How to donate
0 Comments
 Catholics across our diocese are invited to take part in a worldwide consultation led by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Bishops, clergy, consecrated women and men, lay leaders, and all members of the faithful are encouraged to share their perspectives on the needs, priorities, opportunities, and challenges facing our communities. Your response will help the Dicastery discern how it can better support local Churches in promoting human dignity, justice, peace, care for creation, and the well-being of every person. The survey is available in English, French, Spanish, and Italian. Complete the survey by August 8, 2026.
Calgary At the Calgary Correctional Centre and Calgary Remand Centre, volunteers lead weekly chapel programs centred on the Sunday Liturgy of the Word, along with a weekly Rosary, opportunities for Confession, and one-on-one spiritual support for those who request it. At the Calgary Youth Offender Centre, biweekly faith-sharing sessions provide prayer, mentorship, and reflection for young people. One-on-one spiritual accompaniment is also available for women and youth seeking support. Lethbridge At the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, 10 dedicated volunteers provide approximately 510 hours of ministry each year. Their service includes twice-weekly Rosary gatherings, monthly opportunities for Confession, Communion twice a month, one-on-one pastoral care, and seasonal liturgies such as Christmas prayer services and Ash Wednesday services. Drumheller Prison ministry at Drumheller Institution continues to develop through the efforts of the pastor of St. Anthony's Parish, who offers the Rosary, Mass, and faith formation. With another priest preparing to assist, the ministry is expected to expand its pastoral care for inmates in both minimum- and medium-security units, bringing greater opportunities for prayer, the sacraments, and spiritual support.
Interest in the sacraments continues to grow across Calgary's correctional centres, and some inmates shared that they had learned new ways to deepen their prayer through fasting, charity, and a closer relationship with God.
Another added, "They too were chosen; they mattered and are part of the Body of Christ." The impact of this ministry is perhaps best expressed in the words of one former inmate: Thank you for ministering the program at Remand. It took me a while, but I got a good job now and I am doing well. I am going to attend Mass. Thank you." Thank you to our prison ministry volunteers for their faithful witness, and to all who support this ministry through prayer and encouragement. Together, you are helping bring Christ's presence, mercy, and hope to those who need it most. Thank you for your continued support through prayer, volunteer service, and financial generosity. Your generosity helps sustain this ministry of hope and accompaniment for those in correctional facilities throughout our Diocese. To support Prison Ministry, please visit catholicyyc.ca/give.   Feed the Hungry is a diocesan outreach ministry that offers weekly meals, care packages, and compassionate accompaniment to individuals and families in need, creating a place of dignity, welcome, and community.
For many volunteers, serving is more than an act of charity—it is an expression of faith. As one longtime volunteer reflected, “A Sister once remarked to me that being a Feed the Hungry volunteer and serving our guests is ‘a wonderful way to pray.’ That has become my point of perspective on the program, galvanizing my desire to serve my brothers and sisters, while mentoring those who join us to do the same.”
Guests come for a meal. They leave fed in ways they didn't know they were hungry. Because here, food is never just food. It is dignity. It is being known by name. It is a community that does not fix you, but refuses to abandon you.In this space, something unexpected happens. Guests come for a meal. They leave fed in ways they didn't know they were hungry. Because here, food is never just food. It is dignity. It is being known by name. It is a community that does not fix you, but refuses to abandon you.
 The vote on Bill C-218, the Right to Recover Act is approaching, expected in late May or early June, and your voice still matters. Bill C-218 would amend the Criminal Code to prevent Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) from being offered to individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness. If this bill does not pass, that door opens on March 17, 2027. As Catholics, we believe those suffering from mental illness deserve care, hope, and accompaniment - not death. This Monday, April 20, 2026, His Eminence Frank Cardinal Leo sent letters to Prime Minister Mark Carney and to every Member of Parliament in the Archdiocese of Toronto, urging them to support Bill C-218. Cardinal Leo called on our elected leaders to choose investments in palliative care and mental health supports over the further expansion of assisted suicide in Canada. These letters have been made public and represent a significant moment of witness for the Church in Canada.
