, and they will respect you. It is easy to think the work is too heavy or requires too much patience, but if God calls you, He will “catch you,” just as He caught me. Pray, and God will show you. I have no problem serving the Church because I pray every day for patience. I have no time for sin because I am so busy. It is the joy of my life. I thank God and the Blessed Virgin Mary for my priesthood.

Priest Assignment; Deacon Assignment; Clergy Personnel Announcements; Pastoral Assignment; Priests Move

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

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

Serving Christ in the sick

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

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

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

A ministry of prayer and presence

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

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

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

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

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

Training new missionaries

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

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

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

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

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

​Witness of compassion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On Sat, Oct 11, St. Thomas More Parish in Calgary hosted a Jubilee for the Youth, a one-day retreat for ages 12–17 led by Fr. Jerry D’Souza, OCD and Fr. Alex Braganza, OCD. The day began with Mass, followed by breakfast prepared by the Knights of Columbus and women of the parish.

In his opening remarks, Fr. Jerry invited the youth to live as people of hope, reminding them that we are called to walk with one another and carry those in need. Three talks followed, highlighting saints who inspire young people today.

Martin Nguyen spoke about Saint Carlo Acutis and his love for the Eucharist, sharing his website on Eucharistic miracles. “Carlo Acutis was inspirational. He helped his parents have faith in God, which was amazing!” said one 16-year-old.

Luis Cortez from St. Bonaventure Parish reflected on Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, encouraging everyone to strive for holiness and remember that we are all made for greatness in God’s image. Sr. Katrina Le from the Sisters of Divine Mercy spoke on the Jubilee Year of Hope, inviting the youth to make peace with others, especially within their families, and to keep the Eucharist at the centre of their lives.

Submitted by Rooben, St. Thomas More. Photos courtesy of St. Thomas More, Calgary.

In early 2024, I was invited to join the Parish Renewal Team, tasked with translating the diocesan call into concrete parish initiatives. Around the same time, through my work with God Squad and the Heroic Men's Lay Association, I interviewed Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers about his new book Building a Civilization of Love: A Catholic Response to Racism. His reflections on the universality of the Church and how every communion line mirrors the rich diversity of God’s people led me to consider how our own parish might better reflect its members.

In his book, Deacon Harold challenges us to make the parish’s liturgical and communal life a true “mirror of the faithful.” Soon after, the Knights of Columbus hosted a men’s pizza night, providing a relaxed space for conversation and listening. Seizing the opportunity, I shared Deacon Harold’s challenge. I suggested that, instead of our traditional salmon dinner, we host an African-inspired barbecue, especially given the growing number of Nigerian families in our parish. David Asekomhe, who was present that evening, warmly embraced the idea and promised to explore it further.

When our new pastor, Fr. Fabio de Souza, arrived, the spirit of Renewal gained new energy. David, still eager to bring the idea to life, gathered a planning team that included Emmanuel Edem and Emmanuel Udoh. Together they developed A Taste of St. Peter’s, a multicultural feast inviting every parishioner to bring a dish that represented their heritage.

Seeing other men step into leadership roles was deeply inspiring. Their enthusiasm sparked a renewed sense of excitement throughout the parish community.

Held on October 4, the event coincided with the launch of the third year of diocesan renewal. The celebration featured:

• Representation from thirty countries, each contributing several traditional dishes.
• Nearly two hundred attendees, a beautiful testament to the parish’s engagement and diversity.
  
  

The evening became a vivid portrait of the Church’s universality, with flavours, languages, and faces from around the world gathered around one table, living out the very spirit of “You belong.”

I pray that this Renewal continues to deepen our sense of belonging and reflect the universal nature of the Church in a world often torn by division. It fills me with hope to see volunteers stepping forward, each one helping to build up the Kingdom by doing the will of God.

May the spark lit by A Taste of St. Peter’s carry us onward, strengthening our community, enriching our worship, and bearing witness to the love that unites all God’s children in a Church of encounter.

