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Adoro te devote

2/16/2023

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>> Watch this video and take in the beautiful arrangement of Adoro Te Devote by Domenico Bartolucci during the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on June 10, 2010, on the eve of the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at St. Peter’s Square.
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Oh what treasure we have in the Church – the Son of God truly present! Let us adore Him.
In a world where there is so much noise, so much bewilderment, there is a need for silent adoration of Jesus concealed in the Host. Be assiduous in the prayer of adoration and teach it to the faithful. It is a source of comfort and light, particularly to those who are suffering.”

“Without the Eucharist, the Church simply does not exist.”

“Friends, do not be afraid of silence or stillness. Listen to God. Adore Him in the Eucharist.”
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Pope Benedict XVI
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Sunday of the Word of God

1/11/2023

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Pope Francis has declared that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the word of God “that the life of our people be constantly marked by this decisive relationship with the living word that the Lord never tires of speaking to his Bride” (Aperuit Illis, 2). In 2023 the Sunday of the Word of God falls on January 22.

​Download: 2023 Liturgical/Pastoral Resource from the Dicastery for Evangelization for Sunday of the Word of God


Here are five liturgical suggestions for making the most of this universal invitation from the Pontiff.  
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1. Homily
Focus on the centrality of the Bible for Christians. In the Gospel, Jesus quotes what we heard in the first reading from the Prophet Isaiah. The word of the prophet is the foundation for his teaching and the call of the first disciples. In the second reading Paul tells the Corinthians that Jesus did not send him to baptize but to proclaim the Gospel and that “it is the power of God”.

2. Bless Ministers of the Word
Following the Homily, invite ministers of the Word to stand (e.g. lectors, psalmists, leaders in RCIA, liturgy of the word for children, and scripture study). Bless them with hands extended:

Blessed are you, Lord God,
Source of all light and all goodness,
you sent your Son, your living Word,
to reveal to humanity the mystery of your love.
Look with mercy upon these women and men who proclaim your word
and lead your people closer to your teaching.
Bless X them in their ministry
so that they may be nourished by your Word,
be transformed by it and faithfully announce it
to their brothers and sisters in your Church.
We praise and thank you, Father,
in the name of Jesus your Son,
and in the love of your Holy Spirit,
God of glory for ever and ever.
Amen.


Adapted from the blessing of lectors in Celebrations of Installation and Recognition, copyright Concacan Inc.,2005. All rights reserved.

3. Universal Prayer

Introduction to the petitions:
Dear sisters and brothers,
nourished and formed by God’s Word
let us bring our needs and petitions before Him.


In addition to the petitions you have prepared for today, include some for the Word of God to come to life in your community, for example:
  • For bishops, priests, deacons, lectors, psalmists, and all who proclaim God’s Word in the world, we pray to the Lord.
  • For teachers and staff in Catholic schools, for catechists, parents, and all who bring the Word of God to children, we pray to the Lord.

Prayer at the end of the petitions:
Grant, O God, that our lives be marked by your living word.
Hear these, our prayers,
and help us to proclaim the good news of the kingdom.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.


4. Eucharistic Prayer

You might use Eucharistic Prayer III for Various Needs and Occasions (Jesus the Way to the Father). Its Preface focuses on Christ as the “Word” of God. Roman Missal p.764ff.

5. Enthroning the Bible (For use in homes, schools, and with RCIA or Bible Study groups)
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The faithful have shown reverence to the bible as the inspired word of God since ancient times. The enthronement of an open bible has often served as a symbolic invitation to delve into the sacred text as the source of our spiritual life. You might use this short ritual from the American Bible Society to enthrone the Bible at home, in schools, and with RCIA or Bible Study groups.  
  • How to enthrone the Bible in your home/class/school? 

6. More Resources
  • Note from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on the Word of God Sunday. The note highlights opportunities and practical suggestions for the Word of God Sunday celebration. English | French 
  • Adult Formation Activity
  • Understanding the Bible
  • The Art and Practice of Lectio Divina
  • The Word of God as a Source of Prayer

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Entering the Ordinary Time

1/11/2023

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During the Ordinary Time, the Church celebrates the fullness of the mystery of the Lord Jesus. The people of God offer praise by celebrating the Paschal Mystery of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. Sunday is the original Christian Feast Day, following the tradition handed down from Apostolic times, for this way the day of the Lord’s Resurrection.

Today’s Christian communities continue this tradition by celebrating every Sunday as the day of the risen Lord. 

​Below are some resources to help break down everything you need to know for this liturgical season, as well as practical advices to help you get the most out of the Ordinary Time.
  • Read: Ultimate Guide to Ordinary Time (Catholic Telegraph) 
  • Read: Why Ordinary Time can also be called the "season of saints" (Aleteia)
  • Read: 5 ways to make Ordinary Time less ordinary (Catholic Link)
  • Read: What about an Ordinary Time resolution this year? (Aleteia)
  • Read: How do we keep Sunday holy (Aleteia) 
  • YEAR A Monthly Liturgical Calendar (CCCB)
  • Read: 7 ways to make Sunday holy for the whole family (Aleteia)
  • Watch: Why do we need to rest from work on Sundays? (Fr. Mike Smith, Ascension Press)
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Turning to our Mother

12/12/2022

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The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, is Mission Mexico Day in the Diocese of Calgary. But do you know the story of our Lady and Juan Diego? Watch this 20-minute video and learn about our Mother’s love as deigned by God.

Our Lady appeared in Mexico to show her love for all peoples especially the most simple of heart. May we embrace her love and share it with others, especially those in need. 
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“Am I not here, I, who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need anything more? Let nothing else worry you, disturb you.” – words of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego on Mount Tepeyac in 1531.
Can a woman forget her nursing-child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” Isaiah 49:15
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Mary is the embodiment of perfect love. May we imitate her way of love.
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The transfigured heart

8/7/2022

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Five o’clock. First light was beginning to peek through the blinds of our fifth wheel camper. I pushed past the temptation to remain snuggled under the blanket and forced myself out of bed. I was going to do it - I was going to climb a mountain (okay, a hill) to watch a sunrise and sit in the presence of my Heavenly Father. 

My family was spending the first week of August at Dinosaur Provincial Park, joining my in-laws for a four-day adventure in the hoodoos. Our first evening at Dinosaur Park, we’d trekked to the highest point to get a full 360 of the oddly picturesque World Heritage Site. It’s an incredible anomaly among the flattest of prairie, and it’s one of the most breathtaking landscapes I’ve ever experienced. Anybody who’s been to Dinosaur Provincial Park, 43 kilometers northeast of Brooks, knows exactly what I’m talking about: after driving through miles of prairie, the world suddenly opens up. Sandstone-striped hills, hiding who knows how many millions of fossils, seem to go on forever. Standing at the top of the mountain (okay, again, hill) and breathing in the majesty of God’s creation, I had the bright idea to climb again one morning during our trip to take in a prairie sunrise over the hoodoos and hills. 

Our first night camping was fraught with high winds, deafening thunder, and sheet lightning, which encouraged me to sleep in snugly that first morning (cozied up to my nine-year-old daughter, who tucked in with us at the first roll of thunder.) The following day, however, my internal alarm went off three times before I finally arose to first light at 5 am, pulled on a hoodie, and quietly slipped out of our camper while the rest of my family snoozed away.