More than 5,000 Canadians have already emailed their MP through the Help Not Harm portal. Here in southern Alberta, hundreds of voices from our diocese have been part of that effort. But with the vote weeks away, now is the moment to act - or to encourage someone you know to do so. We invite you to learn more about this important issue and to lend your voice. Visiting HelpNotHarmCanada.ca takes less than three minutes. You can also read our earlier post on the campaign here. We are called to offer care, hope, and protection to those who are most vulnerable. Please act today.  Even as the media speak of it far less today, arms continue to fire, people continue to die, lands remain contested, and Christians continue to emigrate in order to survive. Even schools often go without teachers, because they are not permitted to cross borders." ~ Cardinal Gugerotti Peace was declared. Dialogues multiplied. Yet, as Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches wrote to bishops worldwide this February, the weapons did not fall silent. This is the world into which the Good Friday Collection is placed every year, not as a token gesture, but as an act of faith. The collection itself is ancient. Since the 14th century, the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land has cared for the sacred sites and the Christian communities living among them. Pope Paul VI gave the collection its modern form in his 1974 apostolic exhortation Nobis in Animo, recalling that St. Paul himself organized collections across Macedonia and Achaia for the struggling faithful in Jerusalem, recognizing in that act of giving "a bond of unity between the new communities of believers and the mother Church in Jerusalem." The pattern has never changed. The universal Church sustains the local Church in the land where faith was born.
 In every family and community, there are quiet struggles we may not always see. Mental illness touches many lives, often closer than we realize. In any given year, one in five Canadians will experience it: a friend, a colleague, a loved one.
We invite the Catholic community to respectfully contact their local Member of Parliament (MP) to request their support for Bill C-218, the Right to Recover Act, currently before the Parliament of Canada. Bill C-218 proposes an amendment to the Criminal Code to make it illegal to provide Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) to individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness. It recognizes the importance of recovery and ensures that help can be offered, not harm. Why this matters
Background on Bill C-218 Bill C-218 is a Private Members’ Bill introduced in Parliament by an individual Member of Parliament. It has been introduced by Tamara Jansen, MP for Cloverdale–Langley City, British Columbia. To pass, the legislation will require support from more than one political party. Many Members of Parliament have expressed concern about the rapid expansion of MAiD in Canada, particularly for those whose primary underlying condition is mental illness. MPs are being asked to vote according to their conscience, regardless of party affiliation. The difference in passing this bill could be just a few votes in the House of Commons. If the legislation does not pass, new laws are set to take effect on March 17, 2027, allowing MAiD for those whose sole underlying condition is mental illness. Take action You are invited to visit HelpNotHarmCanada.ca, where you can send an email directly to your local Member of Parliament in under 3 minutes. As Catholics and Canadians, we are called to offer care, hope, and protection to those who are suffering. Roughly 25.6 million people in Sudan, more than half of the country’s population, are facing acute hunger, making this one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies today. Years of conflict, displacement, and economic collapse have left millions of families struggling to find even their daily bread. Children, pregnant women, and the elderly are among the most vulnerable, with many facing severe malnutrition and limited access to basic health care. During this Lenten season, when we are called to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we are reminded that our sacrifices can become a source of life for others. Lent invites us to open our hearts to those who suffer and to respond with generosity and compassion. Please consider making a donation to support emergency assistance for families facing hunger in Sudan through Development and Peace — Caritas Canada. Your gift helps provide critical nutrition supplies, support local partners, and bring hope to communities enduring this crisis.   At the start of the 2025–2026 school year, the Diocese of Calgary launched the Feed the Hungry School Outreach Program, a new initiative aimed at addressing food insecurity among students and families within its Catholic school communities. Through targeted funding, the program supports practical, school-based responses that ensure children are nourished, supported, and better able to learn. As part of this initiative, Calgary Catholic School District received $60,000 to support a designated school in providing a four-day-per-week lunch program. This funding ensures consistent access to nutritious meals for students who might otherwise arrive at school hungry, helping to remove a significant barrier to learning and overall well-being. Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools received $20,000 to support its Grocery Cards to Support Families in Need program. This initiative assists families experiencing food insecurity by providing grocery gift cards, enabling them to purchase food and essential nutritional items with dignity and flexibility. Medicine Hat Catholic Schools received $120,000 to establish and deliver a school-based food program at St. Mary’s School in Medicine Hat. This investment strengthens the school’s capacity to respond directly to student needs through a structured and sustainable approach to daily nutrition. Reflecting on the impact of this support, Shari Gustafson, Principal of St. Mary’s School in Okotoks, shared: “Children are not truly available for learning when their tummies are hungry. It is heartbreaking to see nearly empty lunch kits in a world of abundance.” She emphasized that the program provides not only food assistance but also dignity, stability, and hope for families in need. Gustafson further described the response within her school community: “There were hugs, hearts overwhelmed, and it was clear that they knew they were loved, they mattered, and they belonged.” She added that the support has made “a tangible and meaningful difference” and stands as a living witness to the Gospel call: “For I was hungry and you gave me food” (Matthew 25:35). The Feed the Hungry School Outreach Program is available to all five Catholic school districts within the Diocese of Calgary through an application process. The initiative reflects the Diocese’s ongoing commitment to caring for the most vulnerable and to forming school communities rooted in compassion, justice, and faith in action. www.feedthehungrycalgary.ca Photo created with the assistance of Gemini Nano image generator.
