Following his ordination, he completed a graduate degree in philosophy at the University of Ottawa, followed by an education degree at the University of Alberta. He taught science and religion at St. Anthony’s College and Archbishop O’Leary High School in Edmonton for seven years. In 1972, Friar Kevin spent a sabbatical year at Corpus Christi College in London, England, where he completed a diploma in Religious Education. It was during this year that he met his father’s large Irish family for the first time. A deep bond formed, and there were numerous visits with his Irish family over the years. Upon his return, Friar Kevin was appointed Director of Religious Education for Edmonton Catholic Schools (1973-1995) and served as Provincial Minister to the Franciscans of Western Canada (1982-1992). He served as the Guardian in three friaries over the years. Upon his retirement from Edmonton Catholic Schools, Friar Kevin returned to studies and graduated with a Master of Theology from Regis College in Toronto through their “Integration for Ministry” program. Friar Kevin’s latter years were spent in retreat ministry at St. Michael’s Retreat Centre (Lumsden, SK), from 1996-2007, where he founded and chaired an interchurch board composed of the Anglicans, Evangelical Lutherans and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Regina, which operated the Centre. From 2007 he served at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre (Cochrane, AB) in various capacities, including Director of the Centre (2007-2015). In a second retirement, he continued to work with the addiction program and remained active with spiritual direction. Friar Kevin touched many people along his journey. He enriched the lives of his family and friends, presiding over many baptisms, weddings and funerals. He was humble, kind, charismatic, approachable, wise and had a special way of bringing people together. He had a gift of making everyone around him, no matter their age or beliefs, feel welcomed and loved, embodying the Franciscan mission in his daily life. Friar Kevin died peacefully, with family at his side, in the Foothills Hospital during the early hours of December 19th. He was 87 years of age. He was predeceased by his parents and his two brothers, Tom (Annette Laplante) and Michael (Betty Lou O’Rourke). He leaves to mourn his Franciscan brothers, his nieces and nephews – Kevin, Bryan, Larry and Erin Lynch, Nicole Mackenzie and Dawn Marie Crouse and their families, cousins in Saskatchewan, many Irish relatives and treasured friends. Visitation and Prayer Service will take place at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre chapel (41160 Retreat Road, Cochrane, AB), on Sunday, December 28th, at 7:00 pm. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Monday December 29th at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church (10 River Heights Drive), in Cochrane, AB, followed by a lunch. Interment will follow after lunch at the Franciscan cemetery at the retreat centre. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre, Box 430, Cochrane, AB, T4C-1A6, in memory of Friar Kevin. The funeral will be live-streamed Adapted from Mount St. Francis's blog
0 Comments
Yesterday, today, and forever… The goodness of the Lord never ceases to amaze me as His love and mercy work very powerfully in my ministry as His priest: unworthy yet chosen by the Lord; unworthy but graced by a new life in Christ in the priestly service; unworthy, however, called to serve our community. My vocation began in our family. My father was a civil engineer, Elias Canete, who died when I was 5 years old, and my mother, Fidela Canete, was a registered nurse. I am the third of four siblings. My mother died in March 2021 during the peak of COVID when I moved to St. James, Calgary, from Taber. My parents were deeply involved in their communities and the people they worked with. I saw love and passion in their hearts, finding meaning and purpose in their noble service and humble works. Attending regular Sunday Masses in the Church, praying the rosary, and helping parishioners in need became the family’s regular routine and tasks. So, when I took the exam and passed the entrance exam to St. Anthony High School Seminary, my Mom was so happy. I was 12 years old when I started my seminary years. It was through my mother’s encouragement, daily prayers, and support that helped me sustain my vocation. Moreover, with my grandmother’s constant guidance and influence through prayers and love for the Sacraments, I pursued my vocation. With the grace of God and the support of friends, close families, and prayer warriors, I did finish my studies. However, it is through the maternal intercession of Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, that my love for the priesthood has been sustained. Now, I look back with gratitude to the three great women who influenced and continue to impact my priestly vows and commitment: my mother, grandmother, and Mary, my spiritual mother. In the church of St. Mary’s, Brooks, we have a beautiful icon of Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, holding the hand of her Son, Jesus. The serenity of Mary’s face reflects not only maternal love but a depth of peace in the midst of knowing. Mary holds both joy and sorrow in her arms just as Jesus invites His disciples, and me, to do. 25 years of service… I see and live the best and worst of my life. I encounter the highs and lows of my journey. I walk with people who were wounded but healed. In a day of my life as a priest, I celebrate the joy of baptism and later on administer the anointing of the sick and pray for the dying. At the end of the day, I find comfort and consolation in the words of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, “Everything is grace in the eyes of our God,” with family, friends, and fellowship nourishing the gift of my service in the Lord. I would like to share with you a beautiful letter I received in our priests’ retreat this year 2025 from the Triumph Retreat Team. It begins saying: Dear Fr. Eli, I love you. I have called you by name. You are mine. Before I formed you, I knew you. And before you were born, I consecrated you. You did not choose me. I chose you. (John 15:6) Because you are precious in my eyes, I love you. I have loved you with an everlasting love so I continue to show you my constant love. How can I abandon you when my love for you is so strong? (Jeremiah 31:3) Written by Fr. Eli Canete