It was quiet and dark enough that I felt a little bit disconcerted (I’ve seen a rattlesnake or two at the park), but as I began my ascent, my desire to be with God on a mountaintop (hoo-doo top?) outweighed my fear. The climb was steep and slippery in running shoes, and I laughed at myself as I huffed and puffed towards the top, bolstered by Al McGuire’s quote: “There’s no one who’s dropped on top of the mountain. You’ve got to work your way to the top.” After slips and slides and gratitude that I had no witnesses, I arrived at the apex, took a deep breath, looked around, and prayed:
Lord Jesus Christ,
Take all my freedom,
My memory,
My understanding,
And my will.
All that I have and cherish
You have given me.
I surrender it all to be guided by Your will.
Your grace and love and wealth enough for me.
Give me these, Lord Jesus,
And I ask for nothing more. Amen
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I’d never heard Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s prayer until Father Raul Hernandez, former pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Brooks, introduced me to it. It’s a prayer that I hold dear to my heart; it’s the prayer that I turn to most often, especially when I’m experiencing something uncomfortable or discouraging. 

I’m writing about a mountaintop experience, which juxtaposes quite jarringly with the valleys my soul had been experiencing as of late. I’d been suffering from bouts of crippling anxiety since school let out. When I’m not teaching, my mental health tends to take a dip - I slug through the valleys of dark days, sustained prayer and platitudes (as well as adherence to exercise and diet.) God has given me many tools to help me keep my head above water when anxiety sets in. 

When I’d finally made it to the top of the hill, I realized that I wasn’t alone: having neglected a good dose of Deet, I was joined by mosquitos, happy to keep me company as I attempted to pray and settle quietly into God’s presence. It was almost laughable - I’d stolen a moment to myself to be still, and I was busily swatting away the most loathesome of insects. It was tempting to sink into defeat, something that anxiety preys on greedily, but my repeated dedication to Jesus kept me mountaintop for over an hour. Praying… and swatting. 

I watched the sandstone ground warm from grey to brown as the slow light began spreading its way westward over the hills, painting everything the colour of morning. I listened to coyotes howl from the south, answered by packs from the north. I watched a flock of Canada geese in their V formation, and listened to birds honk along the shores of the Red Deer River. I sank into the majesty of God’s kingdom here on Earth. Mosquitoes and all, it was a literal mountaintop (okay, hilltop) experience. 

On August 6, we celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration. After I shared that I was writing about my mountaintop morning, a dear friend of mine noted how, when prompted by Peter to set up camp at the top of the mountain, Jesus and His disciples came back down shortly after. They didn’t even stick around much longer after God acknowledged His Son. “We can’t stay in the mountaintop experiences. Even the disciples didn’t,” she noted sagely. She then asked, “what kind of transfiguration did you experience that morning?”

My mountain morning allowed for a transfiguration of my hurting heart. Anxiety doesn’t just slip away at will, but God always brings me back to His love, despite the temptation to despair. Climbing the mountain may not have entirely quelled my anxiety, but I was reminded of God’s great love for me as He painted the skies, and I returned to my family with an assuaged soul (and a million mosquito bites.) His grace and his love were in abundance that morning. Give me these, Lord Jesus, and I ask for nothing more. Amen.


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Written by Olivia Liboiron for Faithfully. Olivia is a committed Catholic educator, wife and mother of two precious children.  She has been in the community of Brooks since 2007.  She currently teaches at Christ the King Academy, Brooks’ Catholic middle school. Olivia’s passion for Catholic education makes her an ideal advocate; her strong and obvious faith allows her to witness to each student, colleague and parent she encounters.
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Praying with Sacred Art

7/15/2022

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With today’s technology, we can enter into prayer through a guided Christian meditation using art from the comfort of our own home. This video by Fr. Geoff Wheaton SJ of the Jesuits of Britain meditating on the work of James Christensen gives us an experience of prayer with the Ten Lepers.

Watch this YouTube video and meditate on our need for gratitude in our life for the God’s abundant blessings. For more videos like this, use this link for the Praying with Art playlist 

Consider this…

“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”  ~ Philippians 4:8

The Catechism of the Catholic Church 2502 says,
“Sacred art is true and beautiful when its form corresponds to its particular vocation: evoking and glorifying, in faith and adoration, the transcendent mystery of God - the surpassing invisible beauty of truth and love visible in Christ, who "reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature," in whom "the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily." This spiritual beauty of God is reflected in the most holy Virgin Mother of God, the angels, and saints. Genuine sacred art draws man to adoration, to prayer, and to the love of God, Creator and Saviour, the Holy One and Sanctifier.”
Surround yourself with truth, beauty, and goodness and you will seek God. 
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Art: Annunciation - by Ivanka Demchuk in Ukraine. Used with permission.

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Faithful Living: Making a Marian pilgrimage

5/22/2022

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May is a month often associated with the veneration of Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. One meaningful way to express our devotion to her is by undertaking a Marian pilgrimage. While it is common to think of organized Marian pilgrimages as the only way to embark on one, a meaningful Marian pilgrimage may be had by simply planning one that you journey alone, with another person, or with your family or a group of friends.

A key part to making a Marian pilgrimage is to embark on a physical journey to a spiritual place. This can be far which will require a considerable trek or can be short as a few blocks' walk. What is essential is the desire to offer this special homage to our Lady and to pray and reflect while going towards the destination and back. This resource provides guidance on how to make a spiritual pilgrimage (printable, one page).

Here are some suggestions of destinations for your Marian pilgrimage...
  1. The grotto at the FCJ Christian Life Centre (219 19 Ave SW, Calgary)
  2. The grotto at the back of the Lacombe Care Centre ( 270 Providence Blvd SE, Calgary)

You can always incorporate driving to your pilgrimage especially when the distance is too much to handle for walking. You may consider driving to the Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Rockies in Canmore. Drive prayerfully but attentively.
Don't miss the chance to make a pilgrimage during Our Lady of the Cape statue tour in Calgary and Canmore:
  • Full schedule here
  • St. Mary's Cathedral - on Sunday May 29, from 9 am to 2 pm. 
  • The Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Rockies - on Sunday evening, and Monday, May 30 from 10 am to 10 pm. Mass with Bishop McGrattan at 7 pm.

Consider this...
A pilgrimage may cause some frustration or inconvenience... don't complain.
​Gracefully accept the sacrifice and make it an offering of love.


"May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light."  Colossians 1:11-12
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An Easter Message from Bishop McGrattan

4/18/2022

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Each year the celebration of Easter takes us beyond the Cross of Good Friday to the joy and hope that comes from knowing that the Risen Lord is truly present in the world and in the lives of believers. For Mary Magdalene and the other women, Peter and the beloved disciple, the experience of the empty tomb would soon be transformed into that of encountering the risen Christ.

