ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF CALGARY
  • Blog
  • About
  • Give
  • News & Events
  • Ministries
  • Contact Us
  • Parish Finder
Picture

Witness to our faith in the newborn King

12/26/2022

4 Comments

 
The Feast of Stephen the Protomartyr invites us all to give witness to our faith in the newborn king.

​For the last years I have been blest to study in Rome, where St. Stephen’s Day stands with Christmas as a second occasion of celebration. If Christmas belongs to more close-knit family gatherings, various more public and religious encounters mark the following feast in the Italian culture. Well-wishers gather with friends and fill the piazzas and streets. Faithful may take the time to visit the nativity scenes in churches along with attending the liturgical celebrations dedicated to the saint.

We read the account of the testimony of St. Stephen in the Acts of the Apostles. The group of twelve called the saint to serve as a deacon with six others while they kept busy proclaiming God’s word. We discover in the narrative that Stephen bestowed great skills as an orator. In a testimony to the high priest, he traces God work through salvation history, revealing how Jesus fulfills God’s plans through the people of Israel. In particular, the text of Acts goes to lengths to point out that the Holy Spirit accompanies him and guides him. Inspired by God’s Spirit, St. Stephen offers his life with words that reflect those of Christ — “receive my spirit” — but now he does so as a prayer in the Saviour’s name — “Lord Jesus” (Acts 7:59).

The testimony of St. Stephen has a particular relevance in the city of Rome. One of its churches, the Basilica of St. Lawrence or San Lorenzo, remains the one of the places in the world where the faithful have traditionally revered his relics. Recently I visited this ancient site, which was originally founded by the emperor Constantine and has been rebuilt in the following centuries.

​The building now has a medieval feel to it (see below). It has solid brick walls that encompass its wonders of ancient columns and mosaic floors. From the entrance of the basilica, one’s eyes rise to its elevated altar — marked by four columns that support a weighty canopy. The altar sits overtop of a lower space, an inner sanctuary that houses the relics of St. Stephen as well as his fellow deacon martyr, St. Lawrence. They remain together as two deacon martyrs of the early church.
Picture
Basilica of St. Lawrence (San Lorenzo), Rome
Picture
The Church Santo Stefano (St. Stephen) Rotondo, Rome
Picture
Mural depiction of St. Stephen at Santo Stefano Rotondo
The church of Santo Stefano Rotondo also has a particular attachment to the saint. The building dates to the fifth century and it remains the earliest church in the city built on a circular floor plan. While the church also reveres St. Stephen of Hungary, and has served the Hungarian community in Rome for the last five hundred years, it nonetheless houses a moving mural depiction of the protomartyr Stephen. It presents him serenely looking up to heaven, wearing the dalmatic vestment of the deacon, while his aggressors are weighed down with anger and stones as they try to establish their own form of justice.

For most of us the Feast of Stephen the Protomartyr pales under the piles of boxes and the other colours that mark our Christmas celebrations. Yet the date remains an invitation for us to let the birth of Jesus transform the way we live the rest of the year. St. Ambrose articulates the faith that animated the martyr: “Christ is everything for us. If you are in need of help, he is strength. If you are afraid of death, he is life. If you desire heaven, he is the way. If you want to get away from darkness, he is the light” (On Virginity, 16). Let us take a moment this day to ask for the intercession of St. Stephen. May he help us find in Christ the pattern of love and sacrifice that brings meaning to each moment of every day.

Picture
Written by Fr. John Kohler for Faithfully. Fr. John Kohler is a diocesan priest in the Diocese of Calgary. He was ordained a priest in 2010 and currently studies Biblical Theology at the Gregorian University in Rome. In his pastime he enjoys reading fiction, trying new foods, and exploring the outdoors. 

​Left: Bishop McGrattan and Fr. John Kohler at the Pontifical Canadian College, Rome. All photos courtesy of Fr. John Kohler. 
4 Comments

Listen, Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One

10/11/2022

2 Comments

 
Picture
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem* on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:5-9)
Jewish people pray this prayer daily and maybe we should too!

Throughout the week-long Priests Study Days (Oct. 3-6) in Canmore, we were reminded to listen and remember, and to let our memory inspire our service.

For some of us priests, this was our first visit to the Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Rockies in Canmore. This church has preserved beautifully memories of the past in the beautiful sculptures throughout the building, and yet it is a modern church ready to serve us in the future. A reminder that though our buildings change .. The Lord is One.
Picture
We began our week by remembering the years of ministry nine of our priests have offered to the Diocese. Their service embraced parishes and many lay associations, including the CWL and the Knights of Columbus. They came from around the world inspired by their memories of God’s love.

We listened to the the Synod Synthesis to hear the voices of the laity who gathered throughout the Synodal process and to what the Spirit had inspired them to say about our journey together. Some of what the priests heard was probably challenging, but in the end the message was -  work with us..  help us to renew the life of the Spirit that we share - for the Lord is One.
Picture
Our speaker Fr Michael Simone, a Jesuit from Chicago, helped us to revisit the scriptures during the Study Days. His main theme was Remember and Believe.  He helped us to see first how the Psalms came about as pilgrims visited shrines, to either ask forgiveness or to give thanks, and how at the shrine a song was sung in memory of the deeds of the Lord. These songs became our Psalms. He reminded us that Jesus would have prayed these Psalms, and that when we pray them we should ask ourselves .. what did these words inspire in Jesus' heart.. what are they saying to our hearts.

Fr. Simone took us through the Gospels, showing us how they were composed to help early Christian’s ready themselves to meet the Lord. He showed us that Jesus' mission was to help Israel see the true meaning of the the great events in their past. And how Jesus is with us every day, encouraging us to remember what God has done so we can detect the signs if his present activity.

Bishop McGrattan led us in the Eucharist each day. He spoke to us about the importance of our unity as a witness to our people that we believe in one Lord.. and in the Eucharist we heard Jesus own command, "Do this in memory of me."

Fr. Michael pointed out to us that Jesus saw himself as a Jew.. he lived  his earthly life as a Jew. Every day he would pray the Shema, "Listen Israel .. the Lord is our God. The Lord is one."

We should learn the Shema and add it to our daily prayer!


Picture
Written by Fr. Timothy Boyle for Faithfully. Fr. Tim currently serves as the Bishop's Delegate, and Episcopal Vicar for Clergy.

Study Days photos courtesy of Fr. Fabio DeSouza, Fr. Avinash Colaco, Fr. Edmundo Vargas, Fr. Wilbert Chin Jon | Group photo after Mass: Fr. Iqbal Khursid
2 Comments

Fr. Vincent Ha: I am among you as one who serves

8/28/2022

2 Comments

 
How did you discern your vocation to the priesthood?  Did your family take any part in it?

Fr. Vincent: I was born in Saigon, South Vietnam, in 1967, during the Vietnam War (1945-1975).  I was the 11th of 13 children.  My parents were very devout Catholics and I was raised in the faith.  From a very early age, I had a strong desire to become a priest.  After the Communists overran South Vietnam at the end of the war (April 30, 1975), they suppressed all churches and it was a very difficult time for me and my family, both economically and spiritually.

At the age of 13, it was obvious to me that the only way for me to become a priest was to leave Vietnam.  On my third escape attempt, I found myself on a small, overcrowded fishing boat in the South China Sea as one of the “boat people”.  After many harrowing experiences in which God saved me from death, I finally arrived at a refugee camp in Indonesia. Several years later, Canada accepted me as a refugee and I landed in Calgary in 1985 at the age of 17. I finally had the freedom to follow my dream of becoming a priest.

I supported myself by working many part-time jobs, after school and on the weekends. I was able to attend St. Mary’s High School in Calgary, graduating in 1988. Following graduation, to discern God’s plan for me, I attended the Seminary of Christ the King in Mission, BC. I again supported myself by working full- and part-time jobs in the summer months in Calgary. After four years in Mission, I earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. During this time, I received my Canadian citizenship.

Following this, I met and was sponsored by the late Bishop Paul O’Byrne to study theology at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Edmonton in preparation for the priesthood.  At the end of my third year in 1996, I was ordained a deacon by the late Bishop O’Byrne, and served as a deacon at Holy Family Parish in St. Albert on weekends while continuing my studies at the seminary. Following my graduation at the end of my fourth year, with a master’s degree in theology, Bishop O’Byrne ordained me by the laying on of hands to be a priest on June 6th, 1997.  As a priest, my motto was, and still is:  “I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27).

Any spiritual “nuggets” or pearls to share from your years in priesthood ministry?

Fr. Vincent: It is always challenging but it is rewarding. It is a journey. When you are on a highway you see many of these things called milestones. These markers sometimes show just another mile travelled, other times they inform you that you are nearing a location and others that tell you that you have arrived at a destination.

In life, milestones can be similar. I’ve been reflecting a good amount on this milestone of mine. It is 25 years since my ordination to the priesthood in Calgary in 1997 by Bishop O’Byrne. Some may think mostly about their body of work, their accomplishments. For me most of my reflection has been about others in my life over this time.

First and foremost, God has been so central in my life. Since I was a young boy, he has guided my spirit, my energy, my life path. Our Lord has showered me with abundant blessings and gifts. Some of those gifts took time for me to understand their value, or to appreciate them. But unequivocally there was no doubt that they were from God. His gift to me of becoming a priest is part of what we’re celebrating today.

I am thankful to my parents and family. Two of my sisters and my brother have travelled here to join me today. My family helped lay a foundation for me as a Catholic, as a curious and enterprising individual and as a diligent worker. I am very thankful for the abundant giving of themselves that helped me.

I have also been blessed by the Holy Spirit and how he has worked through so many of people of God. I have received the many, many works of charity, of love and understanding, of support and friendship from so many, and from so many other generous kind people that I have met and known over my faith and life journey. While some priests express their chosen vocation as a lonely one, I can say with certainty that has not been my journey.
           
There have been challenges during my time as a priest. Some of those challenges tested my spirit and faith in ways I thought I might not be able to overcome, but our Lord has taken care of me. There is a poem I believe you may have heard, and which I think expresses the grace and protection I’ve received from God and for which I am deeply thankful. That poem is about someone reflecting on their life which was characterized as a walk on a sandy beach and says in part:
“Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You’d walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”
He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and challenges.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.”


What was the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Fr. Vincent: Live your priesthood as it is your first day and last day of your life.

What’s your favourite prayer? 
Fr. Vincent: I have a few favorites prayers: Prayer of Abandonment by Thomas Merton; Ps. 51; Divine Mercy; Book of Sirach.

What’s your go to advice when people ask you, “Father, how do I become closer to Jesus?” 
Fr. Vincent: Study the Scriptures, celebrate and receive the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation. Also, have a genuine love and care for the well being of everyone.

Any advice for those discerning a vocation? 
Fr. Vincent: Through prayers ask God to reveal his plan for you and always be attentive and open to recognize and hear God’s plan.
Vertical Divider
Picture
Fr. Vincent Ha Tuan

Ordained: June 6, 1997 at St. Mary’s Cathedral by Bishop Paul O’Byrne

Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Calgary
  • ​Associate Pastor: St. Patrick’s, Medicine Hat (1997-1998)
  • Associate Pastor: Sacred Heart, Calgary (1998-2000)
  • Pastor: Sacred Heart Oyen, St. Mary’s, Acadia Valley (2000-2003)
  • Pastor: Holy Trinity, Blairmore (2003-2004)
  • Pastor: St. Mary’s, Brooks July 31 (2004-2007)
  • Pastor: Our Lady of the Rockies, Canmore/Banff, February 19 (2007-2008)
  • Associate Pastor: Ascension R.C. Parish, Calgary (2009-2011)
  • Administrator: St. Augustine, Taber, AB (2011-2012)
  • Pastor: St. Augustine and St. Joseph’s, Taber, AB (2012-2016)
  • Pastor: Canadian Martyrs, Calgary (2016-2020)
  • Pastor: St. James, Okotoks (2020-present)



Interview conducted by Solomon Ip for Faithfully
2 Comments

Fr. Kevin Lynch, OFM: Into the mystery

8/28/2022

2 Comments

 
“If you don’t have a sense of mystery, you’re as good as dead. If that makes me religious, then I’m religious.” — Albert Einstein

Fr. Kevin Lynch, OFM, distinctly recalls the moment where he received his first experience of the Church, and his call to the priesthood. It was at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in McLennan, in northern Alberta, his family parish growing up.  He remembers a great, big building filled with light, and the priest coming down the aisle in procession. Young Fr. Kevin’s heart knew:  “I want to be one of those.”  This was his mystery, discovered at seven years old; where he felt called, where he felt he belonged.
          
The youngest of the three sons of Irish and Scottish immigrants, Fr. Kevin grew up on a farm 7 miles outside McLennan, AB, where “we had nothing, but we were happy”. Family life was stable, with a sense of belonging. At age 10, the family moved into town so that the children could receive an education from the Sisters of Providence, and for Grades 11 and 12, Fr. Kevin moved to Edmonton to study at St. Anthony’s College with the Franciscans. 

