On Friday, June 27, 2025, the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Fr. Peter An was ordained to the sacred priesthood by Bishop William T. McGrattan at St. Mary's Cathedral in Calgary. One year later, as he celebrates the first anniversary of his ordination, we asked him to reflect on the joys, challenges, and graces of his first year of priestly ministry. His thoughtful answers offer a glimpse into the heart of a young priest and the deep joy of following Christ's call.

What has surprised you most about being a priest?
Perhaps the amount of joy that it brings me. The priesthood is not without its struggles and adversities, just like any other vocation. But the assurance that I am abiding in the will of God offers me the kind of joy and peace that the world cannot take away.

Was there a moment this year when you thought, “Wow, I’m really a priest now”?
Some time after being ordained, I booked an appointment with a priest from another parish for confession. After he absolved me, he asked me to hear his confession. I remember thinking, "...right."

Can you share a pastoral encounter or experience from this year that has stayed with you and why?
The people of God who sincerely love the Lord and the Sacraments continue to remind me of the fullness of the ministry that I live. The people who confess with contrition and the people who reverently receive the Eucharist make me think that if God called me to the priesthood for even one of these people, my vocation is already full and complete.

How has celebrating the sacraments changed your relationship with Christ?
While I remain the same person in the way I talk, walk, etc., when I celebrate the sacraments, Christ acts through me in persona Christi Capitis, and the sacramental reality is the Lord's. When I say the words "This is my Body... This is the chalice of my Blood," or "I absolve you from your sins," it is Christ who speaks. Each time I say, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof" with the people, I am reminded of how unworthy I am of this mission and grace, the reality that this gift is for God's people, and it draws me into deeper surrender and service.

How has priesthood changed the way you see people?
It is very easy for anyone to complain about others, rather than contemplating and reflecting on the wounds of others. Such wounds may be expressed and revealed through their actions, words, and behaviours. The love of Christ cuts to the heart of our pain and longing and calls us to His Sacred Heart. As a priest, this yearning of the people has become much more evident for me, and it calls me to a greater depth in attentive and authentic listening.

What would you say to a young man who is wondering whether God might be calling him to the priesthood?
Jesus calls His disciples with a simple phrase: "Follow me." Within these words is the universal call for us to follow and imitate Christ in the way that He revealed and lived. Does your heart yearn to follow and imitate Him in His ministry as a shepherd? As a divine physician? Does your heart resonate and burn with His pierced Sacred Heart? Then follow Him.

What a blessed day! The Providence Sisters opened their convent doors to welcome 17 women to spend a few hours with Religious Sisters from various communities. As some of the participants shared, they truly enjoyed spending time with the Sisters and everyone who came. This annual event offers a real opportunity for single women to meet Sisters and explore what it means to be in the Religious life in our Church.

Because so many women registered for the event, we had to find a way to accommodate them. The Providence Sisters’ dining room only seats 20, leaving insufficient room for the women and the Sisters to be together. We decided to divide the participants into two smaller groups, placing one group in another meeting area to make it easier to interact with the Sisters over tea, sweets, and conversation. Halfway through tea, we switched the groups so that the young women could meet all the Sisters present. 

Our conversations were full of interesting topics. Many of the women shared their own faith journey and what had inspired them to visit the Sisters. Some of the questions they asked included: What is the formation process for entering religious life? What is the age limit for entering the convent?

The Sisters shared about their own communities, allowing the women to see that these communities have different charisms and missions that serve the needs of the Church. Perhaps through these conversations, the women will sense a call to Consecrated life and recognize a resonance in their hearts for a specific community.

Providentially, the rain and hailstorm that sprang up during the tea was over by the time we were to head outside. We were led by Sisters and the women participants in the Rosary Walk around the convent grounds, ending at the Sisters’ Lourdes grotto. It was truly beautiful to pray the Rosary together in the sunshine and fresh air after the rain.
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Our next vocation event for single women to explore Consecrated Life in the Church is planned for Saturday, September 26th, 2026, at St. Luke’s Church, from 8:30 am to 4 pm. This is the Fiat Retreat, which focuses on discerning God’s will in our lives. If you are single and willing to explore the life of a Consecrated woman, please save the date and watch for the advertisement of the Fiat Retreat in September.

Written by Sr. Dianne Turner, OSE, Assistant Director of Vocations. 