Like all the parishes in the Diocese of Calgary, our parish, Saint Martha's, has been diligently working on the Parish Renewal over the past few years. We continue to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, and it has been a wonderful journey meeting with one another under the spiritual guidance and prayers of our pastor, Father William Monis, and our Deacon Bruce Barnett. We tried to follow the guidelines and timing set out by the diocese and were happy to submit our results on schedule.

We didn't expect to win the draw for the barbecue, as many other hardworking parishes were competing for the same prize. We were very surprised on June 14 when our name was drawn from the hat. Many people got together to form a committee to organize this event. The response from the volunteers was tremendous! The barbecue took place on Friday, August 29, which was perfect timing. Bishop McGrattan was to be in Lethbridge in the morning for the opening school Mass for the Holy Spirit School Division staff.

We began with a beautiful Holy Mass at 5 pm with all our Lethbridge priests concelebrating. Not only was the Mass so beautiful, but Bishop McGrattan also used this time to install our new pastor, Father Valentine Suum, who joined us on August 1.

It was a very meaningful celebration, and all present appreciated the opportunity to be part of the installation. Our parish is comprised of many cultures, and one of the elders from the Blackfoot Confederacy, Martin Eagle Child, requested that his group make a presentation to our bishop and our two new priests at the conclusion of Mass.

After the final blessing, the First Nations group, in their traditional outfits, processed into the church to the sound of drumming to present a blanket to each of Bishop William, Father Valentine, and Father Luke. It was very powerful and all were moved.

Written by Teresa Spearman, St. Martha's Parish Renewal Team in Lethbridge. Photography courtesy of Matthew Visuals & Saint Martha's Parish.

It was early in June, in the sacristy after midweek Mass here in Banff, that Fr. Dan Stévènot informed me that he had asked St. Mary’s parishioner Nan Hughes Poole to organize a concert for the Marian pilgrimage week here in the Rockies. Later that week, I sent a text message to Nan to ask if she still “needed any people” for this concert. In my mind, I was thinking I could volunteer as an usher at the front door of the church. However, my text messages often will not express everything that I intend to say, so as things progressed, I was invited to play the oboe in this concert in honour of Mary, the Mystical Rose.

Now, I have played the oboe for about 17 years, since grade seven band class; however, it has been years and years since I have played regularly, and I have barely played any public concerts since I graduated from university in 2019. The psychological games and social pressures from music school had wreaked their havoc, and I developed a tremor in my hands and arms whenever I played solo or chamber music; ultimately, it is why my degree is a BA in music history, rather than a more performance-based B.Mus. However, the die had been cast, and I figured that I might as well accept the invitation and see what the Lord had in store, and see what fruit would be revealed. Now, writing a few days later, I can say with clarity that this was one of the most spiritually enriching musical experiences that I have participated in.
             
Nan invited two of her closest friends, Kathy McMillan Wilhelm and Amy Anderson de Jong to star in the concert as vocalists, as well as pianist Jack Olszewski and violinist Lev Nesterov to round out the panel. The three vocalists have sung together for decades, and it was an honour to witness how their friendship is heard throughout the music. Singer-songwriter Irene Poole opened the second act as a special guest.
           
The music was not strictly what some in the Church would consider “sacred music”, a definition which currently seems to centre upon Renaissance polyphony, written for use in liturgy. However, the works chosen by the vocalists formed a dramatic arc than ran parallel to the life of Mary — from settings of the Magnificat to frame the Annunciation and the Visitation, to African-American spirituals and German lieder to highlight the Nativity of Christ, followed by both Baroque and Modern works on the sorrows of Mary, and settings of the Ave Maria which marked Mary’s Assumption and Coronation.  Poetry selections rounded out the program, which helped to draw out the main theme of the programme — that of Mary’s humanity.
           
