Fr. Terry Connolly: Priestly Blessings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Fr. Terrence (Terry) Connolly

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

Pastoral Assignments

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

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