The 2026 Sabbatical Year Commissioning Mass for the Seeds of the Word community was celebrated on June 2, 2026, by Bishop William McGrattan. The special Mass marked the conclusion of their nine-month sabbatical program, during which companions shared their discernment and plans to live out their faith. Below is a message from the Seeds of the Word: 

The commissioning Mass was celebrated by Bishop William McGrattan for our Sabbatical year companions, people who, for the past nine months, have been living with our community, studying the Bible, and discerning God’s will for their lives.
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• Andrea, the first of our five companions to share her graces and testimony, has discerned to do a candidacy year within our community and continue to give herself, her time, and her talents to the Lord through our community.
• Next was Dean, the only male companion of this past Sabbatical year, who discerned to follow the Lord's call to grow in his knowledge and faith at university by studying philosophy and theology.
• Isabelle, our next companion, unfortunately had to leave the Sabbatical year early due to health reasons, but the Lord remains faithful even in our difficulties. Although she had to leave early, she continued to discern and, with the community's guidance, felt the call to share the graces of her year and what the Lord was asking of her: to become a Covenant member of our community.
• Kathleen, our local barista and comedian, had, by the end of her testimony, many laughing and crying as she shared about her time in the Sabbatical year and her discernment to do a candidacy year with the community.
• ​Finally, Ruth-Anne gave a beautiful testimony of her time in the Sabbatical year and how this year allowed her to grow and follow the Lord’s call to be His witness in the world by working for His bride, the Church.

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Let us all continue to pray for our beloved companions as they walk this path that the Lord has placed before each one of them, so that they may remain faithful and that He may be glorified.

The Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, who run a day care for young children in Calgary, recently welcomed two visiting Sisters from their convent in the United States: Sr. Charbel Joseph, their Vocation Director, and Sr. Felicity, her companion.

Sr. Charbel comes annually to Calgary for vocation promotion for her community and visits schools to meet with students to help them respond to God’s call in their own lives. This year, these two Sisters visited several schools in Calgary and Strathmore to speak about vocations and discernment. We were warmly welcomed by the staff and administration of the schools. Our only regret is that we could not visit all the Catholic high schools in our Diocese.

Their presentations were engaging and personal, as they shared their own vocation stories and responded practically to questions from both students and teachers. A video by Fr. Mike Schmitz, “What’s My Vocation?,” was also helpful in explaining the various types of vocations in the Church.

Written by Sr. Dianne Turner, OSE for Faithfully. Photos courtesy of Sr. Dianne. 

Written by Sr. Dianne Turner, OSE, Office of Vocations

On April 25, the Diocese of Calgary hosted a Young Women’s Nun Run, inviting participants to step into the lived reality of Religious life across the city and into Airdrie. Many arrived with questions: What is life as a Sister really like? Are all communities the same? Where is God calling me?
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These and many other questions were answered on Saturday, April 25 during the Young Women’s Nun Run across Calgary and north to Airdrie. Seven convents in one day made for an ambitious and memorable pilgrimage, as 21 women and seven Sisters travelled together by bus from start to finish. No running shoes were needed.

We began at the Providence Sisters’ convent in southeast Calgary. Convent chapels tend to be smaller than churches, but we managed to squeeze everyone in for Mass celebrated by Fr. Julian Studden. In his homily, he spoke about being open to what the Lord is calling us to be. After Mass, we filled the Sisters’ dining room for a substantial breakfast and heard from some of the young Sisters of Providence as they shared about their charism and mission.

Then, onto the bus. Tony, our driver, stayed with us the whole day and heard us praying the Rosary between each convent stop.

Our second stop was the Daughters of Mary, Mother of the Church, where we were treated to an interesting talk about their missionary work and given snacks to take along on our journey. Happily, the three Sisters joined us for the rest of the pilgrimage, bringing our number of Sisters to seven.

After navigating the monastery’s challenging driveway, we arrived at the Dominican Sisters in northwest Calgary. The Sisters took us through their daycare for young children and then over to the parish church, where they shared about the central place of the Eucharist in the life of consecrated women.
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As one participant later shared, “I liked that I learned not just about the seven convents, but also what they do. The Dominicans run a daycare?!”

A short trip into Bowness brought us to the Adoration chapel of the Sisters of Divine Mercy. We were blessed with time to pray with the Sisters, including the Divine Mercy Chaplet and a period of quiet adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.

We then left the city of Calgary and made our way to the country home of the Seeds of the Word community. There, we were welcomed with more snacks and a dynamic talk on Lectio Divina. A special gift for each participant was a copy of their 2026 Lectio Divina Compendium.