The gospels each follow a similar pattern for those who would come to believe. Initially scripture tells us that they did not recognize him. This was to signify for each of them the need to let go of their knowing him in the flesh, of not finding the body in the tomb. A necessary step of becoming detached from recognizing him in his earthly body, in order that they would become attached to him in new ways and know him in his resurrected and glorified body which was no longer bound by time or space. This believing community of disciples became the first witnesses to know that God’s love and presence in and through Christ has the power to transform our lives, to move us beyond the experiences of the empty tomb to the hope of our Easter belief!

The stark images of those caught up in the current tragedy of war throughout the world were reminders to us this Good Friday of Jesus' passion, the carrying of the cross, the suffering and death he endured. His acceptance of the Father’s will would ultimately be the source of new life, a hope that is found in the resurrection. God moves us in faith to act with the same love that our Lord offers for the entire world. It is a love that restores dignity for those who have been exiled from their homes, transforming strangers into neighbours, and calling us to respond with compassion and care to those who are suffering and vulnerable.

Jesus revealed himself to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus in the midst of their doubt and despair. At first the disciples were prevented from recognizing him until he began to share with them his presence in the living Word of scripture and then in the sacramental sign of his presence “in the breaking of the bread” – the Eucharist. He also commissioned Mary as the “apostle (the one sent) to the apostles”, to bring this good news of the resurrection to the world. In a similar way each Easter celebration invites us to come and see, to encounter like the two disciples the presence of the resurrected Lord in Word and Sacrament and then like Mary to go and proclaim this mystery which God has accomplished through Christ. 

To enter into mystery means the ability to wonder, to contemplate; the ability to listen to the silence and to hear the tiny whisper amid great silence by which God speaks to us (cf. 1 Kings 19:12).  Like Mary we need humility to enter into this mystery and to receive through the Holy Spirit the whispering of the revealed truth that our search for life, goodness, beauty and love is fully revealed in the risen Christ. May our commitment to this sacred mystery be revealed in the witness which we give in the promoting of the dignity of each human person in our country of Canada. 

A blessed Easter Season to you and your family.

​Sincerely yours in Christ,

+ William T. McGrattan
Bishop of Calgary

April 17, 2022
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Faithful Living: Peace in the world

3/15/2022

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Little things we can offer for peace in the world...

1. Pray
  • Offer constant prayers throughout the day for peace not only in the world but also for our own surroundings. Take a moment and pray for peace using this video.
  • Go to Mass daily.
  • Offer the Holy Rosary daily for peace and conversion.

2. Offer penances
  • Love is expressed by gestures and not just words. Offering penance for others is offering concrete prayers to God for others. It begins with our conscious acceptance of ordinary incoveniences and discomforts,,, accepting the daily crosses. When we are aware of these daily challenges, pause, recognize the sacrifice, and offer them to God for peace in our world. Instead of kicking and screaming and perhaps whining and complaining, endure the incoveniences and turn these moments of sacrifice into prayer.
  • Another way of offering penance is by actively doing something good for others that we do not normally do for them and secretly offer this loving gesture as a sacrifice to God for peace in our world.

3. Watch or read the news and pray for the people you see & hear about
  • Doing this reminds us that they are all human beings like you and me, and in need of prayer. 
  • While it may be tempting to not pray for those who do evil and only pray for the victims, they need our prayers too. We must pray for the grace of conversion that their hearts may be softened. After all, we are all human beings in need of God's grace.

Consider this... 
St. Paul says, "I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church." ~ Colossians 1:24

We all share in the sufferings of Christ and have a part in His crucifixion. As we consciously unite ourselves to His suffering and the suffering of others, we also unite ourselves to the gift of the resurrection and new life.

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Pray for Ukraine

3/14/2022

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#PrayforUkraine
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​We encourage you and all people of good will to pray for the imminent restoration of peace, dialogue, and human fraternity in Ukraine, in solidarity with the Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, in unison with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with the people of Ukraine as well as with Canadians of Ukrainian origin and descent. 

  • CCCB Statement on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine (Feb 24) EN | FR
  • Major Archbishop Shevchuk (Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church) is calling for international solidarity with Ukraine  (Feb 22)
 
Prayer for Ukraine

​God of реасе and justice,
we pray for the реорІе of Ukraine today.
We pray for реасе and the laying down of weapons.
We pray for аІІ those who fear for tomorrow,
that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.
We pray for those with power over war or реасе,
for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions.
Above аІІ, we pray for аІІ your precious children, at-risk and in fear,
that you would hold and protect them.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Реасе.
Amen.

  • A Litany for Ukraine
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Mikhail Vrubel. The Virgin and Child. 1884-85. Zinc panel. Church of St. Cyril, Kiev, Ukraine.

To support Ukraine beyond prayers 

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  • Donate through CNEWA
  • Donate through Development and Peace, Caritas Ukraine

Day of Prayer and Fasting for Ukraine

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Pope Francis announced that Ash Wednesday (March 2) will be a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Ukraine. "I encourage believers in a special way to dedicate themselves intensely to prayer and fasting on that day. May the Queen of Peace preserve the world from the madness of war,” he said. Read more 
  • Prayer is the real revolution that changes the world because it changes hearts. We have few resources against war, without bearing direct responsibility for them, the devil foments them with hatred, cunning, wickedness. This kind of demon, Jesus says, “never comes out except by prayer and fasting.” (S. Centofanti, Vatican News). 
  • “As believers, we do not lose hope for a glimmer of conscience on the part of those who hold in their hands the fortunes of the world. And we continue to pray and fast — as we shall do this coming Ash Wednesday (March 2) — for peace in Ukraine and in the entire world. (Cardinal Pietro Parolin for Vatican News)” – Full message here
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Faithful Living: A prayer room in your home

1/23/2022

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Our homes hold a lot of what is near and dear to us. For starters, our family. The home provides shelter for the people we love.

Aside from our belongings which we need in order to function in life, our home is a shelter for the things that define us, objects that hold special meanings. Be it a special painting, a family heirloom, or that memorable walkman from the 80s.
In a Catholic home, some of the objects that hold special meaning to us are holy images or religious articles that help us think of God and the communion of the saints and the angels. 

Some Catholic homes have home altars or prayer corners/rooms where the family can spend time of prayer, meditation, or teaching the Faith. This YouTube vlogger, A Catholic Mom's Life, features her prayer room as a place not only to pray but also to read and hang-out as a family apart from the living room or the kitchen. 

Tips for starting your home altar/prayer corner or room...
  • It would be helpful to have the home altar or prayer corner/room situated in an area where there is some silence and privacy.
  • Imagine one focal holy image. Ask yourself what image will move you to pray and have a conversation with God.
  • You can choose to have only one large image or statue flanked with candles or have one large one and a few small images or statues that hold some significance for you.
  • Think about your preferred posture when praying at home. Do you tend to sit on a comfortable chair, kneel, sit on the floor with pillows, or the combination... have this set up near or around the home altar/prayer corner or in your prayer room.
  • Consider the lighting. A space for prayer would need to have soft or ambient lighting to make it cozy, soothing, and easy to slide your way to an intimate time with God.
  • If you like to pray and meditate with soft sacred music playing in the background, perhaps have a device for playing music nearby.
  • To keep the area neat and tidy and free of distractions, make sure that things are placed and organized in presentable storage boxes that do not need to be seen until needed. Keep the area clutter-free.
  • Once you have all of these set up, figure out the routine or times of prayer in your home.