Each parish ministry has shaped me both as a priest and a person. Everywhere I have served, people have welcomed me with love, and I have always tried to give my very best, whether as an associate pastor or as a pastor. Some unforgettable memories include the 100th Anniversary of St. Rita’s parish in Rockyford, where we built outdoor Stations of the Cross and welcomed Bishop McGrattan to celebrate the anniversary Mass. Another memorable moment was walking from Rockyford to Calgary over two days to raise funds for the One Rock Youth Festival. My favourite scripture passage comes from the beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Matthew 5:3-12). These words have guided my spiritual life and pastoral ministry from the beginning. I thank God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for calling me to the Priesthood. Through the years, I have come to understand His love more deeply and have found great joy in serving His people. I also thank my family, who were my first seminary. My parents and siblings practice their faith with devotion and simplicity. Their example and prayers helped me to listen to God’s call and follow it faithfully. The priesthood is a precious gift, both to us who are called and to the entire Church. Without the priesthood, we would not have the Eucharist, the sacrament of Reconciliation, or the blessings that accompany life’s most important moments. A priest walks with people from birth to death, often quietly and without recognition, but always as a servant of Christ. I am humbled to share in the mission of Jesus, the Eternal High Priest. Finally, I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the people of God whom I have met in my ministry. Every parishioner, every family, and every community has touched my life in a meaningful way. As St. Paul beautifully says, “I give thanks to my God every time I remember you. I always pray with joy for all of you.” I thank God, my family, my brother priests, and all the faithful for their support over these 25 years of priesthood. Please continue to pray for me, as I will continue to pray for all of you. Written by Fr. Joseph Showry Raju Nagothu
Written by Fr. Lawrence Manolache.
Life is about rules, exactly like traffic rules. We can get from one point to another in life, without suffering collisions or accidents and arrive somewhere if we respect those rules. Life conditions are like traffic conditions, combined with weather conditions.
We sometimes get upset that our progress in life is very slow or even stagnant. That happens mostly when all participants in life want to make the same progress at the same time on the same street of life and some of the participants resort to selfish methods and obstruct the flow, the progress of others. That was Communism for me. We are indignant until we reach the point where we see the cause of the congestion that those several individuals entered in collisions, because of their unfair way of getting advantages in life, because they wanted that progress of life in a much faster, exclusive way and they ended up creating some congestion of social progress. Other times, we are the ones who neglect the maintenance of “this car”, this life of ours, and eventually get broken, stagnant, without fuel, without energy. When we find ourselves on the edge of the life road, someone will eventually stop and give us some help, but the wilderness very rarely has such opportunities, so I have learned to stick with the road and not go wild in life. So, I understood that life has its rhythm, and if we want to play in the great orchestra of life, we must catch onto that rhythm and respect that. From a very young age I understood that sound is communication, creator of beauty, expression of life, LOGOS. Thus, enchanted, fascinated by the beauty of sound, full of curiosity where the sound’s coming from, I began my analytical, almost philosophical studies, without much academic help, but in a very natural, organic way, with the props and examination of the sound-giving instruments created by God, through which my heart captured the sound waves of creation that resonate and vibrate in the soul of each of us mostly when we are synchronized, attuned and in harmony with God’s will. In the sounds made by the waves of the sea, as growing up in Constanța, a seashore city of Romania, by listening to the falling dried leaves in autumn, through the singing birds, in everything that moves, there is a sound of creation, that I could recognize and attribute to God's will. Acceptance of this creative message of nature and harmonizing my life to that, gave me the sense of immense peace that at the age of nine I already felt urged to share with everyone, to make others aware of that beauty. That was the point of understanding my calling. I understood that the Great Symphony of the entire Universe, whose composer is God Himself, is sung by everything that is set in motion. We are all participants in this great symphony as musicians, and particularly, we human beings are gifted to learn and understand, to read, so we are all called to respect the musical charts, to play by its rules and to be very attentive to the Conductor of this Great Universal Orchestra, who is the Holy Spirit. I am now training and working hard to be selected to play and sing in the Heaven’s Choir, where the traffic conditions are perfect and smooth, for everyone in Heaven is on auto-pilot mode, driven by God’s nature.That is the PERFECT LOVE.
