Written by Louis Meléndez​ for Faithfully. Louis is a Case Instructor for the Ecclesiastical Tribunal of the Diocese of Calgary. He and his wife Cathleen are members of the Spanish Community at Holy Spirit Parish in Calgary, where he serves in the music ministry as a choir director. He is currently studying Canon Law at St. Paul University in Ottawa. His hobbies include translating works from the early Church Fathers into Spanish, playing the piano, and learning languages | Photos: Office of Communications

After Mass, a potluck supper was held in his honour, with an abundance of food to share. A spectacular cake was made by one of our parishioners, Brenda. The program began with Fr. Tim sharing a bit about his time in Taber—from helping farmers in the fields to driving beet trucks, and most importantly, building lasting friendships. His favourite story was about entering a float in the Taber parade with friends, celebrating their “accomplishment” of placing second in the T.L.D.M.A. Branch 451 competition. It was a hilarious spoof, with people cheering from the sidelines and wondering about the mysterious competition. The joke, of course, was on them, as T.L.D.M.A. simply stood for “These Letters Don’t Mean Anything.”

He shared a few stories about the Camp Columbus trips and the special van in which he drove the youth group around. Then, Mrs. Jolane Sekura, a parishioner from his time in Taber, spoke about her memories of Fr. Tim’s time there and presented him with a framed Papal blessing commemorating his 50 years of ordained ministry. To conclude the evening, there was an open mic, where parishioners shared more stories from his time in Taber, leaving all blessed with joyful memories.

Written by Linda Kinahan. Linda has been a lifelong parishioner in the Taber area, first at Assumption Parish, Grassy Lake which was a missionary parish of St. Augustine’s, Taber. She currently sits on the Liturgy Committee at St. Augustine’s and is responsible for Sacred Art. She is married to Deacon Brian Kinahan. 

​Photos courtesy of St. Augustine's Parish, Taber. 

​Fr. Timothy Boyle: God walks with me 
​The life of a priest is in many ways one of being “alter Christus” — of being another Christ. Fr. Tim Boyle reflects on 50 years of sharing in the Incarnation of Christ, the Word made Flesh, and in incarnating Christ here in prairies of Southern Alberta.

​Fr. Joseph Canh Vu: Steadfastness 
A vocation to priesthood or to religious life is not an easy undertaking, and Fr. Joseph Canh Vu’s has faced many serious obstacles on his way to both as a refugee from Vietnam settling in a foreign land where he has now spent his entire ministry of 40 years. However, it is his steadfastness to the Dominican vocation that has kept him going, despite all of the challenges.

​Fr. Kevin Tumback: Here I am, Lord
In his own unique style, Fr. Kevin Tumback shares his vocational journey, from small-town Saskatchewan to the hotels of Banff, to the floor of the cathedral and beyond. He tells us of the trials and the consolations, and the anecdotal touchstones along the way.

I was about 11 years old when Fr. Jack Pereira arrived at St. Anthony’s Parish, Calgary, in August 2012. He asked me this question during my confirmation retreat, "Are you ready to serve?" as part of an interview to gauge my readiness to receive the sacrament. More than a decade has passed since then, but these words have remained with me as I reflect upon the gift that his 50 years of priesthood have been for the Church and for our diocese. Indeed, it was a question he himself answered by his own willingness to serve the flock entrusted to him by the Lord. 

As an altar server, I had the privilege of assisting Fr. Jack at the altar all throughout his seven years at St. Anthony’s. His love for the Holy Mass was contagious, something I experienced particularly through his attention to detail. He never hesitated to mercifully correct any mistakes we made at the altar, and ensured that our comportment in the sanctuary was reverent and disciplined. In practices for solemn liturgical celebrations, such as Christmas and the Sacred Triduum, Fr. Jack would train us by reading directly from the Roman Missal’s rubrics. In addition to teaching us the actions of the liturgy, he also explained their theological significance – something which excited in me a deep love for the ceremonial of the Mass. 

Fr. Jack’s keen pastoral sense also allowed him to tend to the spiritual needs of his flock. At St. Anthony’s, he oversaw the painting of our stained glass windows, allowing us to pray with the images of the apostles and saints which now illuminate them. Further, the Marian Prayer Garden and the St. Anthony grotto on the parish grounds, both constructed under his direction, are reminders of his desire to invigorate the devotional life of the parish. Our patronal feast day was always celebrated with great joy and solemnity, culminating in a procession to St. Anthony’s grotto. There, Fr. Jack would collect prayer intentions to St. Anthony and offer them to God with burning incense.

Despite being very busy with parish work in addition to his responsibilities as Vicar General of the Diocese, Fr. Jack remained available to his people. He provided opportunities for bringing our parish community together apart from Sunday worship. In particular, I remember the annual “Taste of Cultures” Pentecost festival, an idea realized by Fr. Jack, which showcased the diverse cultures of our parish through food, dance, and song. After every weekend Mass, Fr. Jack was present to greet parishioners and join them in the parish hall for coffee and muffins. His lightheartedness and love of humour was also given a special place in the weekly bulletin: “Fr. Jack’s Chuckle.” 

I recall with great fondness one afternoon I spent with Fr. Jack, participating in a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil. We were praying the rosary and were met with much opposition from people driving by. One car stopped in front of us and the driver rolled down their window, hurled an insult, and drove away. Fr. Jack simply smiled at me and said, “Let’s keep praying.” His example of patience and composure in that moment continues to inspire me. 

Fr. Joaquim Pereira

• Ordained: April 27th, 1974, Goa, India
• Associate Pastor:  St. Peter’s, Calgary (1988-1989)
• Associate Pastor:  St. Gerard’s, Calgary (1990)
• Pastor:  St. George’s, Hanna (1990-1994)
• Pastor:  Holy Trinity, Crowsnest Pass (1994-2003)
• Pastor:  Holy Spirit, Calgary (2003-2012)
• Pastor:  St. Anthony’s, Calgary (2012-2019)
• Retired: 2019

I was ordained in 1974 and served in parishes mostly in Southern Alberta. A notion of service nurtured my calling to the priesthood. I had an uncle who served as a missionary priest for many years. As well, my father and my five siblings pulled together to care for our mother.

​Volunteering at the old Calgary Children’s Hospital gave me additional frontline experience with service. Those were pretty formative experiences. And then I discovered that words have power, and I learned I had some ability to take ideas and give them expression in a way that helped people. The experiences that followed taught me that creation and notably human beings have the divine inscribed in them. God has taken flesh and continues to take flesh in our world.

I have discovered that truth again and again first in my family, in their love and laughter and care for each other. Then, in the good friends I have been blessed to discover along the way. I have slowly come to see that God has always been walking with me on the Emmaus Road, only it wasn’t to Emmaus, but to little places like Cranford, Wrentham, Cowley, Champion, and more recently Gameti, NWT.  