Having a home altar or prayer corner/room can help us consciously make room for God in our lives.

Consider this... Our homes should be a refuge, a place where everyone can come home to rest, to be nourished, and to be re-energized for the next day. Carve a place for prayer and let the peace of Christ dwell in your house. 
For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat." Isaiah 25:4
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Epiphany of the Lord

12/14/2021

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Epiphany means “manifestation”, that moment when we suddenly understand something that previously was hidden from us. Christmas is about the Incarnation, the coming down of the Son of God to become human, one of us. Epiphany is the showing of the Christ Child’s divinity, which is beginning to manifest itself in the world.
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  • Blessing of Homes
    The tradition of blessing doorways on Epiphany is inspired by the three Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, who followed the star to a manger in Bethlehem where the Messiah was made manifest for them in the person of a newborn child. The Magi showed great hospitality when they came to honour the Messiah. The blessing of our own doorway reminds us to welcome strangers and travellers into our midst as though each were Jesus himself. Incidentally, the tradition of carolling is also associated with the journey of the Magi and is a suitable way of announcing the manifestation of the Christ Child in song.
    • Here is a simple prayer service to use at home when blessing the doorway. Or download it as PDF here

  • Continue Celebrating Christmas
    Even if your Christmas trees have come down and decorations have been returned to storage, we invite you to consider keeping out the Christmas crèche a while longer at least until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and placing it in a prominent place in your home where you can gather with family and pray.  Read: Continuing with the celebration of Christmas

  • Resources for family & children: Epiphany of the Lord
    • Today is the Feast of the Epiphany. We remember that the Magi, or Wise Men, visited Jesus. Let’s listen to learn about their journey and what gifts they gave Jesus to honour him. (Loyola Press) 
      • Kid's Bulletin for this Sunday
      • Colouring page this Sunday 
      • Sunday Connection for the Epiphany of the Lord (Gr. 1-8) 
      • Children's Liturgy of the Word with Miss Heidi (Catholic TV)

  • Gospel Reflection  
    Gifts. The Magi, these foreign interpreters of dreams, do the following: follow a star, travel a great distance, trust the words of others, bring and give gifts. In some countries, Epiphany and not Christmas is gift-giving day.  This twelfth-day (when on the traditional 6th of January) brings to completion the manifestation of Christ – first to the Jews and today to everyone. No one is foreign to God’s good grace. (Source: Diocese of Springfield)
    • How will I search diligently for Jesus?
    • Because God is merciful to me, what mercy work can I do for another?
    • What gifts will I give to others in need? 

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Sacred Heart of Jesus

6/9/2021

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In 1673, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque received a vision of Jesus’ compassionate heart, pierced by the sins of the world, which gave impetus to the devotion of Sacred Heart of Jesus. St. Margaret Mary also received private revelations from Jesus on June 16, 1675. Read more

The Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost.  The term "Sacred Heart of Jesus" denotes the entire mystery of Christ, the totality of his being, and his person considered in its most intimate essential: Son of God, uncreated wisdom; infinite charity, principal of the salvation and sanctification of mankind. The "Sacred Heart" is Christ, the Word Incarnate, Saviour, intrinsically containing, in the Spirit, an infinite divine-human love for the Father and for his brothers. (Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy).

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Sacred Heart of Jesus Resources 
  • Sacred Heart of Jesus Pastoral Notes and Resources (Cardinal Collins)
  • How to celebrate the feasts of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary (OSV). 
  • Video (7 mnts): Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Fr. Mark Mary)
  • Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
    • Pray the Litany with the help of St. Pope John Paul II (Aleteia)
  • Daily prayer from St. Therese Liseux "Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine". 
    • Download & Print: Image 1 | Image 2 | Image 3 | Image 4 | Image 5
  • Sacred Heart of Jesus Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer
  • Resources for Family & children:
    • Catholic Sprouts podcast for kids on Sacred Heart of Jesus (OSV)
    • Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart craft for kids
    • Sacred Heart VBS at home
    • Video: Jesus loves us so much He cannot keep His love to Himself! Learn about the symbols we see in the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Then we will make Sacred Heart mini-pancakes together!Watch: Video for kids from Sacred Heart of Jesus Convent 
    • Video: Personal Consecration Prayer to the Sacred Heart 
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Return to me with all your heart

2/11/2021

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Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing. 
Return to the Lord, your God, 
for he is gracious and merciful, 
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, 
​and relents from punishing. (Joel 2: 12-13)
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Each year at the Mass for Ash Wednesday, which begins the Season of Lent, we hear this reading from the Prophet Joel.  Despite not knowing many specific details about the life and preaching of this prophet, he does leave us with a challenging call each year to a spirit of repentance, conversion and hope during this time of Lent.

Joel’s prophetic message begins with a lament over the destruction of the land (Joel 1:2-12). The prophet presents many powerful images of the dire situation in which his community has found itself.  The land has been invaded, laid waste, “widowed,” without produce for food or sacrifice and all joy has slowly withered from the hearts of the people.

The reality is that Israel has failed to heed the warnings of earlier prophets, and Joel's appeal for repentance, and his message of further destruction, is one more sign of the nation’s continued rebellion against the God of their ancestors, the refusal to heed His word and to obey the covenantal promises received at Mount Sinai. Now, the entire people of Israel are being called to fast, and to cry out to the Lord their God, in sincere repentance of heart.  In truth, he is offering his people words of encouragement and the strength to endure. Through all of this, Joel is confident that the Lord will hear their cries and rescue his people. It is the faithful constancy of God with his promise of life and protection for his people that must be the foundation of their hope.

The continued grace and mercy of God is heard in the divine appeal, to the people of Judah to repent of their sins and return to the Lord – “Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, and weeping and mourning.”  These are the external demonstrations of an inner repentance of heart.   “Rend your hearts and not your clothing.”  The meaning of this passage is renewed and lived each Lent, for we are reminded that it is never too late to turn away from sin; to return to the Lord with full heart, and to receive forgiveness and salvation.  

The Prophet Joel’s proclamation initiates this call of repentance for each of us during Lent. It calls us to forty days of a faithful preparation for the joyous celebration of Easter – an Easter that will once again celebrate the hope of the Resurrection even in the midst of a threatening pandemic and its devastating effects on our lives.   Through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we can experience this inner conversion of heart that will open our lives to receive the in-breaking reign of God’s grace and the hope revealed through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Such hope and conversion is at the heart of Pope Francis’ Lenten message this year:
​First, we are called to witness to the great hope we hold in our faith.  ​In these times of trouble, when everything seems fragile and uncertain, it may appear challenging to speak of hope. Yet Lent is precisely the season of hope, when we turn back to God. (Lenten Message 2021, Pope Francis)  
Paul prays in the Letter to the Ephesians for this hope.
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, (Ephesians 1:17)
Second, we are to be inspired this Lent to speak a kind word of hope to one another. 
In Lent, may we be increasingly concerned with “speaking words of comfort, strength, consolation and encouragement, and not words that demean, sadden, anger or show scorn” (Fratelli Tutti, 223). In order to give hope to others, it is sometimes enough simply to be kind, to be “willing to set everything else aside in order to show interest, to give the gift of a smile, to speak a word of encouragement, to listen amid general indifference” (ibid., 224).  (Lenten Message 2021, Pope Francis)
It may seem to many that we have been living an extended period of Lent since the onset of this pandemic and its health precautions and restrictions. Perhaps the Lord is inviting us to truly know the enduring truth of the Prophet Joel’s words this Lent “return to me with all your heart”. This Lent, is an opportunity to receive God’s grace without any reserve or restriction, and a time of great hope that inspires us in humility to seek reparation, forgiveness - and in the words of the psalmist, to experience a clean heart.  “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)
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The first video will be shared on Ash Wednesday | Visit catholicyyc.ca and diocesan social media (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram).
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Written by Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary
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February 10, 2021
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St. Joseph, our guide in times of trouble