The mystery that penetrated his heart at 7 was still active, and so it made sense to follow up with the Franciscans in discernment. He had been stuck by the earthiness and groundedness of the friars, who entertained very little living in the abstract world. Fr. Kevin was sent first to Sherbrooke, Quebec, for his noviciate, and made his first vows at 20. He went on to Montreal for four more years of study in theology, before being ordained a deacon by Cardinal Léger, who emphasized the centrality of the mercy of God to the Franciscan way of life in his ordination homily. Much of his studies were quite routine, typical of the years before Vatican II, although learning French proved a good challenge. The seeds of Quebec’s Quiet Revolution were beginning to germinate, and the changes were visible. When Fr. Kevin first arrived in Quebec, he and his fellow novices were warmly driven around the city through the kindness of the people; by the time he left, there were nothing but suspicious stares and cold shoulders, leading Fr. Kevin to wonder why the Church leadership in Quebec had not noticed the disaffectedness of their flocks. At the end of his studies, Fr. Kevin was ordained priest in the church were he first felt the call, on June 16th, 1962, by Bishop Henri Routhier, OMI.

Fr. Kevin’s first assignment was teaching chemistry and physics at O’Leary High School in Edmonton. Changes were beginning to manifest themselves in clerical life at the time, not in the least with the Mass being celebrated in the vernacular, and concelebrations coming into practice. After a particular run-in with a parishioner’s somewhat anti-clerical family, Fr. Kevin began forgoing clerical collars. At one notable school dance in 1971, Fr. Kevin was dressed in a suit and tie. A student who was a known as a drug pusher at the school came up to him rather shocked, asking: “Where’s your collar?!  Someone has to stand for something around here…” Fr. Kevin noted the irony of the situation: he had to be placed upon a pedestal, but this student could do whatever he wanted.

A large portion of Fr. Kevin’s ministry was as director of religious education in Edmonton Catholic School District from 1973-1995. He was first sent on sabbatical to study religious education in the UK, and thereafter made a point to take time off every 5 years to allow for regular renewal. While he considers it to have been a rather routine administrative job, many changes were implemented in his time through consultation with the CCCB.  The “Come to the Father” program of catechesis was brought in, which shifted the focus away from traditional question-and-answer catechesis towards a more holistic understanding, and began renewal of religious education in Edmonton. As well, Edmonton Catholic schools began sending teachers to Newman Theological College at this time, forming in their religious education studies.
          
Fr. Kevin was also provincial minister from 1982-1992, and represented western Canada at general chapters, the international meetings of Franciscans, once in Assisi and once in San Diego. Part of the work involved travelling extensively to Europe, Asia and South America, and taking part in the theological discussions that were ongoing in these parts of the world, such as the growth of liberation theology in South America.

Fr. Kevin’s next assignment was to the retreat centre in Lumsden, Saskatchewan, where he worked to incorporate an ecumenical board of Lutherans, Anglicans and Roman Catholics to create an ecumenical retreat house, which ran in that configuration for about 10 years. Retreat work — giving talks and spiritual direction, and AA ministry (especially fifth step ministry) — has always been enjoyable for Fr. Kevin, and he continues this work now since arriving at Mount St. Francis in Cochrane in 2007.

Fr. Kevin has certainly seen many changes in his sixty years of priestly ministry. He has seen the shift in the understanding of faith from the intellectual assent so visible in his early days of seminary to being that of a personal relationship with Christ that is broadly seen and understood today. In encouraging others to grow in this relationship with Christ, he stresses the importance of setting time aside for prayer, be it five minutes or half an hour. This time must be set aside, to examine one’s conscience, to be grateful at the end of the day, or to simple just be, but at a certain time and place, taking the minutes, if not the hours to do so. As for specific prayers, Fr. Kevin has a particular fondness for what is commonly known as the Peace Prayer of St. Francis.  While shown not to be St. Francis’ actual words, it encapsulates much of his teaching well. 

For Fr. Kevin, the greatest vocation is that of baptism, the one from which we draw our dignity as the children of God; and yet, our quest to live out our baptism fully is never complete — we all need to become better Christians. As for advice for those specifically discerning religious life, Fr. Kevin’s advice is simple. One must continue to pray about the questions, and especially to pray for perseverance. A spiritual director is invaluable, as well as ensuring that it isn’t just a “head trip”, but that the seminarian or novice must be prepare to get their hands dirty. 
           
Overall, it’s been a “wholesome” journey for Fr. Kevin, from the first encounter wit the mystical in his home parish in McLennan, now through several placements, onwards through school administration until today’s work at Mount St. Francis. He has met all kinds of people, from beggars to governors, and despite their outward difference, Fr. Kevin has found similarities among all the people he has ministered to. He finds this to be a fascinating matter in ministry, that everyone is in need of love and respect, no matter their background. It seems that the initial mystery that drew Fr. Kevin in at a tender age keeps revealing itself still, well over sixty years on.
Vertical Divider

Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully
Picture
Fr. Kevin Lynch, OFM

Ordained: June 16, 1962 in McLennan, AB by Bishop Henri Routhier, OMI
​

Pastoral placement in the Diocese of Calgary
  • Co-Director at Mt. St. Francis Retreat Centre, Cochrane Aug. 31, 2007 
2 Comments

Fr. Wayne Poile: It's a vacation for life

8/28/2022

1 Comment

 
“It’s a vacation for life.”

So many times, I have used this sentence in giving a vocation talk to students in school. It is a humourous statement but in fact, how true after 40 years of priesthood. 

Like a vacation, living one’s vocation is a journey, meeting people where they are at and how they are living their lives and coming to know them. Like Jesus who went from village to village preaching the good news, but not putting down roots, so do priests in today’s world.

He also said the labourer deserves his wages. Those wages are the treasures of seeing God, at work in people lives, and to see the delight in them, as they find their God. 

Like Jesus, we walk along the road discussing the scriptures and opening our hearts, so that the words of Scriptures burn in our hearts and help us, the priests, and the people we are sharing with. There we discover that we and they are not alone when the world comes crashing down on us. We both see that our hearts experience Christ among us. 

I was born in Calgary and grew up just east of the downtown core. I grew up in the Calgary Catholic Schools attending St Anne’s in my early grades, and then off to St Mary’s Boys’ High School. By the time I graduated, St. Mary’s had become co-ed, but that did not stop God’s call. 

It seems that by being an altar boy and serving Mass, God opened a door for me to see the joy of living the Life of the Gospel. Serving Mass for the Precious Blood Sisters early in the morning helped me see religious sisters, who were joyful and happy in their vocation of a dedicated prayer life. Helping Fr. James Smith as a high school student, I saw the work of spiritual welcoming and care for people. Also, it opened my eyes to see that the labourers were few, and there was a great need in the church for good shepherds. 

So, off to the seminary, not knowing what was in store. The trials and the difficulties that I faced did not discourage me, but showed me more and more that God had a purpose for me. So, I persevered. 

What I learned on this journey… When people face difficulties in their lives, we need to ask this question: “Is this leading to God?” When facing problems and arguments, we have to stop and think, “Does this really matter?”

I cannot believe the blessing that God has given me in serving as a priest among the people of God in southern Alberta these past forty years. I have been truly blessed and grateful for the blessing God has given me on the journey.

I thank God for the people who have helped me along the way, all the parishes I served in, and even the ones that gave me problems and trials because they helped me to grow as a servant of the Lord. It is not always easy and there are ups and downs in life.
​
God is Good.
Vertical Divider

Written by Fr. Wayne Poile for Faithfully
Picture
Fr. Wayne Poile
​
​Ordained: May 28, 1982, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary by Bishop Paul O'Byrne

Pastoral Placements in the Diocese of Calgary:
  • Assistant Pastor: St. Bonaventure (1982-1986)
  • Assistant Pastor: St. Patrick’s, Medicine Hat; St. Mary’s, Redcliff (1986-1988)
  • Pastor: Sacred Heart, Canmore; St. Bernard, Exshaw (1988-1990)
  • Chaplain: Foothills Hospital (1990)
  • Chaplain: General Hospital (1991-1992)
  • Acting Pastor: St. Anne’s, Calgary (1993-1994)
  • Pastor: St. Agnes, Carstairs; St. Francis Xavier, Crossfield (1994-1996)
  • Pastor: St. James, Calgary (1996-1998)
  • Pastor: St. Ambrose, Coaldale; Sacred Heart, Raymond (1998-2001)
  • Pastor: St. Catherine’s, Picture Butte; Sacred Heart, Carmangay (1999-2001)
  • Pastor: Corpus Christi, Calgary (2001-2005)
  • Administrator: St. Anthony’s, Drumheller;
  • St. George’s, Hanna (2005-2006)
  • Sabbatical: Ecce Homo, Jerusalem, Israel (2006)
  • Pastor: St. Mary’s, Beiseker & St. Rita’s, Rockyford (2006-2009)
  • Pastor: Canadian Martyrs, Calgary (2009-2014)
  • Pastor: St. Bernadette’s, Calgary (2014-present)
1 Comment

Fr. Tewelde Paulos: A Good Shepherd

8/28/2022

0 Comments

 
Written by Deacon Michael Soentgerath

It is with great pleasure and honour that I share this reflection on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood for Father Tewelde Asghdom Paulos.

Father Paulos was born in Monoxieto Eritrea. The village of Monoxieto has enjoyed a long history of having many young men and women from the village responding to a call from God to serve the Church as priests and nuns. Among his relatives many have also have become priests and nuns and even some who were ordained as bishops. Raised primarily by his uncle, who was a true living example of a faith- filled man, Fr. Paulos recalls how one day, while in grade eight, his uncle had a visiting bishop and priest come to the house. He was so inspired to meet them and said to his uncle, “one day I want to become like them”. This desire grew in his soul and after completing high school he entered the major Seminary where through the years he discerned his calling to give his life to the Lord, as a Catholic priest. 

Although many came from the village of Monoxieto, his was the first priestly ordination celebrated in the village and by a family relative, Bishop Kidanemariam T.Haimanot on July 20, 1997. It was a great day for the entire village that will always remain a very treasured memory, not only for him but also for all the residents still living there. After ordination he was appointed as the Rector for the Minor Seminary and Administrator of the Seminary High School from 1998 - 2000 while at the same time serving as Dominical Vicar for a small parish. In the year 2000 he was appointed as Financial Administrator and Administrator for Temporal Goods of the Eparchy of Asmara until 2006. From there he was asked by his bishop, to continue his theological studies at the St. John Lateran College in Rome.

​After his studies in Rome in 2009, Fr. Paulos came to Canada, first to Toronto and then in 2012 he came to Calgary to be part of the Diocesan Priest Hospital Chaplaincy Team and Pastor for the Holy Trinity Geez Rite Catholic Community. Looking back on his twenty five years of his priestly life, Fr. Paulos recalls with great fondness and gratitude, the years he enjoyed the friendship, mentorship and tremendous faith-witness of Bishop Zekarias Yohannes, Rev. Fr. Teklemichael Tekeste and Cambonian Missionary Sister Margaret in Eritrea. 

Father Paulos continues to be enriched in is priestly ministry to the sick, the elderly and the dying of our diocese, as a hospital chaplain. His effectiveness as Pastor of the Holy Trinity Geez Rite Catholic Community became most evident on July 16th this year, when the community celebrated his 25th Anniversary on the Feast of The Holy Trinity. The whole church community and his parents and relatives from all over, gathered from early in the morning, starting with prayers and chanting, then celebrating the Holy Mass followed by a festive lunch and afternoon in the parish hall. Young people had T-shirts with the Holy Trinity on the front and Fr. Paulos 25th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination, on the back. Presentations, skits and songs and dance coloured the afternoon with festive joy and gratitude.

​This was truly a witness of how much Fr. Paulos has endeared himself into the hearts of his faithful parishioners, who’s faces with smiles and laughter lit up the hall. One could truly experience the authentic joy that radiated from all those who partook in the occasion. Most certainly, the twenty-five years of priesthood have formed and shaped Fr. Paulos into a "Good Shepherd" who is loved by his flock, both young and old.

​May the Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, continue to make Father Paulos more like Himself, through his ministry as both Health Care Chaplain and Pastor of his community here in Calgary. 
Vertical Divider
Picture
Fr. Tewelde Paulos

Ordained: July 20, 1997 by Bishop Kidane Teklehaimanot in Monoxieto, Eritrea

Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Calgary
  • ​Dominical Vicar to the Eritrean Gheez Rite Community and part-timemember of the Hospital Chaplaincy Team, Calgary (2012)
  • Chaplain: Calgary Hospital Chaplaincy Team (2014 - present) & resident pastor at Canadian Martyrs, Calgary, 
0 Comments

Fr. Ian Gagne: Keeping Christ at the centre

8/28/2022

7 Comments

 
How did you discern your vocation to the priesthood?
Fr. Ian Gagne: I graduated from Lethbridge College in renewable resources management, and I was working in the forest in Clearwater County near Nordegg, and I heard a background thing in my head saying “I have something better for you.  I had to learn to listen to God, to grown in relationship with God, to discern his will — but all of this takes place in relationship with God.