If there is one particular gripe that I have with contemporary popular Mariology, it is that we tend to make Mary inaccessible, placing her high and away from the rest of us sinners on a pedestal. Yes, she is the Immaculate Conception, having no stain of original sin, and never entering into it in her lifetime. However, we often forget that Mary is fully human (the most fully human of us all!), and that she has experienced everything that we experience. The work on the program that exemplifies this best is Henry Purcell’s “The Blessed Virgin’s Expostulation” from 1693. Purcell was the first to write opera in English, and so the work is a dramatic scene, depicting the anxieties, doubts and social pressures that Mary faces as she and St. Joseph search frantically for the child Jesus throughout Jerusalem. Throughout, Mary maintains her trust in God and in the divinity of her son, and yet is contending with human emotions that pull her in all directions, including intense worry for the very human Jesus.
           
​Well, I received no miraculous grace of the healing of my tremor this weekend.  What I received instead is a far greater grace of knowing that my blessed Mother has also faced societal pressure and grave anxiety. It is a realization that Mary’s presence in our lives is not chiefly as an image of Christian perfection, although this is certainly a factor. Rather, she is crowned as heaven’s queen in service of humanity precisely because she has undergone all the trials of life, and is most intimately acquainted with its problems and foibles, and therefore is best suited to empathize with us and intercede for us because of the fullness of her humanity. She is near because she is one of us, one with us, and one for us. May we know her closeness in our daily lives, in whatever it is that we face.

Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully. Photos courtesy of Peter Poole and Jan Myhre.

The week also included two evenings of sacred music. The Mary, Mystical Rose concert brought together professional singers who offered their gifts in praise of God (read Solomon's article), while Crowned with Stars, directed by Carlos Foggin, filled the Shrine with a stirring offering of choral works, live strings, and organ. The concert also premiered Foggin’s new Marian composition Regina Caeli, which was specially composed for the concert. 

With heartfelt gratitude, we thank Fr. Pilmaiken Lezano, pastor of the Shrine Church, together with his dedicated team, Linda and Shelley, and the many volunteers whose generous service helped make the celebrations truly prayerful and welcoming. We are also grateful for Fr. Daniel Stevenot, Fr. Troy Nguyen, and his SFXC team, who guided the young adult pilgrimage that opened the week with such faith and joy.

Our Marian Jubilee Week celebration ended in joy as the whole assembly sang the beloved hymn Immaculate Mary:
Immaculate Mary, your praises we sing,
You reign now in heaven with Jesus, our King.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria
​
As the final notes filled the Shrine, many hoped that this was a glimpse of what Jubilee Marian Week will continue to offer in years to come: a living tradition of faith, music, and devotion to our Blessed Mother: Mary, Mother of Hope.

Photos by Bandi Szakony for the Diocese of Calgary.

In this Year of Jubilee, we are pleased to share inspiring videos from St. Anthony’s Parish in Drumheller. The parish has been actively embodying the life of Christ by nurturing ministries that strengthen faith and serve both parishioners and the wider community.

Below are a series of video and stories shared by St. Anthony's Parish in Drumheller:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Long before the panels were set up in St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish Hall, a teenager in Italy was gathering the stories behind them. Blessed Carlo Acutis, who had a gift for technology and a deep devotion to the Eucharist, created the online catalogue that became the foundation for the Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition held here at St. Mary's Parish Hall, from Aug. 10–13, 2025.

Born in 1991, Carlo was a tech-savvy Italian teenager who loved computers, animals, and video games. From a young age, he had a deep devotion to the Holy Eucharist and a desire for others to come to know and love it as he did. Carlo researched Eucharistic miracles from around the world and created a website to catalogue them, complete with maps, photos, and explanations. His work became the foundation for the travelling Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition, now displayed in parishes across the globe.

A call she couldn’t ignore

​The exhibition’s coordinator, Rita Shank, first saw it in Maui in 2023, and she couldn’t get it out of her mind. 

“I’m a cradle Catholic. I’ve always believed in the Real Presence, but when I saw this exhibit, it really registered,” Rita shared. “Some miracles show scientific studies of the consecrated Host; even 50 years later, the red and white blood cells are still alive. I got chills. The Holy Spirit just kept nudging me to bring it to Calgary.”