So, in 1963, at just 13 years old, I left for Saigon to enter the Dominican Minor Seminary. At first, I cried almost every day because I missed my parents, siblings, and friends. But young hearts adjust quickly. Soon, I embraced the new life of prayer, study, discipline, and community with over 300 students living and learning together. I graduated from high school in 1972 and entered the novitiate in Vũng Tàu. In 1973, I made my first vows and continued my philosophy and theology studies in Thủ Đức. But in 1975, when the communists took over the South, everything changed. Religious houses were closed, properties were confiscated, and we had to continue our formation in secret, at great risk. Those were years of uncertainty. Many Dominican brothers left; some who tried to escape Vietnam by sea or land made it, while others died trying. In 1980, I, too, left by boat and ended up in the refugee camp in Palawan, the Philippines. Two years later, I was sponsored by the Dominican Vicariate Abroad and resettled in Calgary, Canada. Those first years were tough, studying English, working to support myself, and adjusting to an entirely new culture. But God was with me. In 1984, Bishop Paul O’Byrne ordained me a deacon, and on July 28, 1985, I was ordained a priest by the same bishop at St. Vincent Liem Church in Calgary. That was one of the happiest days of my life, the fulfillment of my dream. Later, my superior sent me to Rome to study at the Angelicum. I graduated in 1991 and returned to Canada, where I served in vocations and communications. Then, in 1997, I returned to Vietnam to teach at various institutes for seminarians and religious sisters in Saigon. Over the years, God continued to call me to different places of service outside of the Diocese of Calgary:
Fr. Peter Huong Pham, OP is currently on sabbatical leave until 2026.
Interview and transcription by Sr. Dianne Turner, OSE.
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. As shared by Fr. Raymond Lowing, and transcribed by Sr. Dianne Turner.
As the years went on, he was sent as associate pastor at St. Michael’s parish in Pincher Creek, then St. Anthony’s parish in Drumheller. His first appointment as pastor was at St. Peter’s parish in Milk River, where he stayed for several years. After this, he was sent to serve as pastor at St. Augustine’s parish in Taber, and then at St. Rita’s parish in Rockyford, where he oversaw the construction of a new rectory. Then new responsibilities were on the horizon. Fr. John was sent to study Canon Law at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa. From there he received his licentiate in Canon Law in 1989. This degree prepared him for the next assignment that the Lord had in store for him. Bishop Paul O’Byrne appointed the newly-trained canon lawyer, Fr. John, as Moderator of the Diocesan Curia. In this role, he oversaw various aspects of the Diocese as assigned to him by the Bishop. The Bishop also appointed him as Vicar General, which assigned him the task of overseeing all Diocesan matters under the direction of the Bishop. He held this office throughout the time of Bishop O’Byrne and Bishop Henry. Fr. John retired as the Moderator of the Curia in 2018. Since retirement, Fr. John has been involved in the administration of the clergy pension plan. He also took part in a committee composed of clergy and laypeople to establish Dorchester Square as a residence for clergy, some of whom are retired. At present, he is still living in Dorchester Square and is helping to manage the administration of this residence. Over the years, Fr. John enjoyed travelling and was fortunate to be on several cruises, particularly in Europe. On one of those trips, he visited an area in Ukraine near Odessa, the place from which his immediate ancestors came to Canada. His grandfather was the first in the family to come from Odessa to Canada when the Soviet revolution endangered the people of German background. This experience of connecting with his roots was of great worth to Fr. John. As Fr. John celebrates his 60th anniversary of ordination, we give thanks for his many years of faithful service and quiet leadership, a priest who has devoted his life to God and His Church. May God bless you, Fr. John, with continued strength, peace, and joy in your priesthood. Happy anniversary!