Any family stories? Were they involved in your discernment at all?
Fr. Ian Gagne:  I’m the first-born son of five generations of first-born sons!  I also have two younger sisters. I was born and raised in Calgary, and lived in Airdrie for junior high and high school. I had asked them:  “What would you do if I became a priest?” Their response was:  “Whatever you do is your role.” They were supportive — I knew I had their support if I needed it.

Any spiritual “nuggets” or pearls to share from your years in priesthood ministry?
Fr. Ian Gagne:  Be yourself, keep Christ at your centre, and love the people.  This has always been my life goal — I’ve always been Christ-centred. I’ve had God as my best friend, and I’ve stayed at His side.

What was the best advice you've ever been given, and who was it from? 
Fr. Ian Gagne:  “Be yourself and say what you mean in your homilies. Don’t just beat around the bush, get out there!” This was Fr. Bryan Frank — while I was a seminarian on pastoral summer placement at St. Mark’s in Calgary. 

What’s your favourite prayer?
Fr. Ian Gagne:  The Anima Christi. I pray it every Mass, after communion as I sit down.

What’s your go to advice when people ask you, “Father, how do I become closer to Jesus?”
Fr. Ian Gagne:  Pray, of course!  Value your relationship with Christ, and bring that relationship into prayer.

Any advice for those discerning a vocation?
Fr. Ian Gagne:  Be true to yourself, be centred in your relationship with Christ, and if you can’t find that centre, let Mary guide you — she is the morning star that leads us on our way.

Any other notable stories you want to share?
Fr. Ian Gagne:  Well, when I was in Hanna, the town was having its hundredth anniversary. I suggested that we should go to the graveyard and have some wine and a picnic, pray for the dead, and watch the fireworks!  I wasn’t expecting anyone would actually do it, but when I got there, a number of people were already there!  I’m not sure if it’s a kosher thing to do — but it happened!  I’ve enjoyed my 25 years — and I would do it all again!  It’s been a normal life — lived it out with God in His plan.
Vertical Divider

Picture
Fr. Ian Gagne
​
​Ordained: January 10, 1997  at St. Mary's Cathedral in Calgary by Bishop Paul O’Byrne

Pastoral placements in the Diocese of Calgary:
  • Associate Pastor: St. Luke’s, Calgary (1997-1999)
  • Chaplain: Foothills Hospital (1997)
  • Associate Pastor: St. Mary’s, Medicine Hat (1999)
    Pastor: Assumption Parish, Hay River, NWT (1999-2002)
  • Pastor: St. Mary’s, Cluny, Holy Trinity, Siksika, and St. Columba, Bassano (2002-2007)
  • Pastor: St. George’s, Hanna, Sacred Heart, Oyen, and St. Mary’s, Acadia Valley (2007-2016)
  • Pastor: St. Ambrose, Coaldale, and St. Catherine’s, Picture Butte (2016-present)
Interview conducted by Solomon Ip for Faithfully
7 Comments

Fr. Henry Rosenbaum, SAC: The love of Christ urges us to action

8/28/2022

1 Comment

 
As a young boy in Dortmund, Germany, Fr. Henry Rosenbaum had a fairly keen awareness of his vocational calling, understanding it as soon early as the age of 5. His kindergarten was run by nuns, and he was an altar server by the age of 8, all influences that would come together to encourage his vocation. He was raised close to family, with both his parents coming from large families. However, these were dark times in German history: being a practicing Catholic under the Nazi regime was difficult, especially with a last name which sounded vaguely Jewish. ​The war brought more challenges and sorrows: his parish church of St. Joseph’s was bombed five or six days after his first communion, and burned to the ground along with the Rosenbaum home.

In 1948, still feeling a call at the age of 13, Fr. Rosenbaum spoke to his parish priest about the matter, and was directed to the minor seminary of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottine Fathers) at Rheinbach. His family was very supportive, and it was at this time that Fr. Rosenbaum’s musical career started. One day in schola rehearsal, the director was called away to say Mass in a small parish elsewhere for Sunday; Fr. Rosenbaum was thrown the books, and was told to conduct. Confidence in his musical abilities would come with time as he directed the choir more often, learned the violin (there were already too many pianists), and conducted the Byzantine Rite choir for one of the Pallotine Fathers who was ordained in the Byzantine Rite. Just before his matriculation, he was still unsure exactly if he was supposed to join the Pallottines. He met one of the priests who knew his family from when he was younger. The priest asked if he did anything to get to the Pallottine Fathers. Fr. Rosenbaum answered that he
was sent by the parish priest, and that he was told that joining the Pallottines would be the right thing to do. 

Ordained in 1962, Fr. Rosenbaum and another Pallottine Father arrived in Edmonton the next year. This companion later was recalled to Europe and became very helpful in the Pallotine generalate in Rome. Fr. Rosenbaum was to study and enter the teaching profession, first obtaining his BA from the University of Edmonton, and then beginning his B. Ed. in Edmonton before being transferred to Calgary. Upon graduation in 1967, he began his 15-year stint at St. Francis High School in Calgary, teaching Latin at first, and later English, German and History. Once Religion became an accredited course in schools, he switched to teaching Religion full time. He would be a supply priest for various parishes on Sundays, but found that teaching was a full-time ministry of its own!

During this time, Fr. Rosenbaum’s earlier musical training found a new flourishing as he directed the choirs at St. Boniface Parish and the German Club, and founded the German Canadian Male Chorus of Calgary. There were four men interested at the first meeting, and by the second meeting, eleven were present. The membership grew rapidly — at this point in time, it was very important to the people. In Germany at this time, every parish would have a choir to sing the Latin at the High Mass, but often people chose to go to Low Mass to sing German hymns. The German Canadian Male Chorus still rehearses regularly at St. Boniface Parish, and is still very active, although without Fr. Rosenbaum at the helm.

In 1982, the Pallottines reassigned Fr. Rosenbaum to Swan River, Manitoba, and its twelve mission parishes, where he would remain for seven years. Some of his work was among Indigenous Canadians, giving him insight into current events of today. After this, Fr. Rosenbaum returned to Calgary to re-establish the education department of the diocese, while also serving as assistant and pastor at St. Cecilia’s and St. Boniface Parishes in Calgary, as well as being State Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus for 2002 to 2014. 

As the oldest priest in the Diocese of Calgary still in active ministry, Fr. Rosenbaum remains devoted to the congregation at St. Boniface as it faces new challenges. Priests with full fluency in German are hard to come by in Calgary, and the congregation is certainly aging. 

When Pope Pius XII issued Exsul Familia in 1952, it envisioned parishes for minority linguistic groups in different lands being established for two generations; St. Boniface is now in its fourth generation. However, many of the parishioners still cling to the little church on Broadview Road, St. Boniface being their spiritual home. Certainly, Fr. Rosenbaum takes pride in the work he has
accomplished there, even in the building itself. The simple, striking stations and beautiful crucifix are from Oberammergau, and the War Memorial organ (dedicated to those who perished in war) was purchased for all of $5,000 from a Dutch organ company in Toronto (a real steal). Yet, there are questions of what is to happen to the parish in the hereafter, as St. Boniface may have to scale down its operations and be served by itinerant priests once or twice a month, like
many other linguistic groups. 

Throughout his priestly life, Fr. Rosenbaum’s life has been that of a true son of St. Vincent Pallotti, whose motto was “The love of Christ urges us to action”. Certainly, in his sixty years in active service as a priest, this has been evident, encouraging the lay faithful to greater apostleship through his work as a teacher, as a musical pioneer, in indigenous ministry, with the Knights of Columbus — the ways are countless. His advice to those discerning religious life is distinctly Pallottine: “Do you love other people? This is what God does — if we want to show our love to God and dedicate our lives to God, we have to show our love to people. Do you think in terms of service? Do you love to do service to other people?”

Indeed, this is what Fr. Rosenbaum has done for sixty full years, and truly, there is no doubt that the love of Christ will still urge him to action in his apostolate still to come. 
Vertical Divider

Picture
Fr. Henry Rosenbaum, SAC
​
​
Ordained: 
​

Pastoral Placements in the Diocese of Calgary:
  • Study: 1966-1967
  • Teacher: St. Francis High School (1967-1982)
  • Reassigned to Swan River, MB (1982-1989)
  • Provincial Delegate (1988-1993)
  • Co-ordinator: Religious Education Secretariat (1989-1999)
  • Assistant Pastor: St. Cecilia’s, Calgary (1993-1995)
  • Pastor: St. Boniface, Calgary (1995-2001)
  • Pastor: St. Cecilia’s, Calgary (2001-2005)
  • Provincial Delegate (2004-2008)
  • Administrator: St. Boniface, Calgary (2010-present)
Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully
1 Comment

Fr. Raul Ranola celebrates 50th Anniversary

8/28/2022

1 Comment

 
Fr. Raul Ranola was born on July 7th, 1948 in Libon, Albay, Philippines, and was ordained to the priesthood in the same city on January 8th, 1972. After serving as professor, pastor and chancellor in the Philippines, Fr. Raul arrived in Calgary in 1987, serving first as assistant pastor at St. Mark’s, Marlborough, Calgary until 1989, and then as pastor at Our Lady of the Assumption in Bowness, Calgary until 1991.  Following this, he was assigned as pastor at Holy Trinity, Siksika and St. Mary’s, Cluny from 1991 to 1995, and was dean of the Drumheller Deanery from 1994 to 1995, before returning to St. Mark’s in Calgary as its pastor from 1995 to 2003.  Fr. Raul again became a dean, this time of Lethbridge Deanery, when he was assigned to St. Basil’s, Lethbridge from 2003 to 2005.  His last assignment was at Corpus Christi, Thorncliffe, Calgary, from 2005 until his retirement in 2017.

Fr. Raul’s pastoral accomplishments were felt well beyond his parish.  When I was an exhibit interpreter at Heritage Park, one of my supervisors and I got into a discussion about my desired career path.  When I mentioned I was considering the priesthood, she mentioned that she had known of a parish that had been just transformed by the current pastor, who she said “just got the place rocking.”  While not a woman of any particular faith herself, she had gone there with friends who were having a difficult patch in their lives, and had been struck by the strength of the parish that the pastor had fostered, though she could not remember the name of the parish or pastor initially. Upon some recollection, she remembered that the parish was Corpus Christi (on 4th Street NW), and the pastor was Fr. Raul.

I had approached Fr. Raul about the possibility of interviewing him for his golden jubilee before Mass at Corpus Christi when he was covering in July. He replied: “There is no need. Everyone already knows it’s my 50th anniversary!” And indeed, it is so.  Thank you, Fr. Raul, for fifty dedicated years of service to God’s people. 

Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully
Vertical Divider
Picture
Fr. Raul Ranola

Ordained: January 8, 1972 in Libon,Albay, Philippines

Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Calgary
  • Assistant Pastor: St. Mark’s, Calgary, 1987-89
  • Pastor: Our Lady of Assumption, Calgary, 1989-1991
  • Pastor: Cluny and Siksika Reserve, 1991 - Aug. 1, 1995
  • Dean, Drumheller Deanery Sept. 21, 1994
  • Pastor: St. Mark’s, Calgary, 1995-2003
  • Pastor: St. Basil’s, Lethbridge, 2003-2005
  • Dean: Lethbridge Pastoral Zone, Aug. 1, 2003
  • Pastor: Corpus Christi, Calgary, 2005 - 2012
  • Sabbatical: February 2012 to May 2012


1 Comment

Fr. Rolando (Rudy) Badiola: Holy perseverance

8/28/2022

4 Comments

 
Picture
In the Catholic worldview, marriage is often held up as the example of vocational perseverance. As any long-married couple is able to testify, perseverance is key in marriage. It takes a lot of effort, prayer, and creativity to stay faithful to such a vocation, when internal and external factors begin to pull at the fabric of the marriage. However, marriage is not the only vocation that takes a daily mustering of courage and perseverance to remain true; the same is true of the complementary vocation of holy orders. As Fr. Rolando (Rudy) Badiola’s life demonstrates, the ordained priesthood can come with its own set of trials, requiring a man to persevere in faithfulness.

Fr. Rudy was born in Baao, Camarines Sur, in the Philippines, the second of twelve children. The Badiola house was located just on the other side of the local church, a fixture of daily life in their household. Being so close by, the priests would visit their house most often, and the seminarians who would stay in the rectory over the summer were role models to young Fr. Rudy. The vocation to the priesthood grew with Fr. Rudy as he grew, but when he broached the topic to his family, they were unsupportive, with his mother as the only exception. They felt there was no need for him to be a priest, and they were concerned that he would be assigned to the middle of nowhere, to “rot in the place with no chance of improvement”. 

When Fr. Rudy was ordained at the tender age of 23 for the Archdiocese of Caceres, he was technically underage. In addition to teaching Spanish at the high school, he was doing much of the work of running the parish, as the pastor was elderly and sickly. While in an assignment to a town in Camarines Norte, the province was split from the Archdiocese of Caceres, and made its own Diocese of Daet.

Without a pastoral charge, Fr. Rudy made his way to Manila, looking for somewhere that would take him in. He was recommended by a priest he knew to a parish in Manila, where the pastor took him in and treated him like an assistant pastor. Here he became beloved of his pastor for many reasons, one of which was his willingness to minister in the slums of Manila. Eventually, Cardinal Sin asked for priests who were willing to work abroad, and his pastor, the cardinal’s private secretary, recommended him for the work. The cardinal had to ask Fr. Rudy: “What have you done that your pastor has nothing but good things to say about you?”

Fr. Rudy spent the next couple of years in Iran, travelling around the country to visit the small community of Catholics there. When asked upon his departure from the Philippines if he would be afraid because it was a Muslim-majority country, he expressed no fear, rather that one simply had to stay on the right side of the law.

​However, the adjustment was intense; Fr. Rudy found Iranian food gamey and unpalatable, and Farsi difficult to master. Eventually, the government of Iran found out he was a priest, and he was sent back to the Philippines, but not before a trip to Rome, courtesy of the Bishop of Tehran who was a Vincentian, who arranged for his order to tour Fr. Rudy around. 

Back in Manila, an opening came up for a priest to go to Canada, and Cardinal Sin asked him if he would go to Vancouver. After a trying time in Vancouver, Fr. Rudy applied for a transfer to the Diocese of Calgary, where Bishop O’Byrne asked for his immediate arrival. He was assigned to St. Peter’s in Northwest Calgary first for four months, in the days when the parish was still in ATCO trailers.

Following this, Fr. Rudy was given his first pastorship in the Diocese, that of Sacred Heart Parish in Oyen. The assignment was a daunting one: the drive from Oyen to Calgary was comparable to the one from his hometown of Baao to Manila. It was to be a lesson in Canadian life.

​Fr. Rudy has many beloved memories of his time there, as he learned to visit his parishioners and share meals with them. He had no cooking skills, so this was partly out of necessity, as well as pastoral creativity. This was no small feat either — in these days, Oyen’s territory was vast with a small Catholic population, with smaller missions in Acadia Valley, Empress and Bindloss. Even today, some thirty years later, Fr. Rudy reflects upon how well the people of this far-flung parish treated him, as he met with them, visited them, broke bread with them, and even learned to ride on their combine harvesters. He learned to meet his parishioners in their happiness. In one moving incident, he visited an older lady living in the far northern part of his parish, near the boundary with the archdiocese of Edmonton. As he came up the stairs, she began to cry — he was the first priest who had ever come out to visit. All of this dedicated work paid off in spades, as he was able to pay off the debt on the parish church in 3 years and burn the mortgage. When Bishop O’Byrne asked how he managed it, the reply was simple: “All they needed was a priest they could trust.”

The next few pastoral charges were in the eastern part of the Diocese, in Strathmore, Drumheller and Medicine Hat, after which Fr. Rudy was made the diocesan advisor of the CWL and asked for a transfer to Calgary to be able to take up this new ministry more efficiently. This appointment came as a surprise to him, but he was reassured that it was in fact the CWL who had asked for him. This was a huge consolation in his ministry, being first diocesan advisor and then provincial advisor for 11 years. In this time, he travelled to every province in Canada, and made two trips up north to fish in Yellowknife at midnight, places that he never thought he would see. While it could be a gruelling task, Fr. Rudy views his time with the CWL as a tremendous blessing.

Nowadays, Fr. Rudy spends his time at the Providence Centre, having retired 14 years ago from his last post at Canadian Martyrs in Calgary; he turned 84 years old this month. He still spends at least two stints of 15 minutes each with the Blessed Sacrament daily, praying the breviary or simply in conversation with Jesus. Fr. Rudy stresses the importance of speaking personally to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, rather than simple recitation of rote prayers. Direct answers must not be expected, but sooner or later, in bringing one’s problems and questions to Jesus, the answer will come clear.

When asked for advice for young men and women who would also be discerning priesthood or religious life, Fr. Rudy offered what only sixty years of priestly ministry could offer. 

“I never doubted my vocation. I went on, despite the problems I encountered. Some superiors will not like you — I never paid attention to that. The important thing is that I did my job as a priest. Never worry about anything; build your relationships with people — don’t say anything, don’t demand — people will see your needs, and bless you in return. Follow your vocation — your vocation will give you the grace needed. If it is meant for you, then it will come.”

This is certainly visible in Fr. Rudy’s life. Any number of the trials of his life could have broken his vocation. However, each hardship only made his vocation stronger, a sixty year long vocation that we celebrate as a testament to faithful, trusting perseverance.

Vertical Divider

Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully
Picture
Fr. Rolando (Rudy) Badiola
​
​Ordained: April 7, 1962 at St. John Cathedral Naga City, Philippines by Archbishop Pedro Santos.

Pastoral Placements in the Diocese of Calgary:
  • Assistant: St. Peter’s, Calgary (March 1980 - July 1980)
  • Chaplain: Rockyview Hospital (1980)
  • Administrator: Sacred Heart, Oyen (1980-1983)
    Administrator: Sacred Heart, Strathmore (1983-1987)
  • Pastor: St. Anthony’s, Drumheller (1987-1991)
  • Pastor: St. Patrick’s, Medicine Hat (1991-94)
  • Pastor: St. Anne’s, Calgary (1994-1996)
  • Pastor: St. Bernadette’s, Calgary (1996-2003)
  • Pastor: Canadian Martyrs, Calgary (2003-2006)
  • Retired: August 2006
4 Comments

Rev. Kryzsztof Sobanski: A Missionary’s Journey

8/26/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Growing up, Fr. Krzysztof (Chris) Sobanski, SDS, had a keen attraction to the missionary life, especially in far-flung fields from his native Poland. What started out as a dream to work in Africa later led to a missionary life in Canada, where he is now the associate pastor at St. Albert the Great Parish in Prestwick, Calgary.

Fr. Chris was raised in a religiously observant family in Poland. His father had aspirations to become a priest, but was unable to enter seminary due to his financial circumstances. Fr. Cris and his sister are only a year apart, and she now lives in the UK, married with four children. Discernment began in high school, when a friend was invited to a retreat with the Salvatorian Fathers. A good portion of his reading at this time was about missionary work, particularly in Africa. After a basic retreat over the winter break, he was invited to two-week retreat that was much more focused on vocations. These were hybrid summer camps and retreats — they were held in touristic areas of Poland such as the Baltic coast, and had lots of opportunities for fun and games, but also had an emphasis on Mass and spiritual talks and spiritual works. Fr. Chris was quite taken, and entered the Salvatorian noviciate in 1975 after high school.  After completing the usual course of studies, he was ordained in Trzebinia, Poland on May 8th, 1982.

Having been drawn first by the missionary activities of the Salvatorians, Fr. Chris was dismayed to be on local assignments in Poland for the first few years of his ministry. He later found out that this was because his father went to his provincial superior every year and asked that he not be transferred abroad. However, in 1986, Fr. Chris was sent to Switzerland to study French, with the intention that he become a missionary in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Originally, it was thought that French would be the necessary language in the Congo, having been a Belgian colony, but it quickly became apparent that Swahili was necessary for daily function. Initially, Fr. Chris tried studying the literary form of Swahili using books from Tanzania, but quickly found out that Kingwana Swahili in his region of the Congo used very little Swahili grammar. He also began to learn Lunda, although he could read and pronounce some words, he never gained fluency.

However, it was certain aspects of the missionary life that caused Fr. Chris to re-evaluate his life in the Congo. Most strikingly, when one of the Salvatorians died, he was buried in a simple grave with nearly no marker, which was the complete opposite of the funeral tradition in Poland, where graves are well-marked and regularly visited. After realizing that this was likely to be his end as well, he applied for a transfer, and was asked to come to Canada.

In Canada, Fr. Chris was assigned first for two years as associate at St. Joseph’s Basilica in Edmonton, then for four years in Lacombe and Ponoka, and then for two years at Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin Parish in Edmonton. It was this last parish that proved to be the greatest challenge in Fr. Chris’ life as a missionary, requiring all of his skill in inculturation to bring the parish into line with regular liturgical practice.  Since then, he has been associate pastor at St. Patrick’s, Calgary, and now serves as associate pastor at St. Albert the Great, Calgary.

Despite all this, Fr. Chris insists his spiritual adventures are not those of great miraculousness. He has stayed rooted to the spiritual centre of his priestly life, the celebration of the Eucharist, the hearing of Confessions, and praying the breviary.  He prays his act of consecration to the Blessed Mother daily, a reminder that Mary has been chosen as the keeper of the priesthood. 

Picture
When asked for his advice for those discerning a religious vocation, Fr. Chris’ replies are still missionary in spirit, that the central mandate of a Christian is to go to all nations, baptize and evangelize. For Fr. Chris, being a missionary in the Congo is much more simple than being one in Canada: in the Congo, importance was placed on the family, and the people lived in a holy poverty; in Canada, society has stopped believing in life according to God’s commandments. He believes that those with a religious vocation must be of deep spirituality and good formation, these being necessary to speak to those who are well-versed in worldly education. Above all, he insists on the necessity that one witness to Christ to one’s brothers and sisters, and having the wisdom to preach the gospel in difficult conditions, which only comes with good relationships with the Holy Trinity and Our Lady. Despite changing times, Christ’s request will never be cancelled — that the Church help people to find God and respect His commandments. Following this mandate must be key for those entering religious life — words can convince people, but only actions can be imitated.

It seems that despite no longer working in the most obvious of mission territories, Fr. Chris is still putting his missionary skills to good use here in the Diocese of Calgary, and instilling the same missionary spirit into his flock today. We are grateful to God for his 40 years of evangelism and service to God’s people, preaching the Gospel both near and far. 


Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully
Photos courtesy of Fr. Chris
Vertical Divider

Picture
Fr. Kryzsztof (Chris) Sobanski, SDS
​
​Ordained: May 8, 1982

Pastoral Placements in the Diocese of Calgary:
  • Associate Pastor: St. Patrick’s, Calgary, August 1 (2014-2018)
  • Associate Pastor: St. Albert the Great, Calgary (2018-present)


0 Comments

Custodians of Beauty

7/15/2022

0 Comments

 
"Remember that you are the custodians of beauty in the world.” says Pope Benedict XVI is his address to Artists.

The Sacred Arts Guild of Alberta (SAGA) is a community of artists and associates who are interested in the study, preservation, and renewal of traditional methods for creating liturgical and sacred art in the Christian tradition. SAGA presented their inaugural Legacy Project in November 2021 featuring a short film on Sacred Artist Fr. Gilles LeBlanc, retired priest in the Diocese of Calgary. They hope the film will encourage you to explore our faith more through the Sacred Arts.

The SAGA Team is proud to have partnered with Annie Chirka, videographer and editor, with the intention of celebrating those members of our community who are faithful “Custodians of Beauty”.

Please visit our website to learn more about how you can be part of this Sacred Arts initiatives: SacredArtsGuildofAlberta.com
0 Comments

In memoriam: Fr. John Petravicius

5/26/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Funeral Mass of Fr. John Petravicius, May 27, 2022. Click picture to see more photos.
Rev. John Petravicius of Calgary, AB, passed away on Monday, May 23, 2022, at the age of 89 years. He died on the day of his 63rd Ordination Anniversary.

John was born in Bellevue, Alberta on May 11,1933, and entered St. Joseph’s Seminary in 1954 in Edmonton. He was ordained on May 23, 1959 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Calgary. After ordination, he served in a number of parishes and ministries within the Calgary Diocese until his retirement in 2002. During his ministry, Father John made a few pilgrimages to his parents’ homeland of Lithuania, bringing much needed medical supplies for eye surgeries. In retirement, he resided at St. Anthony’s Parish and then Providence Care Centre in Calgary, AB.
​
  • More photos from the Funeral Mass
  • Recording of the Funeral Mass

To learn more about Fr. John Petravicius, read "Portrait of a priest, Fr. John Petravicius" published last year in Faithfully.

Prayer for Fr. John
Hear with favour our prayers, which we humbly offer, O Lord, for the salvation of the soul of Fr. John Petravicius, your servant and Priest, that he, who devoted a faithful ministry to your name, may rejoice in the perpetual company of your Saints. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Picture
0 Comments

Santiago Torres

5/11/2022

7 Comments

 
Mr. Santiago Torres will be ordained to the Transitional Diaconate by Bishop McGrattan on Saturday, May 21 at 11 am at All Saints Parish in Lethbridge. Earlier this month, Chris Moraes, the President of the Serra Club of Calgary sat down with Santiago at his home parish of St. Bonaventure to ask him about his vocations journey and his upcoming ordination.

Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
“I am currently 33 years old. I was born in Colombia and moved to Canada when I was 16 years old with my mother, step-father and my younger twin sisters. My parents separated in my youth and moving to Canada was a challenge. At that time I was not practising my faith. I enjoy making visits to my native Colombia and visiting my father when I am there.”

Who is your favourite Saint? 
My grandparents have always been very influential on me and my faith. When I was young they gave me a book about St. Dominic Savio. At his first holy communion St. Dominic said to God that he never wanted to sin again which was a very inspiring message for me. I took him as my confirmation saint and his story has inspired me to always trust in the Lord and has given me strength many times throughout my life.