She brought the idea to her pastor, Fr. Arjay Abanto, at Sacred Heart Parish in Calgary, and soon the first Calgary exhibit was underway. St. Mary’s Cathedral was their eighth showing, with more already planned, including Holy Spirit Parish later this year.

​“Volunteers are never hard to find,” she said. “People want to help. They see the value in sharing the truth, that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist, and that He invites us to be with Him and in Him.”

An invitation to encounter

​Walking through the rows of panels, visitors read about bleeding hosts, incorrupt fragments, and conversions sparked by the Eucharist. Even beyond the stories, the exhibit offered something deeper, a quiet invitation to meet Christ in the Eucharist in a more personal way.

“Once you understand that it is in the Eucharist that Jesus unites Himself most intimately to us, you can’t help but want to share it,” Rita said. “This is how He loves us.”

The Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition will continue travelling throughout the Diocese and beyond. For Rita, it’s a mission from which she can’t walk away. “Every time we set it up, I see people touched in new ways. That’s what keeps me going.”

Through the vision of a modern teenager, the relic of a soon-to-be saint, and the generosity of those who share this work, the Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition offered more than information; it offered an encounter.
​
For many, that encounter may be the beginning of a deeper love for Jesus in the Eucharist.

Monday, July 14th felt like September because of the cloudy, rainy sky; and yet, everybody was happy and excited because it was a day of celebration: Fr. Andrew Pyon's birthday was on July 13th (a milestone one!), and we organized a party for him the next day.
 
So, at 9 am, the community from St. Martha's and All Saints parishes gathered for the Mass, presided by Fr. Andrew, and concelebrated by Fr. Tim Boyle and Fr. William Monis.

Fr. Andrew preached on Jesus, sign of contradiction ("For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, saysthe Lord," Isaiah 55:8), and on our call to be centered in Christ—finding in Him our balance, our peace.

Since we live in this society that challenges our faith, we need to be reminded we are citizens of heaven: "Christians are found in all the cities of the world, but cannot be identified with the world. As the visible body contains the invisible soul, so Christians are seen living in the world, but their religious life remains unseen" (Letter to Diognetus); we need to be reminded of the divine life given to us in Baptism; we need to find support in our Christian communities, and we need the guidance of our Pastors.

In a world that often isolates and divides, this celebration was a Renewal reminder that we belong to one another, to the family of Christ. The Church is not just a place we attend, but a community where we are known, loved, and called to walk together in faith. Our gathering that day was a living witness of this belonging.
 
We acknowledge we are truly blessed to have such humble and gifted ministers of God's grace serving our Lethbridge Deanery. Having the opportunity to show them our appreciation was also a moment that built up our community.

A special thank-you to Fr. Andrew, whose wisdom has always been a great gift to St. Martha's, and heartfelt wishes for good health. We are also grateful to Fr. William Monis, who eagerly served the parish for seven years, and to Fr. Tim Boyle, whose Art of Accompaniment Series reached and changed many hearts.
​
May Jesus, the Good Shepherd, fill our shepherds with His Spirit, that they may find strength and peace in Him and be renewed in His love to live God's promise: "From the womb of the morning, like dew, your youth will come to you." (Psalm 110).

Written by Cristiana Crestani, St. Martha's Parish, Lethbridge

Even though we live in a society where artificial intelligence and smartphones seem to provide the answer to every question, taking away from man the "effort of thinking" (Wittgenstein), the one who is still capable of stopping and marveling at the Kantian starry sky above him and the moral law within him, realizes to be part of a creation, an ordered uni-verse (unum-versus, towards the One), and thus is driven to seek the ultimate meaning, the foundation of existence: to seek Sophia.