My uncle cautioned me: ‘Tim, never break another persons rice bowl.” Jesus had to tell Peter three times:  feed MY sheep. They are his sheep, not mine, and just like me they have their own weaknesses and often find their own way to divine nourishment. I have often forgotten that truth. I am grateful for all those with whom I have travelled the Emmaus Road. Your friendship and support have made the journey not just memorable but delightful…and always a joy. 

​Gerard Manley Hopkins put this discovery well in his poem: “As Kingfishers Catch Fire”:  “Christ plays in ten thousand places, Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his. To the Father through the features of [their] faces.”

Written by Fr. Tim Boyle for Faithfully. 

Read more:

• Celebrating Fr. Tim's 50th Anniversary
• Fr. Tim's Holy Week in Gameti, NWT

Fr. Timothy Boyle

• Ordained:  October 12th, 1974, St. Augustine’s, Taber
• Assistant:  St. Augustine’s, Taber (1974-1978)
• On Staff:  Sacred Heart, Calgary (1979-1981)
• Co-Chaplain:  Bishop Carroll High School, Calgary (1979-1981)
• Pastor:  St. Catherine’s, Picture Butte (1981-1986)
• Pastor:  St. Michael’s, Pincher Creek; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Waterton Lakes (1986-1993)
• Pastor:  Holy Spirit, Calgary (1993-2000)
• Pastor:  St. Patrick’s & Our Lady of the Assumption, Lethbridge (2001-2006)
• Pastor:  St. Basil’s, Lethbridge (2005-2006)
• Pastor:  All Saints, Lethbridge (2006-2012)
• Pastor:  Christ the King, Claresholm; St. Cecilia’s, Nanton; St. Mary’s, Champion (2012-2018)
• Appointment:  Vicar of Clergy & Bishop’s Delegate for Sexual Misconduct

I was born on May 22, 1957, the Feast of St. Rita, the patron of impossible cases. I grew up on the farm outside a small town: Eston, Saskatchewan; the second of 7 children in a very close Catholic family.

As a young child, my grandmother prayed that my brother and I might become priests but gramma passed away when I was about 10 years of age, and so the encouragement stopped. As a teenager, I thought about being a priest again, but the life of a priest did not seem that appealing — people can be very nasty to the priest. So, I chose a different route.

In 1975, I entered the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Campus and studied Engineering for one year, long enough to discover that it was not my profession in life. Still, the experience was profound in many ways and offered new ways of thinking and appreciation for architecture and design.

After taking a year off, I returned to studies at Medicine Hat College. College was much cheaper than university and so I studied there for two years before transferring to the University of Calgary to finish a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Personnel in 1981.

After graduation I worked for Hudson Bay, a marketing firm, as a buyer, Altitude Publishing as their Manager of Sales, then into the accounting field where I landed a position with the Banff International Hotel as their Controller and shortly there after as the General Manager. 
              
In 1990, I travelled through Europe for 6 weeks. During a stop in Rome, I attended the Wednesday gathering with Pope John Paul II in the Paul VI Audience Hall. At the close of the Pope’s address, Pope John Paul II walked down and greeted a number of people, I was one of the lucky ones to meet Pope John Paul II and talk with him. He asked where I was from and I told him:  “Calgary, Alberta, Canada.” He looked at me and then said, “The little one, he is the bishop there.” Bishop Paul O’Byrne was the bishop at the time, and when he traveled to Rome he traveled with the bishops from Edmonton and St. Paul who were both very tall men. After Pope John Paul II asked a few more questions, he placed his hands on my head and prayed over me, I was told later the prayer was for me to discern my vocation in life, which was strange to me as I was the general manager of a large hotel; I thought I had my vocation figured out.

Returning to Banff, I found myself reflecting more and more on what had happened, especially as Pope John Paul II only talked to one more person after me and left early as he was tired from his latest trip. My involvement in the church had always been there and I shared my experience with the pastor, Fr. Tom Garvey. Fr. Tom, who had arrived in Banff in 1984, had placed me on the Finance Committee, asked me to train the altar servers, and put me in charge of wedding rehearsals. Fr. Garvey became a sounding board for many questions and concerns. One concern was some people can be very mean to the priest, but I had discovered in the business world, people are not nice to the manager, to sales staff, to volunteers. Some people are just not nice, or as Fr. Tom put it, “We are all sinners in need of God’s mercy.”  Years later, Bishop Henry offered me similar advice: “Grow a thicker skin.”

In the early 1990s, Bishop Paul called for a synod in the Diocese of Calgary and I was placed on the Finance Committee for the synod.  This resulted in many trips to Calgary — no “Zoom” or “Teams” then.  One evening, while staying with my brother in Calgary, he looked at me and said, “Kevin, you’re doing so much for the church, why don’t you just sign up?”  So, in Lent of 1991, I applied to the diocese to go to the seminary to discover if God was calling me to be a priest, and for some reason Bishop Paul, “the little guy,” accepted me.

Seminary in many ways was a joyful time, the studies were amazing and challenging but mostly fascinating — why had I never heard this information before? Still, the greatest challenge of all was that I did not fit in. I was older than most of those with whom I was studying, and business and theology don’t mix in many minds. I had a minor in economics but when we studied the Economics of Christ, I was out in left field. Pastoral Care classes did not match what I had experienced in parish life, and nobody talked about Parish Finances or staff dynamics. 

Still in the midst of all of this a good friend, probably the best friend I have ever had, said something profound that has stayed with me, “What is the deepest desire of your heart?  Follow it.” I found myself writing poetry, waking up in the middle of the night with words running through my head, and if I fought, it just got louder, so I would get up write down what was running through my head and then go back to sleep, a very peaceful sleep. The poems are about journey and Mary and the words, “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will”.  Reading the poems over and sharing some of them helped to discern and accept God’s calling, but what really kicked it off was the last words on many of them, “Kevin, will you serve my people as a priest?”. My last year in the seminary was a constant message: “You don’t fit the image of a priest”. Having met many priests and even more since ordination, I am still perplexed as what the image of a priest might be. Still, it was recommended that I not be ordained to the priesthood. Bishop Paul sort of agreed with them but at the same time encouraged me to sign up for the Clinical Pastoral Education at Foothills Hospital. I completed a year of residency at Foothills and then Bishop Paul got me a position with the Calgary Catholic School Board as a chaplain. 
              
While I was with the Calgary School Board, Bishop Henry arrived in Calgary and after meeting with Bishop Henry, he agreed to place me at St. Mary’s Cathedral for evaluation and I was ordained to the diaconate on March 17, 1999, by Bishop Henry and ordained to the priesthood June 29, 1999, again by Bishop Henry. 

My first assignment was at St. Mary’s Cathedral as the associate pastor, but the day after being ordained to the priesthood, I was the acting rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral: Fr. Larry had left on holidays for a month.

​In June of 2000, I was notified that I would become the pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish in southeast Calgary and be responsible for building a church community and hopefully eventually a church building, and I should pray to my patron, St. Rita.

On August 15, 2000, at World Youth Day, I once again met Pope John Paul II and spoke with him. He, of course, had no recollection of me. This chance meeting in many ways was an affirmation of the call to serve God’s people as a priest.