When did you first become aware of your call? Who was instrumental in encouraging you to explore it?
At the age of 16 I met a girl at my school who was also from Colombia. We grew close and eventually began dating. She was very strong in her faith and brought me to Mass and encouraged my prayer life. Eventually we ended our relationship but my faith remained because of her. On one occasion I heard about a CCO Mission at my parish. My first deep conversion took place when I attended an evening of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. I was invited to take part in a Faith Study and that was when I really started to connect all of the aspects of my faith and especially came to discover a real relationship with our Lord Jesus. After that I started to get involved with CCO and I joined the executive of the campus ministry group at the UofC. This allowed me to share with others the encounter that I had personally experienced with Christ.

How has the Diocese of Calgary been instrumental in the discernment of your own vocation? 
The Blessed Sacrament chapel at St. Bonaventure is where I really began to hear the Lord calling me to his service. It was also the witness of several priests that allowed me to be open to this call. Around the time of my conversion, Father Cristino was on his pastoral internship at St. Bonaventure and he likes to recall the story that he began praying for my vocation way back then. The spiritual direction from Fr. Wilbert Chin Jon was instrumental in navigating fears, doubts and feelings of unworthiness for such an important calling. The friendship of Fr. Troy Nguyen in the early days of discernment also helped to ease some anxieties about going to spend the first few years at Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon to begin my priestly studies. \

What has been the greatest challenge that you have gone through as in your Seminary formation?
The seminary is a place that really helps you to get to know yourself. It is an interesting balance of guidance, formation, and evaluation. At times it can magnify your shortcomings, and there are times when you find yourself comparing yourself to the other gifted and faith filled young men. It does, however, also help to discover the great gift of the priesthood and to accept that despite feelings of unworthiness, that God can indeed call you to serve him in this vocation.
Picture
What has been your greatest joy or consolation in this journey?
The abiding understanding that God always responds to openness with faithfulness and that he wants to fulfil you with happiness. The relationships that are forged with your brother seminarians allow you to wrestle with the doubts. It is a true brotherhood and gives you strength for the journey of discernment.

In the few months that it has been established in our Diocese, have you been aware of the Serra Club and its activities?
Yes, absolutely. Sometimes the seminary can become a bit of a bubble and you just keep your head down and keep working towards the goal. It is a wonderful realisation that you are not alone on your journey and that there are many dedicated people out there praying with and for you. The letters of encouragement from students and lay people have been a great blessing to me and I am grateful for the presence of the Serra Club and the work that its growing membership is doing to promote and support vocations in our Diocese.

What is the thing you are most anticipating as your ordination to the transitional diaconate it approaches?
The thing I am most excited for is simply just “Living it” and being entirely dedicated to the ministry of the deacon. I am sure it will bring new questions, new challenges, and new learning. The ordination brings both a sense of finality of one process but also a new beginning of a new one in the ordained ministry.

What piece of advice would you give to a young person who feels like they might have a call to a religious vocation?
First of all, talk to someone about it. A spiritual director, vocations director or your parish priest will help encourage, guide, and help you to know that you are not crazy for thinking you might be called to the priesthood. Fr. Wilbert was able to reassure me that despite my insecurities, that God would sustain and inspire me to keep saying “Yes.” Secondly, Give the Lord the chance to show you that He is God and that he  knows and loves you and that wants what is absolutely best for you.


Photo credit: Chris Moraes.

Picture
Santiago Torres, currently in seminary formation and studies at St. Joseph Seminary, Edmonton, has been called to Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate.

​He will be ordained  a transitional deacon by Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, at the parish where he completed his pastoral year, All Saints’ Parish, Lethbridge, on 
Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 11 am. 
​
  • To attend the Ordination, please register online here
7 Comments

A gift to preserve

1/19/2022

1 Comment

 
Picture
Fr. Troy with students at St. Mary's School in Okotoks
From the perspective of a priest, I, Fr Troy Nguyen, have seen the gift of Catholic education. Beginning with my time as a Deacon, I was able to visit a Catholic school in NW Calgary once a month and dedicate the whole day to speak to different grades in 30 minute intervals. From sharing the mystery of Advent with the little ones to speaking about the rational basis for our faith to the junior high students, it was a great opportunity to share the Gospel.
 
One of my favourite things to do is to do question period with any grade but particularly the younger kids. They ask a variety of tough questions: who created God? Does the bible talk about dinosaurs? These and many other questions challenge me to translate complicated philosophical and biblical topics into bite size pieces for an 8 year old! Most importantly, it is time just to be with the students in a very human way just like Jesus did. Whether it’s walking through the halls, going to a high school football game or playing sports with the students, it reveals that faith is not contrary to our everyday life.
 
I had an opportunity during lunch at an elementary school in Christ the Redeemer (CTR) to walk around and was invited to kick the ball for kickball. So I took up the challenge in my priestly attire and smoked that ball into the end of time! The kids were shocked and elated at the same time that a ‘priest’ could play kickball. At a junior high school in CTR during a girls basketball finals game, I was invited to say the opening prayer for the team and give them a blessing to calm their nerves because they were worried about this particular opponent. When they started playing, the girls from CTR played with great freedom, crushed their opponent and won the championship. They were extremely grateful for the spiritual boost and ‘divine intervention.’ To be able to share in the joys of these students with faith is a great gift.
Picture
Fr. Troy and students at St. Mary's School in Okotoks after Christmas hampers preparation.
There are many more instances I could describe where Catholic education creates opportunities to encounter our Lord and the Catholic faith. These opportunities to reach out to students are only available to me because the administration and teachers allow me to come to visit the school. It may be much more difficult if not impossible to enter another school not focused on Catholic education.
 
So, while there is much to be grateful for, there is much to continue to strive for if we want to maintain Catholic education. We need to pray for our teachers and administration and we need to continue to be intentional in forming their faith so that they can evangelize to our children from an authentic heart. We need to remain firm in our Catholic identity so that we can transmit the Catholic faith in its fullness and this is what differentiates us from public education.
 
Catholic education is a gift, but gifts need to be protected and preserved. So we give thanks to God for the gift of Catholic education, and we ask him to protect and preserve this gift so that all of our children may continue to have the opportunity to know and to love this amazing God.

Picture
Written by Fr. Troy Nguyen for Faithfully. Fr Troy Nguyen is a priest in the Diocese of Calgary and currently serving St. James Parish in Okotoks as the associate pastor. After trying out construction, banking and teaching, Fr Troy found his vocation in the priesthood and is eternally grateful for the gift of this vocation. Now he strives to help students and his community to come to encounter the living and awesome God and to be awakened to the radiance of his Love. 

Photos submitted by Fr. Troy Nguyen.
1 Comment

Christmas cards for the retired priests

12/1/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Every year the students at Christ the King Academy in Brooks, Alberta sign up for a variety of service projects and good works to help prepare their hearts for Christ’s coming during this Advent season. Usually, the students engage in works such as baking muffins, praying for the living and the dead, or cleaning up around the neighbourhood. This year however, we started what we hope to be a new tradition – writing Christmas Cards to our dear retired priests of the Diocese!
 
The idea came about during the grade six’s religion class, when learning about the Sacrament of Holy Orders and the life of service a priest undertakes. The students were quick to realize that the vow of celibacy meant that for many priests, we as Catholics are their family members! While priests are serving in their parishes, they are surrounded by the many families who help take care them and thank them for their service… but what happens when a priest retires? 
 
The students were surprised to learn that our retired priests are still helping celebrate Mass and administering Sacraments where they can, despite no longer have a parish family around them. We discussed how we can show our love and thanks to these priests who spent their lives working for us, and the answer seemed clear – we would write them Christmas cards! Each student wrote a card to some of the retired priests in the diocese to let them know we are praying for them by name as a class and we are forever grateful for their years serving us. 

Written by Michael Metcalf for Faithfully. Michael is a Grade 6 Teacher in Christ the King Academy, Brooks, AB. 

0 Comments

Fr. Stefan Ganowicz: A servant attitude

10/24/2021

1 Comment

 
It is with great pleasure that I offer a few words to honour Father Stefan Ganowicz on this very special occasion of his 50th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood! 

Father Stefan was ordained in his home town of Poznan in Poland on the 20th of May 1971 and on started his priestly ministry in the Diocese of Calgary in March of 1974. Although I have known Father Stefan since 1984 it was only in the early 1990’s that I had a chance to get to know him better when he became Pastor of St. Bernadette Parish here in Calgary. I sensed from the time I got to know him better that he was a priest truly inspired by the vision and spirit of the Second Vatican Council. His paradigm of being “Church” was deeply inspired by the Church’s own vision of empowering the People of God to claim more profoundly their Baptismal grace and together with their Pastor join in an awareness of the great calling to Apostolate of Christ as both ordained and laity.

Fr. Stefan would enthusiastically embrace any and all opportunities that would enkindle within the faithful he was serving, a greater love of God and an authentic expression of their call to Christian ministry as laity. It is to no surprise that Bishop Paul recognized his passion for this and utilized his giftedness as not only a parish priest but also to serve on the Diocesan Theological Commission as Chaplain for Mount Royal College and Bishop Carrol High School, as well as the Bishop’s Representative for Ecumenical Affairs within the Diocese of Calgary. Following this, he was also appointed as Chaplain to the Reserves of The National Defence Unit, Calgary Highlanders. 

Father Stefan recalls with sincere gratitude, how Bishop Paul graciously gave him special permission one year, to allow the newly confirmed youth of St. Patrick’s Parish in Medicine Hat to be prepared and to assist with the distribution of Holy Communion at a school Mass. Fr. Stefan wanted to use this a special teaching moment to show that the newly confirmed are now fully initiated into the Church. It was not the norm and so he recalls this moment as a real tribute to Bishop Paul’s willingness to go the extra mile to be supportive.

It was when he was appointed to the Hospital Chaplain’s team in the year 2000, that I really got a true sense of Fr. Stefan's great charism and passion for building the Kingdom of God primarily by supporting and embracing the opportunity to work alongside our Pastoral Care lay ministers in the acute care hospitals of Calgary. As the person overseeing the Health Care Apostolate of the Diocese at that time, I recall emails and letters coming from doctors and nurses thanking the diocese for the outstanding pastoral care ministry that Fr. Stefan provided at the Peter Lougheed Hospital. His ability to validate each human person in their most frail and vulnerable hours was a true testimony of Fr. Stefan’s effective pastoral care skills as a priest. His ability to include family members and staff into the rituals and prayers was a precious gift to all involved. 

On this beautiful occasion of Father Stefan’s 50 years as a priest he can truly look back on a vocation that has enriched so many people and helped make the Kingdom of God more visible in this world. At the heart of his ministry was a servant attitude that allowed the Lord to do the Lord’s work through his ministry as a priest and together with the baptized faithful become an instrument of grace in the apostolate of pastoral care for the sick. In the words of St. Paul in Philippians 1:6 "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Congratulations Fr. Stefan and may the Lord richly bless you with good health in mind and body as you continue to serve the Lord as a faithful priest, in the vineyard of the Lord! 
Vertical Divider
Picture
Fr. Stefan Ganowicz

Ordained: 
May 20, 1971 in Poznan, Poland. Arrival in Canada: 1972.

Pastoral assignments
  • Associate Pastor: St. Patrick’s, Medicine Hat (1974-1976)
  • Associate Pastor: St. Anthony’s, Drumheller (1976-1978)
  • On Staff: Corpus Christi, Calgary June 23 (1979-1981)
  • Member of Diocesan Theological Commission: (1980-1984)
  • Pastor: St. Agnes, Carstairs and St. Francis Xavier, Crossfield (1981-1984)
  • Associate Pastor: St. Mark’s, Calgary (1984-1985)
  • Chaplain: Mount Royal College and Bishop Carroll High School (1985-1987)
  • Bishop Representative to Ecumenical Affairs (1985-1987)
  • Pastor: Sacred Heart, Strathmore (1987-1990) and St. Anne, Hussar (1988-1990)
  • Chaplain to the Reserves of The National Defense, Unit of the Calgary Highlanders, Calgary (1990-2009)
  • Administrator: St. Bernadette’s, Calgary (1990-1996)
  • Administrator: St. Anne’s, Calgary & Chaplain Bishop McNally High School (1996-1999)
  • Administrator: St. Anne’s and Chaplain at Peter Lougheed Hospital (2000-2001)
  • Chaplain: Peter Lougheed Hospital (2000-2003)
  • Chaplain: Peter Lougheed Hospital, Calgary (2003 to 2017)



Written by Deacon Michael Soentgerath for Faithfully, October 2021.
1 Comment

Fr. Joseph Hau Duc Tran: You are a priest forever

10/23/2021

6 Comments

 
Fr. Joseph Hau Duc Tran was born on May 19th, 1934, in French-controlled Vietnam.  He was educated in the French system, and left his native country at 19 years old in 1954 at the end of the war between France and Vietnam.  He spent the next four or so years with the Dominicans in Hong Kong, beginning his philosophy studies there, before being sent to Rome and France to continue his theology studies.
​
Fr. Tran studied for his Doctorate in Sacred Theology in Rome, where seminarians were split into three groups — he was among those assigned to the Spanish group.  The Dominicans allowed for his ordination before his studies were finished, and so he was told to arrive at a certain basilica early on a Friday morning for his examinations, which were to be presided over by a cardinal.  His Eminence asked Fr. Tran a number of questions on philosophy and theology, which were to be answered in Latin; there were also a number of personal questions about ecclesiological ideas and languages spoken.  Soon enough, he was told to prepare for his pre-ordination retreat, and to be at St. Peter’s Basilica for July 2nd, 1961.

Fr. Tran says that he could talk at length about the ordination ceremony, about the papal liturgy of the time (which he says is not so different from how it is today), about how crowded the basilica was…  Yet, what impressed him most about the ordination was the morning of, where he and his fellow ordinandi were treated to special audience with St. John XXIII.  Fr. Tran was struck by the saint’s humility and accessibility.  He greeted each candidate personally and shook their hand; he looked very unofficial, as though he were just one priest among many brothers.  The rather rotund St. John XXIII also struck Fr. Tran with his impressive size and the presence that came with it, which seemed to chase away all fears.  Yes, indeed — St. John XXIII was truly “Il Buon Papa”, the Good Pope.

After obtaining his doctorate, Fr. Tran was sent to Manila in the Philippines to teach at the University of Santo Tomas, where he remained for 10 years.  This was followed by two years in France and Rome, and then to Los Angeles, where Cardinal Manning assigned him as assistant at Our Lady of Loretto Parish, and to work with Vietnamese refugees arriving to the United States.  He remained in California for 4 years before joining a cousin who was an associate priest in Illinois.  After his time as chaplain of the St. Francis Medical Centre in Peoria, Fr. Tran came to Canada.  Initially spending four years with Queen of Martyrs Vietnamese Parish in Edmonton, he was invited to Calgary to become administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bridgeland, and St. Francis of Assisi Parish downtown.

At this time, a number of parishes in the diocese of Calgary were being considered for closure, and Fr. Tran was concerned that his little church on Sixth Avenue was in its last days.  He wrote letters to the planning committee, asking for St. Francis to be kept open.  He invited Bishop Henry to preside over the next set of confirmations, and for a reception to be given.  This was the beginning of a fruitful relationship between Fr. Tran and Bishop Henry — after the reception, Bishop Henry informed Fr. Tran that his parish was not in danger of folding, and he was given the mandate to revive the parish to further serve the needs of the downtown community.  During his 19-year tenure at St. Francis, Fr. Tran advocated for the expansion of his little parish, including lobbying for a floor of The Bow to be given to St. Francis, which was unfortunately defeated, 7 to 6.  Due to his advancing age, Fr. Tran reluctantly retired in 2016, “only beginning to be fully alive”.

In my discussion with this well-travelled and well-seasoned man of God, it becomes apparent that Fr. Tran, like the saint who ordained him, has a very unique view of the Church, and its eternal nature.  “Nobody can say what the Church looks like — it is mysterious and yet human.  I have been a witness of the times, and I have been many places, the Church is changing all the time.  It is like a bouquet of flowers blooming, everlasting roses which are ever new… the Church is alive, impressive with tradition, but yet ever changing, ever new.”  At 88 years of age, Fr. Tran professes that each passing year only increases his loyalty to the Church, which is “something marvellous, something to be loved.”  His advice is that “we should let ourselves be led by our high goals”, and that “there is nothing to be worried about in the Church.”

Fr. Tran’s ordination motto is:  “You are a priest forever” (Psalm 110:4), which seems to have had some significance.  In my conversation with Fr. Tran, his understanding of the Christian life as being destined for eternity is truly a cornerstone.  “If He calls me away tonight, so be it — let His will be done.”  If not, then he will continue to do penance in this world.  But one thing is certain, Fr. Tran gives thanks to God for his sixty years of priesthood, “a marvellous blessing lasting to eternity.”
Vertical Divider
Picture
Fr. Joseph Hau Duc Tran, OP
​
​
Ordained:  July 2nd, 1961, St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome by St. John XXIII

Pastoral Placements in the Diocese of Calgary:
  • Administrator:  Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Calgary (1996-1997)
  • Pastor:  St. Francis of Assisi, Calgary (1997-2016)

Picture
Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully. Solomon is a born-and-raised Calgarian, who got letters after his name in Lethbridge. He worships at All Saints, Lethbridge; St. John the Evangelist, Calgary; and both the Calgary and Lethbridge chapters of the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy. He is an oboist by training, chorister by grace, hobby wordsmith, amateur calligrapher and museum enthusiast.
6 Comments

Fr. Marino Infante: In his own words

10/23/2021

4 Comments

 
Where were you born?
I was born in a town called Laoang, Northern Samar, Philippines. There are five of us in our family. I grew up in a very religious family — we were nurtured by our parents by going to Church every Sunday and every single day to attend Mass.  I am the fourth in the line up. One of my sisters is a nun from the Religious Congregation of the Reparatrix Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Naples, Italy. After her nine years of formation in Italy, she was sent back to Philippines to serve in their congregation. My parents and my sister (the nun) are instrumental in my call to the priesthood.
 
How did you discern your vocation? 
I started my discernment in 1985 when I was in my 4th year of high school. My vocation was inspired by the priestly life of my two relative priests, Fr. Leandro Infante and Fr. Romeo Infante; and most especially my vocation was inspired when I witnessed an actual ordination in my hometown right after my high school graduation. I entered into my seminary formation in 1986 at the age of 18; and was ordained at the age of 28.
 
What is your favourite prayer?
Since my childhood, my parents would always put a rosary in my pocket to remind me of praying the Rosary; and since then, the Lord’s Prayer and The Hail Mary have become my favourite prayers.
 
What is your go-to advice when people ask you, “Father, how do I become closer to Jesus?” 
The best advice I give when people ask this question —  is PRAYER or DAILY MASS or Daily Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
 
Any advice for those discerning a vocation?
If anyone is considering the priestly vocation, let him be prayerful first, seek the help of his pastor and his parents and keep on responding God’s call through daily reading of the Word of God.
Picture
Anniversary video of Fr. Marino Infante
Vertical Divider

An interview with Fr. Marino Infante, October 2021
Picture
Fr. Marino Infante

Ordained: March 10, 1996 at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Laoang, Diocese of Catarman, Northern Samar, Philippines, by Most Rev. Angel Hobayan

Pastoral assignments in the Diocese of Calgary
  • Associate Pastor: St. Peter’s, Calgary (2008-2011)
  • Associate Pastor: Holy Spirit, Calgary (2011-2012)
  • Associate Pastor: St. Luke’s, Calgary (2012-2016)
  • Pastor: St. Michael’s, Bow Island (2016-2018)
  • Pastor: St. Mary’s, Brooks (2018-present)
4 Comments

Fr. Samer Naaman: Loving as the Father Loves

10/23/2021

0 Comments

 
St. Basil's Melkite-Greek Catholic Parish
Fr. Samer Naaman during Liturgy at St. Basil's Melkite-Greek Catholic Parish
I believe that the priestly vocation is founded and grown in a believing family that sets a good example for its children. My father used to participate in Mass every day, and so did my mother. In addition, she was involved in spiritual activities in several churches near our house. My brothers and I saw their faith and were affected by their devout practice. In addition, my uncle was a bishop, and he visited us at home from time to time. My brothers and I enjoyed meeting him and listening to his words. His presence often made us wonder about the priestly vocation and the reasons that motivate a person to become a priest... 

The thought of the priestly vocation first came into my mind at the age of twelve when I said for the first time: "I want to be a priest." My parents didn't pay any attention to my words then because I was young and probably unaware of what I was saying. With time, I became sure of my desire to be a priest in the service of God and mankind. I moved away from my brothers and my parents at the age of eighteen to study philosophy and theology, and I was very happy. I was certain of the Lord Jesus' saying that “every sacrifice we make for Christ on earth, we get double it in this life plus eternal life,” and that there is “greater joy in giving than in receiving.” In my university studies, which lasted eight years, my theological knowledge was established, especially in the theology of Christ, the interpretation of the Bible and the meaning of the sacraments... As for studying philosophy, it gave me the ability to think logically, open up to the truth in others, and to accept the other as different. 

I worked hard in my priestly ministry to be open to everyone, and to serve every person, and I realized how much people today are in need of people who would listen to them. So I trained in listening skillfully and worked hard on knowing people’s needs in order to help them meet those. What enhanced my skills were my master's studies at the University of Montreal in accompanying patients in hospitals. Therefore, studying for a master’s degree in theology taught me a lot about listening and its importance, and my first booklet came out under the title “Psychological and Spiritual Accompaniment.” As for my master's in philosophy, it taught me the importance of dialogue between human beings, religions and cultures in order to enrich humanity and to reduce conflict. And I reached the following conviction:  the difference between humans is natural, and their difference in seeing God is natural. As for their human intellectual and ideological differences, they are natural, logical, and necessary. 
​
I thank God for granting me the grace of priesthood which I do not deserve no matter how hard I work for it; I ask him to abide in me till the end, because if I were to go back in time and age, my choice would be nothing other than the priesthood. The priest, in my view, is a father who loves all human beings in the example of his heavenly Father, and works to serve them, especially spiritually.

Written by Fr. Samer Naaman for Faithfully, October 2021.
Picture
Fr. Samer Naaman

Fr. Samer Naaman is ordained on June 29, 1996. He started his ministry in Calgary on July 1, 2020. He is the pastor of St. Basil's Melkite-Greek Catholic Parish
​
0 Comments

Fr. Jack Bastigal: A sower went out

10/23/2021

4 Comments

 
Born to Slovakian immigrant parents in the Drumheller Valley, Fr. Jack Bastigal's priestly vocation is a product of good seed sown in good soil, sown while he was still an altar boy at the tiny mission church of St. Francis of Assisi in Rosedale. The Drumheller Valley at the time was a patchwork of small mining towns, served by a team of three priests stationed at St. Anthony's Parish in Drumheller itself; one to serve Nacmine, Midland and Newcastle west of town, another to serve Rosedale, Wayne, East Coulee and Dorothy to the east, and the third to remain in Drumheller.

ln Fr. Jack's childhood, Fr. Stephen Molnar served the east leg of the valley, and was a frequent visitor at the Bastigal house, mostly for Mrs. Bastigal's cooking. However, there would come the questions and the suggestions from the priests growing up: "Maybe you might want to think about becoming a priest ... " Fr. Jack describes this as the planting of the seeds: "You really don't know if they're going to mature or germinate." 

The Bastigal family moved to Calgary, and Fr. Jack went to St. Mary's High School, where he graduated in 1954. The Basilian Fathers there kept planting more seeds, asking what he was going to do after graduation, a topic that was well-discussed among his "buddies" there - what kinds of jobs to get, what would be good work. Fr. Jack strongly considered engineering, and then finding work in the nascent oil industry in Calgary. He had applied to Gonzaga University in Seattle, and was accepted. His parents were thrilled - they had advocated that Fr. Jack get a good education, find good work, and avoid the difficult work that had been working in the Drumheller Valley coal mines. But lo and behold, the seeds stuck ... 

A month or so before his departure for Seattle, something seemed wrong.  It was impossible to verbalize, especially to his parents, but he needed more time to decide before jumping into this career; the Bastigals were decidedly less than thrilled. 

ln the mid-1950s, it was possible just to walk into a potential employer's office and see if they were hiring, and so Fr. Jack went down to the Imperial Oil Refinery looking for work- he was hired to the labs on the spot, thrilling his parents once again. But around Christmas, things just seemed wrong right again, and so Fr. Jack quit his job, causing another debacle with his family. One would have assumed that this cycle would not continue on, but it did twice more through the winter and spring of 1955 ... Fr. Jack was hired on in customer relations with the Electric Light Department of the City of Calgary, and all was going smoothly until the spring, when suddenly working in an office building on Sixth Avenue SW wasn't as appealing as being outside. Fr. Jack transferred to the Parks Department, and he still vividly remembers seeding the grass at 14th Street and Memorial Drive NW. Around this time, he reconnected with the president of his class from St. Mary's, Mike Tansey. Mike had been set on becoming a priest, and had gone to St. Joseph's Seminary immediately after graduation. Fr. Jack was hesitant. He had thought about going to seminary, but wasn't sure if it was for him. Mike was reassuring: "If it isn't for you, you'll know pretty quickly. lf you come up there, and you see it isn't for you, just let them know, and off you go!" So it was that Fr. Jack Bastigal made his decision to enter the seminary, at this point in time at the original St. Joseph's Seminary on 110th Street in Edmonton, where first year accommodations were in a 10' by 12' room, shared with another seminarian. It was a real testing of the vocation, whether or not one was serious about it. To make a long story short: along came ordination in 1961. 

Fr. Jack stresses that discernment of the vocation is very personal; each vocation comes in a different way. For some, it is an automatic understanding, for others, less so. He is grateful to the priests who brought up the possibility of the priesthood over the years, as each one made him consider it seriously over the years. "It pushed me to make a decision, and- lo and behold!"