 Seeking the quietness in the day, in the midst of your usual routines, The Seven Sisters Apostolate is a Eucharistic Association of women who feel called to strengthen the church by ensuring that a Holy Hour is prayed each day of the week throughout the year for the sole intentions of a specific priest in their Parish. The Anchoress of our Apostolate is charged with assigning each sister one Holy Hour to pray alone before the Blessed Sacrament for a pastor chosen for us. Although we pray alone, we gather once a year, close to the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to celebrate with our pastors and sisters and to renew our commitment to the Apostolate. On June 28 this year, the Apostolate at St. Luke’s Parish held our third annual Potluck Lunch at the church. Our Pastors, Fr. Fernando Genogaling, Fr. Derek Remus, and Fr. Barnabas Esegine, joined us and offered thanks for our prayers for their intentions. We were grateful for the opportunity to “break bread” together, and judging by the volume of chatter in the room, it was clear that our pastors and all of the sisters of the Apostolate enjoyed each other’s company. To date, the Seven Sisters Apostolate at St. Luke’s Parish has 42 sisters who pray every week for the priests who shepherd us and for Bishop Rev. William McGrattan. Although our commitment to pray for our pastors is for one year, the members of the apostolate may choose to recommit for a further year, as many of our sisters have done.
History of the Seven Sisters Apostolate This Apostolate was started in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 2011 by Jeanette Howe and Fr. Joseph Johnson. Through their prayers and advocacy, the Apostolate has grown from a group of seven women to over 2600 groups on six continents, in 50 States in the USA, and in almost all of the Provinces of Canada. If your Parish is interested in this ministry and would like more information about the Seven Sisters Apostolate, please visit sevensistersapostolate.org We thank our anchoress, who belongs to the Seat of Wisdom presidium of the Legion of Mary, and as part of her Spiritual Works of Mercy, is committed to starting this Apostolate at our Parish. We are grateful for her leadership and the opportunity to be part of a powerful prayer group whose commitment to prayer for the pastors of our Parish has enriched our own lives. Written by D. Gibson, member of St. Luke’s Parish in Calgary.
Photos courtesy of Victor Panlilio, and The Sisters of the Apostolate who pray for the Parish priests and our Bishop.
It began with a request in Grade 9 to serve at Bishop Francis Carroll’s weekday Masses. Three of the altar servers in St. Joseph’s Parish, Calgary, took weekly turns, serving the Mass and having breakfast with Bishop Carroll before going off to school. Around my 11th Grade, Bishop Carroll, and my pastor, Monsignor Neville Anderson, initiated the plot to have me consider the priesthood. That I couldn’t imagine. Yet upon graduating from St. Mary’s High School, Bishop Carroll registered me in St. Joseph’s Seminary in Edmonton. He counselled me not immediately to buy a black suit but to cooperate with the seminary staff in the discernment of a vocation. Five years later, on a stairway landing, the seminary rector, Monsignor Howard Griffin, asked me if this (Ordination through Subdiaconate, Diaconate and Priesthood) was right for me. I had come to a realization that the practice of Faith had enriched my life, and if I could facilitate such enrichment, refuge and identity for others, I should answer yes. And I did. Upon ordination in 1965, too young to be entrusted with parish responsibilities, I was asked to serve as a chaplain at Camp Cadicasu for the summer. It turned out to be some 18 years of fun and adventure, attempting to open eyes to the world and the people around them. In the fall of 1965, at the ripe age of 23 and a half, I was assigned to St. Michael’s Parish in Calgary. The following years were spent at St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Augustine’s, Taber; St. Francis High School, Calgary; St. John’s, Calgary; St. Basil’s, Lethbridge; St. Michael’s, Pincher Creek; and retirement from parish responsibilities in the summer of 2010. In 2011 until 2021, I served a chaplaincy in the Calgary Catholic School District. Gary Strothers, the superintendent at the time, asked Bishop Henry if he could ask me to help out. Bishop Henry told me as he was leaving the dining room table one evening: “Strothers asked me if he could approach you. I told him, you could do worse.” So, with that resounding endorsement, I served again in a rich, engaging environment. From it, I resigned when they took Bishop Vital Grandin’s name from the second-oldest Catholic high school in the City of Calgary. It has been a climb, rich in memories and in supportive and challenging relationships with families of origin and families of choice. I am deeply grateful to my Mom and Dad, my sister and brother and all who have engaged in the struggle with me. The Church and beyond have provided enabling encouragement and support. For all those who read this, I hope an abiding experience of gratitude for their outstanding goodness. Written by Fr. Eric Nelson for Faithfully.