We left the Seeds of the Word Sisters there and continued on to Airdrie, to the newly acquired convent of the Gilbertine Sisters. The Sisters, who belong to the Personal Ordinariate and are in the process of establishing their community, shared about their life and charism. Before we departed to return to the Providence Sisters’ convent, they graciously provided us with a delicious take-home pasta supper.

“I did not think of God today until I saw you.”
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A man crossing my path to the recycling blue bins here in Calgary said this to me. It really touched my heart, and I was grateful to God for my vocation to the Religious life that drew someone to think of God.

I suspect that other Religious Sisters, Brothers, and Priests have comparable stories to tell of brief encounters with someone who is touched by the sight of a Religious. I know that the Friars Minor in their brown habits have been repeatedly asked if they are Jedi Knights who, if you know the stories of Star Wars, are the selfless defenders of what is right and good in the galaxy. I think that the Friars fit that description quite well.

Often my students in high school told me that I was the only Religious Sister that they had ever met. Happily, some students told me that they had had a Sister teach them in elementary school. I was glad to hear that I was not the only example they had because there are many different communities of Religious, each with its own charism and mission in the Church.

Charisms are the gift of the Holy Spirit to the founder of the community and to all those who subsequently follow Jesus in the same spirituality. This gives the community its particular way of living the Gospel, such as Franciscan, Dominican, Jesuit, Marian, Carmelite, Benedictine, Precious Blood, etc..

Once someone senses the call of the Lord to give oneself totally for Him in the Religious life, a further discernment is needed to identify which of the spiritualities in the Church attracts that person. Identifying one’s own charism enables one to discern to which community the Lord is calling. There is a sense of deep resonance between the individual and the community, something that can be hard to put into words, but yet is very real. This is because the community and the individual share the same charism from the Holy Spirit.

Frequently I have conversations with people in the grocery store, people that I am meeting for the first time or ones that I see often when I go to shop. They speak to me of their concerns with their lives and ask me for prayers. Some share openly of their faith in Christ simply because they know that they are talking to someone who also believes. Think about how beneficial it would be to have ten times more Religious around us!

People seem to know instinctively that there is something special in their midst when they encounter a Religious man or woman. In Vita Consecrata, Pope St. John Paul II wrote:

Written by Sr. Dianne Turner, OSE - Associate Director for Office of Vocations - Consecrated Life. Call 403-218-5500 or email Sr. Dianne at [email protected]

​At its heart, the recent newsletter from the Apostolate of Eucharistic Adoration carries one clear message: Eucharistic Adoration changes parishes.

March, devoted to St. Joseph, the Passion of Our Lord, and the institution of the Eucharist, is a fitting time to return to the heart of our faith: Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. The Church has long taught that worship of the Eucharist outside of Mass is not secondary or optional. As St. John Paul II wrote in Ecclesia de Eucharistia:

Likewise, Redemptionis Sacramentum urges that Eucharistic adoration be diligently fostered “with the participation of the people.”
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The message is simple and direct: if we desire renewal in our parishes, we return to the Lord in the Eucharist.

What we are seeing in our Diocese

Last year, parishes across the Diocese of Calgary took up that invitation in a concrete way through the 40 Hours Devotion for Vocations.

At St. Mary’s Cathedral and in parishes throughout the diocese, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for extended hours. Parishioners signed up for time slots, many of whom returned more than once. Some came late at night. Others brought their children. Students in Catholic schools also participated, adding dozens of hours of adoration across chapels and classrooms.
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At Holy Spirit Parish in Calgary, 378 adorers were formally registered, with participation likely exceeding 500. Many described the experience as calm, peaceful, and holy. One recurring question that surfaced afterward was: When can we do this again?
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The numbers matter less than what they represent: a hunger to remain with the Lord.

The Heart of Adoration
​St. Teresa of Calcutta expressed it plainly:

Her words echo what many in our own diocese have experienced: silence before the Lord brings clarity, strength, and peace. It deepens love for Jesus and, from there, love for one another.

​Pope Benedict XVI, in Sacramentum Caritatis (§66), highlights its intrinsic link to the Mass: "In the Eucharist, the Son of God comes to meet us and desires to become one with us; eucharistic adoration is simply the natural consequence of the eucharistic celebration, which is itself the Church's supreme act of adoration... The act of adoration outside Mass prolongs and intensifies all that takes place during the liturgical celebration itself."