I have attended WYD in 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2008 and a couple of in-between Youth Gatherings in Rome. I also have been privileged to lead numerous pilgrimages with groups from 12 to 50 people to Italy, France, Spain, Germany and, of course, the Holy Land. My great desire or “bucket list” item is to spend from Palm Sunday through Easter in the Holy Land. I have always found that a pilgrimage is far more restful and beneficial to my life and spirituality than a holiday. Holidays are fine, a pilgrimage is better. 

After 12 years at St. Albert the Great, Bishop Henry sent me to All Saints Parish in Lethbridge. Of interest: when I was working in the business world, my desire was to retire at 55. On May 22, 2012, the Feast of St. Rita, at the age of 55, Bishop Henry sent me to the retirement centre of southern Alberta. As he said, it was just for a few years to determine if a future direction for the parish could be found, and the golfing is good. Twelve years later, I am still here.

In October of 2023, I lead a pilgrimage group to Italy to visit the sight of Eucharistic miracles. This was a profound highlight in my life. I had been to many of them before but this trip for me was an immersion in the Eucharist. For me it was an affirmation of my faith and belief in the Eucharist, something I had never doubted. “Behold the Lamb of God, behold Jesus who takes away the sins of the world, blessed are those called to the Supper of the Lamb.” And to top things off, a visit to St. Rita and the Eucharistic miracle of Cassia.

In January 2023, Bishop McGrattan proposed a project for Lethbridge to find a solution to our parish issues. After much research, study, surveys, and meetings, a proposal was offered to Bishop McGrattan on April 7, 2024, which was accepted with a few caveats. And so, my future is a bit clearer now. 

Fr. Kevin Tumback

• Ordained:  June 29th, 1999 — St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary
• Assistant:  St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary (1999-2000)
• Pastor:  St. Albert the Great, Calgary (2000-2012)
• Pastor:  All Saints, Lethbridge (2012-present)

A vocation requires faithfulness — a certain amount of determination and trust in God to see it through to its fruition. Fr. Joseph Canh Vu has certainly had his vocation tested, and it is his faithfulness to that vocation that has carried him through many trial.

Fr. Joseph was born in Vietnam in 1953, shortly before the country was partitioned into North and South, and baptized at St. Dominic’s Parish a week after his birth — it seems as though his vocation has been Dominican through and through. He is the youngest of four children from a Catholic family, and he credits his mother with developing his nascent faith life by inviting him to attend Mass every evening. He entered the minor seminary at age 12, where he was formed by the Dominicans, and gradually grew in the Dominican vocation, with time and with age. After a year of novitiate, which he describes as “real formation in the Dominican vocation”, he entered into further studies, professing his vows on the feast of St. Dominic, August 8th, 1973.

However, the political situation in Vietnam did not allow for Fr. Joseph to complete his studies. A year after the fall of Saigon, the Dominican house of studies in Thu Duc was seized by the Communist government, and Fr. Joseph was forced to return home. He then made the decision to flee Vietnam as one of the thousands of boat people — fleeing as a refugee on a boat from Vietnam before being rescued by a Norwegian vessel and brought to Japan. He remained in Japan for six months, before meeting the provincial prior of the Canadian province of Dominicans, who have had a mission in Japan since 1927. He was accepted to come to Canada to finish his studies, and arrived in Montreal on May 21st, 1980. Assigned to Ottawa in September of 1980, he undertook his studies at the Dominican University College of Ottawa, being ordained to the priesthood on May 20th, 1984, one day shy of his fourth anniversary in Canada.

Upon ordination, Fr. Joseph served in a number of chaplaincies in Ottawa, including the Vietnamese Catholic community, and St. Vincent Hospital. His time at the hospital was spent “growing in Canadian culture”, being present to the patients at the hospital, giving consolation to people who are sick and helping them to believe in God’s love. At the same time, a significant part of the ministry was also being present to the doctors and nurses of the hospital, helping them overcome work stress. After retiring from hospital ministry, he was assigned to St. Vincent Liem Parish in Calgary, where he was tasked in building the new church in Forest Lawn — a lesson in patience as he asked for help and contributions.

When asked about how to grow in our relationship with God, Fr. Joseph stresses the primacy of turning our regard to Him. Whenever we feel empty in our hearts, we must turn to God. This emptiness can come because we are very busy; without time for the Eucharist, our hearts are empty. In his experience as a hospital chaplain, he has seen that when hardships come, particularly health issues, we realize we need spiritual help — when people become injured, they have time to reflect on their futures and their life with God. 

In the development of vocations, Fr. Joseph believes that parents hold the key as the first teachers of the faith. Basic formation always starts with parents, and so a call to a life of service in the Church starts in the home.  He also stresses the importance of spiritual reading and prayer in order to build religious knowledge as part of the spiritual life. As well, he considers our relationship with others to be the measure of our spiritual life. These are the three pillars of the spiritual life for Fr. Joseph — reading, prayer and service. Through all of this, a constant source of strength for Fr. Joseph has been steadfast faithfulness to the Dominican life. The Liturgy of the Hours and Mass with his confreres at the priory have been his spiritual bedrock, which have helped him overcome all kinds of difficulty. 

​Fr. Joseph’s journey has been something of a saga, from Vietnam, through Japan, to hospitals in Ottawa, and now ministering in the midst of downtown Calgary. Yet through it all, his faithfulness to his vocation is what allows us to celebrate his forty years as a priest.

Fr. Joseph Canh Vu, OP

• Ordained:  May 20th, 1984, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church, Ottawa
• Chaplain:  Lycée Claudel, Ottawa (1984-1986)
• Chaplain:  Vietnamese Catholic Community, Ottawa (1984-1991)
• Chaplain:  St. Vincent Hospital, Ottawa (1986-1991)
• Further Studies:  1991-1993
• Chaplain:  Vietnamese Catholic Community, Ottawa (1993-2001)
• Chaplain:  St. Vincent Hospital, Ottawa (1993-2009)
• Pastor:  St. Vincent Liem, Calgary (2009-2016)
• Pastor:  St. Francis of Assisi, Calgary (2018-present)

Read more:

• St. Francis of Assisi: Spiritual Refuge in the City
• A Shrine to Our Lady Lavang

I understand that organizing, preparing, and facilitating this great 40 hours devotion demands more time to plan a well-organized and orderly event. Thanks be to God; all hours were faithfully observed with Adorers present praying and offering their intentions not only for the increase of vocations but also for strengthening the pastoral priorities identified for every Parish Renewal Plan, namely for our Parish, Family and Youth and for our Volunteers.

On a more personal note, the benefits of 40 hours Adoration are not only for our parish but also for our Diocese and for the whole world. The parish on prayer is a Church on fire with the love for God, for others and for our community.
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“Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest to send out more laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:38) It is indeed true that without prayer, all other initiatives to foster vocations are useless. And it is equally true that without prayer, all our plans and activities carrying this Synodal journey in the  spirit of renewal will be in vain. It is always the Lord, Dominus Est!