With my father bedridden, there was no breadwinner in the home where there were still two younger children. I decided that I would come home and become the breadwinner of the family. I became a teacher with a focus on special education and worked with disadvantaged students. The Government of Ontario heard about me and hired me to train teachers to go into the hospitals to work with the patients. I worked for 20 years as a teacher and a specialist. Then my pastor spoke to me about my Religious vocation. He advised me not to return to the Resurrectionists because, as he said, they had already moved on. He gave me the contact number for a community in the western part of Canada. It was the Franciscan Friars. I wrote to the Provincial who was living in Regina, Saskatchewan. I expected an answer in a reasonable length of time, but I received no answer until seven months later. The letter read: “Dear Mr. Mitchell, I have to start this letter with an apology. My secretary put your letter under the blotter on my desk and you can see how often I clean my desk. We would be glad to have you come.”  Photo credit: Adam Thom So, on the second of June, 1970, I came to Lumsden, Saskatchewan, where the postulancy and novitiate were located. I was 39 years old. It was unusual at that time for someone to enter at that age because 35 was the cut off age, but they took the “old boy” anyways because I was already a teacher. They gave me an opportunity to see if I would fit in and I have been here ever since. I have served as a Franciscan Friar in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Regina, mostly in either pastoral work in the parish or preaching retreats and giving spiritual direction. I am still doing spiritual direction. My preaching took me all over the world: New Zealand, United States, England, across Europe, the West Indies. Here in Canada, it was my work for about 22 years to preach retreats to many Religious communities every summer, both men’s and women’s communities of various spiritual families: Benedictines, Carmelites, and Franciscans. I also preached for a laywomen’s fraternity, the Kingship of Christ, and was the spiritual director for lay Carmelites. I believe that the foundational success of my priesthood’s ministry is due to the lay people. I was never anywhere that I was not supported by the lay men and women who listened and responded. I made a point of wanting to hear what their hearts wanted to say. I continue to hear from these people even decades later. It matters so much for people to be heard. My advice to people who ask “Father, how do I become close to Jesus?” is to spend time with Him in adoration or in the tabernacle. During our Friars’ retreat recently, we had two hours of adoration each evening and I was there. I also recommend my favourite prayer, the Peace Prayer of St. Francis, which is such a beautiful, heartfelt prayer! My advice to young people about their vocation is: Pray, pray, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. I carry the young people in my heart. Based on an interview with Fr. Bob Mitchell, compiled by Sr. Dianne Turner, OSE.
 With great thanksgiving to God, over one hundred priests of the Diocese of Calgary gathered with the Bishop for the annual Priest Study Days held in Canmore (Oct 6-9, 2026). This year’s theme focused on the art of preaching and the celebration of the Holy Mass. These days provide an important opportunity for priests to learn together, to share and reflect on their experiences of ministry, to deepen their understanding of the Church’s teaching, and to enjoy moments of fraternity and rest. Through this time of Renewal, they return to their ministry strengthened in unity and faith as the Church. Priests are human beings called to participate in the work of grace, please continue to remember them in prayer.
Photos courtesy of Fr. Iqbal Kurshid.
I served as an associate pastor for nearly 12 years in various parishes within the Diocese of Masbate, Philippines, and also worked as the Diocesan Youth Director for two years. I then became a pastor for 11 years in three different parishes before deciding to take a sabbatical leave from our diocese. Eventually, I applied to serve here in the Diocese of Calgary. My fourth year in seminary was challenging. It was a difficult period that made me reflect deeply on my intentions and commitment to my vocation. By God’s grace, I was able to continue, finish my formation, and eventually be ordained. After more than a year of waiting, I was ordained a deacon, and seven months later, on December 12, 2000, I was ordained a priest in my home parish, Holy Infant Jesus Parish, San Fernando, Masbate, Philippines. I had some challenging times as an associate, especially in learning how to work well with my pastors. During those moments, I kept praying for them and for myself, and with God’s grace, I persevered. Through those experiences, I learned valuable lessons about understanding, patience, and compassion. I love the Prayer of St. Francis; it is one of my favourites, along with Psalm 23. I also have a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother and pray the Rosary every day. I make it a habit to pray daily for the poor souls in purgatory, especially during my Rosary and at Mass. There is one thing I always tell people who ask how they can grow closer to Jesus, discern a vocation, or become a priest: keep on praying. There is no better way than to ask God to guide and enlighten us in everything we do and in every decision we make. I also encourage them to seek the intercession of the Blessed Mother and to pray for the souls in purgatory, because when they reach heaven, they intercede for us like the saints do. Written by Fr. Paolo Cervantes.