 Image: Gemini It may come as a surprise that long-standing protections for good-faith religious expression could be weakened under proposed changes to Bill C-9, raising concern that even sincere expressions of Christian belief could be misunderstood or challenged. Bill C-9 has passed the first and second readings and is now undergoing review by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, with the latest proposed amendment referenced above, subject to a vote possibly as early as this afternoon. Given all that could be at stake if the amendment passes, the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has sent an open letter to the Prime Minister, with other government officials in carbon copy. What you can do right now
Related articles: Source: CCCB & Archdiocese of Edmonton
“You Are Not Forgotten”: Diocese reflects on Red Wednesday Mass for persecuted Christians11/30/2025  Christians around the world continue to face violence, discrimination, and forced displacement simply because they profess the name of Christ. Earlier this month, on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2025, the Diocese of Calgary gathered at St. Mary’s Cathedral for the Mass for Persecuted Christians. Bishop William T. McGrattan celebrated the liturgy at 5 pm in unity with Red Wednesday, the worldwide day of prayer for persecuted believers. Priests from across the Diocese concelebrated with him, along with Fr. John Jwad of the Chaldean Catholic community, whose people continue to live the daily reality of persecution. As he began his homily, Bishop McGrattan referred to the 2025 Aid to the Church in Need report, which tracks the status of religious freedom around the world. He highlighted the scale of suffering by pointing to the number of countries identified in the study. “Twenty-four are actively being persecuted in violent ways,” he said, “and at thirty-eight are experiencing forms of lack of freedom and discrimination.” He added, “What is staggering is that this is affecting close to 5.8 billion people.” He noted that many of these situations are driven by “authoritarianism political machines,” creating cycles of oppression, displacement and instability across entire regions. Reflecting on the readings, the Bishop spoke about the Gospel scene of Christ’s pierced side. “The piercing will bring new life,” he said, pointing to the three testimonies named by John: “blood, water and spirit.” He explained that “it is in the water that we are redeemed and made children of God,” and that “it is in the blood of Christ that we participate in the sacrifice of the suffering that we celebrate in the celebration of the Eucharist.” These signs, he said, “are to be given also as signs and symbols of life for all humanity.” He reminded the faithful that “this is the faith that conquers the world,” a faith that moves believers to offer support and welcome: “It is God’s love revealed in Christ, which we are asked to give as support and welcome to those who experience persecution and come to us, a country that experiences freedom.”
Although Red Wednesday has passed, the call to prayer and solidarity continues. Let us remain committed in remembering persecuted Christians and standing with them in faith and compassion. 
 Photography by Bandi Szakony, for the Diocese of Calgary.