Why Adoration Matters​

​The newsletter cites a striking statistic: 70 percent of seminarians come from parishes with Eucharistic Adoration. While statistics never tell the whole story, they suggest something profound: where Christ is adored, vocations flourish.

Adoration draws us into sustained contact with the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. It strengthens faith in the Eucharist. It deepens reverence for Holy Communion. It fosters repentance, intercession, and reparation.

40 Hours Devotion for Vocation

​In our own Diocese, the 40 Hours Devotion for Vocations revealed a real hunger for time before the Lord. Parishes reported strong participation, including overnight hours. Students, families, and seniors alike came to pray. ​

Adoration is not an extra devotion. It is a wellspring of renewal for the Church. And it begins with one hour.

Where to find Adoration hours?

• Check the parish-submitted schedule for Parish Adoration in our Diocese.
• Join the 40 Hours Devotion for Vocation - and commit for one hour.

The Presentation of the Lord draws us into the experience of His light, a light recognised, carried, and entrusted to the Church. As Bishop William McGrattan reflected in his homily, the candles blessed and carried at the beginning of the Mass recall “the light that is meant to be kept burning brightly,” first received at baptism, and lived each day in faith. 

That light shaped the Church’s gathering from the very beginning of the Mass. On Sun, Feb 2, 2026, close to 400 faithful gathered at St. Mary's Cathedral to celebrate the World Day for Consecrated Life on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Before the Eucharistic celebration began, the assembly gathered near the baptismal font for the blessing of candles. All the faithful, including members of consecrated life, received a candle for the procession. The faithful also brought forward some candles from home to be blessed. As flames were shared and the chant rose, candlelight slowly filled the cathedral, echoing Simeon’s proclamation that Christ is “a light for revelation to the nations.”

The evening held particular significance for the sisters and brothers of consecrated life, many of whom gathered and processed together in unity. In the Diocese of Calgary, consecrated life includes women and men in Religious Life, Consecrated Virgins and Hermits, members of certain Public Associations of the Faithful, and Societies of Apostolic Life. Though their charisms differ, all share a common call to witness God’s love through the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, in service to the People of God.

Sr. Dianne Turner, Assistant Director of the Office of Vocations, was deeply moved by both the turnout and the visible unity of the Church gathered that evening.

“I was really happy to see how many people came,” she said. “There were so many diocesan priests and religious priests behind the altar, and religious men and women seated in three rows on either side at the front.” She also noted the presence of Lauretta Dearing, newly consecrated to the Order of Consecrated Virgins Living in the World on November 21, 2025.

“The candles were incredible,” Sr. Dianne added. “People brought so many from home to be blessed, and everyone received a taper candle and a holy card.” The response, she said, was immediate. “They loved it. So many people expressed their thanks.”

In his homily, Bishop McGrattan recalled that the World Day of Consecrated Life was established by St. John Paul II in 1997 so that the Church might pause to give thanks. “The Holy Spirit needs to remind the entire Church that there are many gifts and many charisms,” he said, “and it is truly the Holy Spirit that continues to unite them and allow them to be at the service of the Church and its mission.” The presence of consecrated women and men in the diocese, he noted, is not incidental, but essential.

The Gospel proclaimed that evening, from Luke’s account of the Presentation, revealed that Simeon recognized Christ as salvation and light and also foretold suffering. Reflecting on this, Bishop McGrattan spoke of consecrated life as a radical witness shaped by both joy and sacrifice. “Many have experienced the grace of encountering Christ in the Incarnation,” he said, “and also the experience of following Christ in his death and resurrection.” This witness, he explained, often involves dying to self so that the grace of Christ may be revealed in those they serve.

Following the homily, all those in consecrated life stood together to renew their vows, reaffirming commitments already lived day by day, supported by the prayer of the gathered Church. The liturgy was prayerfully supported by the Seeds of the Word Community, whose music led the assembly through the celebration with reverence, beauty, and care.

The Diocese thanks the staff and volunteers of St. Mary’s Cathedral for their support of the celebration, with special appreciation to Ivy Bercelon and her team for their role in sharing the invitation and assisting with the liturgy and reception.
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The celebration continued in the parish hall, where the unexpectedly large turnout only underscored what had been witnessed throughout the evening. Bishop McGrattan’s words offered a fitting final note: “Let us be filled with a great joy and thanksgiving for the witness of our religious brothers and sisters and those in consecrated life, where they truly witness to Christ in the community, their life and their ministry.”