Written by Fr. Eligio Canete, currently Pastor of St. James' Parish in Calgary. Fr. Eli has been appointed Pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, Brooks, effective August 1, 2024.

"A synodal Church needs its parish priests," declares Pope Francis, emphasizing the critical role of parish priests in the Church's synodal process. He also elaborates on their importance by noting that priests "know from within the life of God’s people their joys and hardships, their resources and their needs."

The International Meeting 'Parish Priests for the Synod' was held in Rome from April 28 to May 2, 2024, bringing together approximately 200 priests from 100 countries. This event was particularly significant as it symbolized the Church's dedication to actively listen to the voices of parish priests, who are positioned at the forefront of the Church, deeply immersed in the daily lives of the parish communities, and intimately connected with the challenges, needs, and blessings of the people.

This worldwide meeting of listening, prayer, and discernment, promoted by the General Secretariat of the Synod and the Dicastery for the Clergy, along with the Dicastery for Evangelization and the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches, was authentically representative of varied realities within the Church.

​Among the participating priests were individuals like Father Paul Crotty from Australia, who serves as the pastor of a rural community of indigenous people with 30 attendees on Sundays at their underground church — an underground church that was literally dug into the ground. Working alongside him was Father Pham from Hanoi, Vietnam, where 4000 people attend Sunday masses regularly. This diversity was also evident through the presence of priests from South Korea, Croatia, Kenya, Nigeria, Malta, the Philippines, India, as well as Australia and Vietnam, in our roundtable discussions.

The daily schedule of the event was structured from 8 am to 9 pm. Sessions commenced with introductions to the day's theme, followed by dedicated time for meditation and personal prayer. Throughout the day, there were fostered synodal conversations within 18 language-divided working groups, each comprising about 12 priests. These groups engaged in deep discussions and discernment, sharing their insights and perspectives. The activities culminated in plenary presentations where groups shared their collaborative insights and discussions. Moreover, there were also the celebrations of the Eucharist, along with dialogues focusing on the Synod and Synodality. This structure provided us with a meaningful opportunity to engage and share enriching moments together, particularly through the 'conversation in the Spirit' methodology.
 
This method of conversation transformed the dialogues on the rounded table from mere debates into a genuine experience of communal discernment, facilitating deep discussions on the three themes proposed for the parish priests. The first theme, The Face of the Synodal Church, delved into the experiences and understanding of synodality in the life of parishes and dioceses. Shifting to the second theme, All Disciples All Missionaries. we explored the participation of different charisms, vocations, and ministries in the life of local churches. Finally, on the third theme, Teaching Ties, Building Communities, we focused on discernment dynamics for mission and the participation of various groups within parishes and dioceses.

The synodal meeting for priests concluded with a private audience and a moment of dialogue with the Holy Father in the Paul VI Hall, during which he gave three recommendations to the parish priests. Firstly, Pope Francis urged us to embrace our specific ministerial charism in ever greater service to the varied gifts that the Spirit bestows upon the People of God. Secondly, he encouraged the practice of communal discernment, using the method of 'conversation in the Spirit' for this purpose. Lastly, the Pope emphasized the importance of fraternity and collaboration among priests and with bishops. In his closing remarks, before personally greeting each priest, Pope Francis commissioned us to be missionaries of synodality in our parishes and dioceses.
 
The International Meeting for Parish Priests was truly unique experience. While the Church typically invites bishops, theologians, and experts to such events, this time the focus was on listening to parish priests, representing a remarkable shift. As Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Synod, highlighted, “I normally underline that there is no synod without the bishop, but allow me to say today that there is no synod without the parish priest”.

Building on this sentiment, Cardinal Lazarus You, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, also emphasized that “this meeting does not involve many speeches but rather a lot of listening: mutual listening and shared listening to the Holy Spirit. This is the methodology of the Synod.” This change authentically reflects the spirit of synodality, providing a consistent path for engagement and meaningful exchanges, particularly through the Spirit-guided conversational approach.

This encounter allowed the parish priests, the frontline leaders who directly engage with all members of the People of God, to witness how each local experience contributes as a gift to the universal Church. Many participants expressed enthusiasm for the proposed synodal process, viewing it as an opportunity for growth and renewal in the Church.

​Clergy members from around the world emphasized the importance of actively participating in and promoting synodality within their communities. While challenges such as fear, skepticism, and reluctance to change hindering the acceptance of the synodal process were highlighted, there was also a clear sense of joy and appreciation for this global gathering, as well as for the recognition of the essential role played by parish priests in a synodal church, inviting pastors to embrace their calling as missionaries of synodality.

Written by Fr. Fabio DeSouza for Faithfully. Fr. Fabio DeSouza is the pastor for Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Calgary, and a member of the Diocesan Renewal Leadership Team

Dr. Ryan Topping, Director of the Benedict XVI Institute in Newman Theological College opened the Rally with a strong message: "If you want vocations, build a strong catholic culture." He went on to share findings from a study on new Canadian priests, highlighting both concerning and hopeful trends in the vocational landscape. His talk underscored the vital importance of parish priests and families in guiding young people toward considering vocations to Consecrated life and Priesthood.
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Dr. Topping highlighted that priests emerge from the community, the People of God. Therefore, to encourage more vocations, the Church must foster a vibrant Catholic culture that cherishes family, promotes unapologetic faith teaching, engages in active devotions, and cultivates a communal spirit that is receptive to God’s call.  Read more about the report “Meet Our new Priests” here.

Fr. Santiago Torres, our recently ordained, affirmed the communal roots of vocations, stating, “Vocation is not something that just comes out of nowhere. It comes out from communities, it comes out from families, and it comes out from a faith that is shared, and that is lived authentically, and in a manner that is joyful and intriguing to those whom the Lord is calling to His service.”
​
He shared stories from his own vocational journey, which began in his final year at university, supported by the nurturing environments of both his family and the parish community at St. Bonaventure, as well as the University of Calgary Catholic Community at the time.

A particularly impactful presentation was given by Cedric and Greta De Souza, parents to Fr. Raymond De Souza of the Diocese of Kingston and Sr. John Mary of Sister of Life in Toronto, two married children, and grandparents to seven children. They shared, “We live as a couple in the world, but not of the world. And that's important to remember.” Rooted firmly in their Catholic faith, they highlighted how Catholicism has been a constant and reassuring force in their lives.

The De Souzas discussed the concept of a 'domestic church' within their home. They spoke about the significance of imbuing their children’s lives with daily faith practices, remaining actively involved in church life, prioritizing Sunday as the day of worship and family, and adhering to the principle that "the family that prays together stays together." Their regular practice of hosting priests and devout Catholic friends for meals and fellowship not only integrated their family more deeply into the wider Catholic community, but also showcased to their children the normalcy and dignity of a life devoted to religious faith.  
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The Seeds of the Word's Brother John Paul and Sister Ana Sophia, along with a panel comprising Religious and Diocesan priests, Religious Sisters and a Brother, a Diocesan seminarian and a Religious Sister novice, also took the Rally stage. They took turn in sharing their vocation stories and key moments in their discernment process, offering us a deeper understanding of the vocation call to Consecrated life and Priesthood. 