In a 7-stage journey of Art of Accompaniment: "Search for Wisdom" series at St. Martha's Parish (in-person and online), Father Tim Boyle has shed light on the abyss of the human heart: how, since his appearance on earth, man has become aware of his unique, special position of being-at-the-limit, at the limit between finite and infinite, and therefore has tried to find his identity by opening himself to the Beyond, following in the footsteps of Sophia, the Greek word for wisdom: first with a collective conscience, then with an individual self-consciousness, passing through the philosophical logos (Socrates, Aristotle, the great medieval Schools...) and the scientific one (Big Bang, evolutionary theories, etc.).

Father Tim accompanied us in our search for Sophia with the Revealed Word, showing how the Bible recognizes the mysteriousness of man, who discovers his identity over and over again, opening himself to the very mystery of God. Christian theology thinks of God to think of man, and thinks of man to think of God, because after the incarnation, God and man are intersignifying realities: not only do we know God only through Jesus Christ, but we know ourselves only through Jesus Christ.

Yet, despite the emergence of a global consciousness, and probably because of the unprecedented amount of information available, modern man is losing touch with reality. In the current "meaning crisis" where data knowledge does not always translate into mindfulness, Sophia can only be the antidote to the self-deception of separation, division, and disconnection.

In conclusion, in the light of the Word stating "God is all in all" and the concept of "person" developed by Christian anthropology of the twentieth century, Father Tim emphasized how the Eucharist is central to the experience of Christians as a new consciousness. "Those who believe in Christ are living in this one reality, in this one body, in this one consciousness; we receive the oneness that we are to become. We receive in order to become Eucharist for the world. Jesus himself is the divine wisdom, is Sophia come into the world. Sophia -as the Word incarnate- has situated herself as a sun at the centre of the universe and at the center of every human person, and she will gradually draw everything, every person, into orbit around herself until Christ becomes all in all. The process will never stop until it is finished."

Those who gathered at St. Martha’s or joined online were blessed to encounter a wise guide who introduced them to Sophia. Thank you, Fr. Tim, and all who helped bring the Search for Wisdom series to life at St. Martha’s.

• Study at your own pace using the recording and reflection plan from the "Search for Wisdom" series with Fr. Tim Boyle. 

Written by Cristiana Crestani, St. Martha's, Letbhridge. Photos courtesy of St. Martha's Parish. 

Renewal is truly taking root across the Diocese of Calgary. As of the end of June, over 30 parishes submitted their Pastoral Renewal Plans, each a beautiful expression of faith, discernment, and commitment to parish life.
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To mark this milestone, parishes that submitted by June 15 were entered into the BBQ with the Bishop's draw. And now, the moment everyone’s been waiting for has arrived! Watch the video below, revealing the winner to a visit from Bishop McGrattan, complete with BBQ and celebration in the Fall!

While submitting a plan is not an approval process, each parish submission will receive supportive insights and feedback next month to help parishes strengthen and grow their efforts. Every plan is a parish community's response to their call to renewal, and we’re excited to witness what unfolds.

So, what’s next?

This fall, parishes will begin sharing their renewal plans more widely within their communities.

We’ll also mark the third anniversary of the Diocesan Renewal Launch with parish-wide announcements and celebrations at Masses on Sunday, Oct. 4–5. We hope that these moments will inspire renewed commitment and invite everyone to take part in the journey. From there, parishes will begin putting their action items into motion, and trusting that the Holy Spirit will continue to lead them, one faithful step at a time.

Celebrating the 5th World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly – Sunday, July 27, 2025

Each year, on the Sunday closest to the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne—Jesus’ grandparents—the Church celebrates the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. This year, the celebration falls on Sunday, July 27, and the theme is:
“Blessed are those who have not lost hope” (cf. Sir 14:2).

This gentle yet powerful verse from Sirach reminds us that those who continue to place their trust in the Lord, especially in their later years, are a true blessing among us. In this Jubilee Year, the day invites us to recognize grandparents and the elderly as living signs of hope within our families and parishes.

While the world often moves too fast to notice them, the Church reminds us: our elders matter deeply. Their witness, wisdom, and quiet perseverance are treasures we need.

