ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF CALGARY
  • Blog
  • About
  • Give
  • News & Events
  • Ministries
  • Contact Us
  • Parish Finder
Picture

Fr. William Trienekens: Happy are those who take refuge in Him

10/1/2021

6 Comments

 
Picture
At the ordination of Fr. William Trienekens by Bishop Carroll, May 27, 1961
​As a young altar server in Boekel, Netherlands, Fr. William Trienekens saw his parish priest at Mass on a regular basis, and knew he “wanted that same job”.  It was never of any question to him — he was going to be a priest.

The third child and eldest boy of a family of ten, Father describes growing up in Boekel as relatively easy until the Second World War broke out. His father died in May 1944, two or three weeks before D-Day, upon which he suddenly became man of the household, and had to assume the role of surrogate father for his family, looking after the garden and taking on a major share of the household chores.  He describes this as his first ministry position.

By 1955, Fr. Bill was still very much interested in becoming a priest. With not much by way of finances, he sought the help of his parish priest in finding out the addresses of dioceses abroad who were accepting foreign students; Calgary was one such diocese. Bishop Carroll responded to his correspondence immediately, and within half a year, the paperwork was ready and the soon-to-be Fr. Bill was on a boat to Canada in August of 1955.

Fr. Bill describes his first meeting with Bishop Carroll as the best piece of advice he ever received. He was received by Bishop Carroll at his office, and in his interview, Bishop Carroll gave this request:  “I’m going to tell you a sentence, and you will repeat what you heard me say.”  For Fr. Bill, this was the best demonstration of how to really listen to someone he had ever received.  “After half an hour, we really understood each other. I walked out of his office… knowing I had a new father.” His new spiritual father sent him to St. Joseph’s Seminary, and would write him a letter every semester, closing with “Your tenacity will help you reach your goal.”  Fr. Bill was ordained on May 27th, 1961, along with Fr. Jack Bastigal, Fr. Louis Geelan, OFM, and Fr. Bill Stephenson (who was ordained in his home diocese of Antigonish).

When asked about his priestly ministry, Fr. Bill stresses his desire to work in parishes to strengthen community. The Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Women’s League, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Christian Family Movement, and Small Christian Communities come to mind easily as communities he helped strengthen. So too does his time celebrating Mass with the deaf community, his mountain hikes and retreats with schools, directing the permanent diaconate program, and the Evenings for the Engaged, in which a lead couple married for over 5 years would invite one or two engaged couples to their home — and often found their own marriage strengthened by the encounter.

Fr. Bill has many favourite prayers:  the Lord’s Prayer and the Hail Mary, both learned as an infant; and later on, the Prayer of St. Francis, and Psalms 100 and 131. Psalm 34:8 holds particular meaning for him:  “O taste and see that the Lord is good, happy are those who take refuge in Him.” As a family in the Netherlands in the Second World War, taking refuge in God was of great importance, and this passage has reminded him to take refuge in prayer in all of the difficult moments of his ministry since then. His favourite prayer of all is silence: “St. John of the Cross wrote: ‘God’s first language is silence.’ We can pray non-stop, and kill our relationship with God, because we don’t take time to reflect and meditate.”

His advice on how to discern one’s vocation?  Pray for the right choice — “Here I am Lord, I come to do Your will” is a necessary prayer. The ability and interest to pursue it is necessary too. However, “if you want holiness [in vocation], go to bed every night at 10, get up in the morning at 6, and dedicate yourself again to God.  Say your prayers, do exercise, serve others, enjoy life, and be happy.”
​
At 90 years of age, Fr. Trienekens says that it has been a happy life. It has been a struggle at times to reach this place, with personal sorrow and distance from family, but overall, “it has been a happy, graced life”, the guiding principle of which has always been:  “Taste and see that the Lord is good, happy are those who take refuge in Him.”
Vertical Divider
Picture
Fr. William Trienekens

Ordained: May 27, 1961 at St. Mary’s Cathedral by Bishop Carroll

Pastoral Placements
  • Assistant: St. Anthony’s, Drumheller (1961-1965)
  • Assistant: St. Joseph’s, Calgary (1965-1967)
  • Assistant: St. Patrick’s, Medicine Hat (1967-1969)
  • Pastor: Sacred Heart, Oyen (1969-1970)
  • Studies: St. Paul’s University, Ottawa (1970-1971)
  • Chaplain: Bishop Carroll High School, Calgary (1971-1979)
  • Pastor: Corpus Christi, Calgary (1979-1987)
  • Sabbatical: University of Louvain, Belgium (1987)
  • Pastor: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Calgary (1987-1990)
  • Pastor: St. Luke’s, Calgary (1990-1999)
  • Vicar General (1998-2011)
  • Co-Director-Permanent Diaconate Program (1998-2006)
  • Administrator: Holy Spirit, Calgary (2003)

Picture
Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully. Solomon is a born-and-raised Calgarian, who got letters after his name in Lethbridge. He worships at All Saints, Lethbridge; St. John the Evangelist, Calgary; and both the Calgary and Lethbridge chapters of the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy. He is an oboist by training, chorister by grace, hobby wordsmith, amateur calligrapher and museum enthusiast.
6 Comments
Frank Blote
10/26/2021 07:04:55 am