Photos: Bandi Szakony and Victor Panlilio, for the Diocese of Calgary.

Every year, the Assembly of Women Religious and the Office of Vocations in the Diocese of Calgary invite young single women, age 16 or older, to join in a fun night of food, companionship, games, and prayer.

In previous years, the Fun Night attendees were graciously welcomed by the Faithful Companions of Jesus Sisters at the FCJ Centre, but as the event has continued to grow, a larger venue was needed! This year, the Fun Night was hosted at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, where nearly 40 young ladies and Sisters enjoyed an evening of great food, group games, and conversation.
 
The evening began with a prayerful welcome, followed by a delicious pizza supper, other nutritious foods, and a cookie extravaganza. (No really, there was no shortage of cookies!) The ladies in attendance got to converse with Sisters from seven communities here in Calgary: the Faithful Companions of Jesus Sisters, the Seeds of the Word, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, the Providence Sisters, the Dominican Sisters, the Daughters of Mary Mother of the Church, and the Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth. 
 
The Fun Night gives young women the opportunity to connect with the Sisters to learn more about the vocation to the Consecrated life and who the Sisters are as real people. In turn, the Sisters are thrilled to make some new friends and to spend time with the other Sisters as well. It was very exciting to welcome a few new attendees this year, as this event was their first time meeting or interacting with any religious Sisters. 
 
Everyone jumped into the group games with enthusiasm and lots of laughter. We learned some interesting traits about everyone in the Fruit Salad Game, and we appreciated a variety of artistic talents during a very amusing and competitive bout of Pictionary. The games invited everyone to participate and get to know each other a little better.

“People were very friendly, and there was an innate sense of community,” shared one attendee. “The Sisters were funny and welcoming, and it was so cool to meet Sisters from different backgrounds and paths!”
 
At the end of the evening, each community of Sisters shared something about their community in a brief panel discussion, and the evening concluded with Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. All the women were provided with a list of the upcoming vocation events with the hopes that they will participate in future encounters with the Sisters - and we hope to see you there too!

​Written by Noëlle McCusker and Sr. Dianne Turner. 

As a long-standing tradition, the Bishop of Calgary and the Office of Vocations have brought together the current seminarians and their parents for a Christmas supper. Last December, it was held at St. Cecilia’s church with a delicious meal provided by the Catholic Women’s League and the Knights of Columbus of that parish. This event, which honours both parents and their seminarian sons, demonstrates the importance of strengthening family life to support vocations to the priesthood in our Diocese.
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A particularly edifying part of this gathering is the speech by the parents of a recently ordained priest. This personal sharing of the experience of these parents is offered as a support for the parents of the current seminarians as they navigate their own son’s journey towards the priesthood. Knowing how other parents have successfully supported their sons over the many years of discernment and formation demonstrates that, as a local Church, we are here to help one another.

This year, the parents of the newly-ordained Fr. Peter An accepted this role for which we are truly grateful. Here follows the speech of Fr. Peter’s mother, Jinhee An. With her husband, Sungchan An, at her side, she described her experience as the mother of a son called by God to be His priest.

Sr. Margaret Mary wrote: “My life has been blessed with a richness and great variety. I began my teaching career in Toronto at St. Bernard’s School, just newly opened in 1956. What an initiation since the school was not totally finished and certainly not prepared for the huge influx of students I had in a grade 1 class, and ended up with a steady stream of newcomers throughout the year, totalling 60 pupils! Many Italians were immigrating to Canada at that time. The next year was easier with 40 students.” In 1958, Sister moved to St. Benedict’s School, where she remained for ten years. In 1973, she was assigned to Oyen, where she served on the Assumption Parish Council and the Catholic Women’s League. Some studies at the University of Calgary were followed by Sister teaching Grades 3 and 4 in addition to her parish commitments and teaching catechetics in Acadia Valley, Youngstown and Oyen.

A small FCJ community on 8 Ave. N.W., Calgary, began in 1983 under the leadership of Sr. Margaret Mary. About her ministry at that time, she wrote: “After leaving Oyen in 1982, I branched out into parish work, an enriching and life-giving experience which developed new initiatives within myself.  Ascension Parish in Northwest Calgary was a brand new ecumenical venture in partnership with the Lutherans. During the initial years before the church was built, we had Mass on Sundays in St. Bede School and shared an office with the Lutheran congregation in the Beddington Mall.  The ecumenical church known as Sandstone Ecumenical Centre was not in operation until February 1988. I had the joy of being at Ascension for 8 years until August 1990.”

Sr. Margaret Mary greatly appreciated a sabbatical year in Arnprior, Ontario, before she and Sr. Alice Sheridan were asked to begin serving at St. Anthony’s Parish, Kitimat, B.C., where she was the Religious Education Coordinator from 1991- ’98. Working with students, catechists, teachers, and parents was challenging and rewarding.  She recalled: "In particular, I loved Sacramental preparation. The people in Kitimat were warm and friendly, and we became very much part of their lives.”

After Kitimat, “I was missioned to Edmonton, where we moved into the newly renovated house on December 3, 1998. This was my home until 2001.” At that point, Sister was asked to go to Sacred Heart Convent in Calgary for a year. On August 30, 2002, she returned to Kitimat to join Sr. Elizabeth Poilievre, whose contract as principal was for another two years.
 
The Sisters FCJ left Kitimat on July 15, 2004. “It was a sad departure, for with the arrival of a new young priest, I was quickly immersed in the life of the parish and had enjoyed reviving old friendships. However, I was back in Edmonton, 82 Ave., and the opening of a new home, a second place in Edmonton to be known as Emmaus. A special blessing and celebration were held.” In Edmonton, Sister Margaret Mary participated in St. Anthony’s Parish CWL, helped welcome a refugee family, and continued to share her gentle leadership skills in the community.

​The winter of 2005 was a wonderful time of renewal for her as she immersed herself in the FCJ Australian communities. To visit Australia had been a long-time dream of Sister Margaret Mary’s. In 2011, she received an Outstanding Volunteer Service Award from Catholic Social Services, Edmonton.
 
Since 2016, Sr. Margaret Mary has been part of the Sacred Heart Convent community in Calgary. She resides at Providence Care Centre and recently celebrated her 98th birthday with family and FCJ Sisters. Of her life, she wrote: “Mine was a simple life: no brilliant academic achievements, no extraordinary teaching ability, but it has been a good life for which I am forever grateful.”

Written by FCJ Sisters at Sacred Heart Convent, Calgary.

I shared my dream of becoming a nun with my mom, and she advised me to finish my studies first since I was still too young to enter the convent. Her words of encouragement gave me the conviction to pursue my goal, and I was convinced that I’d find my true calling once I’d completed my education. I studied at Bicol College of Arts and Trade, earning a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology.
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During my college years, my dream of being a nun seemed to slip away. I was committed to fulfilling my responsibilities in school, which involved a daily routine of studying, rising early, and attending classes. I had a supportive group of friends who regularly attended the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena on Wednesdays. Although I did not join them, I felt that God had instilled a sense of direction in my life.

My six-month practicum for my degree was completed in Manila, where I gained valuable experience and skills. Back in my hometown of Naga, I established my own small business through God’s blessing and my family's unwavering support. As my small business generated income, I found myself drifting away from my aspiration to become a nun, and it rarely crossed my mind anymore.

A friend, however, invited me to attend a “Search-In” event hosted by the Daughters of Mary, Mother of the Church Institute. This was a turning point for me, as it reignited my dreams and encouraged me to reflect more deeply on my vocation.

After attending the event, I took the time to share my feelings with my mom, and although she didn’t say much, the time we spent together was truly special and comforting. Months passed, and I went to see Fr. Mario Villaraza, SDB, our parish priest, because I needed him to write a recommendation for me to enter the convent. He refused to give me the recommendation. He told me I was only visible at Sunday masses, not at any other church activities. So, I joined the afternoon choir, as my main goal was to obtain a recommendation from him. After expressing interest in joining the choir, I received the required letter from him. I sang in the choir until I joined the community of Sisters.

When I was scheduled to enter the convent, I suffered a severe headache that lasted two weeks and forced me to postpone my plans. This unexpected setback turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it gave me more time to reflect on my vocation and prepare myself spiritually for this big step.

I believe that when God extends a calling, His grace follows it. For me, that calling was to a life of religious devotion, where I’ve discovered the peace and love I was searching for in Jesus.

Twenty-seven years have passed since I entered the convent, and what a blessing it’s been. I recently celebrated my 25th anniversary of vows as a Daughter of Mary, and I’m filled with gratitude for this remarkable journey and my vocation. It has been a blessing for me to be here in Canada serving with my Sisters in the Diocese of Calgary.