• CCCB Resources for World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
• Suggestions for the Universal Prayer
• Blessing for Grandparents and the Elderly prayer
• Prayer to St. Anne and St. Joachim
• Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life Pastoral Toolkit

Simple ways to celebrate

Here are a few heartfelt ways your parish or family can mark this day:

In your parish:

• Celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving that highlights the role of grandparents and elders. Invite them to participate visibly in the liturgy.
• Create a Parish Book of Remembrance with the names of grandparents and elderly loved ones who have passed away. Bring it to the altar during Mass.
• Host a Holy Hour or Novena the day before to pray for the elderly in your parish and around the world.
• Plant a tree in honour of all the grandparents who have shaped your community.
• Children's Prayer Appeal: We invite children in schools or parish to compose prayers in honour of their Grandparents. These are presented at the Offertory during Pilgrimage Masses.
• Offer a small token like a prayer card, medal, or forget-me-not flower in appreciation of their presence. ​
• Starting a Ministry for Grandparents in your parish. Why not contact us to find out about starting a Ministry for Grandparents in your parish. You could launch it on the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly!
  
  

In your home:

• Call or visit an elderly loved one or someone who may not receive many visitors.
• Share a meal or story with grandparents. Let them pass on a favourite memory or piece of wisdom.
• Pray together for the elderly who are alone, sick, or grieving.
  • Send or give a Grandparent or Elderly person a "Spiritual Bouquet"
    ​A Spiritual Bouquet can be a card, homemade or store-bought letting a person know what prayers or sacrifices have been offered up for them. Examples to be included in a Spiritual Bouquet:
    • A certain number of a specific prayer – 10 Hail Mary’s 
    • A Novena, Mass, or Rosary
    • Good deeds or sacrifices, for example: shop for a person in need, fast for a meal, or skip the dessert.

Plenary Indulgence
A plenary indulgence is granted to those who attend the Sunday Mass (July 27), or who dedicate time to visit an elderly person in need, in person or virtually. 

• Usual conditions apply: sacramental confession, Holy Communion, prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions, and detachment from sin.
• Pope Leo's July prayer intention: Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.

Those who are elderly, sick, or homebound may also receive the indulgence by uniting spiritually through prayer and offering their suffering to God.
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What Pope Francis wants us to remember
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Pope Francis reminds us in his Catechesis on Old Age, that “old age is a gift for all stages of life. It is a gift of maturity, of wisdom.” 
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“Everything beautiful that a society has is related to the roots of the elderly... I would like the figure of the elderly to be highlighted, so that it be well understood that the elderly are not  throwaway material: they are a blessing for society."

Sources: Catholic Grandparents Associations; Dicastery for Laity Family and Life. 

A hundred people, young and old, snaked their way along the sidewalk of a busy Lethbridge street on June 22, 2025. Some were singing, some praying, some simply walking in silence. They drew curious stares and the occasional honk of support. When the group reached an intersection, marshals in reflective vests scurried around the perimeter to hasten the crossing. The traffic signal changed and a young man in a pickup truck leaned on his horn. A marshal waved to him. “God bless you,” she called. Nonplused, the driver waited more patiently, craning his neck to look at the golden, sunburst vessel being carried on a pedestal. In previous years, similar encounters led to people pulling over or walking up to ask what was happening. They were told it’s a centuries-old Catholic tradition - a Corpus Christi procession.    
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During a Corpus Christi procession the Eucharist is carried in a monstrance along an outdoor route, accompanied by parishioners. Often the route winds around a church but at All Saints Parish in Lethbridge, two simultaneous processions embark from St. Basil’s Church in the north and Our Lady of Assumption Church in the south. They meet in the middle at Catholic Central High School where Benediction takes place, followed by a communal meal. The reasons for the procession are equally wide-ranging.

Fr. Kevin Tumback, Pastor of All Saints says, “The Corpus Christi procession reminds all of us of our calling to, not just take Jesus to the world, but to be ‘another Christ’ in the world. As we walk along we bear witness to that which we profess to believe in, that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.” 