The team of Human Trafficking Education for Prevention — the anti-trafficking group active in the Diocese since 2023 — would like to share with you some of our recent activities and achievements, in the hope that you will continue to support our work with your prayers and, if possible, your collaboration. Many of you will have received our leaflets and become aware of our website htep.ca, which includes a helpful collection of resources for use in schools, parishes, youth groups, and more. All the material we have prepared to date is available to download from the website’s Resource section at no cost. A particularly useful resource is our study video, which explains different aspects of human trafficking in a way suitable for group use. We sent a letter containing the website link to each parish in the Diocese, as well as to every ordained deacon and all Catholic Separate School chaplains. In June, before the end of the school year, we visited each of the First Nations reserves to meet with school authorities, community colleges, and Band Police (or RCMP detachments) to share our materials. We learned that human traffickers are now targeting the reserves in the same way they have been targeted for years by drug traffickers. This reality is described in the documentary Into the Light, produced by a team from the Kainai Nation (Blood Reserve near Lethbridge). In September, we were invited to participate in an excellent event for school counsellors, sponsored by the Lethbridge Palliser School District in conjunction with Alberta Social Services. The Edmonton RCMP and police delivered a superb and thought-provoking presentation outlining the growing use of the internet for “grooming” and showing how easily young people can fall into traps set by “fake friends.” We also learned that youth are now more likely to engage in “sexting” (sending compromising photos of themselves to friends), unaware that these photos can later be used by hackers to victimize or blackmail them. Using artificial intelligence, human traffickers can now produce and distribute pornographic material using a person’s body, gestures, and voice, often without the individual’s knowledge. If you are interested in learning more or joining our team, please let us know by writing to [email protected]. Our next team meeting is on Monday, December 1st, 2025.
I want to recognize and celebrate the work of Mission Mexico over these past 25 years. This program is a testament to the faith and generosity of the people of Calgary, reaching out to the poorest of the poor with arms of faith, hope, and charity for the people in the mountain regions of Guerrero. This program has given them hope and a better future for themselves and their families, firmly grounded in the love of God.  On Saturday evening, Oct 25, 2025, Mission Mexico celebrated their 25 years of service! The celebration took place at St. Anthony’s, where about 45 friends gathered for tacos, burritos, and lively conversation.
We were privileged to welcome Mike MacDonald, who leads the charity’s work in Mexico. After showing the celebratory anniversary video, Mike recounted the impact of his ministry among the poorest families in the mountains of Guerrero, and recalled the recent visit of board members, John Paul and his wife, Harriet. Board chair Sean Lynn announced that, in honour of the 25th anniversary, the scholarship bursaries will be increased to 64 awards and several one-time projects. This is just one of the many initiatives that parishes can support, whether by fundraising for the bursaries or by contributing to the other projects supported by Mission Mexico.  At Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish in Calgary, a dedicated group of lay volunteer missionaries live this Gospel every week. Under the guidance of Deacon Ricardo Rosero and coordinator Gladys Alvarez, the Pastoral Care Ministry in Spanish serves those who are ill, elderly, or confined to their homes, bringing them Holy Communion, prayer, and companionship. “Our commitment,” says Deacon Rosero, “is to foster a more humane and Christian culture in the face of pain, suffering, disability, loneliness, death, and grieving.” Serving Christ in the sick Eighteen commissioned Ministers of Communion and an equal number of Silent Apostles, companions who accompany and pray, visit the sick each Sunday. They carry the Eucharist to parishioners who can no longer attend Mass, offering not only the Body of Christ but also presence, comfort, and a reminder that they remain part of the Church. Throughout the year, the team brings Communion weekly to nearly forty people across the city, whether in senior residences, hospitals, or private homes. Each pair of missionaries covers a different area of Calgary, ensuring that the whole city is reached “in one Sunday,” as Deacon Rosero explains. “Our mission is to bring the Kingdom of God closer to them through our service.” Special visits are made on holy days such as Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Christmas, and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. In moments of serious illness, the pastoral team also coordinates with the parish priest so that the faithful can receive Confession or the Anointing of the Sick. A ministry of prayer and presence Prayer remains the heartbeat of this ministry. Each month, parishioners gather for two evening liturgies:
“We pray for the sick, for their families, and for those who care for them,” Deacon Rosero notes. “It strengthens our own faith and the faith of the parish.” When a patient dies, the ministry accompanies the family in mourning and remembrance. Last year, twelve people who had received Communion from the missionaries passed away. Their names were remembered during the Annual Mass for the Faithful Departed, celebrated on the final Wednesday of Ordinary Time. Training new missionaries