Name one blessing in your life as a priest. One of my favourite parts of being a priest is being able to share life alongside my parishioners, to be included in moments: sacred moments, happy moments, tragic moments, all the moments life brings as a spiritual father with his people. The blessing of being invited into the lives of the families in my parish brings me joy. People call priests “Father” on purpose, and over time, I have developed a sense of being a spiritual father to my parishioners. This is a true gift that has helped me in my vocation. What encouragement could you offer to young men who may consider the vocation to the priesthood? To offer your life to Christ is a beautiful thing. Keep an open heart and mind to the possibility that God may be calling you to the priesthood. Let God lead you in unexpected ways and to unexpected places. See in the priesthood a life offered to God through sharing Christ with the world. Even if the world does not understand the vocation of a priest, the People of God understand. No matter where you end up in your life, you are called to be of loving service to others and to have a holy purpose in life. You have a place in the church. Continue to pray to discover the place God has in store for you. Thank you, Fr. Matthew, for answering the call of our Lord to be His priest and for all the years of faithful service you have already offered in this Diocese. God bless you. Photos courtesy of Fr. Matthew Emmelkamp.
 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
A Joyful Invitation: Ordination Mass of Rev. Mr. Peter An to the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ5/3/2025
 Answering the call to participate in the Year of Prayer leading up to the Jubilee of Hope, over 100 people came to pray before the Lord in His Blessed Sacrament and asking Him to provide more vocations for our Diocese for the Religious and Consecrated life. This 24-Hour Adoration for Vocations held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Polish Church from November 12th to 13th was a blessed time of silent personal and communal prayer. It was sponsored by the Assembly of Women Religious, the Religious Renewal Team involved in the Diocesan renewal process, and the Office of Vocations. Thank you so much to those who took part in this wonderful time of prayer. The Society of Christ priests graciously opened their parish church and offered morning Mass in English to begin and to end the 24-hour devotion as well as the regular Polish evening Mass. The church and Blessed Sacrament were so beautifully set up, making the environment most conducive for prayer. Representatives from most of the men’s and women’s Religious and Consecrated Life communities were alongside faithful members of the parish, deacons, seminarians, and other faithful adults who came to pray throughout the day and night. Religious from the Franciscans, Carmelites, Salvatorians, Legionaries, Pallottines, Providence, Daughters of Mary, and Faithful Companions of Jesus communities came from far away to participate 
Notably, a candidate for Consecrated Virginity with the Diocese, a Franciscan Sister, and the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception were present for much of the time. The Dominican Sisters and Polish priests beautifully sang the Liturgy of the Hours in the early morning. The Seeds of the Word community along with some dedicated others covered the night hours from midnight on. The Precious Blood Sisters, being a cloistered community, joined instead from their monastery chapel. It was truly an opportunity to rest spiritually in the Lord and to join with others in asking Him for more vocations. Prayer for vocations involves all of the faithful. As Pope Francis said, “I invite you to listen to and follow Jesus, and to allow yourselves to be transformed interiorly by His words, which ‘are spirit and life’ (Jn 6:62). Mary, the Mother of Jesus and ours, also says to us: ‘Do whatever He tells you’ (Jn 2:5). It will help you to participate in a communal journey that is able to release the best energies in you and around you. A vocation is a fruit that ripens in a well cultivated field of mutual love that becomes mutual service, in the context of an authentic ecclesial life. No vocation is born of itself or lives for itself. A vocation flows from the heart of God and blossoms in the good soil of faithful people, in the experience of fraternal love. Did not Jesus say: ‘By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another’ (Jn 13:35)? Let us dispose our hearts therefore to being ‘good soil’, by listening, receiving and living out the word, and thus bearing fruit. The more we unite ourselves to Jesus through prayer, Sacred Scripture, the Eucharist, the Sacraments celebrated and lived in the Church and in fraternity, the more there will grow in us the joy of cooperating with God in the service of the Kingdom of mercy and truth, of justice and peace. And the harvest will be plentiful, proportionate to the grace we have meekly welcomed into our lives.” (Source: news.va, From the Vatican, 15 January 2014)
Written by Sr. Dianne Turner, OSE, Assistant Vocations Director, Diocese of Calgary. Photos courtesy of Sr. Dianne.