Procession coordinator, Julie Rose says, “It’s important to express our faith in public, as Catholics we don’t do it enough.”

Volunteer Shelley Thom echoes that, “It’s a time now when people need faith. We can help show that faith and not be afraid to announce it.”

All Saints began this tradition in 2010 instigated by Fr. Tim Boyle. According to founding facilitator, Ann Morgan, it was an initiative to unite three parishes which had recently been amalgamated into one. Back then, the two processions met downtown outside St. Patrick’s Church. Morgan (and her successor, Rose) gave some insight into the many components of the undertaking. Permission is required from the City and Holy Spirit School Division. A phlanx of altar servers, music leaders and liturgy coordinators are recruited. The latter assist with mid-procession prayer stops. In addition, Martin Brothers and Cornerstone Funeral Homes provide limousines to act as buffers between people and traffic, as well as ferrying participants back to their vehicles afterwards. St. Paul’s Elementary youth choir sings at Benediction, Catholic Central football players act as marshals and sometimes Knights of Columbus and Catholic Women’s League members attend in their regalia. Many other volunteers pray from their homes or assisted living facilities so that it becomes a truly inclusive event. Even seemingly unrelated businesses contribute, e.g. Hostess and Rays No Frills who provided food to supplement that made by volunteers.

Morgan said, “The involvement of so many parishioners, both as participants and volunteers, was a huge contribution to my personal spiritual growth.” She articulated what many others feel.  Since the procession is essentially Adoration-in-Motion, it has the potential to deeply affect believers and their attitudes reflect this. Volunteer Helen Manzara mused, “There’s a reverence, though it’s different closer and further from the monstrance.” This sense of communion, with Jesus and with each other, has become the legacy of All Saints’ Corpus Christi processions.        

Written by Alice Matisz, All Saints Parish, Lethbridge. Photos courtesy of All Saints Parish. 

Franciscan’s Catechetical Institute is continuing their FREE and excellent webinar series in 2025 to support catechists, teachers, and parish/ministry leaders worldwide! Find the list of courses here for Summer 2025:

July 2025

• Tuesday, July 1 at 12:00pm – The Catechetical Purpose of Sacred Architecture – Carter Hord, Hord Architects of Memphis, TN - Click here to register
• Tuesday, July 8 at 12:00pm – Praying in Front of the Blessed Sacrament: Devotional Guidance – Dr. Mark Ginter, Catechetical Institute (CI), Franciscan University of Steubenville - Click here to register
• Tuesday, July 22 at 12:00pm – Seeing, Holding, and Maturing a New One Among Us: The Catechumen as a Member of the Household of God – Dr. Scott Sollom, Associate Chair of Theology – Catechetics, Franciscan University of Steubenville. Click here to register
• Tuesday, July 29 at 12:00pm – In Spanish:  La Liturgia de las Horas: Cómo y porqué rezar esta oración poderosísima en nuestro ministerio // The Liturgy of the Hours: How and Why to Pray this Powerful Prayer in Our Ministry – Dr. Alberto Descalzo, Assoc. Profesor de Español, Universidad Franciscana de Steubenville. Click here to register
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August 2025

• Tuesday, Aug 5 at 12:00pm – Humanitarian Service as a Vocation: Serving the Marginalized and Persecuted Worldwide – Dr. Stephen M. Rasche, Director, Institute for Catholic Humanitarian Service, Franciscan University of Steubenville. Click here to register
• Tuesday, Aug 12 at 12:00pm – A Uniquely Effective Approach to Parish Small Groups: Discipleship Quads – Dr. Bob Rice, PhD, Professor of Catechetics and Kristi Scheerbaum, Discipleship Special Projects Coordinator, Catechetical Institute (CI), Franciscan University of Steubenville. Click here to register
• Tuesday, Aug 19 at 12:00pm – Youth Ministry: How to Find a Path to Thriving, and How Franciscan University’s Outreach Can Help – Brian Kissinger, Executive Director, Franciscan Conferences and Dr. Bill Keimig, Deputy Director, Catechetical Institute. Click here to register
• Tuesday, Aug 26 at 12:00pm – In Spanish:  El discernimiento ignaciano para líderes: Las primeras tres reglas // Ignatian Discernment for Leaders: The First Three Rules – Fr. Guillermo Gonzalez, Sacerdote de la Diócesis de Arlington. Click here to register

Written by Deacon Thomas O'Toole, St. Paul's Parish, Brocket, AB. Photos courtesy of Nancy, Knothole Photography.