When asked about highlights in his years in ministry, Fr. Jack brings up treasured memories and friendships built up in ecumenical work. In the early 1960s, demarcations between denominations were still strict, but opportunities for ecumenism seemed to come up more regularly for Fr. Jack than his brother priests. One of his first placements was as assistant at St. Pius X in Calgary, and chaplain at the University of Calgary. It was initially a challenge, working with the other chaplains within the same offices: "When you leave the seminary, you're convinced that it's the Catholic Church, and the others aren't following the way of the Lord fully!" But the experience sowed its own seeds - as Fr. Jack was challenged and shared understandings with other professors and chaplains, it opened up a broader understanding of "who is acceptable by God, who is being used by God". Later on, these seeds would bear their own fruit.  

Years later, Bishop O'Byrne asked Fr. Jack to become founding pastor of Ascension of Our Lord Parish in Calgary. At the same time, he became aware that a good friend from Calgary Interfaith, Pastor Bob Schoenheider, was currently selling his congregation's small Lutheran church building in the downtown core, and looking for a space to build. Since both needed land they began discussing the possibility of a joint venture, an ecumenical centre to house both congregations. The idea was presented to Bishop O'Byrne and Lutheran Bishop Bob Jacobson, who were happy to endorse the project. And so was born the Sandstone Valley Ecumenical Centre, with two distinct worship areas, a common narthex, meeting rooms and offices; the beginning of a journey together in faith. 

Unfortunately, over the years, Mount Calvary Lutheran had its struggles, and eventually folded, but the friendships that Fr. Jack built with the people of Mount Calvary have stayed firm. He says that "it's those kinds of things that make such a difference: you recognize that you are all looking to praise, honour and worship the same God".  While Sandstone Valley Ecumenical Centre is no more, the seeds it has sown have borne fruit. Once past his term as bishop, Bob Jacobson of the Lutheran church and his wife were received into the Catholic Church. He was allowed to take Catholic orders, and became chancellor of the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan.

Again, while at St. James in Okotoks, Fr. Jack's experience in ecumenical settings was crucial. One of the teacher-librarians at the Catholic school, Marilyn Smith, had mentioned that her husband was an Anglican priest, and that he would like to meet with Fr. Jack. After the usual pleasantries, Fr. Jack asked Fr. Steve if there was anything specific he would like to discuss; the response was that he and his wife were thinking of becoming members of St. James' Parish! A while afterwards, Fr. Jack was struck while preaching one Sunday that Fr. Steve might consider becoming a priest in the Roman Rite. This matter was mentioned to Bishop Henry, and it was suggested that Fr. Steve might be assigned some readings and a course of study. After this study period, a letter of recommendation, and lightning-speed approval from Rome, Bishop Henry came to St. James' Parish in Okotoks to ordain Fr. Steve and to officially appoint him to serve in the parish. 

It is a strange fact of most grains, that in common speech, their fruit and their seeds are discrete ideas, yet they are one and the same, botanically speaking. After a priestly life bearing much fruit borne of good seed, one would assume that Fr. Jack would now be content to rest quietly in his retirement. Yet - for a good while after this formal interview was concluded, Fr. Jack and I discussed the current situation in the Church in this diocese. He has recently moved to Dorchester Square in the heart of Calgary and is settling into his new apartment, enjoying the companionship of his brother priests, and filling in when needed in various parishes throughout the diocese. From his new perch overlooking a busy part of the city, he has witnessed some of the effects that COVID-19 has had on the community. The number of people experiencing financial, psychological and spiritual needs has increased, and Fr. Jack wonders what could be done to serve such people, aside from the agencies that exist in the city; his compassion towards them is palpable through the telephone. His hope is that as the pandemic ends parish life will experience a resurgence - a resurgence of faith. It is clear that despite (or because of?) his long, fruitful life as a priest, Fr. Jack is still the sower, scattering the fruit of his vocation far and wide, looking for it to land in good soil. 
Picture
Fr. John (Jack) Bastigal

Ordained: May 27, 1961, St. Mary’s Cathedral by Bishop Carroll

Pastoral Placements
  • Assistant: St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary (1961-1962)
  • Assistant: St. Pius X, Calgary; Chaplain, University of Calgary (1962-1966)
  • Diocesan Director of Vocations (1966-1967)
  • Administrator: St. Victor’s, Gleichen; St. Columbanus, Arrowwood; St. Ann’s, Hussar (1966-1967)
  • Assistant: St. Luke’s, Calgary; Assistant Director, Catholic Information Centre (1967-1968)
  • Studies: Research Coordinator, Institute of Social Research, Fordham University, Department of Sociology, New York City (1968-1978)
  • Visiting Professor, University of Puerto Rico (1976)
  • Director: Council of Social Affairs — Diocese of Calgary (1978-1984)
  • Pastor: Ascension of Our Lord, Calgary (1982-1994)
  • Pastor: St. James, Okotoks (1994-2008)

Picture
Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully. Solomon is a born-and-raised Calgarian, who got letters after his name in Lethbridge. He worships at All Saints, Lethbridge; St. John the Evangelist, Calgary; and both the Calgary and Lethbridge chapters of the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy. He is an oboist by training, chorister by grace, hobby wordsmith, amateur calligrapher and museum enthusiast.
4 Comments

Fr. Bill Stephenson: Getting started

10/23/2021

11 Comments

 
I don't believe that vocations come from any dramatic events, insights or extraordinary experiences;  I believe that vocations often come from large, generous and committed families, with very generous parents.  In my case, it was a large family of twelve children with hard working, generous parents and grandparents. No one urged me to become a priest, but many people contributed to facilitating my vocation.

I attended Catholic school with the Sisters of Charity of Halifax teaching and serving as administrators; the pastor and his various assistants were very present to the school.  I was especially influenced by the pastor who was very committed, very prayerful, and very much involved in the community. He served in the parish for more than thirty years. Although it was a fairly large school, about 1,100 students from grades one to eleven, he knew all the students, their families and their history. He was very involved in facilitating sports, social events, and Summer Camps for the children. It was at the parish Summer Camp that I was especially impressed by his prayer life.  He spent hours in the camp chapel in prayer and had daily Mass for the campers.  

I also had the privilege of having two uncles who were parish priests in my home diocese.  Although I wasn't very close with them, they gave me the confidence that a vocation to the priesthood was not beyond the realm of possibility.  One of the most interesting bits of advice I received when getting ready to go the Seminary was from one of those uncles who told me that if I felt like leaving the Seminary, then leave. I think he was telling me that I should not feel obligated to be a priest just because he had two uncles who were priests, and not to go through with it just because other people expected it of me. On the other hand, it was very important to me that people did in fact expect me to enter the Seminary.
       
Another support for my vocation was attending Xavier Junior College and St. Francis Xavier University in my home diocese. There were a number of priests on staff at these institutions and they were very encouraging to any student who might be considering a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. They taught the courses that were required, especially Latin and Philosophy. They were almost like recruiters who would recognize candidates for religious vocations, and they were always available for counselling, spiritual direction and sacraments.

I began theology studies at St. Augustine's Seminary in Scarborough, ON in September of 1957 after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from the university. My home diocese in Nova Scotia at that time had an oversupply of priests. They also provided many priests for the Scarboro Foreign Mission Society and various other religious communities also. The bishop there decided I wasn't needed in his diocese, so I applied to the bishop of Calgary who accepted me. I was ordained on May 27th, 1961 in Antigonish, NS, for the Diocese of Calgary. The seminary life was rather spartan, but I felt at home there because my life growing up was similar. I appreciated the opportunity to get to know clergy and seminarians from various parts of the country.

After ordination, I was appointed the secretary to Bishop Carroll which was a great challenge, but also a privilege. I learned much of the history of the diocese and the priests, and got to travel about the diocese for Confirmations and other occasions. I learned a great deal from Bishop Carroll and the other priests who worked at the Bishop's Office in my time there. However, I was more attracted to work in parishes, and in 1968, I was appointed pastor of the small parish of St. Clement’s (now Mary, Mother of the Redeemer) while still acting as Chancellor of the Diocese during the episcopate of Bishop Paul O'Byrne.    

In 1972, I was appointed Co-Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Calgary, along with Monsignor John O'Brien and Fr. Duncan T. Sullivan.  It was a very busy parish with very active lay people, and many marriages and funerals.  One of the requirements for a priest is to be able to work with the laity, and to be supported by them.  I have been greatly assisted in my ministry by the support, encouragement and involvement of the parishioners I have worked with. We have great need of active lay involvement in the parishes. 

In summary, vocations come with the support and love of family members, the clergy, and the wider community, along with a generous willingness to endeavour to follow where the Spirit is leading us.  

Written by Fr. William Stephenson for Faithfully, October 2021.
Vertical Divider
Picture
Fr. William Stephenson
​

Ordained: May 27, 1961, Antigonish, NS by Most Rev. William Power

Pastoral Placements
  • Episcopal Secretary (1961-65)
  • Chancellor (1965-70)
  • Pastor: St. Clement’s, Calgary (1968-1971)
  • Studies: Lumen Vitae, Brussels, Belgium (1971-1972)
  • Co-Pastor: Sacred Heart, Calgary (1972-1977)
  • Pastor: Sacred Heart, Calgary (1977-1982)
  • Rector: St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary (1982-1993)
  • Sabbatical: (1993-1994)
  • Pastor: St. Bonaventure, Calgary (1994-2006)
  • Administrator: St. Anthony’s, Calgary (2008-2009)
11 Comments

Fr. Terry Connolly: Priestly Blessings

10/1/2021

3 Comments

 
As I reflect on 40 years of priesthood I am reminded of God's faithfulness and love. I am reminded of how Jesus has helped me in my priesthood and in all of my life.  Giving thanks to God is a good place to begin.

I also give thanks to God for my parents and family, my extended family and friends. I especially want to mention the witness and good example of my mom to my Catholic faith and life. She attended Mass almost daily, brought us to Benediction every Sunday night, and was very faithful to the Church. She was also a good listener to others in her life.

I remember the priests and parishioners of St Joseph's Parish in Calgary where I grew up, the teachers and students of St Joseph's Elementary and Jr. High schools, and St. Francis High School. It was the boom era right after the Second World War, and the parish was beginning to flourish as families moved into the neighbourhood. Msgr. Neville Anderson was the parish priest at the time, a strict man, but a good, holy man; many young priests were assistants at the time.  It was a difficult time in the Church during the transition during the Second Vatican Council, and lots of good example came from the teachers at the school, who led from their personal faith lives and religion schools.  The school was strict in its discipline, but the priests were kind to the students and would explain why things were done.

My call to the priesthood came through Fr. Louis Malo and Sr. Barbara Gette, sms. One day after Mass, Fr. Louis asked if I'd ever thought about being a priest or religious life.  Sr. Barbara had worked as a cook at St. Pius X Seminary in Saskatoon before she came to St. Joseph’s Parish, and she mentioned to others that I might be a good candidate.  She was very outgoing, and reached out to people in the parish — I remember she reached out to elderly neighbours across the street from us.  After that, I went on a vocation weekend where I decided to try to become a priest. I was thinking about the priesthood, but I was hesitant to start. Fr. Louis Malo asked me to go to the retreat at the school at Midnapore. This weekend was held every year, where young men and women would hear from different priests, nuns and vocations directions to see if they had a vocation.  I went there to see what it was about, and it was a chance to start and ask questions and have a chance to think and reflect on vocation. Bishop Paul O'Byrne accepted me and sent me to St. Pius X Seminary in Saskatoon and then to St. Joseph's Seminary in Edmonton for my formation.

One of the best things I have liked about being a priest is the many different places that I was assigned and the many different people I've met. I think it's a wonderful gift to meet so many different people and to share their lives and friendship in helping to build the parishes and later in the hospital chaplaincy.

People have all kinds of vocations:  single life, marriage, priesthood, and religious life. Each one has its particular struggles, but also has its particular blessings. To discern a particular vocation, it’s helpful to reflect on the particular struggles each has:  an easy life isn’t guaranteed as a priest or religious in this age. But also it is important to have the courage to listen to God’s call, follow His call, and he will give you a happy life. There are many difficulties, but there are many joys — if you hear the Lord’s call, you should follow it, he will help to live out your vocation.  The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few — and we need more labourers in the Church.

I am grateful for the help, guidance and support of many priests and bishops. Celebrating the Mass and the sacraments has been a great blessing to me as a priest. Personal and communal prayer has been a great source of strength for me: the Rosary, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Scriptures and reading the spiritual writings of the saints. One of my favourite prayers is the apostolic blessing as it invites God’s goodness and blessing upon us, and invites us to share that goodness and blessing with the world: 

The Lord be with you.
R:  And with your Spirit.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
R:  Now and forever.
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R:  Who made heaven and earth.
+ May almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
R:  Amen.
Go in peace.
R:  Thanks be to God.