1/13/2021

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​Hope — St. Joseph must have had a lot of it, leading his very pregnant wife through the hill country from Nazareth to Bethlehem to give birth to his son. I imagine it was an arduous journey filled with uncertainty. Sometimes amidst hard times, I’m tempted to let discouragement steal my hope; I forget that my circumstances will change in time.

I crawled over the 2020 finish line, exhausted and tired, only to be met with the dead of winter. January is an isolating month in the best of times, nevermind government sanctions restricting social contact. 

The reality is that life is hard for a lot of people right now; so much change and instability due to the ongoing pandemic. But what is unchanging is that our faith always gives us reason to hope. As Catholics, we carry the Good News of the Resurrection within us. With the eyes of faith, no time is wasted to perfect ourselves in love. And we can look to the great examples of the saints to help guide our path. 

In a special way this year, Pope Francis invites us to renew our hope by placing an emphasis on Our Lord’s foster father. He has declared Dec. 8, 2020 to Dec. 8 2021 — The Year of St. Joseph. 

What St. Joseph represents in my life is a husband and father who is a faithful, patient, humble, courageous protector. Joseph didn’t utter a single word in the Bible, rather he communicated volumes through his attentive presence.  

The Holy Father Pope Francis encourages each of us with these words found in his Apostolic Letter Patris Corde: “Each of us can discover in Joseph – the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence – an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble.”

My hope is to seize this opportunity to take a deeper dive into what St. Joseph’s secure, strong, safe, steadfast fatherly presence means in my life and the life of my family.

Our family has set a few goals for the coming year to get to know St. Joseph better, and grow in relationship with him. I hope a few of these ideas will inspire you to think of ways to discover the presence of St. Joseph in your life and keep you anchored in hope.  
  • Read the Holy Father’s Apostolic Letter Patris Corde 
  • Make a pilgrimage to St. Joseph’s Church in Calgary and/or St. Joseph’s Church in Vauxhall
  • Visit the St. Joseph Chapel at Our Lady Queen of the Rockies in Canmore.
  • Make a 33-day consecration to St. Joseph using the book Consecration to St. Joseph by Donald H. Calloway
  • Receive an indulgence 
  • Attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on the Solemnity of St. Joseph on March 19 as we mark the beginning the Year of the Family 
  • Attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on the Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1
  • Reflect on the importance of St. Joseph in the life of Canadian Saint Andre Bessette. 
  • Prepare a St. Joseph Table, according to the old Italian tradition. To find what this is all about and for more inspiring ideas visit: yearofstjoseph.org  


Written by Sara Francis for Faithfully
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30 days of prayer to St. Joseph

1/12/2021

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It was 2012. My then-girlfriend, Chelsea, had completed her BEd and had taught part-time for a year in Saskatoon. A full-time position there proved precarious, following a teachers’ strike and cutbacks. Although she loved the Catholic Saskatchewan school system, she was discerning a move to greener pastures.

I was working for the summer before entering the Ed program in my 4th year at the UBC campus in Kelowna BC, where I grew up. Having travelled to Alberta for work before school started again, I was living in a camp about 500 km drive north of Edmonton. 

In June, we started a 30-day novena to St. Joseph, over the phone, to discern Chelsea’s future career path. I was most excited about her application to teach at my old elementary school in Kelowna. A move there would end the long-distance factor in our relationship and would potentially see us teaching in the same diocese if I were to get hired at my secondary school, Immaculata Regional High, after convocation. 

The prayer was beautiful, but the conditions were not, at least not on my end of the call. The cell reception so close to the Northwest Territories was abysmal and forced me to walk to the top of a nearby hill, which didn’t stop the mosquitoes from tracking me down. Sometimes Chelsea would lead, other times it was me, reading the prayer on my blackberry screen between swats at mossies and checking to see if the call had been dropped. This was anything but a “When Harry Met Sally” type of romantic scene on the dusty bi-centennial highway to Greater Slave Lake; more like a real game of telephone that mostly left us wondering what words the other had just prayed. 
“We must believe that the life of St. Joseph - ”
“Pray for us.”
“- Not finished – spent in the presence of Jesus and Mary – “
“Pray for us.”
“Almost done – was a continual prayer – “
“Lord hear our prayer.”
“Oh for – Abounding in acts of faith…”

And so it went for 30 days. St. Joseph must not have minded the static, because on the day following the novena, day 31, Chelsea received a call requesting her to do a Skype interview for the 5/6 split position in Kelowna, at St. Joseph Elementary. We were elated and thankful to God for his faithfulness through the intercession of St. Joseph.
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Chelsea was hired to work in the much sought-after Okanagan Valley and moved from Saskatoon the next month. We were engaged that November and married by the following August. We did end up teaching in the same diocese for a year before welcoming our daughter Hannah. Early on in our relationship, Chelsea had always remained aloof about our future, leaving the distance between us to be closed, or not, by the providence of God. St. Joseph continues to be a model for this docility in our household and we have returned to that novena on recent occasions, most notably when I applied to Calgary Catholic in 2016. His influence in our lives is real and testifies to the goodness of God that cannot fail. 

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Written by Joseph Lawrence. Joseph Lawrence is married to Chelsea, and they have 2 children. They are parishioners of St. Peter's Parish and Joseph is the Chaplain of, and teaches Construction at, Bishop McNally High School in Northeast Calgary.
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Five reasons to take St. Joseph as patron for 2021

1/12/2021

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​Aames Abanto from Catholic Sunday Best offers five great reasons for Catholic gentlemen to adopt St. Joseph as their 2021 patron saint. 
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  • St. Joseph had the original Dad Bod 
    Ancient images depict St. Joseph as an old man, to protect the virginity of Mary (the lily he traditionally held), but this is not so. The Ancient Greek term for carpenter was a tektōn (Mark 6:3), an artisan/craftsman. Not only was he a carpenter, but he was a builder, stonemason, and engineer. The best depiction of his strength could be in the sculpture of the Holy Family in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas. The titles of Terror of Demons and Protector of the Virgin would not be appropriate for a frail old man, but for a strong, physically gifted man. Where else could our Lord endure lifting a 300 lb. cross from Jerusalem to Calvary if not learning from his foster father’s trade? Consider him as a patron of your 2021 fitness goals.

