Moving Forward in Year II: Dr. Bonnie Annicchiarico on Renewal at Priests' Study Days

This year's Priests' Study Days brought over 80 priests to the Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Rockies, focusing on the theme "Co-responsibility in Mission," and the kickoff of Year II of the Pastoral Renewal. The Renewal journey, which began in 2023, continued with a new phase that officially launched on Oct 4, 2024, the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi.

On Tuesday, Oct 8, the day began with the "Cast into the Deep" Pastoral Renewal video, inspiring us to a renewed sense of trust and mission. Dr. Bonnie Annicchiarico, chair of the Diocesan Renewal Leadership Team, followed with key updates, and Bishop McGrattan joined remotely from Rome to present survey results. Priests then received their parish-specific insights, which sparked lively discussions as they shared surprising, encouraging, and thought-provoking takeaways.

We now invite you to hear directly from Dr. Bonnie Annicchiarico, who led the Renewal session at the Study Days. Read our interview below as she shares her thoughts on Pastoral Renewal and offers her perspective on the journey ahead.

Bonnie, how did you get involved with the Pastoral Renewal Team?

• I am so privileged to be a part of the Pastoral Renewal Team for the Diocese of Calgary. I began this diocesan journey as a member of Bishop McGrattan’s Pastoral Discernment Advisory Committee (PDAC) in 2021. PDAC was integral to supporting the synodal process within our diocese, and through the synod my eyes were opened and my heart was moved.  I loved meeting in small groups across the diocese and listening to people’s faith journey stories. Taking all that we heard, the process of discernment led to the writing of the synthesis, and it became very clear what the people of God were experiencing and longing for. Their voices were heard. The synodal synthesis led directly to the Pastoral Plan’s three priorities and nine actions; divinely inspired through the voices of our people.  It was incredibly powerful.

Can you share a bit about your background and journey?​

• I am a very blessed wife, mother and grandmother. I have been an educator all my life with my passion residing in Catholic education in Brooks and across Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools. Having personally experienced the challenges of establishing Catholic education in my own community, I am a passionate advocate for Catholic education.  I’ve been a principal and an associate superintendent and, for five years, I was able to serve as the provincial executive director for Grateful Advocates for Catholic Education (GrACE) where, under the direction of the bishops of Alberta, Alberta Catholic School Trustees and the Council for Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta, I travelled our province, met hundreds of Catholic educators and supporters and was assured of my call to lead in faith.

Dr. Bonnie Anncchiarico and her family at St. Mary's church in Brooks.

Can you share your experience of presenting Year II at the Priests' Study Days? What was the key message you wanted to convey about the future of Pastoral Renewal?

• One of the gifts of my work with the diocese, has been the opportunity to get to know the priests across our diocese better. This year was my third year attending a portion of the priests’ study days in Canmore and it was particularly exciting. The purpose of our morning together was to reflect on the first year of Renewal and to be encouraged to move forward, no matter where you are on the journey.
  
  The mood, enthusiasm and openness to reflecting and discussing renewal was wonderful! With the added dimension of our parish survey results, the priests were eager to share and learn more. Parish priests are critical to Renewal, but they are not meant to journey alone. With their Parish Renewal Team (PRT), support from the diocese, a myriad of resources and encouragement from each other, we can all grow towards the goal of Renewal.  In my conversations with our parish priests, I am reminded of their commitment and their desire to serve Christ.  It is critical that they are supported and prayed for by each one of us.

What does Pastoral Renewal mean to you, and do you have any words of encouragement for us?​

• On a personal note, parish renewal is very dear to me. My heart is especially with our young people and my own grandchildren who are growing up in a secular culture that avoids the sacred, forgets God, fractures relationships, and often lacks hope. When Jesus said, “Let the children come to me”, he commissioned us to ensure that all our youth (young adults included) know the love of Jesus, know their dignity and their worth. Renewal asks each one of us to reach out to all and to ensure that every person knows that God has called them, they matter and they belong in our parish community.

What are your hopes for Renewal as we enter Year II?​

• Year II is well underway. This year we look forward to ensuring that every parish finds its way to establishing leadership, engaging parishioners and building a vision and plan for renewal that fits each parish’s unique context and needs. We pray that new people will come forward to serve, bringing their own gifts, talents, backgrounds, insights and cultures to the rich task of renewing our parishes. We pray that families will be strengthened. We pray that our Church will be one of encounter and witness. We pray that each one of us will be called to grow as missionary disciples, capable of bringing Christ to each person we meet.

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Photos courtesy of Dr Bonnie Annicchiarico, Fr Iqbal Kurshid, and Office of Communications.

• ​More photos from the Priests Study Days