Vertical Divider
Picture
Fr. Terrence (Terry) Connolly

Ordained: May 14th, 1981, St. Joseph’s, Calgary, by Most Rev. Paul O’Byrne

Pastoral Assignments
  • Associate Pastor: St. Mary’s, Brooks (1981)
  • Associate Pastor: Holy Name, Calgary (1981-1983)
  • Associate Pastor: Christ the King, Claresholm (1983-1984)
  • Associate Pastor: Crowsnest Pass Parish (1984-1987)
  • Pastor: Christ the King, Claresholm (1987-1991)
  • Pastor: Sacred Heart, Oyen (1991-1997)
  • Pastor: St. Agnes, Carstairs (1997-2001)
  • Pastor: Sacred Heart, Strathmore (2001-2002)
  • Chaplain: Foothills Hospital, Calgary (2002-2009)
  • Chaplain: Lethbridge Regional Hospital, St. Therese Villa and St. Michael’s Health Centre (2009-2013)
  • Calgary Hospital Chaplaincy Team (2013-2020)


Written by Fr. Terry Connolly for Faithfully, October 2021.
3 Comments

Fr. William Trienekens: Happy are those who take refuge in Him

10/1/2021

6 Comments

 
Picture
At the ordination of Fr. William Trienekens by Bishop Carroll, May 27, 1961
​As a young altar server in Boekel, Netherlands, Fr. William Trienekens saw his parish priest at Mass on a regular basis, and knew he “wanted that same job”.  It was never of any question to him — he was going to be a priest.

The third child and eldest boy of a family of ten, Father describes growing up in Boekel as relatively easy until the Second World War broke out. His father died in May 1944, two or three weeks before D-Day, upon which he suddenly became man of the household, and had to assume the role of surrogate father for his family, looking after the garden and taking on a major share of the household chores.  He describes this as his first ministry position.

By 1955, Fr. Bill was still very much interested in becoming a priest. With not much by way of finances, he sought the help of his parish priest in finding out the addresses of dioceses abroad who were accepting foreign students; Calgary was one such diocese. Bishop Carroll responded to his correspondence immediately, and within half a year, the paperwork was ready and the soon-to-be Fr. Bill was on a boat to Canada in August of 1955.

Fr. Bill describes his first meeting with Bishop Carroll as the best piece of advice he ever received. He was received by Bishop Carroll at his office, and in his interview, Bishop Carroll gave this request:  “I’m going to tell you a sentence, and you will repeat what you heard me say.”  For Fr. Bill, this was the best demonstration of how to really listen to someone he had ever received.  “After half an hour, we really understood each other. I walked out of his office… knowing I had a new father.” His new spiritual father sent him to St. Joseph’s Seminary, and would write him a letter every semester, closing with “Your tenacity will help you reach your goal.”  Fr. Bill was ordained on May 27th, 1961, along with Fr. Jack Bastigal, Fr. Louis Geelan, OFM, and Fr. Bill Stephenson (who was ordained in his home diocese of Antigonish).

When asked about his priestly ministry, Fr. Bill stresses his desire to work in parishes to strengthen community. The Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Women’s League, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Christian Family Movement, and Small Christian Communities come to mind easily as communities he helped strengthen. So too does his time celebrating Mass with the deaf community, his mountain hikes and retreats with schools, directing the permanent diaconate program, and the Evenings for the Engaged, in which a lead couple married for over 5 years would invite one or two engaged couples to their home — and often found their own marriage strengthened by the encounter.

Fr. Bill has many favourite prayers:  the Lord’s Prayer and the Hail Mary, both learned as an infant; and later on, the Prayer of St. Francis, and Psalms 100 and 131. Psalm 34:8 holds particular meaning for him:  “O taste and see that the Lord is good, happy are those who take refuge in Him.” As a family in the Netherlands in the Second World War, taking refuge in God was of great importance, and this passage has reminded him to take refuge in prayer in all of the difficult moments of his ministry since then. His favourite prayer of all is silence: “St. John of the Cross wrote: ‘God’s first language is silence.’ We can pray non-stop, and kill our relationship with God, because we don’t take time to reflect and meditate.”

His advice on how to discern one’s vocation?  Pray for the right choice — “Here I am Lord, I come to do Your will” is a necessary prayer. The ability and interest to pursue it is necessary too. However, “if you want holiness [in vocation], go to bed every night at 10, get up in the morning at 6, and dedicate yourself again to God.  Say your prayers, do exercise, serve others, enjoy life, and be happy.”
​
At 90 years of age, Fr. Trienekens says that it has been a happy life. It has been a struggle at times to reach this place, with personal sorrow and distance from family, but overall, “it has been a happy, graced life”, the guiding principle of which has always been:  “Taste and see that the Lord is good, happy are those who take refuge in Him.”
Vertical Divider
Picture
Fr. William Trienekens

Ordained: May 27, 1961 at St. Mary’s Cathedral by Bishop Carroll

Pastoral Placements
  • Assistant: St. Anthony’s, Drumheller (1961-1965)
  • Assistant: St. Joseph’s, Calgary (1965-1967)
  • Assistant: St. Patrick’s, Medicine Hat (1967-1969)
  • Pastor: Sacred Heart, Oyen (1969-1970)
  • Studies: St. Paul’s University, Ottawa (1970-1971)
  • Chaplain: Bishop Carroll High School, Calgary (1971-1979)
  • Pastor: Corpus Christi, Calgary (1979-1987)
  • Sabbatical: University of Louvain, Belgium (1987)
  • Pastor: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Calgary (1987-1990)
  • Pastor: St. Luke’s, Calgary (1990-1999)
  • Vicar General (1998-2011)
  • Co-Director-Permanent Diaconate Program (1998-2006)
  • Administrator: Holy Spirit, Calgary (2003)

Picture
Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully. Solomon is a born-and-raised Calgarian, who got letters after his name in Lethbridge. He worships at All Saints, Lethbridge; St. John the Evangelist, Calgary; and both the Calgary and Lethbridge chapters of the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy. He is an oboist by training, chorister by grace, hobby wordsmith, amateur calligrapher and museum enthusiast.
6 Comments

Portrait of a priest: Fr. John Petravicius

8/9/2021

9 Comments

 
Picture
Fr. John at St. Mary's Church in Cluny, after a visit to the Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park.
​To celebrate St. John Vianney's feast day this month, I sat down with Fr. John Petravicius (retired from the Diocese of Calgary) to gain some insight into his call to the priesthood, and what it means to live a Christian life in his vocation. Here’s what he had to say.
 
How did you discern your vocation?
The Grace of God!  I was doing a commercial course at the old Mount Royal College downtown (Calgary).  Once a week, Fr. Greg McLellan, who was the associate at Sacred Heart, would come in to do something with the Catholics, who were a minority in the place.  On one occasion, he asked “Well, what can we deal with?”, and somebody came up with the idea to cover the religious communities in the diocese, what they were doing and so forth, and I think that triggered something that I’d been thinking of way back when.  I think the essence was there, it just needed to be triggered by something, and Fr. Greg’s presence was that trigger.
 
How have you seen your share in Christ’s priesthood change and shift through these years?
Basically, nothing has changed:  the priesthood is what it has always been.  How the priesthood has functioned, how a priest did things has changed, not what they did. The celebration of the Mass and the Sacraments is all the same, essentially. The rituals changed, not the realities.  You are given a task of service to people, and so you do what you can in a given situation, and hope it is somewhat adequate.
 
What spiritual practices have sustained you throughout your years as a priest?
One of the most important things in developing and maintaining the Christian life is spiritual reading.  One needs ideas and support, and one is going to get that from reading; it gives motivation to all the other things — the ministries, the liturgy of the hours, etc.  There are areas in which it’s important to read:  first of all, the Word of God is number one, then biographies — the lives of saints (these people lived out the Christian life in a special way), and then spiritual theology.  In reading, we need a variety of things.  We had an old English priest, supposedly teaching English in the seminary.  He had a quote he’d toss out quite often:  “Reading maketh a full man”.  That is particularly true of reading having to do with our relationship with God.
 
For a long time, there has been the promotion of prayer in the presence of the Eucharist.  That is probably a very, very good place to pray, perhaps the very best — the presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
 
What advice would you give to a young man or woman discerning priesthood or religious life?
First of all, prayer is very important. Prayer for the grace to follow up this idea according to the will of God.  It is possible that the idea is mine and not God’s, and so if someone was to join a religious community, and no community will accept them, that says that they don’t have vocation to a religious community. So, things tend to work out in substance.
 
If there is one, what Sacrament do you love celebrating the most?
The greatest Sacrament is the Eucharist — the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. That is beyond everything!  It may not be particularly “satisfying” in the sense that you don’t see things happening — but that’s THE great sacrament — the presence of Christ!
 
Does St. John Vianney’s example play out in your life?
His life speaks very loudly to a lifestyle of simplicity. There’s a certain charm and effectiveness in simplicity:  energy and time are not wasted on peripheral things, and the things that need to be done get done, not only work-wise, but self-care-wise.  He spent a fair bit of time in prayer, a reminder that our relationship with God is the root source of effectiveness, otherwise we can wind up being very effective individuals in a service kind of way, getting a lot of things done, but not accomplishing very much. The result, in the case of St. John Marie Vianney, was that his effectiveness was what it was because of the quality of his life.  We see that in lesser ways: people who are serious about something are taken seriously. Someone who wants to do a good job of something is respected as a model, and encourages others to do the same — to do things that one needs to do, and try to do them well.
 
What are you up to now in your retirement?
There’s time for things like a little extra prayer, a little more time to read, to see people occasionally.  Time goes by, and it’s not very boring. Retirement gives the opportunity to be more aware of the Christian life, not doing a bunch of things and keeping so busy that you forget what you’re doing! All of us are called to live out the Christian life; the things that we do should fit into that mould — the motivation.  We don’t do it for prestige or money —  if that comes, that’s fine — but to do what we do because it seems to be the will of God to do it.
Vertical Divider
Picture
Fr. John at St. Anthony's Church, Calgary
Fr. John's home parish:
​St. Cyril’s, Bellevue, Alberta

Year of ordination: 1959


​Pastoral assignment: 
  • Sacred Heart, Raymond (Missions at Magrath, Cardston and Whiskey Gap); 
  • St. Patrick’s, Medicine Hat; 
  • St. Michael’s, Bow Island; 
  • Corpus Christi, Calgary; 
  • St. John’s, Calgary;
  • St. Mary’s, Beiseker; 
  • St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary,
  • Retirement resident at St. Anthony’s, Calgary.

Interview and transcription: Solomon Ip.
​Photos courtesy of L. O'Hara & Solomon Ip.
9 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Catholic Pastoral Centre Staff and Guest Writers

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018

    Categories

    All
    Advent & Christmas
    Art
    Bereavement
    Bishop Emeritus Henry
    Bishop McGrattan
    Book Review
    Care For Creation
    Catechetics
    Catholic Charities & Development
    Catholic Education
    Catholic Schools
    CCCB
    Christian Unity
    Climate Change
    Consecrated Virgin
    Conversion
    Covid 19
    Culture
    CWL
    Development & Peace
    Devotions
    Diocesan Event
    Discipleship
    Ecumenical
    Elizabeth House
    Environment
    Euthanasia
    Evangelization
    Faithful Living
    Faithfully
    Family
    Feed The Hungry
    From The Bishop's Office
    Fundraising
    Funeral
    Grieving
    Health
    Health Care
    Homelessness
    Indigenous
    In Memoriam
    Interfaith
    Jubilarians
    Lay Associations
    Lent
    Lent & Easter
    Liturgy
    Marian
    Marriage
    Mary
    Mass
    Mental Health
    Migrants
    Miscarriage
    Mission Mexico
    Movie Review
    Music
    One Rock
    Online Formation
    Ordination
    Parenting
    Parish Life
    Pastoral Care
    Pastoral Visit
    Permanent Diaconate
    Pope
    Pope Francis
    Prayer
    Pray For Peace
    Priesthood
    Prolife
    RCIA
    Reconciliation
    Refugee
    Religious Education
    Religious Freedom
    Religious Life
    Resources And Guidelines
    Sacred Art
    Safe Environment
    Saints
    Scripture & Reflection
    Seniors
    Social Justice
    Stewardship
    St. Joseph
    Synod
    Vocation
    Youth And Young Adults
    Youth Ministry

    RSS Feed

GET TO KNOW US
Our Bishop
Offices & Ministries
​Our Staff
Read our Blog
Catholic Community
​Lay Associations
CONNECT WITH US
Contact us
​Careers
​Parish Boundaries

News & Events
Faithfully
​Reporting Abuse
NEED INFO ON
Becoming Catholic
Marriage Preparation
​Vocations
Annulment 
Sacraments Prep
Catholic Funeral
GIVE TO
Diocesan Ministries
Together in Action
Feed the Hungry
Elizabeth House
Your Parish Church​ 
​Other Ministry

Catholic Pastoral Centre  | 120 - 17th Ave SW, Calgary, AB  T2S 2T2 | ​Phone: 403-218-5500 | communications@calgarydiocese.ca
Charitable Number: 
10790-9939-RR0076​. Donate Now.
  • Blog
  • About
  • Give
  • News & Events
  • Ministries
  • Contact Us
  • Parish Finder