  • He relied on God in fear
    The first years of Joseph’s married life were chaotic. He was a righteous man (Matthew 1:19) and feared for Mary’s safety. If he disgraced her publicly for being pregnant outside of marriage, she would have been stoned to death. He also feared for the life of Jesus when Herod killed children in Judea (Matthew 2:16). He had to lead his family to escape for Egypt and find suitable employment to provide for his family (in Egypt and Nazareth). Most men would be paralyzed by this kind of marriage, but St. Joseph relied on God and protected his family. I’ve been laid off three times since 2012, and looking for meaningful employment to ensure my family had a place to live and food on the table was challenging. St. Joseph was a great role model in those seasons. Perhaps if you’ve lost employment, are afraid of uncertainty, or facing great challenges, he can be yours too.

  • (Spiritual) Fatherhood is good
    Imagine what Joseph felt when he found out that his wife was pregnant, and the son was not his own. I’m sure his desire to become a biological father was great, especially since he descended from King David. I would like to imagine that Joseph embraced this role well, but I’m confident that he took Jesus as his own son and became a true Spiritual Father. I have a replica of the statue of St. Joseph and the Child Jesus from the Basilica of Mary Queen of the Universe on my desk at home. It shows Joseph teaching his foster son carpentry, but it also shows Joseph’s wonder at Jesus’ delight. Joseph’s eyes had a Father’s tender gaze. As a husband carrying the cross of infertility for many years, it gives me hope that Joseph was gifted with grace in his Spiritual Fatherhood. It is my prayer that I gain that same grace if Spiritual Fatherhood is my lifelong vocation.

  • We can have a hidden life and still be a saint
    Pope Benedict XVI had a great devotion to St. Joseph. He said that Joseph’s “greatness, like Mary’s, stands out even more because his mission was carried out in the humility and hiddenness of the house of Nazareth” (Angelus, March 19, 2006). It is an incredible contrast from our Blessed Mother, who had a more predominant appearance in the Gospel because Joseph protected her and Jesus in their hidden life. Isn’t it a wonder that from those thirty, quiet years in the Galilean hill country that Jesus emerges to preach the Good News? The sculpture of the Death of Joseph at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rockies inspires us that even with a quiet & faithful daily life, free from social media prominence, Christ & Our Lady will take our hand at the hour of our death to share in the Heavenly Banquet.​
  • Naps are awesome
    Joseph did not speak a word in the New Testament. However, he was spoken to in his dreams four times. The first was to take Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:20) and the second was when they needed to flee to Egypt (Matthew 1:13) and the third prompted him of Herod’s death and return to Israel (Matthew 1:19-20) and finally, to settle in Galilee (Matthew 1:22). It is something to keep in mind that many husbands (including this one) enjoy occasional naps. Who knows, maybe our Lord could be speaking to us in our dreams, gentlemen. Perhaps this is a point you can share with your wife next time.
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Written by Aames Abanto.

​Aames has been involved in Ministry since 2002. After immigrating to Canada in 2001, he joined the Couples for Christ Youth and was involved with the group until 2010. He met his wife of 8 years Angela in the group. A veteran of pilgrimages, he attended World Youth Days in Germany, Australia, Spain and Poland. Aames currently attends St. Joseph's Church in Calgary and serves as a member of the Parish Pastoral Council and Safety Team. His patrons are St. Joseph, St. Michael, St. John Paul II and the Blessed Mother. Follow Aames in Instagram @catholicsundaybest
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Photos courtesy of Aames & Angela Abanto
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2021 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

1/11/2021

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​The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated around the world on January 18-25. 

The 2021 theme – Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit (John 15:5-9) – calls us to pray and to work for reconciliation and unity in the church, with our human family, and with all of creation. Drawing on the Gospel image of vine and branches, it invites us to nourish unity with God and with one another through contemplative silence, prayer, and common action. Grafted into Christ the vine as many diverse branches, may we bear rich fruit and create new ways of living, with respect for and communion with all of creation.

The importance of unity among Christians and the responsibility of the people of each parish to work for this unity should be emphasized throughout the week. All members of the parish should seek to have a deeper understanding of ecumenism. 

A resource kit containing program materials for the Week of Prayer adapted to Canadian context is available from https://www.weekofprayer.ca/2021-wpcu-resources  This resource kit contains practical suggestions on prayers or activities for parishes, families, schools and campus ministries for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the 2021 theme.

Event poster template for parish/school/campus events Download 
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Week of Prayer of Christian Unity - Jan 18-25
Join Bishop Todd Atkinson (Preacher, Via Apostolica), Dcn. Trevor Jameus (Via Apostolica), Rev. Terry Fach (Ambrose University), Fr. Matthew Perreault (Anglican Diocese of Calgary), and Rev. Adrian Martens (Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary) as they celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Live-streamed from Ascension Catholic Parish on Jan. 20, 2021 from 7-8pm. 
  • Watch livestream here
  • Download poster/graphic 
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When Life Leaves Us Broken: the Hope of Purgatory

10/27/2020

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The painful truth is that I never knew my grandfather, at least in any way that a grandchild should. My grandfather went overseas to fight in the first world war, full of pride. But he returned, like so many other young men, broken in spirit. In the years after his marriage to my grandmother, life afforded him little opportunity beyond labour as a brick layer. He tried to be a man of faith, but with every bottle he drank, his sense of worth diminished. When his body finally became too tired to work, his waning years disappeared before the television screen, his mind consumed by his addiction. Whatever mercy he asked for in his final days, there is no doubt he carried tremendous pain to the grave.

How many of us carry the memories of those whose stories leave us with no tale of redemption, no dramatic moment of grace to close the curtain of life, no bright ray of hope shining on their horizon. We are left sorting through the broken dreams and fractured relationships to find a goodness we can hold up, something to tell us this life meant something.

During the month of November, the Church encourages the faithful to spend 30 days praying for the dead. Pope Francis has said: “Church tradition has always urged prayer for the dead, in particular by offering the celebration of the Eucharist for them: It is the best spiritual help that we can give to their souls, particularly to the most abandoned ones.”
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It is in the words of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, where I find great hope in the gift of purgatory, the time when God purifies those souls who long to know the peace of His eternal presence, but still carry the scars and sin of this life on earth. Benedict XVI offers these words for us:
Purgatory basically means that God can put the pieces back together again. That he can cleanse us in such a way that we are able to be with him and can stand there in the fullness of life. Purgatory strips off from one person what is unbearable and from another the inability to bear certain things, so that in each of them a pure heart is revealed, and we can see that we all belong together in one enormous symphony of being.”
My grandfather lost a part of his soul on the battlefields. In this month to come, I will be praying that God, even now, is putting the pieces back together again, through His holy fire cleansing and making my grandfather whole in spirit, so he can at last rest eternally at peace in the presence of our Holy God. And for my own penance, for the times I have walked by the broken and depressed, and have not thought to share the hope found in Christ’s redemption,

​I will give alms this month in support of veterans who are still living through the trauma of war for the sake of my freedom. Have mercy on us all, O Lord, and lead us safely Home.