Dear Fr. Trieneken

Thank you for your vocation and your dedication to us, your parishioners at large

I was just born when you were ordained in 1961, and emigrated to Canada in 1978

I have always been impressed with your "Dutchnicity" as it were and I miss our Homeland as it was then, not as it is today

You are a wonderful man and we love you lots

Thank you for your many, many years of unselfish dedication to your flock :)


Frank and Karen

Reply
Ada Yam
10/27/2021 06:50:34 am

Dear Fr. Bill,

By God's Grace, Ada and Bonnie were led to you for baptism on 2013 and 2014 respectively. From then on, you've brought us more and more into our life of Faith. Thank you for being part of our family, for your good counsel and teachings, thank you for sharing your stories and experiences! Thank you for witnessing our growth, for sharing our sorrow and happiness! We have had many happy and enjoyable moments together and that will keep on!

We feel so blessed to have you as our father!

As always,
Love and Peace,
Freeman, Ada and Bonnie

Reply
Chrissy & Mark Finot
10/29/2021 08:11:44 am

Dear Father Bill,

You have been a very special part of our family for many years. Congratulations on this remarkable achievement.

Sending our love,

Chrissy & Mark Finot

Reply
Marco & Maria Civitarese
10/29/2021 10:59:26 pm

Dear Father Bill,
You have been a special part of our entire family for many years baptizing our children as well as celebrating sacraments. Your homilies often helped when I struggled with my faith. Congratulations on 60 years and thank you for your faith and dedication.

Regards,
Marco & Maria Civitarese

Reply
Bob & Vicky
11/8/2021 01:56:09 pm

Dear Fr. Bill,
Words cannot describe how very important you have been in our lives, thank you for always being there for me. Congratulations on your 60 years, may God continue to bless you.
Much love,

Vicky & Bob

Reply
Sandra E M Doucet
11/13/2021 10:46:33 am

Dear Fr. Bill
I, like many find it hard to express how important you have been in my life and my children's lives. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. for the profound wisdom you have given by word and deed to the Parish of Corpus Christi, I wish you the best of life and congratulations on your celebration of 60 years serving Our Lord and Savior. May God continue to Bless you with your great gift of being His servant.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Catholic Pastoral Centre Staff and Guest Writers

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018

    Categories

    All
    Advent & Christmas
    Art
    Bereavement
    Bishop Emeritus Henry
    Bishop McGrattan
    Book Review
    Care For Creation
    Catechetics
    Catholic Charities & Development
    Catholic Education
    Catholic Schools
    CCCB
    Christian Unity
    Climate Change
    Consecrated Virgin
    Conversion
    Covid 19
    Culture
    CWL
    Development & Peace
    Devotions
    Diocesan Event
    Discipleship
    Ecumenical
    Elizabeth House
    Environment
    Euthanasia
    Evangelization
    Faithful Living
    Faithfully
    Family
    Feed The Hungry
    From The Bishop's Office
    Fundraising
    Funeral
    Grieving
    Health
    Health Care
    Homelessness
    Indigenous
    In Memoriam
    Interfaith
    Jubilarians
    Lay Associations
    Lent
    Lent & Easter
    Liturgy
    Marian
    Marriage
    Mary
    Mass
    Mental Health
    Migrants
    Miscarriage
    Mission Mexico
    Movie Review
    Music
    One Rock
    Online Formation
    Ordination
    Parenting
    Parish Life
    Pastoral Care
    Pastoral Visit
    Permanent Diaconate
    Pope
    Pope Francis
    Prayer
    Pray For Peace
    Priesthood
    Prolife
    RCIA
    Reconciliation
    Refugee
    Religious Education
    Religious Freedom
    Religious Life
    Resources And Guidelines
    Sacred Art
    Safe Environment
    Saints
    Scripture & Reflection
    Seniors
    Social Justice
    Stewardship
    St. Joseph
    Synod
    Vocation
    Youth And Young Adults
    Youth Ministry

    RSS Feed

GET TO KNOW US
Our Bishop
Offices & Ministries
​Our Staff
Read our Blog
Catholic Community
​Lay Associations
CONNECT WITH US
Contact us
​Careers
​Parish Boundaries

News & Events
Faithfully
​Reporting Abuse
NEED INFO ON
Becoming Catholic
Marriage Preparation
​Vocations
Annulment 
Sacraments Prep
Catholic Funeral
GIVE TO
Diocesan Ministries
Together in Action
Feed the Hungry
Elizabeth House
Your Parish Church​ 
​Other Ministry

Catholic Pastoral Centre  | 120 - 17th Ave SW, Calgary, AB  T2S 2T2 | ​Phone: 403-218-5500 | communications@calgarydiocese.ca
Charitable Number: 
10790-9939-RR0076​. Donate Now.
  • Blog
  • About
  • Give
  • News & Events
  • Ministries
  • Contact Us
  • Parish Finder