The event culminated with a closing keynote by Bishop McGrattan, who reflected on one of the diocese's priorities of #Renewal. A key component to this renewal, he pointed out, is strengthening family life, which plays a vital role in fostering vocations.

Bishop McGrattan highlighted the essential role of the family in vocational discernment, expressing gratitude towards parents and teachers who have nurtured vocations. "Every vocation begins in the family. And for those who have parents who have nurtured your vocation to this point, I want to thank you. For the teachers that have nurtured that sense of a vocation in a young person. I want to thank you."

Echoing Dr. Topping's earlier remarks, the Bishop spoke about the significant role Priests and Religious play as vocation directors and encouragers. "The greatest vocation directors, encouragers, are Priests and Religious. And that's why you have been treated to what I consider to be the culture of vocations. It's the life and the witness of our Priests and our Religious in the Diocese of Calgary."

In his concluding remarks, Bishop McGrattan drew inspiration from the Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for the flock, urging all the faithful to remain open and attentive to God's calling. “Let us always attune our ears to be open to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, who is calling our young people to a path of deep vocation and service for the church.”

On Good Friday we learned that the winter road was closed to day time travel. That kind of setback is a familar event to this ministerial pioneer. Fatima has had to deal with having many of her hopes for growth closed for different reasons. On Easter Sunday, it snowed all afternoon, and the wind shaped new drifts in the yard outside the trailer. Thankfully the snow ended around 9 pm, and a guardian angel had left tracks for us to follow.

Written by Fr. Tim Boyle for Faithfully. Fr. Tim is the Vicar for Clergy, and he also serves as the Bishop's Delegate

I was born in Kerala, southern India, and blessed to have been raised in a Catholic faith environment. My parents were devout and churchgoing. The church played a significant role in my upbringing. My family frequented the parish church, and I was actively involved in the parish. I was also introduced to very solid catechism and different devotions.

I felt a calling to the priesthood at a very young age.  Reflecting on what triggered this priestly vocation, it was a fruit of my Novena devotion to Mother Mary at my parish Church. The priest at the time was very particular, that everyone must attend the Novena prayer on Saturdays immediately after the Holy Mass. This brought me very close to Mother Mary, and one day I felt that God is calling me to serve Him as told by a loving Mother-Mother Mary.It touched my heart as if a heavenly whisper had been percolating for a while, gradually maturing into a discernment of the priesthood. Fortunately, by that time, I had become well-acquainted with the parish priest and a few other priest friends. After a few years, I pursued my priestly studies in different parts of India. In 1998, I was ordained by the then bishop of the Archdiocese of Ernakulum, Mar Thomas Chakkiath. 

I belong to the Archdiocese of Ernakulam — claimed as the heart of the Syro-Malabar Church. The heritage of the Syro-Malabar Church goes back to St. Thomas the Apostle who is believed to have arrived in Kerala in 52 AD. I served in various capacities within my priestly ministry in Kerala for six years before relocating to Calgary in 2004.

My journey in Calgary has been very providential, with God guiding me through different ministries such as associate pastor, campus minister, and pastor. Looking back on my journey in Canada, I can profusely say that, as the psalmist prays in Psalm 7:1, God has walked with me, “I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.” It has been a journey where my experience of God's guidance was profound.

I could trust in God as He is in control of everything. My motto in my priestly journey reflects the words of 2 Corinthians 12:9 — "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  On this occasion, I would like to acknowledge the gracious and kind support of many bishops, priests, and fellow brothers and sisters.

Reflecting on my priestly journey of 25 years, two very pertinent aspects of my vocation have been the Grace of God, and the intercession of Mother Mary. I was quite blessed and privileged to lead a youth ministry as a campus minister at two post-secondary colleges for a while.  Engaging with post-secondary students for more than ten years not only transformed me but also brought many young people to the faith and Christian values."

Working in the secular landscape of universities was challenging, but having a platform to uphold that “Faith matters, Christ transforms” was incredible. It was eye-opening to interact with young people who were struggling in their search for meaning in life while aspiring for a better future. I must admit that it was rewarding. Moreover, engaging with pluralistic faith groups and diverse cultures, while specifically upholding the Christian values and faith connections in my ministry, was always intriguing.
           
Another highlight of my ministry that I humbly reflect upon is my role as director and pastor of Mother Teresa Syro-Malabar Church in Calgary.  It was in 2009 that Bishop Henry appointed me as the Director of the Syro-Malabar Community when it was still a very small community.

I have been privileged to witness its exponential growth from 30 to 450 families by 2018, and to have played a part in establishing a church for the community. God entrusted me with the role of becoming the founding priest of the Mother Teresa Syro-Malabar community in Calgary. Having had the privilege of meeting Mother Teresa twice in Kerala, her spiritual influence has greatly affected my priestly life and inspired me to rally for Mother Teresa's Church in Calgary.

Lastly, I am also involved with military chaplaincy as a Reserve Chaplain. This was an offshoot of campus ministry, where many students were drawn to military service and their persuasive invitation to serve the military community added another dimension to my priestly vocation. A chaplain's role in the military goes beyond the borders of religion and faith; it is more about embracing pure humanity and the well-being of anyone in need. It is a ministry of presence and strengthening robust resilience.  

Fr. Sajo Jacob

Ordained: December 30, 1998, Kerala, India

• Associate pastor at St. Mark’s, Calgary (2004-2006)
• Associate pastor at St. Peter’s, Calgary (2006)
• Associate pastor at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary (2009)
• Chaplain at SAIT and Mount Royal College (2009-2019)
• Director of Syro-Malabar Community, Calgary (2010-present)
• Calgary Hospital Chaplaincy (2020-2022)
• Pastor at  St. Pius X, Calgary (2022-present)

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I, Fr. Roy Anthony Donatus Jayamaha, was born to God- fearing parents, Rex Arvin and Mary Magdalene Jayamaha of Wattla, Sri Lanka. I was the third child in a family of seven siblings and was attracted to the religious life from my childhood. I was  educated by the De la Salle Brothers and was attracted to become one of them. After completing my studies, I taught for two years in a leading La Salle School in Colombo.
 
One fine day, I met a Sri Lankan missionary priest serving in Pakistan, who had come on a home leave. After listening to his interesting stories and challenging conditions, I contacted some Pakistani Bishops and expressed my willingness to serve as a missionary in this mostly Muslim country. In 1976, although it was  heart-breaking news for my parents, I left with their blessing, to join the Diocese of Lahore, in Pakistan.
 