Written by Lance Dixon, Director of Campus Ministry at St. Mary's University
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A journey in the sacred arts

8/13/2020

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Maria Muszynski in her BVAS studio
For the August edition of Faithfully, we asked sacred artist Maria Muszynski, founding member of Sacred Guild of Alberta, a Lay Association in the Diocese of Calgary, to share about her journey in the sacred arts. 
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Why becoming a sacred artist?
I was born an artist. But why the sacred arts? I have been journeying towards this path my whole life. A journey shaped by childhood experiences, unexpected circumstances, and twists of fate. 
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My father was a Polish soldier who fought with the Allied army and my mother was a refugee in a displaced persons camp. After the war, by chance, they both decided to settle in Calgary. My mother converted to Catholic Christianity when she agreed to marry my father. Mother’s side of the family were Russian Orthodox and we celebrated Christmas and Easter (twice!) with the extended family. On occasion I attended the All Saints Russian Orthodox Church and feasted my eyes on the iconostasis which separated the sanctuary from the nave. From the cadence and the passion of the choral voices singing the liturgy in the loft, to the intense images that were illuminated by hundreds of candles lit by the faithful – all of these elements left an indelible impression that shaped my sensibilities and my soul.

In comparison, the Queen of Peace Polish Catholic Church - which was the church we attended - was innovative on the outside (built in 1968 and shaped like a gleaming white teepee) but bereft of warmth inside because of its plain concrete walls and lack of imagery (minimalism and constructivism was “in”). Only a framed copy of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa, Queen of Poland, resided above the altar. Over the years, as the population of Polish immigrants increased, many contributed their talents to the beautification of the church. Today the stained-glass windows, once plain, resonate with stories while the walls are warmed with carved traditional architectural features and religious imagery. It is a testament to the transformational power of art and faith.
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Christ the Pantocrator; egg tempera and gold, based on the Romanesque style
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Christ Geometer, (illumination); watercolour on paper; based on a 13th C image.
PictureTheotokos - Mother of Tenderness, egg tempera and gold on board.
I began my personal journey into the sacred arts when St. Mary’s University offered a Sacred Arts certificate program. The first course I took was Painting in the Western Renaissance Tradition. Other courses followed – traditional iconography, calligraphy and illumination, and even stained glass. A trip to Italy to see the glories of Rome, Florence and Ravenna was a special highlight. In 2014, I was one of 5 students to complete the requirements for the certificate in the Foundations of Sacred Art. The Sacred Arts Guild of Alberta (SAGA) was conceived by a handful of like-minded souls who wished to delve even deeper. SAGA brings in local and international specialists in illumination, iconography, calligraphy, sculpture - and in the near future Byzantine mosaic - to nourish the skills and spirits of our guild membership leading to a wonderful resurgence in the creation of sacred arts here in Alberta. 

Share about other artists who inspired you
My journey has taken me through many mentors most notably iconographer Peter Murphy, David Clayton (The Way of Beauty) and the brilliant illuminator Jeb Gibbons. I am also inspired by the traditional work of Aidan Hart, and the contemporary style of Philip Davydov, among others. I am drawn both to the classical Greek/Byzantine and Romanesque style of icons, and to Marian images in particular because of my Polish heritage. Like Saint John Paul, faith in Mary kept me strong through many trials and tribulations including surviving cancer. 
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Sacred art is not ‘art’, it is theology, it is a way of praying and connecting with God and all His wonderful creation. I am humbled that people have expressed their admiration of what I do, but I thank the spirit of God who moves through me when I sit and begin the first line. Every stroke is meditative and reflective and prayerful. It is an act of salvation, my connection to the divine. Peter Murphy and Aidan Hart believe that a fragment of heavenly reality is revealed within the sacred image, as it is revealed in the holy Scriptures and through the blessed sacrament. It is ‘extraordinary’ in every sense of the word. 

Any advice for novices in sacred art? 
The best advice for beginning sacred artists is to be mindful while you are working – hold the focus and pray. Breathe. Practice your drawing skills which is key. Find a good teacher or mentor who inspires you. Learn from everyone you can and practice. The typical stereotype of the hermit monk writing icons alone in his hovel does not fit today, so find and join a community of similar-minded artists. And practice more. Do not worry about the medium you use because it is the message of the image and the intent of the artist that are more important. 

Writing an icon is like praying twice. “Lord Jesus Christ, God of all, enlighten us, imbue the soul, the heart, the intellect of Your servant.”  So begins the iconographer’s prayer. And is it still relevant today? In the age of Covid-19 and all its’ uncertainties and anxieties - more than ever.

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Painting in miniature with the use of a magnifying glass and a 20/0 brush.
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Stage 1 drawing lines completed, image is ready for gilding to begin.
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Saint Michael the Archangel, egg tempera and gold on board; Based on the Byzantine Greek 12th Century icon in Athens

Maria Muszynski  is a teacher with the Calgary Catholic School District. She is a longtime member of the Burns Visual Arts Society and a founding member of the Sacred Arts Guild of Alberta. She currently attends Mass at St. Bonaventure Parish. 
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Not everyone is outdoorsy

7/22/2020

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​I definitely replied far too eagerly when I was asked if I would like to contribute to this month’s edition of Faithfully.  The offer came by Facebook message, and I replied I would be happy to write.  

“The theme for July's Faithfully is being outside!”
Oh. No. Anything but the outdoors. A number of people in this diocese are probably already snickering because they know how useless I am at all things outdoorsy. I am not a good runner by any stretch of the imagination. Tennis and basketball and volleyball and soccer are not my strong suit. My parents both had horrible first experiences downhill skiing, and so we never learned; I haven’t skated since kindergarten. I’ll be going on my first hike since Grade 6 next week. I went on a sailing trip in Grade 9, but most of my time was spent in the galley with kitchen work, and not hoisting the mainstay. My grandfather was the outdoorsman in the family; when he passed, my grandma gave his guns away, but his fishing rods are sitting in the garage, waiting for my younger cousins to grow enough to use them. It’s safe to say that despite the many gifts I’ve been given, the gift of having skill in the outdoors is not one that God has given me.

Still, there is good to being outside, and God comes to find me there.

One of the first songs that I learned as a volunteer at Heritage Park in Calgary was the 1912 gospel song “In the Garden”.  Its popularity is easily understandable — the melody rolls along gently in the tradition of the best Victorian parlour songs, and in the text gently depicts the life of prayer as a garden, where the narrator comes alone to meet Christ and have deep conversation. Through the walk, Christ is present to the narrator, reminding them that they are His beloved and sharing in the deep joy of prayerful relationship, before giving His benediction and sending them on their way.

As a historic interpreter there, it was easy to see how true this metaphor is. In the cool morning breeze as I swept the boardwalk, and in the sweet wood smoke on the crisp autumn air, I could feel the presence of God gently beckoning me. My favourite exhibit to work in was the replica of Our Lady of Peace Mission. On rainy June days, I would sit on the bench by the fireplace wrapped in my wool capote, and peacefully pray the Rosary in the place of those first missionaries who founded this diocese. It gave me a lot of time simply to sit and meditate:  on the mysteries of the Rosary, on the faith and fortitude of those early missionaries, and on my own relationship with God. It was very much true — I was in the midst of a garden every day, and God was looking for me within it, calling me into a deeper relationship with Him.

