2020 Jubilarians

Most Rev. Eugene Cooney

​With 60 years of priesthood now behind him, Bishop Emeritus Eugene Cooney reflects fondly on his vocation. The heart of his ministry was serving the people of God, as both pastor and bishop. "The priesthood is my life's work, and I've had a great life," he said. "I've enjoyed it every step of the way."

Bishop Cooney grew up in Medicine Hat - the middle child of a prayerful family of five. In 1954 he entered St. Joseph's Seminary in Edmonton and was ordained in 1960. He was appointed Bishop of Nelson by Pope John Paul II in 1996, where he served until his retirement in 2007.

Now at age 89, Bishop Cooney's advice to those discerning their vocation, particularly in today's secular culture, is to turn to prayer daily and unceasingly. "When I was growing up, prayer and doing God's will was the most important part of our lives," he said. "We asked God for blessings everyday. We were very much aware that our life is in His hands. People today should remember that God's grace is necessary for us to get through and lead a good life."

Bishop Emeritus Eugene Cooney at a retreat. Photo: Rev. J. Ronald Knott.

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Fr. Frank Feldmann

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Rev. Frank Feldmann, SAC

Looking back on five decades as the Lord's servant, Rev. Frank Feldmann offers only one message: "the honour belongs to the One who called me." Fr. Frank was born in Germany in 1940, in the midst of the Second World War. He was ordained in 1970, first appointed as an associate pastor in Swan River, Manitoba. He was welcomed into the Diocese of Calgary in 1974, serving at St. Cecilia Church. Through his years of priesthood, Fr. Frank has also served St. Paul's Parish in Airdrie, St. Agnes in Carstairs, St. James in Okotoks and St. Michael's in Black Diamond. He became dean of the Crowsnest Pass Pastoral Zone in 2010.

Fr. Frank's priestly journey came full circle in 2012, when he returned as pastor to St. Cecilia Church - the same parish he served when first arriving in the Calgary Diocese nearly forty years earlier. He retired in December 2014.

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Rev. Daniel Stevenot

Rev. Daniel Stevenot grew up in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, the youngest of three boys. His family moved to Medicine Hat in 1961. His mother, a devout and prayerful Catholic, was the guiding influence in Fr. Dan's faith and vocation. As a teenager, Fr. Dan and his classmates started a youth group - a rare thing at that time. He also began to pray daily over his vocation. Once, while in prayer, Fr. Dan spoke that he would not like to be a priest, but instead be married with 10 kids. He then felt God tell him that, even as a priest, "You will have lots of children."

Fr. Dan entered seminary in Waterloo, Ont. when he was 19, and in 1980 was ordained at St. Patrick's Church in Medicine Hat. As a seminarian, Fr. Dan took great inspiration in wanting to help others discover God's love and how they need Him in their lives. Forty years later, that same inspiration remains within him today as pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Banff.

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Fr. Dan Stevenot

Read an interview with Fr. Daniel Stevenot here

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Fr. Arjay Abanto

Read more about Fr. Arjay Abanto here: "You did not choose me, but I chose you."

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Rev. Rowel Jose Abanto

The priesthood was Rev. Rowel Jose Abanto's childhood dream. As only a small boy, he memorized the novena to the Mother of Perpetual Help - a popular prayer in his home country of the Philippines. He entered the seminary in 1986 and was ordained in 1995 in his home Diocese of Daat, Camarines North.

Fr. Abanto was called to serve the Diocese of Calgary in 2016, and today serves St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, affectionately known in the diocese as Fr. Arjay. To become close to God, Fr. Arjay believes we must open our hearts and let the grace of God lead us wherever He wants us to go. His guiding principle in serving God and His people is the words of John 15:16: "You did not choose me, but I chose you."

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Fr. Philip Le

Read more about Fr. Le: "My Adventure with the Lord"

Rev. Philip Le

Rev. Phillip Le was born amidst the violence, poverty and suffering of the Vietnam War. His father died when he was one - leaving behind him, his mother and five siblings. These devastating hardships led Le to reflect on the meaning of life from a very young age. He found the answer in the Gospels, and from there he set on the path to priesthood.

Because of communist rule, Fr. Philip had to do his priestly studies underground. The government refused his ordination, so he fled the country in 1989 - a risk that nearly cost him his life. Fr. Philip is certain God protected him from being caught and executed.

In 1990 he came to Canada as a refugee. He continued his vocation at the Christ the King Seminary in Mission, BC. Le initially struggled with English, but as a missionary priest reminded him: “The war couldn’t kill you, the poverty couldn’t, the communists couldn’t ... So English, I assure you, cannot kill you either." In 1995, Father Philip Le was finally ordained. Today, he serves parishes in Claresholm, Nanton, and Champion. 

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Fr. George Madathikunnath

Read more about Fr. George here: "Sharing on Priestly Ministry"

Rev. Dr. George Madathikunnath

Born into a devout family in the village of Katialpoovam in India, Rev. George Madathikunnath began discerning the priesthood as a child. His discernment grew stronger through the encouragement and prayerful presence of his parents, as well as the inspiring religious conviction of his grandfather.

He was ordained in 1995, and in 2001 did his doctorate in theology from the Gregorian University in Rome. He then taught theology in India, where he always advised students of the need for a personal encounter and relationship with Jesus, as the true source of all love, peace and happiness.  "Every day He calls us to serve Him radically and completely in one way or another," Fr. George said. In 2018, he joined the Diocese of Calgary as pastor to the Malankara Catholic Rite Community.

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Fr. Benedicto Tugano IV

Read more about Fr. Tugano

Rev. Benedicto Tugano IV

Even when he was only a small boy, Rev. Benedicto Tugano IV's life was filled with devotion. He would pray the rosary daily while riding his bike. He played with friends by pretending he was a priest, distributing biscuits to them as if it was communion. That inclination to priesthood stayed with Fr. Benedicto as, many years later, he and his elder brother entered seminary. While his brother eventually left the seminary, Fr. Benedicto Tugano was ordained in 1995.

Fr. Benedicto had many anxieties in the leadup to his ordination, that he would not be faithful to his ministry. But the words of his spiritual director continue to strengthen his faith to this day: "Just be faithful each day and you will make it."

After serving six parishes in the Philippines, Fr. Benedicto came to Canada in 2009. Since August 2018, he has served the Holy Cross Church in Fort Macleod.

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Fr. Ho Bong Yi

Rev. Ho Bong Yi

"The son of man did not come to be served but to serve." (Mk 10, 45). This Gospel verse resonated with Rev. Ho Bong Yi throughout his discernment to the priesthood. The words continue to motivate him now.

Ordained in 1995 in South Korea, Fr. Ho Bong Yi came to Canada in 2016 after studying theology in Rome and at the University of Innsbruck in Austria. Along with his pastoral duties, Fr. Yi was a professor at the Catholic University of Daegu and the director of St. Peter Minor Seminary in South Korea. Yi has been pastor for St. Anne's Korean Parish in Calgary since 2016.

Fr. Yi has a strong devotion to the rosary, and he encourages all those discerning their vocation to pray continuously and serve others with charity and selflessness. In those two acts, we can discover God's will for our lives, said Fr. Yi.

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Written by Kyle Greenham for Faithfully