When I landed in Lahore, I was surprised to see the Bishop himself at the airport to receive this unknown seminarian-to-be. On the same evening, the Bishop took me to show the place where I would travel daily to learn the Urdu language. It was a convent of the Good Shepherd Sisters which was six km from the minor seminary. While travelling, the Bishop gave a running commentary about the historical city and suddenly asked me to look through the window where I saw a huge cemetery. Then with a serious gesture, he uttered, “Boy, we all have to come here.” As it was my first winter experience, the Bishop gave some old winter clothes to wear, but no pocket money, because the board and lodging did not cost me in the minor seminary. I travelled during the week, up and down on a bicycle from the minor seminary to the Good Shepherd Convent, in order to study Urdu. First, I had to learn the alphabet and then the words.
 
After four months of language study, I was sent to remote village parishes to work with a young diocesan priest for nine months and later another nine months with two Belgium Capuchin missionaries. While there I learned the Punjabi language, customs, culture, and what not. Afterwards, I did my Philosophy and Theological studies at Christ the King Seminary in Karachi which was nearly  1,100 km from Lahore. My greatest memory of this time was to eventually see that all five residential staff members were recognized for their services to God and were rewarded by getting the Red Hats ( i.e., one cardinal, two archbishops, and two bishops). Bravo!.
 
On October 1st 1983, the feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, the Patroness of Missions, I requested, and was granted to be ordained a priest of God. That red-letter day took place in my hometown of Wattala, Sri Lanka, with the Pakistani late Archbishop Armando Trindade as celebrant and the late Archbishop Oswald Gomis of Colombo, Sri Lanka, assisting.
 
My first assignment as a priest was to work in a large remote parish near the Pakistani / Indian border which consisted of some 276 villages. The Catholic families were scattered far and wide and one was fortunate to see even a handful in some villages. There were thirteen full time paid catechists to assist me. There I  toured the villages on a motorbike over many rough and treacherous roads to administer the sacraments and other pastoral needs my flock required. Quite a few nights were spent in the villages, in order to, meet the people as they came home late from the fields and farms. Most were laborers, working for Muslim landlords.  Some laborers shared their pathetic stories with me by staying late at night, sitting in their courtyards.
 
From 1987 to 1993, I served as a pastor in another remote area. There I built a church and few chapels together with the people. The main church was dedicated to the Holy Spirit. In 2005, it was badly burnt and partly destroyed by a mob of rebellious group of people. One day my driver took the jeep to leave a newborn baby and her mother in a village nearly 23km away from a hospital. While the driver was returning, two dacoits beat him and  took my jeep at the gunpoint and fled away with it. Every Sunday, the parishioners prayed to Mother Mary to recover the vehicle. After 6 months, on a feast day of Mother Mary, the police returned the jeep with some bullet holes on it. It was unfortunate that notorious dacoits were shot dead by the police.
 
In 1993,  I  was appointed as the Director of the National Marian Shrine, which was built in 1886, and was the second oldest Catholic Church in Pakistan.
 
On a sabbatical, in 1995,I flew to Australia, where I met the good Father John Schuster and got a sweet taste for Calgary. During our get-togethers, I learned a lot about Canada and the Calgary Diocese. Upon my return to Pakistan, I was appointed the Director of the Renewal Centre in Lahore. There, I trained lay catechists for the archdiocese and taught diocesan spirituality for the propaedeutic year students in the Philosophy Seminary for seven years. For a short time, I was the acting rector of this seminary. In the absence of the Archbishop and Vicar- General, twice I was given the honor of being the administrator of the archdiocese. While being the executive secretary of the National Clergy Commission, I was involved in arranging renewal courses for clergy and on-going formation for young priests in the country. I compiled the Directory of the Catholic Church in Pakistan three times.
 
With the help of generous benefactors, I built a centre for special children. I always had a soft heart for the broken, poor, and needy. I felt honoured to serve under three Archbishops and elected twice as a member of the College of Consultors under two archbishops.
  
My services in Pakistan abruptly ended  when two gunmen attacked, threatened  and robbed me. As the Hindi song says “ajeeb dastan hai…kahan shuru, kahan katham..." which means  strange story, from where it started and where it ended. I learned many things as a student and as a missionary priest for thirty seven years from  loving Pakistani people. Little did I know that  I would leave Pakistan for good and be called to ministry in the dreamland, Calgary, Alberta in July of 2014. I'm really grateful to Bishop Emeritus Frederick Henry, for accepting me to the diocese with open arms.
 
After all is said and done, a priest has to be broken and shared with others, keep the Eucharist at the center of his life, and become another Christ wherever he is. Today, although no one comes for daily Mass, I bring one and all to the altar at every liturgy. As someone rightly said, “Let the Christ in me, meet and greet the Christ in them”.
 
This year, I have reached another milestone in my priesthood, 40 years of humble service as a missionary priest. As of Palm Sunday  2023, I have celebrated 14,307 Holy Masses. What a wonderful gift from our Lord!.
 
Priests need priests, especially when far away and alone in the missions. The beauty of this fraternity is that we know our brother priests do remember us and pray for us as we do for them as well as  our parents, families and friends. Today as a Jesus Caritas priest, this “Littleness” and “Hiddenness” of our universal brother, St. Charles de Foucauld, has helped me to live the life of Nazareth happily more than ever with the Indigenous people of Brocket.  I have just completed seven years in this mission, learning daily more than teaching. Together, we try to uplift the community, give new life, strengthen the families and  beautify the place that attracts many people even from nearby parishes.
 
Pope Francis’ document, “Amoris Laetitia" (On the Joy of Love) also reminds us regarding the practice of hospitality and how to reach out to people in parish communities. Our parishioners still worry about the same old question the Abbot asked, “How can we best serve the people who come to visit?” ( Holy Moments-by Matthew Kelly). Let us hope and pray that they will become a more vibrant community in the time to come.

Fr. Roy Jayamaha

Ordained by Archbishop Armando Trindade in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Pastoral assignments in the Diocese of Calgary:

• Associate Pastor: St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary (2014-2016)
  
• Pastor in St. Paul's Brocket, (2016 - present)

I was ordained on April 15, 1983 by Bishop Paul O'Byrne at Saint Mary's cathedral. 

I was a late vocation and entered the seminary at the age of thirty after a successful career in sales and then owning my own businesses. I had already acquired a diploma in Business Administration. My vocation was influenced by two priests, Father Jim Sheridan and Father William Harding and the example of my parents. 
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I applied to and was accepted by the Diocese of Calgary and after a year's probation was sent to study at Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon run by the Benedictine Monks.

I entered pre-theology being a mature student and in that time earned a diploma in Philosophy. After this year I entered the school of Theology and after four years received my M·aster's diplomas and was ordained in Calgary. 

My first assignment was at St. Peter's parish and Chaplain at the Calgary Correctional Centre. My first Pastor was Father Stan Henke. I was transferred after two years to St. Basil's Parish in Lethbridge and Chaplain at the Leth bridge Correctional Centre and the Young Offenders Centre. My Pastor was Father John Maes. 

My first pastorate was St. Ambrose's parish in Coaldale and responsibility for the Correctional Centre in Lethbridge. I was at Saint Ambrose for five years and in that time updated the interior and exterior of the church building, and had a successful youth group of thirty young people and reached out socially to the parishioners. 