My advice to young women searching for their vocation is to pray a lot and reflect about it. They should ask for guidance from a Vocation Director or a faith-filled friend. It really helped me to visit the community of Sisters that I joined. God bless you.

Written by Sr. Gloria Orcena Sarol for Faithfully.

On Friday, November 21, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Diocese of Calgary celebrated a beautiful and historic liturgy: the consecration of Lauretta Dearing to the Order of Consecrated Virgins Living in the World (Ordo Virginum). Lauretta is the first woman in our diocese to be received into this ancient vocation, which dates back to the early Church and is lived today in the world through prayer, service, and a deep spousal commitment to Christ.
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Bishop William T. McGrattan presided at the Mass and preached on the meaning of this vocation for Lauretta and for the whole Church. He reminded the faithful: “God has called her to be more closely united to himself and to be dedicated to the service of the Church and of mankind.” He invited the congregation to consider the spiritual fruit of this consecration, saying: “Think of the good she will accomplish by her prayers and good works, and the abundant blessings she will obtain from God for holy Church, for the human society, and for your families.”

Photography by Bandi Szakony, for the Diocese of Calgary. 

Does God hear the whisper of a mother praying quietly over her sleeping child? Yes, He does. Does God hear her cries and fervent prayers as she watches over a sick or dying child? Yes, He does, and He quietly whispers to her heart, "Entrust your child to me for I have the best plan for him."
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My name is Sr. Zacharia Hryc, O.P., and I am a Dominican Sister of the Immaculate Conception Province. The story of my vocation highlights a significant aspect of parents dedicating their children to God's care and His plan. The truth that the family is, or at least should be, the first school of values, rooted in faith, is often overlooked today. It is the responsibility of the Church to form families into communities of love and growth, as God intended.

My parents married young. My mother had me at 19; my father was 24. They were inexperienced, anxious, and uncertain. My mother felt she couldn’t raise me without God's guidance. She often told me that each time she learned she was pregnant, she prayed earnestly for God's help and entrusted every part of her family life to God's care and Our Lady’s protection. This trust gave her peace of mind and the confidence that she wasn't alone in raising her children. However, she never expected that God and Mary would literally respond to the promise made in a moment of fear and dread for her child's life.

That moment came when I was 3 months old. My mother, while changing my clothes, turned around and immediately saw me fall from the changing table, about 70 cm to the floor. The fall caused me to cry so loudly that I lost my breath. My mother quickly picked me up from the floor and held me tightly, saying a prayer that expressed her fear for my fragile life: "Mary, please don't take her now, and I will give her to you in the future." God heard my mother's cry; Our Lady listened and accepted her offering.

The fall turned out not to be life-threatening; it left only a purple bump on my head. It was not mentioned for the next 18 years, until I stood before my mom to tell her that God was calling me to religious life and to a congregation where Mary is especially venerated. My mother cried profusely. It was a time to say “yes” to God again; to offer her child more intentionally and fully. The act of consecrating my siblings and me to God and the Mother Mary was an expression of deep faith and humility, recognizing that every life is a gift from God and that God has His own plan for each child.
In the Letter of Saint John Paul II to Families, Gratissimam Sane, we read: “And so, both in the conception and in the birth of a new child, parents find themselves face to face with a "great mystery" (cf. Eph 5:32). Like his parents, the new human being is also called to live as a person; he is called to a life "in truth and love". This call is not only open to what exists in time, but in God; it is also open to eternity.”

My mother entrusted my siblings and me to God's care so that God's Will and plan could be fulfilled in our lives, because she understood that "spouses, as parents, are collaborators with God the Creator in the conception and birth of a new human being…." (John Paul II to Families, Gratissimam Sane,1994), not their owners. Parents accompany their child on the path to discovering God through shared prayer, the Eucharist, and the expression of mutual love in service and forgiveness. Parents should help them find out their vocation and the plan God has prepared for their child.  By offering their children to God and to Mary, parents help their children discover the mystery of their vocation and the plan God has prepared for them.

“Nonetheless, in conjugal love and in paternal and maternal love we should find inscribed the same truth about man which the Council expressed clearly and concisely in its statement that God "willed man for his own sake". It is thus necessary that the will of the parents should be in harmony with the will of God. They must want the new human creature in the same way as the Creator wants him: "for himself".

