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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fr. Joseph Canh Vu, OP

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

Read more:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fr. Sajo Jacob

Ordained: December 30, 1998, Kerala, India

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

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

Fr. Roy Jayamaha

Ordained by Archbishop Armando Trindade in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Pastoral assignments in the Diocese of Calgary:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fr. Bryan Frank​

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

Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Calgary:

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

Written by Deacon Michael Soentgerath. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fr. Michael L. Storey

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

​Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Calgary:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pastoral Assignments in the Diocese of Calgary:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Message of encouragements from Fr. Santiago's family:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. 

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

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.

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)

“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.

Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully

“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.

Written by Fr. Wayne Poile for Faithfully

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)

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. 

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,