I was transferred to St. Mark's parish in Calgary and was fortunate to work with Deacon Amadeo Malate. It was a parish, in those days, of 2000 families and six schools and pastoral responsibility for the faithful in Chestermere. 

After three years at Saint Mark's, I was transferred to Saint Mary's in Brooks with missions in Tilley and Tide Lake. I spent nine years in Brooks and in that time we formed a Catholic school district under the old two by two system of the provincial government. It was a K to 12 School. We formed a food Bank (Saint Vincent de Paul Society), a successful youth program and many outreach and social programs for the parishioners. I was fortunate to be able to work with Deacon Bob Wilson.· 

I was transferred after the nine years to the parish Nostra Madonna delle Grazie (Our Lady of Grace, now Mary, Mother of the Redeemer in Calgary) an Italian-English parish in Calgary and remained there three very good years working with Deacon Ron Nowell. 

I was transferred to the combined parish of Canmore and Banff. In that time we acquired the property and put in place the design for a new church building (The Shrine Church) in Canmore. We encouraged many social programs and outreach activities to the parishioners and to the many tourists that attended while on vacation. I was very ably assisted by Deacon Brian West. 

I retired after eight years and at 76, I am enjoying retirement. 

Fr. Bryan Frank​

Ordained: April 15th, 1983, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary

Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Calgary:

• Assistant: St. Peter’s, Calgary (1983-1985)
• Assistant: Correctional Institute, Calgary (1983-1985)
• Assistant: St. Basil’s, Lethbridge (1985-1987)
• Chaplain: Lethbridge Correctional Institute (1987-1992)
• Pastor: St. Ambrose, Coaldale (1987-1992)
• Pastor: St. Mark’s, Calgary (1992-1995)
• Pastor: St. Mary’s, Brooks (1995-2004)
• Pastor: Our Lady of Grace, Calgary (2005-2007)
• Administrator: St. Michael’s, Pincher Creek (2007-2008)
• Pastor:  Our Lady of the Rockies, Canmore; St. Mary’s, Banff (2008-2015)
• Retired: August 2015

Written by Deacon Michael Soentgerath. 

Father Michael Storey, diocesan priest for the Diocese of Calgary, celebrated his 50th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination on May 12 this year. For this special anniversary year, I had a chance to sit down with Fr. Mike to look back on those fifty years and highlight some of the very special events that Fr. Mike remembers with much gratitude.

Firstly, the ordination day itself was such a marvellous celebration of faith, with Bishop Paul O’Byrne having celebrated his ordination at St. Augustine Parish in Taber. Bishop Paul chose Taber as the location with the intention of allowing the rural parishes to experience a priestly ordination in their hometown. Fr. Mike’s connection to Taber was that he completed this parish practicum in his final year of seminary. The whole parish, as well as many from different parts of Canada, gathered in Taber for this special celebration that all would remember and cherish as a tremendous day of celebrating the ministerial priesthood.

Another highlight of Fr. Mike’s priestly life was when Bishop Paul O’Byrne appointed him as the Ecumenical Officer of the Diocese. Fr. Mike had been Pastor of Ascension Catholic Parish in Calgary, the first Parish within the diocese to be under the same roof as a Lutheran Congregation. The two parishes together and formed the "Sandstone Ecumenical Centre". A true hands-on experience of intentionally living daily the spirit of ecumenism, as one Body of Christ focusing on what unites us rather than our divisions. It came as no surprise several years later, that Fr. Mike was the priest, chosen to administrate the reunification of Anglicans who wished to return to the Catholic Church together with Father Colin O’Rorke. Approximately sixty  people were received back into the Catholic Church in this endeavour, initiated by Pope Benedict XVI. Fr. Mike feels very blessed to have been chosen to help facilitate this historical moment within our diocese and the Catholic Church.

As a Pastor, Fr. Mike feels very grateful for the opportunity of having been appointed to serve in many parishes of the diocese: Canadian Martyrs in Calgary, St. Michael’s in Pincher Creek, Sacred Heart in Oyen and Acadia Valley, St. Peter in Milk River, St. James in Okotoks, Ascension Parish in Calgary, St. James in Calgary-with a special ministry to the South Sudanese Catholics in Calgary, St. Peter’s in Calgary and St. Mary’s in Brooks.

Following his Brooks appointment, Bishop Henry appointed Fr. Mike to the Calgary Priest Hospital Chaplaincy Team. This is when I had the privilege of working more closely with Fr. Mike. His work within the various hospitals within the city of Calgary was an amazing and extremely fruitful ministry with many experiences of people healing and on occasion even being cured of illness. Father recalls with great amazement how often the Sacraments of the Church were of such great healing benefit to those who availed themselves to their reception. Even fellow Christians asking for pastoral support was a common occurrence. His Chaplaincy Ministry was also not limited only to hospitals, he also served as Chaplain to the Calgary Police Service until August of this year.

Finally, a special occasion that Fr. Mike will always cherish, was when his classmate Cardinal Thomas Collins, then Archbishop of Toronto, was made a Cardinal in Rome and he was invited to come and take part in the ceremony of his former classmate and friend. It was a powerful celebration of faith with Saint Pope John Paul II.

Now Fr. Mike resides at the Providence Care Centre in the Priest residence wing, together with the other priests of the diocese. He reflects on his marvellous 50-year journey as a Servant of God in priestly ministry with gratitude.

With thankfulness and fond memories he looks back on his call from God in thanksgiving for all that the Lord had done and accomplished through his words, his hands and his heart! May the years ahead be filled with much peace, grace and many blessings in the Lord!

Fr. Michael L. Storey

​Ordained:  May 12th, 1973, at St. Augustine’s, Taber, AB.

​Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Calgary:

• Assistant:  Canadian Martyrs, Calgary (1973-1974)
• Assistant:  St. Michael’s, Pincher Creek (1974-1975)
• Assistant:  Sacred Heart, Oyen; St. Mary’s, Acadia Valley (1975-1977)
• Pastor:  Sacred Heart, Oyen; St. Mary’s, Acadia Valley (1977-1980)
• Pastor:  St. Peter’s, Milk River (1980-1985)
• Pastor:  St. Mary’s, Medicine Hat (1985-1987)
• Pastor:  St. James, Okotoks (1987-1994)
• Pastor:  Ascension of Our Lord, Calgary (1994-1996)
• Pastor:  St. John’s, Calgary (1996-2000)
• Pastor:  St. James, Calgary (2000-2007)
• Pastor:  St. Peter’s, Calgary (2007-2009)
• Pastor:  St. Mary’s, Brooks 
• Chaplain:  Calgary Hospital Chaplaincy
• Chaplain:  St. John the Evangelist (Anglican Ordinariate), Calgary (2011-2012)

Fr. Greg was ordained on March 3rd, 1973, the Saturday before Ash Wednesday, at St. Gerard’s Parish in Calgary, in the midst of a beautiful chinook, which shocked his classmates from Seattle.