 Last month, we gathered to celebrate the 90th birthday of Fr. Ray Lowing, a beloved priest whose life has been one of profound service and dedication to God and the people of our diocese. Since his ordination in 1959, he’s worn many hats in our diocese – from directing the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine to serving as Chancellor, Judicial Vicar, and pastor of several parishes. His heart for ministry and commitment to the Church have touched so many lives over the years. The birthday celebration on Tuesday, October 29 at the Pastoral Centre was filled with joy and gratitude. Bishop McGrattan and the staff at the Catholic Pastoral Centre joined in honouring Fr. Ray, who has given, and keeps giving, so much of himself to the Church. The appreciation from his friends and colleagues was a beautiful reflection of the impact he’s made. Even though he’s officially retired, Fr. Ray continues to live out his vocation daily. He celebrates Mass at the Pastoral Centre, where his quiet strength and deep faith are a blessing to everyone. In addition to this, he contributes his expertise to the Clergy Pension Plan, helping to ensure the well-being of his fellow priests in retirement. He also continues to serve the Ecclesiastical Tribunal as an advocate and judge.
 Fr. Ray has been a gift from God to our diocese, embodying the virtues of humility, wisdom, and compassion in his ministry. For all of us, he is a constant source of inspiration, demonstrating that faith in action can touch countless lives. His example calls us to deepen our own commitment to God and to serve others with the same joy and dedication.
St. Augustine’s Parish in Taber was honoured to share with parishioners and guests a special evening recognising the many accomplishments, lasting friendships, and cherished memories that Father Tim Boyle has created over the past 50 years. A bit of history explains why this celebration was held at, and is so special to, St. Augustine’s Parish. In 1973, a young Tim Boyle arrived in Taber as a transitional deacon, serving the parish until his ordination to the priesthood a year later. On October 12, 1974, Bishop Paul O’Byrne came to St. Augustine’s and celebrated a Mass of ordination to the priesthood for Fr. Tim. Fr. Tim continued to serve in Taber for a further 3 1/2 years as an associate pastor under the guidance of the Pastor, Fr. Donald O’Dwyer. Fr. Tim, originally a young man from Camrose, AB via Calgary, began a blessed priestly ministry in the Church that has spanned 50 years. Throughout these years, he has continued to serve the Diocese of Calgary in various parishes. Now, having retired from active parish ministry, he serves as the Bishop’s Vicar for Clergy. The Celebration Our evening on Saturday, Sep. 28, 2024 began with Fr. Tim celebrating Mass, accompanied by Fr. Philip Le and Deacon Brian Kinahan. The music was a collaboration from our three music ministry groups, featuring songs from both past and present. During Mass, Fr. Tim shared stories of the parishes where the sacred vessels, presented to him by his family at his ordination, had travelled over the past 50 years. 
All present were truly blessed. Once you are ordained, you are a priest forever! We were so pleased to be able to celebrate this lifelong priestly ministry right here in Taber where it all began. May God continue to guide Father Tim and fill him with His grace as he continues the work of harvesting souls for Him.
 A note from writer and compiler, Solomon Ip: Once again, we arrive at the yearly celebration of our jubilarian priests. What this jubilee class lacks in terms of quantity, it most definitely makes up for in quality. This year, we have four well-respected pastors, among whom we find two Vicars General of our diocese, the current Bishop's Delegate for Sexual Misconduct, a former refugee, the founding pastors of parishes, and priests who pastored their congregations as they built new churches. This year, I am also extremely excited to be able to collaborate with one of my seminarian brothers on these jubilarian interviews. Jeffrell Painaga is a perfect candidate to write about Fr. Jack Pereira, and I am so grateful finally to share this experience with one of my brothers. It is through the witness of many great pastors that young men are inspired to follow in their footsteps. Fathers, please think of these articles that the two of us wrote as our gratitude and our admiration; we can only hope to follow Christ so boldly, should we one day share in Christ’s priesthood. Brothers and sisters, please join us in prayer for an increase in vocations. ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’ ~Matthew 9:37
Written by Jeffrell Painaga for Faithfully.
Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully.
|
Author
Catholic Pastoral Centre Staff and Guest Writers Archives
January 2026
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed