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  • Jubilee 2025

A Joyful Invitation: Ordination Mass of Rev. Mr. Peter An to the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ

5/3/2025

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is with great joy that I announce to the Diocese that I have called Rev. Mr. Peter An to ordination to the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ. The ordination will take place on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday, June 27, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in St. Mary's Cathedral.

All of you are warmly invited to attend this joyful celebration of our faith and vocations especially in this Jubilee year. A reception will follow in the Cathedral Hall. I also especially encourage all priests of the Diocese to concelebrate in the ordination as it takes place on the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. Our presence is a visible sign of our unity in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ and a powerful witness to the newly ordained as they begin their sacred ministry.

Let us continue to pray for Deacon Peter as he prepares to offer his life in priestly service to Christ and His Church.
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Sincerely yours in Christ,
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✠William T. McGrattan
Bishop of Calgary
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St. Augustine's, Taber: The Eucharist is the core of our faith!

4/7/2025

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Our small rural parish communities of St. Augustine’s, Taber and St. Joseph’s, Vauxhall recognized a great need for increased vocations. It is often our smaller communities that are most affected by the shortage of priests, which limits opportunities for worship in the sacred liturgy. Our existing priests are stretched thin, often covering two or three parishes that may be as much as an hour apart.

In response, we felt called to come together for 40 Hours of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, offering special intentions for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. What initially seemed like a tall order for our community was met with an incredible response once the invitation went out. Many parishioners stepped forward—some spending time in adoration for the first time in years, and others, for the very first time.

​Adoration began at 3:00 am on November 25 and concluded on November 26 with Benediction at 6:45 pm, followed by a Memorial Mass offered for the intentions of all deceased members of the Knights of Columbus. A time of fellowship followed the Mass.

With open hearts, we witnessed how Jesus desires to touch us deeply, speak to us, heal us, and transform us when we meet Him in adoration. Many parishioners stayed longer than the one hour they had signed up for. In heartfelt praise and thanksgiving, all were blessed to offer this time to the Lord.

As we gathered in community, the presence of the Holy Spirit was strongly felt. Many experienced a renewed awareness of Jesus’ presence in the Blessed Sacrament, filling them with peace, joy, and grace—gifts waiting for all of us in Eucharistic adoration.

​We especially lift up all our seminarians: may God fill them with courage, continue to encourage their hearts, and bless our Catholic communities with more priests and religious men and women.

God bless all our faithful servants—for your glory, Lord.


Submitted by Linda Kinahan, Parishioner. Linda has been a lifelong parishioner in the Taber area, first at Assumption Parish, Grassy Lake which was a missionary parish of St. Augustine’s, Taber. She currently sits on the Liturgy Committee at St. Augustine’s and is responsible for Sacred Art. She is married to Deacon Brian Kinahan.
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We Carry Light: 2025 World Day for Consecrated Life

2/11/2025

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What do candles and Consecrated Life have in common? The faithful of St. Albert the Great Parish who attended the 5 pm Mass on Sunday, February 2, 2025 certainly know.

February 2 is an important feast day in the Church’s liturgical calendar, the 40th day after Christmas when we celebrate the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. This day, also known since the Middle Ages as Candlemas Day, begins with the blessing of the candles as we celebrate Jesus the Light of the World.
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In 1997, Pope St. John Paul II also dedicated this day as the World Day for Consecrated Life. He wrote that the purpose of this day is “to help the entire Church to esteem ever more greatly the witness of those persons who have chosen to follow Christ by means of the practice of the evangelical counsels” [of poverty, chastity, and obedience] as well as “to be a suitable occasion for Consecrated persons to renew their commitment and rekindle the fervour which should inspire their offering of themselves to the Lord” (St. John Paul II, 1997; Ordo 2024-2025 p. 61)
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At St. Albert the Great Parish, over 40 of the Religious and Consecrated persons in our Diocese were present with Bishop McGrattan to celebrate. What a joy it was to carry a lighted candle as the Religious and Consecrated processed with the Bishop, singing “Christ be our Light”! This was a truly significant action in the liturgy because Jesus Himself calls those vowed to this life “to show that the Incarnate Son of God is the eschatological goal towards which all things tend, the splendour before which every other light pales, and the infinite beauty which alone can fully satisfy the human heart.” (Vita Consecrata 16)
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Our Bishop in his homily, beautifully explained the origins of this feast day and how it relates to the Consecrated Life in the Church.  After the homily the Religious and Consecrated Communities renewed their vows. “The counsels, more than a simple renunciation, are a specific acceptance of the mystery of Christ, lived within the Church.” (Vita Consecrata 16) Bishop McGrattan invited everyone to pray for the Religious and Consecrated men and women present who then stood together and renewed their vows to the Lord.
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Not only did we feast together at the Table of the Eucharist, but we broke bread together with a great variety of food at the reception! The generous parishioners hosted this delicious feast with an opportunity to rejoice together and enjoy each others’ company. This was truly a day of joyous celebration!
 
On behalf of the Religious and Consecrated of our Diocese, the Assembly of Women Religious, and the Renewal Team for Religious, thank you to the Salvatorian priests, parish staff, all who had a role in the liturgy, and parishioners at St. Albert the Great parish for making us welcome and offering us a life-giving and beautiful celebration of the Feast of the Presentation and World Day for Consecrated Life. We are filled with gratitude! May the Lord bless you abundantly!

Written by Br. Michael Perras, OFM, and Sr. Dianne Turner, OSE. Photos: Victor Panlilio, for the Diocese of Calgary.
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2025 Fun with the Sisters: A Night of Laughter, Prayer, and Friendship

1/26/2025

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If you're wondering what “Fun with the Sisters” is, it’s exactly that: an opportunity to meet religious sisters in a casual setting and enjoy time together.
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We recently held our “Fun with the Sisters” evening at the FCJ Centre on Friday, Jan 24, 2025. Young women from the Calgary area attended the event, and many religious communities were represented, including the Faithful Companions of Jesus, the Sisters of Providence, the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Province, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, and the Seeds of the Word, along with the young women currently in the sabbatical program.
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We took our time to introduce ourselves and engage in meaningful conversations over a pizza dinner. The sisters shared brief presentations about their congregations and ministries in Calgary. After dinner, we divided into groups to play Pictionary, filling the room with laughter and creativity. Toward the end of the evening, we gathered in the chapel for a time of prayer, singing hymns and spontaneously sharing our favorite Bible verses. Finally, it was time to say good night to friends, both old and new.

While “Fun with the Sisters” may not be strictly vocational, it provides a wonderful opportunity to meet the sisters and engage in conversations about discernment with them, as well as with like-minded women in attendance.
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The next event on the horizon is “Movie Night with the Sisters” on Feb 15 at St. Luke’s Parish, sponsored by the Serra Club. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity!
Written by Sr. Simon Grosicka, O.P. 
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‘I Think I Want to Be a Priest’: Deacon Peter An shares his journey

1/12/2025

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We’re excited to share Deacon Peter’s inspiring journey as he opens up about his vocation and the experiences that shaped his calling! From childhood moments in Seoul to serving as a deacon today, Deacon Peter’s stories are filled with faith, family, and incredible moments of grace. 
Can you tell us a little about yourself—where you grew up and about your family?
  • I was born in Seoul, South Korea as a cradle catholic. I remember when I was little, I would sing (shout) the parts of the Mass in the cry room of the church, holding the hymnal upside-down. ​We’re a family of four: my parents, myself, and my younger sister. We moved to Calgary in 2007, and we attended St. Anne’s Parish. We all volunteered at church, and our life was very much centered around the parish life. I graduated high school and entered St. Joseph Seminary in Edmonton, and my sister became a travelling nurse. My parents happened to be in Seattle for my father’s work, so my sister joined them. My sister is still in Seattle, but my parents and I are now back in Calgary.
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Deacon Peter’s family and friends
What inspired you to pursue priesthood? Was there a moment or experience that sparked your calling?
  • Back in Seoul, I began volunteering as an altar server after receiving my first Holy Communion. At one morning Mass, I was the only altar server, and I knelt for the Consecration. When the priest began to recite the Words of Institution, it felt like he and I were separated from this world, as if we were the only ones in this world, in this profound union with what was happening on the altar. I never got to ask my pastor if he also shared this experience, but I thought that this was his experience with the Lord, and that I was the one that got to partake in it. It was in that moment I thought for the first time, “I think I want to become a priest.”
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Deacon Peter in his first year of Seminary
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Deacon Peter in his second year of Seminary, volunteering at a summer camp
Many young people wonder how to recognize God’s call in their lives. How do we know God is calling us?
  • Being able to actively-listen, or listening with intention, is a very important part of having a real conversation. When I began to actively listen to those around me, I was also able to actively-listen to God. Grace builds on nature. When we begin to form good habits or virtues, not for our own merits but to conform ourselves to God, He will give us the grace.
Now that you’re a deacon, what’s been the most awesome part of serving so far?
  • The most awesome thing about being a deacon has been this sort of elevated level of freedom I now have in dedicating myself to God and His people. I was always free to serve, but now as an ordained minister of the Church, my role is to serve; I am a servant. Serving the Lord and His people is what I am supposed to do, and what I am called to do.
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Litany of the Saint - during the Ordination
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Photo of the goalies after Philosophers vs Theologians hockey night
When life gets tough, how do you stay grounded in your faith? 
  • When there’s turbulence in our lives, we rely upon our anchors. For some of us, our family is our anchor. So, when things get rough, we turn to them. Some of us have our faith as our anchor, so we turn to God. Some of us have ourselves as an anchor, which if you think about it, just means that you can’t anchor yourself to anything. I don’t think it’s me that’s staying grounded; rather I rely on the Lord and He gives me the grace to remain in Him. My shortest prayer is exclaiming in my mind, “HELP!”
Deacon Peter’s story is a beautiful reminder of how God calls us in unique and personal ways. May God, who began His good work in him, bring it to completion and fulfillment.
MORE PHOTOS FROM DEACON PETER'S ORDINATION ON DEC 28, 2024
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The Eucharist is the core of our faith!

12/12/2024

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Our small rural parish communities of St. Augustine’s in Taber and St. Joseph’s in Vauxhall recognized the great need to increase vocations. Often, our smaller communities are deeply affected by the shortage of priests, limiting opportunities for worship in the sacred liturgy, as our existing priests are stretched thin, often covering two or three parishes that may be as much as an hour apart. In response, we decided to take up the call to come together for 40 hours of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, with special intentions for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.
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What initially seemed like a tall order for us to cover turned into a blessing as the call went out. We were overwhelmed by the response of our parishioners, some of whom took this opportunity for Adoration for the first time in a long while—or, for some, for the very first time.
 
We began our adoration on November 25, 2024, at 3 am and concluded on November 26 with Benediction at 6:45 pm. This was followed by a Memorial Mass offered for the special intentions of all deceased members of the Knights of Columbus. A time of fellowship was shared by all following the Mass.
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With eyes wide open, we witnessed how Jesus desires to touch us deeply, speak to us, heal us, and transform us when we meet Him in adoration. Many parishioners sat in Adoration of our Lord for more than the one hour asked of them. In heartfelt praise and thanksgiving…. all were blessed to offer this time.
 
Coming together as a community, the presence of the Holy Spirit was strongly felt, filling many with a greater awareness of Jesus’ presence in the Blessed Sacrament. This experience brought blessings of joy and peace, along with the grace waiting for all of us in Eucharistic Adoration.
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We especially lift up all our seminarians, praying that God will fill them, continue to encourage their hearts, and bless our Catholic communities with more priests and religious men and women.
 
God bless all our faithful servants for Your glory, Lord.

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

11/30/2024

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Answering the call to participate in the Year of Prayer leading up to the Jubilee of Hope, over 100 people came to pray before the Lord in His Blessed Sacrament and asking Him to provide more vocations for our Diocese for the Religious and Consecrated life. This 24-Hour Adoration for Vocations held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Polish Church from November 12th to 13th was a blessed time of silent personal and communal prayer. It was sponsored by the Assembly of Women Religious, the Religious Renewal Team involved in the Diocesan renewal process, and the Office of Vocations. Thank you so much to those who took part in this wonderful time of prayer.

The Society of Christ priests graciously opened their parish church and offered morning Mass in English to begin and to end the 24-hour devotion as well as the regular Polish evening Mass. The church and Blessed Sacrament were so beautifully set up, making the environment most conducive for prayer. Representatives from most of the men’s and women’s Religious and Consecrated Life communities were alongside faithful members of the parish, deacons, seminarians, and other faithful adults who came to pray throughout the day and night. Religious from the Franciscans, Carmelites, Salvatorians, Legionaries, Pallottines, Providence, Daughters of Mary, and Faithful Companions of Jesus communities came from far away to participate
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Notably, a candidate for Consecrated Virginity with the Diocese, a Franciscan Sister, and the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception were present for much of the time. The Dominican Sisters and Polish priests beautifully sang the Liturgy of the Hours in the early morning. The Seeds of the Word community along with some dedicated others covered the night hours from midnight on. The Precious Blood Sisters, being a cloistered community, joined instead from their monastery chapel. It was truly an opportunity to rest spiritually in the Lord and to join with others in asking Him for more vocations.

Prayer for vocations involves all of the faithful. As Pope Francis said,

“I invite you to listen to and follow Jesus, and to allow yourselves to be transformed interiorly by His words, which ‘are spirit and life’ (Jn 6:62). Mary, the Mother of Jesus and ours, also says to us: ‘Do whatever He tells you’ (Jn 2:5). It will help you to participate in a communal journey that is able to release the best energies in you and around you. A vocation is a fruit that ripens in a well cultivated field of mutual love that becomes mutual service, in the context of an authentic ecclesial life. No vocation is born of itself or lives for itself. A vocation flows from the heart of God and blossoms in the good soil of faithful people, in the experience of fraternal love.

Did not Jesus say: ‘By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another’ (Jn 13:35)? Let us dispose our hearts therefore to being ‘good soil’, by listening, receiving and living out the word, and thus bearing fruit. The more we unite ourselves to Jesus through prayer, Sacred Scripture, the Eucharist, the Sacraments celebrated and lived in the Church and in fraternity, the more there will grow in us the joy of cooperating with God in the service of the Kingdom of mercy and truth, of justice and peace. And the harvest will be plentiful, proportionate to the grace we have meekly welcomed into our lives.” (Source: news.va, From the Vatican, 15 January 2014)
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​Written by Sr. Dianne Turner, OSE, Assistant Vocations Director, Diocese of Calgary. Photos courtesy of Sr. Dianne.
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Congratulations, Sr. Faustina, O.P.!

11/17/2024

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First Religious Profession of our novice, Sr. Faustina (Sara) Majkowski!
Here’s a wonderful vocations milestone to celebrate with the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Province!
Sr. Faustina (Sara Majkowski), O.P., made her first profession of vows on November 7, 2024 - on the Feast of All Saints of the Dominican Order. Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sr. Faustina began her initial formational journey with the Dominican Sisters here in Calgary in 2022.

During her formation in Calgary, she discerned her vocation while working alongside the sisters at their daycare. She later entered the novitiate in Justice, IL, to continue her formation.
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Having spent significant time in Calgary, Sr. Faustina is no stranger to our diocese. We thank God for her generous and joyful "yes" to her call and pray for her perseverance in religious life!
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Happy 90th birthday, Fr. Ray Lowing!

11/10/2024

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Last month, we gathered to celebrate the 90th birthday of Fr. Ray Lowing, a beloved priest whose life has been one of profound service and dedication to God and the people of our diocese. Since his ordination in 1959, he’s worn many hats in our diocese – from directing the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine to serving as Chancellor, Judicial Vicar, and pastor of several parishes. His heart for ministry and commitment to the Church have touched so many lives over the years.

The birthday celebration on Tuesday, October 29 at the Pastoral Centre was filled with joy and gratitude. Bishop McGrattan and the staff at the Catholic Pastoral Centre joined in honouring Fr. Ray, who has given, and keeps giving, so much of himself to the Church. The appreciation from his friends and colleagues was a beautiful reflection of the impact he’s made.
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Even though he’s officially retired, Fr. Ray continues to live out his vocation daily. He celebrates Mass at the Pastoral Centre, where his quiet strength and deep faith are a blessing to everyone. In addition to this, he contributes his expertise to the Clergy Pension Plan, helping to ensure the well-being of his fellow priests in retirement. He also continues to serve the Ecclesiastical Tribunal as an advocate and judge.
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Fr. Ray has been a gift from God to our diocese, embodying the virtues of humility, wisdom, and compassion in his ministry. For all of us, he is a constant source of inspiration, demonstrating that faith in action can touch countless lives. His example calls us to deepen our own commitment to God and to serve others with the same joy and dedication.
Personally, I feel immensely blessed to count Fr. Ray as a mentor. With his sharp mind, unremitting wit, and expertise that has stood the test of time, he has guided me, both in my work with the tribunal and in my canon law career. He is a role model not only as a priest but as a person who, through decades of faithful service, has shown us the true meaning of discipleship. His life reminds me daily of the beauty found in a life devoted to serving Christ and His people.

As we celebrate Fr. Ray's 90th year, we give thanks for his lifelong dedication and pray that God will continue to bless him abundantly. His life of faith and service will inspire our diocese for years to come, reminding us all of the profound impact one dedicated servant can have on the world around them.
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Written by Louis Meléndez​ for Faithfully. Louis is a Case Instructor for the Ecclesiastical Tribunal of the Diocese of Calgary. He and his wife Cathleen are members of the Spanish Community at Holy Spirit Parish in Calgary, where he serves in the music ministry as a choir director. He is currently studying Canon Law at St. Paul University in Ottawa. His hobbies include translating works from the early Church Fathers into Spanish, playing the piano, and learning languages | Photos: Office of Communications
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St. Anthony’s Parish young adults explore vocations to Consecrated Life

11/2/2024

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My parish, St. Anthony's, has recently started up a young adults’ group where we meet twice a month for fellowship and formation. Our last event was called "Meet the Religious", where we invited Religious Priests, Brothers, and Sisters to give a testimony of their vocation to the youth of our parish and talk about the beauty of Religious life through the practice of the evangelical counsels to which they have vowed themselves. 
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The young men and the women alike were visibly engaged and enthralled by the passion with which the Religious spoke about their vocations, and the uniqueness of their respective Order's charisms. The vocation stories were followed by a Q and A, where participants had the chance to ask the Religious pressing questions they had on things like why some Religious take on new names, the unique charisms of each Order, and a glimpse into what community life is like for each. 

We, at St Anthony's, are immensely grateful to the Religious present at our event for witnessing to the beauty of celibate Religious life, which is a life modeled by Christ Himself. 

Written by Michael Ocenar, parishioner of St. Anthony's Parish, Calgary.

Upcoming Vocations Events

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Priestly Vocations Night

Fr. Derek Remus, Associate Vocations Director, holds monthly Priestly Vocations Night at St. Luke's Church, Calgary for young men thinking about a vocation to be a priesthood. 

These evenings consist of Evening Prayer, supper, a presentation on vocational discernment and the mystery of the priesthood, and a period of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

Fr. Derek is also available to meet individually with men who think they may have a vocation to be a priest and would like to talk about their discernment.  
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  • Next date for Priestly Vocations Night: Sat, Dec 7, 2024 from 6:30 pm to 9 pm at St. Luke's, Calgary. More 
  • To register, email Fr. Derek Remus at [email protected]

40 Hours Devotion for Vocations

This year, Bishop McGrattan launched the 40 Hours Devotion for Vocations in the Diocese of Calgary.  The 40 Hours Devotion is a centuries-old practice of holding 40 hours of Eucharistic Adoration successively in different churches for special intentions.  Several parishes throughout the Diocese have held the 40 Hours Devotion so far.  Many parishioners have come before Jesus Christ in the Eucharist to adore Him and pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life and for the perseverance of those priests and consecrated men and women serving our Diocese. In January 2025, the Diocese will begin its second year of the 40 Hours Devotion for Vocations. The goal is for the Devotion to be held in a different parish of the Diocese every week of the year. Next dates for the Devotion:
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  • ​Ascension Parish, Calgary - Thu, Nov 7 at 7:30 pm to Sat, Nov 9 at 4 pm 
  • Holy Name, Calgary - Fri, Nov 15 at 5 am to Sat, Nov 16 at 9 pm
  • St. Augustine's, Taber - Mon, Nov 25 at 3 am to Tue, Nov 26 at 7 pm
  • St. Anthony's, Calgary - Fri, Dec 6 at 3 pm to Sun, Dec 8 at 7 am (Chapel)
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24-Hours Adoration for Vocations
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Join the Religious and Consecrated men and women to pray for vocations to the Consecrated Life for our Diocese. 

​"We are preparing ourselves for the Jubilee Year of Hope by opening ourselves up to the Lord and His plans for His people through 24 hours of Adoration. We know how important it is that there be Religious and Consecrated persons in the local Church, and we trust that the Lord is calling young men and women to enter this way of live totally consecrated to Him."
  • When: Tue, Nov 12 at 8 am to Wed, Nov 13 at 8 am. More
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Fiat Day 2024

11/2/2024

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On September 28, 2024, 13 young women participated along with ten Sisters of five different communities in the FIAT Day retreat on vocations to the Consecrated Life. The retreat day began with the 9 am Mass with St. Luke’s parish community. As one women said, “Everything is better when you start with God.”

​After the welcome and introductions, Fr. Derek Remus, Assistant Diocesan Vocation Director, spoke on our baptismal call and how it relates to Religious life. Much appreciation was given for his talk and answers to our questions.
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  • Thank you, Father, for providing the theological aspect of Consecrated Life which helped to emphasize the purpose of it."
  • "It was very interesting; some things I’ve never really thought about."
  • "We learned about what Religious life is and how it was established by Christ."
  • "Religious life is a model of how Jesus lived during His ministry."
After a time of questions and answers, the participants took part in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and reflected upon selected Scripture passages. As some women said, “It is always beneficial to spend time with the Blessed Sacrament” and the Scripture passages on vocations were helpful to guide our prayer.  
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Pizza lunch gave much opportunity for good conversations among the women and with the Sisters. In the afternoon session, the Sisters had set up table displays on their communities. This allowed the young women to visit each table and talk with the Sisters about their communities without having to travel to each community’s convent.
Following the community visits, the women were given three talks, starting with Sr. Azenette Trongco, a Sister of Providence novice, who spoke on discernment of her vocation and nourishing the vocation. The next talk was from Sr. Rezebeth Noceja, a newly professed Sister of Providence, who spoke on preparation for final commitment. Sr. Dianne Turner, a Franciscan Sister of St. Elizabeth who has been a Religious Sister from decades, completed the talks by focusing on perseverance in the vocation for life. 
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The women were grateful for the experience and the chance to learn of different charisms that are present in our Diocese, as one woman said, “Thank you all for volunteering your time to come and meet with us and answer our questions. Very well run, and has left me a lot to ponder.”

Written by Sr. Dianne Turner, Assistant Vocation Director for the Diocese of Calgary. Photo courtesy of Sr. Simon Grosicka, OP. 
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Sr. Charisse Cilos: Pray, listen, and respond

11/2/2024

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My name is Sr. Charisse Cilos, a newly professed member of the Congregation of the Sisters Adorers of the Precious Blood. I moved to Canada from the Philippines in 2008. I am the fourth of five siblings. I grew up in a family where faith and love were nurtured, thanks to my beloved parents, who decided to join Couples for Christ (CFC) in 1991 when I was 8 years old. CFC started in the Philippines in 1981, a Catholic movement now present in over 160 countries, intended for the renewal and strengthening of Christian family life. 
 
Prayer has become an integral part of our life. We would gather every night after dinner for family prayer. They taught us how to pray the Rosary and also prayers of thanksgiving and petitions. Sunday Mass became a priority as well as praying the Angelus at 6 pm. As a child, I recall detesting prayer periods because they were so drawn out; all I wanted to do was play or sleep. As a youth and young adult, I did not become as devoted to my Catholic faith as I should have. However, my parents had already sown the seed; I knew that I would find solace in prayer whenever I was experiencing a difficult situation
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Sr. Charisse's family
I never really thought that God would call me to be a religious sister. I was already 38 years old when I entered as a postulant in February 2022, late vocation as some would say.  I started discerning around 2017 when I felt a very deep sense of emptiness in my heart. I couldn’t figure it out at that time because I was already working full-time in a Church and was actively serving in a Catholic community I was part of. I remember crying in front of the Blessed Sacrament and asking, “What more do you want from me, Lord?”
In my heart, the Lord spoke that I may be called for single-blessedness or religious life.  I remember crying out of fear and anxiety, but what I felt next was a sense of peace. I knew then that it was something that I should seriously consider. But I told the Lord He needed to show me the way, because if it was up to me, I would never dare do anything far beyond my comfort zone.  It was a bold move on my part because I am that kind of person who is not courageous to try new things, let alone make major changes in life. He knew I needed some time while He prepared my heart, until I had the courage to say ‘YES’ to the call of Jesus, “Come, follow Me.” He used many people to help me along the way, to help me grow deeper in faith and love.
I can identify two aspects of my life that led me to my religious vocation. First was joining Singles for Christ, CFC’s family ministry for single men and women aged 21 to 40 years old. It was where I first experienced being part of a faith community. There we had opportunities to deepen our knowledge and understanding of our Catholic faith through our small groups called households, retreats, assemblies, conferences and teaching nights. We were also highly encouraged to serve our Diocese, parishes and local communities through various volunteer opportunities.
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Serving at One Rock in 2013 with CFC & SFC lay association
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SFC Canada National Conference, 2016
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Sr. Charisse worked as St. Mark's parish secretary from 2014-2021
​​Second was my seven-year work experience as a secretary at St. Mark’s Parish in the Diocese of Calgary. It gave me the opportunity to witness, understand and appreciate the great blessing of the priest’s anointing. They had given up their lives for the sake of others. The clear answer to my discernment came when I learned that the Precious Blood Sisters pray for priests. We are called to carry them in our prayers as they carry God’s people, in all that they will have to give, suffer and live. On Thursday evenings, our Office of Readings is celebrated within an hour of Eucharistic Adoration – praying especially for our Priests and for Vocations to Priestly and Consecrated Life.
I was officially accepted in October 2020, but my entrance was delayed by more than a year. First it was because of the pandemic and then the untimely death of my Mother in February 2021. We lost her 28 days after she was diagnosed with the rare and aggressive type of thyroid cancer. I had to retract my resignation from work to help my siblings pay off the accrued medical and funeral expenses in the Philippines. During this period, in the midst of uncertainties, profound sorrow and pain, I only did what I already knew would help, holding on in prayer.

​I am also indebted to those who have been praying for me. I am here because many people have been praying for me and with me. I am sustained by their powerful intercessions especially when I am struggling. I have learned that community life is a daily call to humility; religious life would be a daily commitment to do what God is asking of me, particularly those I find challenging. But these challenges are gifts, that even though it is hard for me at times, through God’s grace and by the love and support of my Sisters and other people, it is helping me grow in self-knowledge and in deeper understanding of our vows of chastity, poverty and obedience.     
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Entrance to Postulancy, 2022
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Entrance to Novitiate
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First Profession of Vows, 2024. Sr. Charisse Cilos - fourth from the left.
At the beginning of my two-month community experience in 2019, I was overwhelmed with fear and doubt. I just wanted to go home and not finish it. I kept asking God, “Why should I do this? How can I do this?” Thankfully, I came across the writings of our foundress, Mother Catherine Aurelia, “What is urging them to make this sacrifice? Ah, I understand. It is their hope of winning even one more soul for our Lord and glorifying the Precious Blood.” That gave me the strength to continue, and, up to now, I would remind myself of this in moments of difficulty and discouragement. “Why should I do this? How can I do this?” I know better now: It is not ‘I’ but the Lord. It is only by His grace that I am able to live the life of a religious. 
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My First Profession was last October 12th, which also happened to be my birthday. What a remarkable day to celebrate God’s gift of life and His gift of vocation with those who have been part of my journey. All glory and praise to God forever!

Written by Sr. Charisse Cilos for Faithfully. Photos courtesy of Precious Blood Sisters. 

We, the Sisters of the Precious Blood Sisters, are a monastic community called to a Ministry of Prayer, within contemplative community life. We devote our lives to singing God’s praises in liturgical and personal prayer.  We offer ourselves on behalf of the whole human family in reparation, intercession, praise and thanksgiving. Website: https://pbsisters.on.ca

Read More:
  • Devoted to the Precious Blood (catholicyyc.ca/blog)
  • Behold (S&L)
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St. Mark’s Parish is very pleased and proud that one of their parishioners who has been their secretary, Charisse Cilos, has gone through her profession of first vows. ​
On behalf of St. Mark’s Parish. I would like to wish you on your profession of first vows that you are going to make from the Sisters of Precious Blood. We, the parishioners of Saint Mark, greatly appreciate your service to this parish for the seven years that you have worked here. The parishioners cherish all the memories that you have given and developed. They appreciate your service. You have made a greater choice, following the Lord and you wanted to make full commitment by taking up the vows today. Along with the parishioners I would like to wish you all the best and congratulate you for your great commitment to the Lord.” ~Fr. Venil D'Souza, St. Mark's Parish Pastor

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2024 Jubilarians

10/26/2024

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A note from writer and compiler, Solomon Ip:

​Once again, we arrive at the yearly celebration of our jubilarian priests. What this jubilee class lacks in terms of quantity, it most definitely makes up for in quality. This year, we have four well-respected pastors, among whom we find two Vicars General of our diocese, the current Bishop's Delegate for Sexual Misconduct, a former refugee, the founding pastors of parishes, and priests who pastored their congregations as they built new churches.
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This year, I am also extremely excited to be able to collaborate with one of my seminarian brothers on these jubilarian interviews. Jeffrell Painaga is a perfect candidate to write about Fr. Jack Pereira, and I am so grateful finally to share this experience with one of my brothers. It is through the witness of many great pastors that young men are inspired to follow in their footsteps.  Fathers, please think of these articles that the two of us wrote as our gratitude and our admiration; we can only hope to follow Christ so boldly, should we one day share in Christ’s priesthood.

Brothers and sisters, please join us in prayer for an increase in vocations. ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’ ~Matthew 9:37

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​Fr. Jack Pereira: A shepherd's heart
God’s call to the priesthood is unique to each man, yet priests play a profound role in inspiring others along this journey. In this special guest article, seminarian Jeffrell Painaga reflects upon how Fr. Jack Pereira has led by example, guiding his growth in Christian life and service during his pastorship at St. Anthony’s, Calgary
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​Fr. Timothy Boyle: God walks with me 
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The life of a priest is in many ways one of being “alter Christus” — of being another Christ. Fr. Tim Boyle reflects on 50 years of sharing in the Incarnation of Christ, the Word made Flesh, and in incarnating Christ here in prairies of Southern Alberta.
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​Fr. Joseph Canh Vu: Steadfastness 
A vocation to priesthood or to religious life is not an easy undertaking, and Fr. Joseph Canh Vu’s has faced many serious obstacles on his way to both as a refugee from Vietnam settling in a foreign land where he has now spent his entire ministry of 40 years. However, it is his steadfastness to the Dominican vocation that has kept him going, despite all of the challenges.
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​Fr. Kevin Tumback: Here I am, Lord
In his own unique style, Fr. Kevin Tumback shares his vocational journey, from small-town Saskatchewan to the hotels of Banff, to the floor of the cathedral and beyond. He tells us of the trials and the consolations, and the anecdotal touchstones along the way.
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Fr. Jack Pereira: "Are you ready to serve?"

10/26/2024

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

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

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

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

I recall with great fondness one afternoon I spent with Fr. Jack, participating in a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil. We were praying the rosary and were met with much opposition from people driving by. One car stopped in front of us and the driver rolled down their window, hurled an insult, and drove away. Fr. Jack simply smiled at me and said, “Let’s keep praying.” His example of patience and composure in that moment continues to inspire me. 
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These reflections are but a small glimpse into Father Jack’s fifty years of priesthood, and can hardly do justice to the impact he has had on our diocese and the parishes he served in. I am certain that I am not the only one who can attest to the love he has for the Church and the people of God. While I’m not sure I was quite “ready to serve” when he originally posed his question to me, my time with Fr. Jack has shown me his own unwavering readiness for ministry. Now, as a seminarian, I can confidently say that I would not be where I am without such an inspiring example.

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Fr. Joaquim Pereira
  • Ordained: April 27th, 1974, Goa, India
  • Associate Pastor:  St. Peter’s, Calgary (1988-1989)
  • Associate Pastor:  St. Gerard’s, Calgary (1990)
  • Pastor:  St. George’s, Hanna (1990-1994)
  • Pastor:  Holy Trinity, Crowsnest Pass (1994-2003)
  • Pastor:  Holy Spirit, Calgary (2003-2012)
  • Pastor:  St. Anthony’s, Calgary (2012-2019)
  • Retired: 2019
Written by Jeffrell Painaga for Faithfully. 
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Fr. Timothy Boyle: God walks with me

10/26/2024

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

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

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

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

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

Written by Fr. Tim Boyle for Faithfully. 
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Read more:
  • Celebrating Fr. Tim's 50th Anniversary
  • Fr. Tim's Holy Week in Gameti, NWT
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Fr. Timothy Boyle
  • Ordained:  October 12th, 1974, St. Augustine’s, Taber
  • Assistant:  St. Augustine’s, Taber (1974-1978)
  • On Staff:  Sacred Heart, Calgary (1979-1981)
  • Co-Chaplain:  Bishop Carroll High School, Calgary (1979-1981)
  • Pastor:  St. Catherine’s, Picture Butte (1981-1986)
  • Pastor:  St. Michael’s, Pincher Creek; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Waterton Lakes (1986-1993)
  • Pastor:  Holy Spirit, Calgary (1993-2000)
  • Pastor:  St. Patrick’s & Our Lady of the Assumption, Lethbridge (2001-2006)
  • Pastor:  St. Basil’s, Lethbridge (2005-2006)
  • Pastor:  All Saints, Lethbridge (2006-2012)
  • Pastor:  Christ the King, Claresholm; St. Cecilia’s, Nanton; St. Mary’s, Champion (2012-2018)
  • Appointment:  Vicar of Clergy & Bishop’s Delegate for Sexual Misconduct
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Fr. Kevin Tumback: Here I am, Lord

10/26/2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In January 2023, Bishop McGrattan proposed a project for Lethbridge to find a solution to our parish issues. After much research, study, surveys, and meetings, a proposal was offered to Bishop McGrattan on April 7, 2024, which was accepted with a few caveats. And so, my future is a bit clearer now. 
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Fr. Kevin Tumback
  • Ordained:  June 29th, 1999 — St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary
  • Assistant:  St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary (1999-2000)
  • Pastor:  St. Albert the Great, Calgary (2000-2012)
  • Pastor:  All Saints, Lethbridge (2012-present)
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Fr. Joseph Canh Vu, OP: Steadfastness

10/26/2024

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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.
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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

Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully.
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40 Hours of Adoration at St. Paul’s Parish, Airdrie

10/18/2024

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​St. Paul’s Parish in Airdrie began the 40 Hours of Adoration for Vocations on Sunday, Sep 22, with the 11 am Mass and concluded on Tuesday, Sep 24, at 3 am. During this time, at least two or more parishioners were signed up per hour, in addition to the many parishioners who dropped in.

We are very thankful for the encouragement of Bishop McGrattan and Fr. Derek Remus in organizing the 40 Hours of Adoration for Vocations in our Calgary Diocese. This sacred silence is really needed within our parish and the world.
We received a lot of positive verbal feedback, as well as emails from parishioners of all ages, inquiring if we could have Adoration more often. Adorers included parishioners from Airdrie, Crossfield, and North Calgary. It was especially wonderful to see families with young children come to adore Jesus, even if only for shorter periods.​
Thank you to everyone who helped organize our 40 Hours of Adoration and to the many Adorers who came out to spend time with Jesus and to pray for Vocations. Special thank you to Fr. Thomas Vadassery for his ongoing support.
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Written by Lauretta Dearing, OFS, member of St. Paul's Parish in Airdrie.
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The 45th Annual Sisters Night

10/18/2024

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On September 20th, Saint Luke's Parish became the gathering place for an important and cherished tradition: the 45th Annual Sisters Night, hosted by the Knights of Columbus. This banquet is a special occasion where the religious sisters from the Calgary Diocese, along with clergy and lay faithful, come together to honour the immeasurable contributions these women have made to the Church and society. It is the only time each year that all the religious sisters of the diocese gather in one place, making the night a unique and uplifting celebration of faith, dedication, and service.

The event drew a total of 101 attendees, including 34 religious sisters, Bishop William McGrattan, three priests, three deacons, and four consecrated virgin candidates. For decades, the Knights of Columbus have been committed to organizing this event, recognizing the sacrifices and impact of religious sisters across Canada. This year's gathering was no different, reflecting both the gratitude of the community and the enduring legacy of service carried on by the sisters.
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In his opening remarks, the Emcee spoke of the deep historical contributions of religious sisters and nuns to the development of Canada. From the earliest days of European settlement, these women were pioneers in building many of the country's foundational institutions. The sisters established the first schools, providing education to countless children, including those in remote and underserved areas. They also played a key role in building hospitals, offering compassionate care long before public health systems were established. Orphanages, too, were built by religious orders, where the sisters provided homes and care for children without families.
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But beyond their tangible contributions, the sisters have also been steadfast in their spiritual roles, offering guidance, wisdom, and prayers in every corner of the country. Their quiet yet transformative presence has been a pillar of the Church’s mission, and the Knights of Columbus feel it is essential to recognize their enduring influence.
In his address, Bishop McGrattan spoke warmly of the sisters’ dedication and expressed the diocese's deep gratitude for their work. He acknowledged the unique role they play, not only in providing spiritual support but also in being a visible example of Christ's love in action. His words resonated with the room, where there was a sense of respect and admiration for the sisters' ongoing efforts.
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The event was also an opportunity for attendees to connect and reflect on the shared mission of the Church. Alongside the sisters, consecrated virgins candidates, priests, deacons, and laypeople all engaged in fellowship, united in their devotion to serving others. This sense of community is one of the hallmarks of Sisters Night, reminding everyone present of the collective strength that arises from shared faith. 
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Honouring courage and faith

The highlight of the evening was the tribute to the religious sisters. The Knights of Columbus ensured that the event was not only a time of celebration but also one of reflection on the profound courage it takes to embrace the consecrated life. In a world that often prioritizes material wealth and individualism, the sisters' lives of selflessness stand as a powerful counterpoint. They have chosen to live by the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, dedicating themselves entirely to the service of God and others. Of note, two sisters that were celebrating a jubilee of vows were Sr. Paula Mullen, FCJ, 60 years and Sr. Emelyn Rosento, DM, 25 years.
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As the 45th Annual Sisters Night came to a close, it was clear that the event had once again succeeded in honouring the profound legacy of the religious sisters. For all in attendance, the night served as both a celebration and an inspiration to carry forward the mission of love and service that the sisters embody so beautifully.

Written by Kevin Dick, member of Knights Of Columbus Council #6994. 
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Consecrated Virgins living in our midst

10/13/2024

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Many people know about Religious Life in the Catholic Church, but did you know that there are other types of Consecrated Life as well? 

​While Religious Life is the largest component of the Consecrated Life recognized by the Catholic Church, there is also an 
Order of Consecrated Virgins Living in the World, the Ordo Virginum. Unlike the celibate Religious who make vows within their communities and live the common life according to the spirituality of their Institute, these women live independently while consecrated through a holy resolution to be dedicated solely to the Lord their Bridegroom and obedient to the directives of the Bishop of their Diocese. They live according to the Rule of Life they draw up and they support themselves through their work in the world as does any independent person. 
Why would a woman choose to be a Consecrated Virgin instead of a Religious Sister? First of all, it is a call from God, a true vocation to follow the Lord and to be of service to His Church. Women who have other responsibilities, specific careers, or circumstances that would preclude them from entering a Religious community have found this vocation to be one specially suited to them. These women take up the task of praying for the Bishop and the needs of the Diocese, making them particularly close to the Diocese and its Bishop. 
We are blessed in our Diocese to have five women who have entered into the formation process to become Consecrated Virgins. Unlike single women living in the world, Consecrated Virgins make a public holy resolution during which they will be consecrated during the Holy Mass by the Bishop. (To be consecrated means being set apart exclusively for God.) This is a supernatural vocation that sets the woman apart for the needs of the people of her own time. Consecrated Virgins have assumed the docility of the Virgin Mary through prayer, contemplation, and a life of holiness that is open to the promptings of God’s grace and animated by charity for the sake of others. There are many exemplar virgin Saints after which the Consecrated Virgin can model her life for Christ, such as St. Catherine of Siena and virgin Saints from the early Church who are mentioned in the canon of the Mass such as St. Anastasia, St. Lucy, and St. Agatha. 

Since Consecrated Virginity lived in the world is new to many people, it seems helpful to provide some information about the why of such a way of life.Consecrated virginity is a way of being totally for Christ, to be married to Christ the Bridegroom of the Church, and to live the reality we will all, hopefully, experience in the life to come with Christ. As explained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "Virgins who, committed to the holy plan of following Christ more closely, are consecrated to God by the Diocesan Bishop according to the approved liturgical rite, are betrothed mystically to Christ, the Son of God, and are dedicated to the service of the Church. By this solemn rite…, the virgin is constituted . . . a sacred person, a transcendent sign of the Church's love for Christ, and an eschatological image of this heavenly Bride of Christ and of the life to come." (CCC 923)
When seeking to explain this vocation, the candidates for Consecrated Virginity expressed some important understandings:
  • “When you look at me as a Bride of Christ, I am an icon of the Church as a Bride with Jesus as the Bridegroom.”
  • “We receive the gift of love from Jesus and we are inspired to offer our complete love to Jesus.”
  • “We are all invited into a personal relationship with God and the Consecrated Virgin is a witness pointing us to that reality.”
  • “This vocation is the lived reality of which marriage is merely a sign of the union of Christ and His Church.”
  • “Many of the Consecrated Virgins have embraced personal suffering in their vocation and provide a witness that suffering does not prevent anyone from being a Beloved One of God.”
The Consecrated Virgin, in her spiritual motherhood, is dedicated to Christ and His Church. Her heart is to be open to God’s people, showing forth facets of the love of the Church, our true Mother. Fundamental to her vocation is praying for the needs of the Church, in particular the needs of the Diocese, the Bishop and its priests. Like the priests, deacons, and Religious men and women in the Church, the Consecrated Virgins pray the Liturgy of the Hours (the official prayer of the Church), praying for the Church and with the Church. As one candidate said, “Our hearts are open for Christ’s people, as we walk with them in compassion, accompanying them.” 

This initiative of the Diocese of Calgary of offering the opportunity for women to become Consecrated Virgins according to the ancient practice of the Church is in line with the new evangelization and the Pastoral Renewal of the Diocese. Consecrated Virgins exemplify the accompaniment of the People of God and witness to Christ and His Church. 
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Consecrated Virgins Candidates and Formators at Formation Retreat FCJ Christian Life Centre August 2024 representing five Dioceses in Canada: (from left to right): Wendy (Hamilton), Anna (Toronto formator), Erin (Ottawa formator), Niki (Hamilton), Francesca (Calgary), Paige (Calgary), Noëlle (Calgary), Lauretta (Calgary), Lee (Calgary), Manju (Hamilton), Sr. Dianne (Calgary formator).
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Written by Sr. Dianne Turner, Assistant Vocations Director.

​For more information about Consecrated Virgins or Religious Life in our Diocese, please contact Sr. Dianne in the Office of Vocations. Photo: Office of Vocations, 2024.
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Vocation directors take on challenge of drawing priests

10/13/2024

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Canadian archdiocesan and diocesan vocation directors assembled at the FCJ Retreat & Conference Centre in Calgary from Oct. 1-4 to contemplate how they can join forces to inspire more calls to the priesthood and consecrated life. 
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Organized by Newman Theological College’s Benedict XVI Institute for the New Evangelization, the “Awakening Vocations" Conference offered the approximately 30 clerics expertise on how to craft a strategic plan and constructively dialogue about what is and is currently not working with vocational ministries.

Apostolic Nuncio to Canada Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič and Cardinal Thomas Collins, the Archbishop of Toronto from 2007-23, delivered keynote addresses.

Jurkovič analyzed the Dicastery of the Clergy’s 2016 document Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis - The Gift of the Priestly Vocation. As for Collins, in addition to presenting his remarks, he also led a lunchtime working session centred on spotlighting the efforts of the lay vocations organization Serra Canada.
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Fr. Cristino Bouvette, the vocations director for the Diocese of Calgary and a conference coordinator, said attendees gained important insights from the four-day symposium, but perhaps the most significant gift was the companionship.
“In many cases, we are facing similar things, similar challenges, and it is very encouraging to realize that we’re not doing our work alone even though it sometimes feels like you are a bit isolated in your diocesan context,” said Bouvette. “To be with other vocation directors to share similar things you are facing and working on is encouraging and uplifting.”

Fr. Connor O’Hara of the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall echoed Bouvette’s sentiments by saying it was “consoling” to learn that all of the vocational directors have “very similar experiences, challenges, blessings and scopes of work that they’ve been asked by their bishop to see to.”

All the priests unanimously agreed that this spirit of solidarity cannot be constrained to just a four-day event in Calgary. An Oct. 3 working session was devoted to considering the structure and vision of a potential nationwide vocations director association or confraternity. Additionally, there was also deliberation about creating various clusters with three to five vocations directors so these clerics could engage in concentrated conversations about their respective diocesan situations and keep each other accountable.

“I am looking forward to putting together groupings of priests that will work and meet together going forward from this conference,” said Fr. Daniele Muscolino of the Diocese of Sault. Ste. Marie. “We can continue to share resources, update each other about how things are going and talk about best practices.”

Bouvette and Muscolino both told The Catholic Register there are advantages to having these clusters being regionally based, but there is also inherent value in having a vocations director from Toronto routinely gleaning insight from a peer in Victoria, B.C.

The priests received a glimpse of what an ongoing working relationship could look like during a breakout group session to craft a strategic vocations plan for the next year. These roundtable discussions were facilitated by Bill Tomiak, the executive director of the local Catholic Christian preparatory school Clear Water Academy — managed by the Legion of Christ — and Dr. Sinda Vanderpool, the president and vice-chancellor of St. Mary’s University.

Other presenters included Peter An, a seminarian in Calgary; Fr. Kris Schmidt, the Archdiocese of Edmonton vocations director; and Fr. Geoffrey Young and Fr. Murray Kuemper of the Diocese of Saskatoon.

Bouvette presented the research on the state of vocations authored by the Benedict XVI Institute for the New Evangelization, specifically its former director Dr. Ryan Topping.

The Register reported earlier this year how the revelations within "Meet Our New Priests: 12 Key Findings about the Background, Discernment, and Seminary Formation of Canada’s Recent Ordination Classes" paint an alarming picture of the state of priestly vocations.

Alluding to The Vatican Central Office of Church Statistics’ replacement ratio for seminarians to priests (RRSP) equation, Rome suggests there should be “12.5 seminarians for every 100 priests.” As of October 2023, Topping tabulated there are 6,025 active or retired priests in Canada. The RRSP required to replenish that total is 753, but there were only 211 active seminarians a year ago.

Yet-to-be-published research about the Canadian vocations director landscape was also presented. The Benedict XVI Institute anticipates publishing its "Fishers of Men" report within several months.

Written by Quinton Amundson, Catholic Register. First published in Catholic Register on Oct. 11.  Published with permission. Photos courtesy of Newman Theological College, Benedict XVI Institute. 
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From Garden to Table: Discovering God's gifts at the Dominican Sisters Daycare

10/7/2024

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In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)
Forests and oceans, mountains and lakes—there are so many miracles of nature where humans can tangibly experience the beauty of God's world. As we look around, we can witness His power, omnipotence, and selfless love. ​​
Children attending our educational program at the Dominican Sisters Daycare Center learn about God's creation and redemption through daily Bible stories and actively discover God's presence in our world through various activities. One of the areas where they experience the significance of creation is our garden. Vegetables and flowers planted by the Sisters are not only a sight to behold but also an opportunity for the children's active participation in the beauty, effort, and fruit of God's work. Their hands-on involvement is a source of pride and joy for everyone and an essential aspect of our educational approach.
And God said, 'Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.' (Genesis 1:29)
At our daycare, outdoor time is not simply recess but an integral part of the curriculum. Our playground connects to the garden, where we frequently observe children's interest and natural desire to be in and learn about nature. It is simple proof that we are designed to participate in the work of creation and partner with God in managing our world. The garden is where we engage all our senses, develop understanding, test our abilities, and learn about collaboration, effort, and dedication.

Through the natural processes in the garden, children have a unique opportunity to explore and learn about the seasons and the life cycle of plants. This hands-on experience deepens their understanding of the natural world and fosters a sense of wonder and appreciation. They also discover God's grace as they pray for rain, sun, and wind. It's an exciting journey of discovery that we are thrilled to share with you.
For the Sisters and children, spring is a time for preparing the soil and planting seeds. It is also a time to learn patience, observation, and systematic care for the tiny seed hidden in the ground, trusting that God will sustain it. By observing the growth process firsthand, children develop a deeper understanding of botany, ecology, and environmental science. This knowledge enlightens them and helps them feel like participants in creation and co-creators of God's work, inspiring a sense of connection and shared purpose among parents and educators. Focusing on the children's active role in the growth process strengthens the support for the educational approach.

So, where do the veggies come from? They grow up, down, and around! Summer is when we first see the results as vegetables grow. The children taste fresh cucumbers, smell carrots, and compare the size and weight of green zucchini.

In autumn, during harvest, the children also learn to give thanks for God's gifts of fruits and vegetables. By collecting potatoes, beets, and carrots from the field, they learn to work together and appreciate the beautiful gifts God has given us. They also check what items from our garden made it to the lunch table and eagerly try all the veggies on their plates!
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There are many smiles at the Sisters' table as we share stories about the daily moments we witness during this process. For example, not everyone wants the items they collect to end up in the kitchen.
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Here’s a great story from our garden lessons:

​As the children poured potatoes into the shared basket, Sister Zacharia noticed Antoni hiding a bucket of potatoes behind him. She approached and said, 'Antoni, you can put the collected potatoes into the basket here.' Antoni shook his head and replied, 'These are my potatoes; my mom will cook them for dinner.' There was no question of adding them to the basket—what Antoni collected was already his. He was delighted to provide dinner for his family and proudly placed the fruit of his labour in his locker!
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it."
(Genesis 2:15)​
Caring for the garden helps shape children's sense of responsibility and pro-ecological attitudes, fostering skills such as organization, time management, and accountability. They learn that the earth provides food and that it must be cared for because our well-being depends on the health of the planet.
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Young children are receptive and enthusiastic learners, and when given the opportunity, they often surprise us with their remarkable understanding of the garden's lessons.
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The children were disappointed when we couldn't go outside on a rainy spring morning. Sister explained that while it was unfortunate, we also needed to be grateful because Sister Salome had just planted some veggies, and they needed rain to grow. So, Jesus was helping Sister Salome.

​A few weeks later, we went outside on a lovely sunny day, but the weather quickly changed, and it started raining again. We had to go back inside and take off our outdoor clothes after spending quite a bit of time getting ready. 'Why?' Sister sighed. 'Because Jesus loves Sister Salome,' a 5-year-old girl nearby explained with a shrug. 'Let’s go.'
As educators, we are proud of the children’s learning journey and grateful for the support of parents and the community. We are confident they will carry the experiences of planning, nurturing, harvesting, and rejoicing in God's blessings into many areas of their lives. In a way, they are our garden, where we daily admire the mystery of life and collaborate with God in shaping a hopeful future for our world!

Written by Sr. Zacharia Hryc, OP. Sister Zacharia is a Dominican Sister of Immaculate Conception Province. She is an Early Childhood educator at the Dominican Sister Daycare Centre, Calgary. 
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Walking with the Word: Deacon candidates embrace their mission

9/21/2024

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This year brings an important step for the eight permanent deacon candidates in the Diocese of Calgary’s Permanent Diaconate Formation Program. As these men and their wives enter their third year of a four-year journey, they are called to a deeper engagement with the Word of God through the Rite of Institution of Lector, a significant milestone on their path to ordination.

“The Rite of Institution of Lector is the second of three rites in the formation program,” Deacon Laing, member of the Permanent Diaconate Formation (and Mission) Council explained. “This step marks a growing level of commitment for these men as they prepare to serve the Church in a unique way.” The first rite is the Call to Candidacy, and the third, which comes next year, is the Institution of Acolyte.

For Deacon Laing, the beauty of this rite lies in the candidates’ deeper immersion in scripture. "These eight men have accepted the task to become ‘readers and bearers of God’s Word,’” he said. This year of formation, with a focus on sacred scripture, prepares them to bring the living Word to the community in a profound way.

Here is the list of candidates who have just begun their third year of formation (of 4 years) and were instituted as Lectors this fall:
  • Rafael (Rafa) Dadivas (Spouse: Katherine [Kay] Dadivas) – Ascension, Calgary
  • Jeffrey (Jeff) Desrochers (Spouse: Annette Desrochers) – St. Gabriel's, Chestermere
  • Carlo Alejandro (Carlo) Flores Gil (Spouse: Bertha Gonzalez) – Holy Spirit, Calgary
  • Grant Gay (Spouse: Kelsey Gay) – St. Albert the Great, Calgary
  • Jose Cruzel (Cruzel) Lacao (Spouse: Famela Lacao) – St. Thomas More, Calgary
  • Jason Openo (Spouse: Leisha Lesko-Openo) – St. Patrick's, Medicine Hat
  • Roy Rebustillo (Spouse: Maria Paz Lourdes Rebustillo) – St. Patrick's, Calgary
  • Alberto (Abe) Sia Lu (Spouse: Eva Sia Lu) – St. Mark's, Calgary
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A Journey of Transformation

When asked about the personal reflections of the candidates, Deacon Laing shared, “A few have mentioned that this journey in formation has brought them closer to God, to their families, and friends.” It’s clear that this experience is transformative, not only for the men, but also for their loved ones.

Family plays a significant role in the candidates' journeys, as many of them attend formation sessions alongside their wives. The support system extends even further, with the parish community and clergy contributing to the preparation of the ritual. “Every liturgy requires preparation and rehearsal,” Deacon Laing mentioned, emphasizing the work behind the scenes that helped with the execution of the Rite of Institution of Lector.

At the Mass, Bishop McGrattan’s words resonated deeply with the candidates. Deacon Laing recalled part of the bishop’s prayer: “As readers and bearers of God’s Word, you will assist in this mission, and so take on a special office within the Christian community.” The bishop reminded the newly installed Lectors of their responsibility to instruct others in the faith, proclaim God’s Word, and bring the message of salvation to those who have yet to hear it.
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What’s next?

​As the candidates move forward, their formation continues to deepen. “Part of year three is dedicated to the ‘Principles of Liturgy,’ and ‘Introduction to Preaching,’” Deacon Laing said, explaining that these lessons begin to prepare them for year four, which focuses on homiletics—learning to prepare and deliver homilies.

For now, though, the candidates are focused on becoming true bearers of God’s Word, guided by the scripture that continues to shape their vocation. With each step they take, they are drawn deeper into their mission of serving the Church and proclaiming the message of salvation.

Welcoming 5 new aspirants

In addition to the permanent deacon candidates, five aspirants have just begun their first year of discernment in the Permanent Diaconate Program. "The journey to ordination as a Permanent Deacon begins with a year of “Aspirancy” or discernment, followed by three years of formation guided by the pillars of Theological, Spiritual, Pastoral, and Human development," explained Deacon John Walsh, chair of the Permanent Diaconate Formation Council.

Here is the list of the aspirants who have embarked on this path:
  • Kingsley Abdul (Spouse: Bukola) – Our Lady of the Assumption, Calgary
  • Florian Bernardo (Spouse: Ydelle) – St. Albert the Great, Calgary
  • Stephen Doyle (Spouse: Linda) – Our Lady of the Rockies, Canmore
  • Lars Duck Chief (Spouse: Jocelyn) – Holy Trinity, Cluny
  • Paul Smith (Spouse: Deborah) – St. James Parish, Okotoks

These men have now taken their first steps on a journey that will shape their lives as they discern God’s call to serve as deacons within the Church. As they begin this important path, let us remember them in our prayers. 

For more information about the Permanent Diaconate program, visit catholicyyc.ca/permanentdiaconate

Photography by Victor Panlilio, for the Permanent Diaconate team. 
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Seminarians Peter An & Andre Boudreau

9/7/2024

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Bishop William McGrattan celebrated two significant liturgical events for seminarians Peter An and Andre Boudreau on their vocational journey. 
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On August 9, 2024, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, he presided over the Mass for Installation to the Ministries of Lector and Acolyte for seminarian Peter An. This Mass is an important step for candidates as they move closer to Holy Orders. As a Lector, Peter is entrusted with proclaiming the Word of God during Mass, while his role as Acolyte involves assisting at the altar, helping priests and deacons, and distributing Holy Communion as well as bringing the Blessed Sacrament to the sick or shut-in. These roles in divine worship highlight his progression toward the priesthood. Peter An currently serves at St. Mary’s Cathedral in his final stage of formation, the newly implemented Vocational Synthesis Phase.
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Later, on August 23, 2024, Bishop McGrattan celebrated the Mass of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders for Andre Boudreau at St. Luke’s Church where he has been assigned for summertime pastoral experience on the weekends. The Rite of Admission to Candidacy is another important milestone in a seminarian's journey. This rite allows Andre to declare publicly his intention to persevere in his formation in order, one day, to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders, first as a deacon and eventually as a priest. The rite includes three key elements: the call to candidacy, the candidate's scrutiny, and the candidate's blessing. Andre Boudreau is currently studying at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Edmonton for his fourth year of formation and just began his first year of theological studies. 
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We invite you to join us in prayer for Peter An, Andre Boudreau, and all 13 seminarians in our Diocese. May God, who has started this good work in them, guide it to fulfillment! (cf. Phil 1:6)

Photos courtesy of Jun Li (Installation of Peter An as Lector and Acolyte) and Victor Panlilio (Candidacy of Andre Boudreau). 
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Friar Aldin and his call to vocation

8/16/2024

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Friar Aldin's First Vows, 2022 (Mount St. Francis, Cochrane)
I am Friar Aldin Francis Canobas, O.F.M., from the Holy Spirit Province of the Franciscans of Canada. I professed my first vows on October 19, 2022, and am currently enrolled in an open studies program, working towards a Master of Divinity degree at Newman Theological College in Edmonton.

I was born in Batangas, Philippines, in 1988. I attended primary and secondary school at Our Lady of Caysasay Academy, a diocesan school, where I developed an appreciation for service and ministry. Music has been my passion, and I have been part of the school and parish choir since high school. I also volunteered as a student catechist, ministering to grade school students in the public school beside mine.
My grandmother, Sofia, was instrumental in my faith journey. She lovingly cared for us and encouraged us to attend Mass every Sunday. Her faithful witness through daily prayers, scripture reading, and Mass attendance planted a seed of faith in my heart. My parents, Felix and Florida, also inspired my vocational journey.

​My father works as a cleaner in a daycare center, and my mother, who previously worked as a Registered Nurse in Saudi Arabia, came to Calgary as a caregiver, and now works as a Health Care Aide in a nursing home. They gave me a humble yet profound example of sacrificial and unconditional love. I have two younger sisters, Angeli and Ara, who both have their own families. I am also an uncle to two lovable nephews, Gavin and Sebastian.
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Friar Aldin's parents
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Friar Aldin's family
I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. On February 20, 2010, I immigrated to Calgary with the rest of my family, where I completed the Bridge to Canadian Nursing program at Mount Royal University. I worked in various health care settings in Calgary: as a community support worker in a group home, as an adult care worker at the Drop-in and Rehabilitation Centre, as a health care aide in a hospital, and eventually as a Registered Nurse in Hemodialysis, and then in Mental Health, both in hospital and community settings.

​I am currently working casually as an RN in Inpatient Psychiatry at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and the Emergency Department at Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Edmonton. Working in health care has provided me with a rich experience and an environment where my eyes and ears have been opened to God's call to love others, especially our marginalized brothers and sisters. Mental health has become an advocacy for me.

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Friar Aldin, Registered Nurse for the Grey Nuns Hospital, Edmonton
My love for music led me to meet CFC Singles for Christ Calgary members, who were serving as music ministers at St. Francis Parish in downtown Calgary when I was looking for a choir to join in 2010. I journeyed with Couples for Christ in 2010 as a member and became a leader in the young adult group, serving as a chapter head, music ministry head, and mission volunteer.

In 2019, I worked for the organization as a Lay Missionary and Pastoral Worker stationed in British Columbia. The community's faithfulness in living out its mission and vision of families in the Holy Spirit building the Church of the Home and the Church of the Poor has been instrumental in my faith and vocational journey. I also served with various choirs in several parishes in the Diocese of Calgary, including St. Francis, Corpus Christi, Canadian Martyrs, and St. Peter's Parish, where I am still a registered parishioner. Currently, I serve in the choir for Annunciation and St. John the Evangelist parishes in the Archdiocese of Edmonton.
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Friar Aldin & Singles for Christ, 2010
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Serving for Couples for Christ "Live Loud" event in 2015
Music also led me to the Franciscans. I performed as a band member at two consecutive One Rock events of the Diocese of Calgary. One Rock 2013 was held at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre, and the next one at the Tsuu T'ina Rodeo Grounds, where I met Friars Carlos Ona and Benjamin Ripley, O.F.M. Friar Carlos has since communicated with me and encouraged me to explore the Franciscan way of life.

​Music, community, missionary zeal, healing and compassion ministry, and the joyful witness to faith have drawn me close to the Franciscan vocation. Additionally, my love for nature has played a role, particularly hiking and camping, where I find solace and a deeper communion with God, others, and the rest of creation.
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In 2020, I finally responded to God's invitation to follow Him more closely in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi. I completed my postulancy year in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, and in 2021, entered the international novitiate in Ireland. I returned to Canada in 2022 for my first vows, and have since been part of the Edmonton fraternity as a simply professed friar in initial formation.
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Written by Friar Aldin Francis Canobas, O.F.M. for Faithfully.  

Photos courtesy of Friar Aldin. 
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