Fr. Greg was one of the last ordinandi from St. Thomas Seminary, which closed in 1977.  Immediately afterwards, Fr. Greg left for New Orleans for Mardi Gras and to visit a family, former parishioners of St. James, who could not make the ordination.  On the way home he stopped in Houston to visit their son, a seminarian for the Diocese of Corpus Christi, TX; this young man is now the Bishop of Biloxi, Mississippi, Louis Kihneman, III.          
       
In his priestly ministry, Fr. Greg’s placements have been varied.  He remembers the “Seek the Face of God” conferences at St. Mary’s in Medicine Hat fondly, as well as the retreats at St. Gerard’s in Calgary with the Redemptorists and with Grayson Warren Brown — “God is Good!”. 

He is grateful for the many incredible women and pastoral associates such as Doreen Yochim and Teri Hutchinson, with whom he has shared ministry and who highlighted to him the great potential and gifts that women have to offer within the church.

Notably, for much of his priestly life, Fr. Greg has been involved in ministry to high schools as chaplain, chaplain emeritus and adjunct chaplain, particularly with Barb Fabijan-Waddell at St. Mary’s, Bishop Carroll and St. Anne’s Academic Centre.  This has taken him as far away as the former Soviet Union with St. Mary’s High School in 1978. 

This particularly memorable trip involved a Mass in Communist Russia, where no liturgical changes had yet occurred after Vatican II, the only way to communicate with the priest was in extremely broken Latin, and an armed guard was posted at the back of the church.  There was also a five-hour trip to the hospital to escort one of the members of a Vancouver group with the same itinerary who sprained an ankle, which involved some very extremely broken Russian.  He was the chair of the police commission in Hanna, and had an RCMP officer boarding with him — the so-called “Odd Couple” are still friends today.  

Fr. Greg also still serves as a chaplain for Retrouvaille, helping couples with marriage challenges, having inherited the role from Fr. Jack Bastigal, and Fr. John Petravicius before him. Fr. Greg is not only chaplain for the Calgary community, but for the Vancouver community as well, and enjoys seeing that with a lot of hard work on their part and the power of the Holy Spirit, these couples leave these weekends with a lot more hope for their marriages.
           
When asked for advice for those discerning vocations today, his advice is steeped in his experiences in seminary:  “If you’re not happy…, get out.”  He was of 83 seminarians at St. Joseph’s at the time of his entrance in 1965, and one of 12 when he and St. Joseph’s parted ways. He has been very happy as a priest — and still is.

He also stresses that the importance for the discerner to be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and that God will speak in little ways through the people and circumstances around us, rather than in a big booming way.  As well, it is important to remember that vocations are not ours, but that God gives each vocation as a gift, and we are to be stewards of the gift.

Included in the best advice he’s ever been given, words from Bishop Emeritus Henry come to mind, that a priest should “be a shepherd, not a cowboy.”  A shepherd invites his flock to follow him in front, while a cowboy pushes the cattle along the trail from behind. 

In his 50 years as a priest, his most effective pastoral ministry occurred by accepting people where they were, and then gently inviting them to grow, rather than by imposing his expectations upon them. To make the point, Fr. Greg gave the example of a funeral in which the family had no desire or intention to choose any readings for the service. Fr. Greg chose to leave the lectionary with the family over the weekend, and by the next meeting, they had chosen an Old and New Testament reading, a responsorial psalm, and a passage from the Gospels. At the funeral, they thanked Fr. Greg “for taking us where we were, and leading us a little bit further.”

Fr. Gregory Coupal
​
Ordained:  March 3, 1973, St. Gerard’s Parish, Calgary.

Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Calgary:

• Assistant:  St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary (1973-1979)
• Chaplain:  St. Mary’s High School, Calgary (1975-1979)
• Pastor:  St. George’s, Hanna (1979-1984)
• Pastor:  Christ the King, Claresholm (1984-1987)
• Pastor:  St. Mary’s, Medicine Hat; St. Albert the Great, CFB Suffield (1987-1996)
• Pastor:  Corpus Christi, Calgary (1996-1998)
• Pastor:  St. Gerard’s, Calgary (1998-2006)
• Pastor:  St. Bonaventure, Calgary (2006-2008)
• Rector:  St. Mary’s Cathedral (2008-2014)
• Retired:  October 18th, 2014

Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully. Solomon is a born and raised Calgarian. He studied music history in Lethbridge, and is now a seminarian in his pre-theology studies at St. Joseph's Seminary in Edmonton. He has been worshipping most recently with Canadian Martyrs Parish in Calgary, and with St. Mary's Parish in Banff where he has been working as a heritage interpreter with Parks Canada. He is an oboist by training, a chorister by grace, hobby wordsmith, amateur calligrapher, and museum enthusiast.

New life as a priest 
Fr. Santiago’s journey of faith grew and eventually flourished into a tree whose branches provide shelter to others.

Following his ordination on June 16 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, he prayed his first Mass the next morning at St. Bonaventure Parish. He will begin his ministry as Associate Pastor of All Saints Parish in Lethbridge and Associate Chaplain with the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy beginning August 15. 

I’m looking forward to “being able to share the love I received from God with others, being able to minister to people, offer the sacraments of His love, and being a witness,” said Fr. Santiago. 

“The reason I’m becoming a priest is He has drawn me into relationship with Him and shown me that is where I will be most fulfilled and most happy. And God wants that for everybody. He wants to be in relationship with everybody, and that everybody is going to be most fulfilled in that relationship with Him.” 

A few of Fr. Santiago Torres’s favourite things:

• Burgers and fries 
• Soccer, bouldering, volleyball  
• Peanuts – “I eat peanuts with the shells on which is apparently super weird!” ?
• ​My Mom – “She taught me responsibility and self-sacrificial love by raising three children as a single-mom.”

Livestream of the Ordination Mass - June 16, 2023 | Download worship aid

• View ALL photos from the Ordination Mass of Fr. Santiago on June 16, 2023. Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Message of encouragements from Fr. Santiago's family:

Written by Sara Francis for Faithfully. Sara is a writer living in Calgary with her husband Ben and their six children. They attend St. Bernard's / Our Lady of the Assumption Parish. 

​​Photos courtesy of Fr. Santiago Torres, Yuan Wang, and Victor Panlilio.

Ordination to the Priesthood
Rev. Mr. Santiago Torres will be ordained to the Sacred Priesthood on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus by Most Reverend William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary:

• When: Friday, June 16 at 7 pm - St. Mary's Cathedral. Door opens at 6 pm.
• Livestream available through the Diocesan Facebook Live. 
  
  

Masses of Thanksgiving
Soon-to-be Fr. Santiago Torres will celebrate Mass of Thanksgivings on:

• Saturday, June 17 at 9 am - St. Bonaventure, Calgary
• Sunday, June 18 at All Saints, Lethbridge
  • 11 am at St. Basil's Church;
  • 6 pm at Assumption's Church.