Parish halls and open pastures

School is almost out, and yesterday was the first official day of summer. After the rainfall this spring, the flowers are blooming, and the grass is green and growing. It is hard not to feel the excitement of coming rest and vacation.

This has been an incredible year for Renewal in the Diocese of Calgary. While I know that many days have been filled with hard work, meetings, events, recruiting, and coordinating, we have come so far, and much fruit is beginning to grow. The other day, when the Bishop asked me how things were proceeding, I told him that each day I feel like I am only taking a few steps, but looking back, I realize that we have crossed an entire field.
​
Since the fall, 49 of our parishes have launched the execution phase of their Renewal Plans, representing more than 1,000 unique action items across the Diocese. After reviewing the spring reports from our Parish Renewal Teams, we learned that 75% of these items are either complete or underway. This is incredible news, and it means that real, concrete improvements and growth are happening in our parishes. I cannot express how impressed and inspired I am by this. Renewal is no longer simply an inspiration or an idea. It is happening right before our very eyes.

Since the fall, we have also held many events that you supported, helped to run, and attended. These included our ongoing monthly PRT Chair Meetings and the Advent Retreat with Archbishop Prendergast. We also held four Lenten Renewal Gatherings focused on communication, as well as the first-ever Renewal Conference, attended by 700 participants and featuring Bishop Scott McCaig, with a focus on evangelization. In addition, our PRT Chairs and many pastors participated in Leadership Formation with Ron Huntley, culminating in our inaugural Leadership Summit at the end of May, which brought together 100 key leaders from most of our parishes. I know the schedule was demanding, and I want to express my deep appreciation to each of you who helped organize or attended these events.

There is much on the horizon this fall. Parishes will be preparing for their annual Renewal Plan reviews in October, PRT meetings will resume, and new ongoing formation in evangelization will be introduced. We will also continue to collaborate with Ron Huntley to strengthen our leadership capacity and further enhance the impact of our Renewal Plans.
​
A new rural Renewal strategy will also be developed to provide special attention and support to our important parishes outside the city. We will also begin asking more challenging Renewal questions, such as whether we have developed parish improvement plans or truly transformative Renewal Plans that advance our three priorities: Making Missionary Disciples, Becoming a Church of Encounter and Witness, and Strengthening Family Life.

St. Albert the Great, Calgary

Feed the Hungry, St. Mary's Cathedral

Worship Renewal Conference

​He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul” ~ Psalm 23:2-3

The goal is not simply an improved parish, although that is still a good thing. Rather, the goal is a transformed culture, where everyone in the pews is activated for the Lord, and where everyone who walks through our doors has their life transformed by Jesus Christ. No one should come to Mass in our parishes and leave unchanged by His power.

You have worked extremely hard, however, and it is time for rest and restoration.

I love this time of year on the farm. This past week, I walked my pasture to check all the fences. The grass is deep green and growing tall, in some places waist high, and it blows in the wind like waves on the sea. After treating the cattle and checking the horses, I opened the back gate of the pens and let them run. After a long winter, they sprinted through the gates with joy and galloped away, quickly checking all their favourite places. Soon, they were gone from sight. Young calves disappeared entirely into the deep grassland. Over the coming months, they will spend much of their time out there, resting and eating to their hearts’ content. I may not see them back at the pens for days on end. I couldn’t be happier for them.
​
Special thanks to our Pastors, Deacons, PRT Chairs, Ministry Leaders, Parish Staff, and Volunteers. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and wish you a summer filled with rest, retreat, and beautiful summer pastures, wherever they may be for you.

---

Written by Ryan Schmidt, Director of Pastoral Renewal. Photos: St. Albert the Great PRT, Feed the Hungry at St. Mary's Cathedral, Worship Renewal Conference, and Ryan's farm.