I invite you to watch the episode of “Vocare” by Shalom World, featuring my vocation story and our religious community. I urge you to pray sincerely and offer your families to God. Remember that He is the true source of all blessings, happiness and satisfaction; all that you truly want for your loved ones. And if your child is called to serve God in a more direct way in the priesthood or religious life, I ask you to pray for them and support them. This is a challenging, but also deeply fulfilling way of life: it will be the source of many blessings for your family now and in eternity. 

Written by Sr. Zacharia Hryc, OP

​I continued to grow in faith through the Mass and spiritual direction from my parish priests. I joined the CWL, which had Bible study and women who lived the faith through the feasts and devotion to the Saints. We met weekly and talked about the Mass, the Liturgical year, the Saints, the Bible; basically, it was an experience of being catechized as an adult. The Mystical Rose Charismatic Prayer Group in Kelowna, where I lived, had Life in the Spirit seminars. I was prayed over and received a deeper inflow of the Holy Spirit. After that, we had weekly charismatic prayer groups where I experienced healing and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This is the foundation of my seeking to follow Christ.

When the time came that my friends were dating, I started to think about marriage, but I had given myself to Jesus when I was 14. I spoke to my parish priest who was my spiritual director at the time, asking for his advice. He said that I had been very young when I had made that gift of myself, not knowing the full implications, and he advised me to date. I tried dating young men, but none of these men were who God wanted me to be with. 

My spiritual director at the time advised me that I might have a vocation to be a Religious Sister. Since I was a teacher, I had school breaks that allowed me to visit various orders of Sisters. I stayed for short times with both apostolic and cloistered Sisters of many communities, but did not feel at home with any of them. My spiritual director advised me to speak to the Bishop of our Diocese, and the Bishop told me to write down a detailed description of what God was asking me to live. Then I made private promises to God to live my Christian life in a dedicated manner.

After my grandmother died, I no longer had any commitments that would keep me in Kelowna. My friend Jean was also searching for where God wanted us to be. She wanted to check out Madonna House in Combermere, Ontario. I did not know anything about that apostolate, though I had met them in Regina, Saskatchewan, many years before. We went to Madonna House, and I never left. The moment I got off the bus, I knew that I was home. My journey of faith led me to become a Staff Member of Madonna House, and I stayed for over a decade. My friend Jean left after a week and became a Sister of Charity.  

Catherine Doherty, the foundress of Madonna House Apostolate, was a great influence in my spiritual life. She had good insight into the souls of the members and guided them well in following the Lord. I am so thankful for the gifts that God gave me there. I learned how to pray the Liturgy of the Hours in the community, to integrate spiritual reading into my life, and to pray for the needs of others. Fr. Francis Martin gave us Scripture classes. Fr. Wild, who was my spiritual director, led me deeper into contemplation and meditation. Jean Fox, the women’s director, taught me about living in community in a spiritual way, how to deal with anger, frustration, and other interpersonal issues. I learned how to repair books, bake bread, make yogurt and cheese, type on a typewriter, spin wool into yarn, and basic drawing techniques. Because of the various departments in the community, I learned different skills that were of great benefit in my future life.

It was time for final promises, and Catherine Doherty and my spiritual director discerned that I was not called to live permanently in the Madonna House community. Catherine sent me out from Madonna House to live in the world as both a contemplative and active person. The only resource I had was a stack of resumes that I could use to find a job. She also advised me to look into consecrated life as a virgin living in the world. So, I came to Calgary, where my father lived in a seniors’ home. I could not find any work or a place to live. In my desperation, I went to the cathedral and prayed to the Lord, asking Him to take care of me. Then, by His providence, God pointed me towards a businessman who had a job for me, and this man also helped me find a place to live. I ended up working for him for about seven years.

During this time, I heard about a group of consecrated virgins living in the United States, and I visited them. I was not prepared, however, to move to another country and give up my Canadian citizenship, which would have been required for me to join them. I continued to live my promises to the Lord that I had made at Madonna House: Poverty, Chastity and Obedience in my state of life. Because of my love for St Francis’ teachings, I became a Secular Franciscan. Each step has brought me into a deeper understanding of who God has called me to be. Nothing is hidden from Him. Now I hear His Voice within me. He is calling me to be a Consecrated Virgin living in the world for the Diocese of Calgary. 

This is what I have learned: when you are trying to discover where God wants you to be, you need to determine what is most important. It is prayer, which includes a time of listening to Him, reading the Scriptures, which is a time of Him speaking to you, and spiritual direction for wise guidance. In all these ways, God will answer your question about who He wants you to be.