A milestone this past year was the successful translation and launch of the Pastoral Care Ministry Training Course in Spanish. Deacon Rosero and Gladys Alvarez spent months adapting diocesan formation materials, written originally in English, so that Spanish-speaking Catholics could receive instruction in their own language. The inaugural five-week course ran in May and June 2025 at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish, with thirteen participants completing certification. All now serve actively in the ministry. The new course covers the theology of suffering, pastoral listening, practical guidelines for visiting the sick, and the spiritual significance of bringing Holy Communion outside Mass. Participants also learn how to collaborate with clergy, maintain confidentiality, and accompany families with compassion. Beyond their Sunday visits, the volunteers cultivate fellowship and spiritual renewal through regular formation and prayer. They participate in parish retreats, Eucharistic adoration, rosaries, and processions. Twice a year, they attend workshops or spiritual retreats to deepen their understanding of mercy and pastoral care. Moments of joy and friendship are also part of their rhythm: a summer gathering for volunteers and families, and a Christmas celebration where missionaries give thanks for another year of service. Witness of compassion The Spanish-speaking Pastoral Care Ministry represents one of the many cultural expressions of faith flourishing within the Diocese of Calgary. Its volunteers bridge language and distance to ensure that no one is forgotten. “Many of our brothers and sisters cannot come to church,” Deacon Rosero says. “When we arrive with the Eucharist, their faces light up. They know the Lord is with them.” The ministry’s impact is measured not only in numbers, thousands of Communions distributed each year, but in transformed hearts, both of those visited and of those who serve. As the Church celebrates the Jubilee Year of Hope, the volunteers of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish embody that hope through every visit, prayer, and gentle word offered to the suffering. “Christ Himself comes to the sick through our hands,” Deacon Rosero affirms. “That is why we serve, with love, reverence, and joy.” In this ministry, the diocesan call to Renewal becomes visible. Every visit reminds the homebound and the sick that they matter, to God and to their parish family. And every volunteer, moved by compassion, discovers anew that they too matter in the mission of the Church.  Christian love breaks down every barrier, brings close those who were distant, unites strangers, and reconciles enemies … Through your work, your efforts to change unjust social structures or your simple, heartfelt gesture of closeness and support, the poor will come to realize that Jesus’ words are addressed personally to each of them: “I have loved you (Rev 3:9).” ~Dilexi te Pope Leo XIV has released his first Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi te (“I have loved you”), on the Church’s care for the poor, on the Feast Day of St. John Henry Newman, Oct 9, 2025. Signed on Oct 4, 2025, the document was originally drafted by Pope Francis before his death and later revised and promulgated by Pope Leo XIV. It continues the reflection begun in Pope Francis’ final encyclical, Dilexit nos (“He has loved us”), on the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Other resources:
 On Sep 12, 2025, Bishop William McGrattan, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), wrote to the federal Minister of Finance to raise urgent concerns about proposed changes to Canada’s charity laws. See Pre Budget Consultations recommendations on Recommendations 429 & 430. These changes could remove the long-standing charitable status of religious organizations and place new restrictions on charities.
The Hon. François-Philippe Champagne, M.P. Minister of Finance and National Revenue Department of Finance Canada 90 Elgin Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G5 House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Email: [email protected] Dear Minister, I write to you as a follow up to the enclosed letter that you received on 8 March 2025 from the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) regarding the Standing Committee on Finance’s Budget Recommendations 429 and 430. The CCCB has not received a reply. Therefore, due to the urgency of the matter and in light of the Government’s current preparations for the 2025 budget, I would like, once again, to highlight a few areas of specific concern. Recommendation 429 would introduce a restrictive bias into charitable status, as noted in our March letter. It would impact all charitable organizations in the future whose purposes may not align with those of the current government. The proposed removal of the “privileged status of advancement of religion” in Recommendation 430, in addition to alienating more than two-thirds of Canadians who are religiously affiliated (1), would also alter the well-established common law definition of charitable purpose, which stretches back over 400 years (2). It would further send a disruptive signal to the charitable sector that the principles of charity legislation can be rescinded without adequate consultation, even before their impact on society is fully understood. It is essential to underscore that both Recommendations 429 and 430, if pursued by the Government, would harm the charitable sector as a whole and, in particular, the millions of Canadians who rely on the affected organizations for support. The proposed changes would also create a void within the charitable sector, significantly increasing costs for the federal government and the Canadian taxpayer.