​Still, the song took on greater meaning for me as I was working through my bachelor’s degree. It is somewhat of a difficult endeavour to tackle a degree while being an anxious person, and so there would be many nights where the stress of the workload and social environment would become overwhelming very quickly. In the winter of one of my earlier years, I was in the usual quandary of having everything due very quickly, and almost nothing finished. I was feeling very alone, and unready to conquer all that I had to face academically and personally. I was ready to throw in the towel (as I’m sure every student does at least 5 times a semester).  So, as any overwhelmed person would do, I pulled on my shoes and bolted out the door.
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Solomon Ip
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Replica of Our Lady of Peace Mission (1877), Heritage Park
I remember going past the dorm buildings, down the hill, through the cafeteria, and out into the coulees in the Oldman River. It was dark out — the University of Lethbridge hadn’t installed the floodlights yet — and so the only light I could see by was the moon reflecting off of the clouds, sailing eastward on a full chinook wind. I came to the crest of the coulees and just stood there, unsure of exactly what was going on or what exactly I was hoping to accomplish by getting fresh air.  

And that’s when He came to me.

The song’s chorus goes:

“And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
 
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And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy that we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.”

It sounds cliché, and it probably is, but I can’t deny that I felt the presence of the Holy Ghost there that night, riding in on the wind, wrapping me tightly in His embrace, teaching me that I am beloved regardless of my academic abilities. To accept that God loves me as a cerebral exercise is one matter, but to experience it in the heart is another matter entirely. I think I began to understand this all more clearly that night. I felt peace in the midst of the academic storm, and joy in the midst of personal trial. Most importantly, I knew that I was His own.

I stood on the coulees for quite some time, the wind washing over me and carrying all of my anxieties out to Saskatchewan (or wherever the chinook winds go). When I finally left to return to another few hours of pounding my keyboard, I knew that regardless of how my academic work turned out, of more importance was that I would turn out, because I have a loving God who will light a lamp and sweep the house to find His lost coin.
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I would go on walks outside again throughout my degree whenever I was overwhelmed and anxious; even now, it has been a very present help in the midst of the pandemic. And still, every so often, God finds me on these walks and speaks with me in my heart, and we share that joy together that “none other has ever known”.

Written by Solomon Ip, a parishioner of St. John the Evangelist, Calgary.
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The power of witness

6/16/2020

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I have been called to Catholic education and this vocational call has blessed and enriched my life in profound ways.  As a teacher, principal and superintendent I have had varied and rich opportunities to experience the  5 Marks of Catholic Education first hand.  In particular, I have found myself surrounded by colleagues who are authentic witnesses to the Gospel.  I have worked with teachers who share their testimonies at staff retreats and liturgies. I have seen the sacrifices made by educators who are absolutely committed to going above and beyond for their students.  I have experienced the prayers and actions of my colleagues in times of crisis and tragedy.  I have seen extreme generosity and service.  I have been surrounded by Gospel witnesses.

One such example that deeply affected me took place during a school administrator’s retreat at Mount St Francis in Cochrane. As one of the four superintendents responsible for creating the retreat, I would often build a time of adoration into our two days away. A few years ago we spent an hour with Jesus in adoration and administrators were invited to come and pray. Some stayed for ten minutes; some for much longer.

As often happens to me in adoration, I lost all track of time. I heard the quiet rustle of people leaving and I knew our hour was coming to a close.  I opened my eyes and raised my head. I looked across the empty chapel and saw that only my three superintendent colleagues were still present and deep in prayer. One was on his knees in adoration.  The second was focused intently on the front monstrance. The third was in the pew alongside me; his head bowed, hands clasped, immersed in his dialogue with God. I felt the Holy Spirit at that moment and I knew that I was in worship with men of faith and colleagues of integrity. While the chapel had emptied, our leaders remained in prayer, in service, in faith. Their witness to me and the administrators they served went beyond words to lived action---a true mark of Catholic leadership.
Written by Bonnie Annicchiarico, PhD, Director of Grateful Advocate of Catholic Education (GrACE)
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Sacred Heart of Jesus

6/14/2020

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Photo: Fr. Lawrence Lew, OP. Mosaic in the chapel of the Mercy Convent in Albany, NY.
Through the visions St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, devotion to the Sacred Heart became formalized and the feast day extended to the whole Church by Pope Pius IX in 1856. This Friday, celebrate this beautiful feast at home, and receive the blessings and mercy Jesus promised St. Margaret Mary to souls who honour the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus are numerous and here are some ways we may be able to observe it this year:
  • Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
  • Enthrone your home to the Heart of Jesus (read "Easy Steps")
  • Pray the Pope's Intention for June
  • Pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
  • 8 ways to honour the Sacred Heart of Jesus in June at home (Aleteia Article)
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Stations of the Resurrection

5/6/2020

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The Stations of the Light is a spiritual journey with Christ that takes one through fourteen of the most inspiriting events of His post-Resurrection life on earth. In the early Church this practice was known as the Via Lucis, or Way of the Resurrection. It invites participants to walk along a path of transforming joy by following in the footsteps of the Risen Christ and his friends. Resources for praying Via Lucis: 
​
  • Stations of the Light from the Diocese of Manchester, featuring a video and prayer guide
  • Download booklet for Via Lucis compiled by St. Joseph's, Calgary
  • A Celebration of the Stations of Light in the Chapel at Irondale Alabama with readings and hymns (live-streamed on April 29 by EWTN).  Pray with video. 
  • Prayers and Reflections for the Stations of the Resurrection/Way of Light (CNA)
  • Praying Stations of the Light with children (Catholic Icing)
  • Make Stations Boxes for the Via Lucis with Children
  • Images for the Stations of the Light

Pray on your own pace, with a reflection video and accompanying guide. 
Download the accompanying prayer booklet (Diocese of Manchester)
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Consecration of Canada - May 1

4/23/2020

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The consecration of Canada to Our Lady will enrich our faith, allow a more abundant outpouring of God’s spiritual and temporal gifts on us, and enable us even more to fulfill our calling and mission. Ultimately, consecration to Mary, which springs from a more fervent, more committed, and more sustained life of prayer and devotion in which the Blessed Mother plays a unique and loving role, points and leads to a renewed spirit and understanding of family, Church, and the need for societal engagement. ​To find more catechesis on Marian Consecration and why we consecrate Canada to Our Lady, please read the document "Consecrating Canada to the Blessed Virgin Mary: Insights for Adult Catechesis."

Join us in prayer: Bishop McGrattan will consecrate the Diocese of Calgary to Mary, Mother of the Church, on Friday, May 1, seeking her maternal protection during the Coronavirus pandemic. To assist dioceses with the consecration, the CCCB will provide a prayer for use during the solemn act of entrustment. It can likewise be incorporated into family or individual prayer at home and used by other groups and faith communities. 
  • Download Prayer in English | French

Bishop McGrattan will celebrating the following liturgies on Friday, May 1, 2020:
  • 8:30 AM - Mass for the Feast of St. Joseph, the Worker (St. Peter's Catholic Church)
  • 11 AM - Consecration of the Diocese of Calgary to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, in time of pandemic (St. Mary's Cathedral). Livestream will be available at www.calgarydiocese.ca | Facebook 
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