​Written by Monica Horsman, member of St. Luke's Seat of Wisdom Legion of Mary, parishioner of St. Luke's Parish in Calgary. Photos: Participants of Book Study (evening & afternoon groups), courtesy of Monica Horsman. 

Watch now!

I’ve always been a bit of a dreamer. Since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by books like “Set All Afire” by Louis de Wohl.  If you haven’t read it, this novel, which tells the story of St. Francis Xavier’s missionary journeys, is a page-turner and will set your heart on fire, too. St. Francis traversed much of Asia, through storms at sea, jungles on foot, risking life and limb to spread the Gospel of Christ. And he succeeded. Sometimes it's hard to connect the dots, but the Renewal Plans being created by your parishes are contributing to this very same mission of saving souls. 

Keep an eye out as the Parish Renewal Team in most parishes is sharing a draft of their Renewal Plan with you at any time.  You won’t be asked to sail the ocean or dodge poisonous snakes (so far as I know). Still, the plan will be filled with action items to help your parish create more missionary disciples, strengthen family life and foster an urgent sense of mission by becoming a Church of encounter and witness.  Just like in Asia in the time of St. Francis Xavier, so many souls in our families and communities are aching for the healing love of Christ, and our Lord is asking us to help Him reach them. If we pursue our Renewal Plans with vigour, they will bear fruit and change lives, and we will know the joy of helping this to happen.

As you review the draft Renewal Plan for your parish, think and pray about the action items you see and give feedback to your Renewal Team. Do they meet the needs of the parish? Do they go far enough? A key to a good plan is to have action items that you can count on to have an impact. One way to evaluate an action item is to ask, "What concrete result will this action achieve?” If you have no way of determining whether the action has been accomplished, that means it's too vague and risks not making a real impact. For example, if an action item states simply, “Be a parish that prays”, it is too vague. However, if it includes main steps similar to “Each lector commits to spend 30 minutes weekly in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament”, it has become specific, causing a concrete action and therefore result to occur.  Similarly, “Be a more welcoming parish” is too broad if left at that. However, if it is replaced by, or has as a main step “Establish a greeter/usher ministry”, it has become something actionable, concrete. You will know if you did it or not. If our parish plans are filled with action items that accomplish objectives and are measurable, we will see our parish take great strides. 

​The same goes for our own personal renewal. Big change starts with small, concrete steps—like committing to a daily prayer time or inviting someone back to church. Vague goals won’t get us far, but specific actions done with love transform our lives!
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When St. Francis Xavier arrived in India, he did so with a specific actionable plan.  First in Goa, and then beyond. And if we were to put it in one of our Renewal Plans, it would look like this:

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Action Item: Evangelize Goa

Main Steps:

1. Walk through the streets ringing a bell to attract the children’s attention;
2. Teach the children catechism;
3. The children will bring their parents, catechize them and baptize the entire families;
4. Train local catechists and encourage local vocations; and
5. Move to the next village.

Responsible Person:  Francis Xavier

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​​As our parishes finalize their Renewal Plans, let us ask the good Lord to give each of us the same love for souls as St. Francis Xavier!

Written by Ryan Schmidt, Director of Pastoral Renewal, Diocese of Calgary.
Painting: André Reinoso, St Francis Preaching in Goa, 1619, oil on canvas, 96 × 162 cm, Museu de São Roque/Santa Casa da Misericórdia, Lisbon.

A message from Bishop McGrattan:

Submitted by St. John the Evangelist Parish Office