(3) The CCCB joins a growing group of other large Catholic charities, including the Catholic Women’s League of Canada, Development and Peace-Caritas Canada, the Saint Vincent de Paul Society of Canada, the Knights of Columbus of Canada, and the Catholic Civil Rights League, together with other organizations, such as the Canadian Interfaith Conversation, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, the Christian Legal Fellowship, and Imagine Canada. All are united in voicing strong opposition to the Recommendations 429 and 430, which are seen as undue ideological and partisan interference of a discriminatory nature within the charitable sector. Any proposed structural changes to federal charity legislation should be preceded by serious consultation with the stakeholders and not simply based on a committee’s recommendations. As president of the CCCB, I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and staff members of the Department of Finance to discuss these concerns on behalf of the many Catholic charities that operate in Canada, serving all Canadians, regardless of religious affiliation. Yours sincerely, The Most Rev. William T. McGrattan Bishop of Calgary, CCCB President Notes:
Cc: The Right Hon. Mark Carney, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada The Hon. Wayne Long, P.C., M.P., Secretary of State The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, P.C., M.P. Mr. Jagmeet Singh, M.P. Mr. Yves-François Blanchet, M.P. Ms. Elizabeth May, M.P. Mr. Ryan Turnbull, M.P. Mr. Jasraj Singh Hallan, M.P. Mr. Don Davies, M.P. Mr. Gabriel Ste-Marie, M.P. Mr. Peter Fonseca, M.P  Just one day after returning from the week-long Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop William T. McGrattan presided at the World Day of Migrants and Refugees Mass on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at St. Mary’s Cathedral. The liturgy, organized with Calgary Catholic Immigration Society, Couples for Christ, and St. Mary’s Cathedral, drew together migrants, refugees, and parishioners to pray in solidarity with people who have been forced to leave their homelands. Pope Leo XIV, in his apostolic message for the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, frames migrants as “missionaries of hope” whose courage and perseverance bear witness to God’s promise of new life. He links this hope to the virtue described in the Catechism (n. 1818), a longing for the ultimate happiness that God has placed in every heart. In his 2025 message for the day, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the witness of migrants and refugees themselves. Migrants, through their courage and perseverance, become missionaries of hope, teaching us that even in the midst of loss and suffering, God’s promise of new life endures.
He recalled his visits to St. Peter’s Square in Rome, where the monument “Angels Unawares” by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz depicts more than 140 migrants and refugees crowded together on a boat. “You see children, mothers, the elderly, priests, those of different nationalities. Each time I go to that sculpture, I notice parts that are warped. It might be the child, or the elderly. It’s a reminder that people are moved to pray and to touch this statue because of the condition and situation they find themselves in.”
The Bishop reminded the congregation that this parable is not just a story of the past but a living call to examine our own attitudes toward those on the margins. In Calgary, the Church’s response has taken root for decades. The Diocese established the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society in the 1980s, initially to serve Vietnamese refugees, and it continues to welcome people from Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and beyond today. "The need keeps growing for us as a Church to open our doors, and to welcome the stranger." “Our world sometimes needs much more of a witness of welcome and hospitality,” Bishop McGrattan said, “especially to the refugees and the migrants.”
As the homily came to a close, Bishop McGrattan left the faithful with a challenge: to take the parable of Lazarus to heart by looking honestly at their own attitudes. “Are we hospitable? Are we open to receiving those who are most in need, those who are fleeing their countries for safety, stability, or to ensure that their families are kept intact? Many continue to be persecuted. We, as a Church of Christians, must continually respond.” The World Day of Migrants and Refugees reminds us that faith calls us to welcome and solidarity. As Bishop McGrattan urged, may we not take the attitude of the rich man, "but take the attitude of Abraham, who is known as the symbol of hospitality, the image of that who welcomed the strangers in his midst, and was blessed to be in the presence of angels.” Photography: Bandi Szakony.
 Since 1993, Feed the Hungry, an outreach of the Diocese of Calgary, has responded to the Gospel call to serve those in need. With the help of generous sponsors and dedicated volunteers, we offer more than a meal: we offer a ministry of hope and belonging. Every Sunday, guests are welcomed with compassion, whether through a hot sit-down meal or a hamper to-go. A quick glance at how your support makes a difference
 Prison Ministry Volunteers Appreciation Gathering at St. Luke’s, Calgary The Prison Ministry brings compassion and hope behind bars through eight ongoing programs in Calgary and Lethbridge. In 2024, volunteers faithfully served youth, women, and men in local Remand and Correctional Centres. Where we serve
Calgary: Rebuilding after the Pandemic
The year of 2024 offered powerful glimpses of God at work in our correctional centres:
Lethbridge: Steady Support, Week After Week At Lethbridge Correctional Centre, a small but committed team offers twice-weekly Rosary gatherings with time for reflection and questions. Inmates also receive Communion twice a month, monthly confession, regular one-on-one pastoral care, and participate in seasonal liturgies such as a Christmas prayer service, with treat bags for all inmates and staff, and Ash Wednesday services. Their steady presence reminds inmates and staff alike that they are seen, valued, and not alone.
This Jubilee year our Share Lent theme is Turn Debt into Hope It is part of a worldwide campaign to cancel unjust debt and free some of the poorest people from its chains. Lent is a time of conversion that invites us to draw closer to God. Now as we intensify our efforts at the approach of Easter, as we anticipate the joy of the resurrection, let us redouble our efforts to work for justice. We still have time to respond to the call of Jesus, to Jubilee, and of Pope Francis, to seek the good for our sisters and brothers in the Global South. Pope Francis has called us to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ in solidarity with those who are burdened with unjust debt, that they neither asked for or are benefitting from.
 With an election call on April 28, Bishop McGrattan is calling on Christians to get involved in the electoral process. (Canva) As Canadians prepare for the upcoming campaign, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) president Bishop William McGrattan urged Christians to get involved in the electoral process. “I think it is important to realize we do have this freedom and also the responsibility to exercise a decision that will support the country in moving forward in a way that respects common values,” said McGrattan, the Bishop of Calgary. Discourse between relatives, friends, co-workers and fellow churchgoers about the daily news and philosophical debates about the soul of the nation will magnify during the campaign timeframe. Instead of adopting a combative and intolerant posture during a political discussion with someone expressing clashing viewpoints, McGrattan said we can exchange ideas charitably. “I think the first step is to make sure that one is educated or aware of the issues so that one can speak with a certain degree of knowledge,” said McGrattan. “And then be open to listening to another person's perspective and question why they might hold that particular perspective on an issue. Maybe then say, ‘from my perspective of my life of faith, I see this in this light.’ “Faith is not a political position, but faith provides values that we need to be reflecting in our discussions and in making decisions regarding the future of a country and a society.” Catholics, specifically, are encouraged to resist being one- or two-issue voters by meditating upon all seven core principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST):
McGrattan suggested clergy can meaningfully assist these groups by being aware of the realities of food insecurity, mental illness, euthanasia and health-care barriers in their local context and then “bring those to the attention of our faithful in their discernment and education as the election unfolds.” A key to discernment, said McGrattan, is to “pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom.” He considers prayers to the Holy Spirit “essential at this time as we prepare to go into an election.” Reciting The Lord’s Prayer, the foundational Christian prayer that Jesus taught to His disciples, is also recommended by McGrattan. This pre-vote spiritual practice strikes a personal chord. “I remember my father telling me to make sure you pray before you go and vote,” said McGrattan. “He always said he would say the Our Father before placing the ballot in the box. I remember him telling me that as I came of age to vote. He gave me that sage wisdom and prudence.” The mentality a Catholic brings into the voting booth is also vital. Recognizing that voting is a responsibility, said McGrattan, should ensure that “one doesn’t just see this as a kind of superficial or just a very momentary type of decision.” He added that we should approach a vote believing “this is an act of love and service.” As for after the vote, McGrattan said we can observe the Ignatian teaching of holy indifference — embracing God’s will and direction by surrendering personal preferences. “It is about one accepting the outcome and trying to live with that and contribute the best they can,” said McGrattan. “If things don't necessarily align with one's vote, one will try and find ways to continue to advocate for some of the issues they saw as important.” McGrattan stressed that while “God knows the outcome, and God has in some ways ordained what is to unfold in our life and in the life of a country,” at the same time “He wants us to act freely and responsibly. Voting is part of that human dignity we have given to us by God.” McGrattan concluded with a call to action for young voters. “Especially for the young voters, the future is important,” said McGrattan. “They have to give voice to that by being very participatory in terms of elections and making their vote known.” Written by Quinton Amundson for the Catholic Register. Image source: Canva.
|
Author
Catholic Pastoral Centre Staff and Guest Writers Archives
September 2026
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed