Graduating from high school was an amazing achievement for me. As was the day my wife and I got married in 2002. What a glorious day that was! Looking back, my wife and I chuckle at how we were babies compared to the adults we are now. We had 2 beautiful kids, a son and a daughter. We attended the LDS church sometimes and both kids were baptized in the Mormon faith, but that was as far as it went. I got a job in the oilfields as a journeyman pipefitter and worked there for 15 years. The job was physically and emotionally stressful. I began drinking to cope with pain from injuries and trauma from accidents I witnessed. It was all part of the ‘oilfield culture’. Because I was gone from home for long stretches of time, I struggled with a new addiction: pornography. In 2013, I was arrested for drunk driving. I don’t remember much, but I do remember the amount of heartache and money it cost my family. This almost destroyed my marriage. So, I decided to get sober. I have a lot of regrets about this period of my life, but the two biggest are that I didn’t get to enjoy my kids growing up and I was a terrible husband. God bless my wife (we have been married 22 years) for being such a strong and wonderful woman. Eventually, I lost my job in the oil patch due to the industry downturn. I got a job in Medicine Hat, which meant our family was finally together. My desire for pornography lessened but didn’t stop. COVID arrived, and it was hard on our teenage children, especially my son, who fell down the wrong path. He dropped out of school, and there seemed to be total disorder in our home. In June of 2023, when my son got into serious trouble, I felt that I failed as a husband, a father, and a human being. It was a very low point in my life.
Written by Ray, a parishioner of St. Patrick's, Medicine Hat. Abridged by Alice Matisz. Photos courtesy of Ray and St. Patrick's Parish. For the unabridged story, email [email protected] for a copy.
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Deacon Marc began his formation with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver in September 2019 because he lived there at that time. After moving to Calgary for family reasons, mid-program in June 2022, he received special permission to continue his formation with the Archdiocese of Vancouver because their program did not align with the diocesan program in Calgary. While the circumstances might sound simple enough, the mechanics of becoming a deacon from two places at the same time are definitely unique and somewhat challenging. “It was an unusual circumstance for Archbishop Miller and Bishop McGrattan, but the Holy Spirit found a way, and how they both worked together was an example of their ecclesial mindset,” Deacon Marc said. Deacon Marc’s journey to the diaconate actually began much earlier and further afield, in his birthplace of Sydney, Australia. He was challenged while still a teen, by a priest who was a family-friend, to consider the priesthood. Though he did not follow that path, he always felt some calling to serve the Church, even long after emmigrating to Canada with his parents and siblings. Deacon Marc recalls vividly the Mass he attended in Vancouver in 2010 when his parish priest read an announcement from the Archbishop that the Archdiocese of Vancouver was instituting a Permanent Diaconate program. “I felt a twinge of wondering if this was for me, and if this was what God was calling me to.” However, a busy work schedule and prospective relocation to Toronto suspended further response. His 25-year career in the pharmaceutical industry requires frequent travel and occasional relocation. After moving to Toronto, Deacon Marc witnessed for the first time a deacon preaching and serving at the altar. He said, “I was again intrigued, feeling the same feeling as before but knew that Toronto was not going to be my home for long and that I was not in any position to make a longterm commitment. But the thought nagged at me.”
 Ordination of Permanent Deacons, Archdiocese of Vancouver, June 2, 2024 Deacon Marc’s determination, along with time-management and relational skills, may be some of the reasons he has been asked to assist on the Diocesan Renewal Leadership Team and in the Vocations Office at the Pastoral Centre, in addition to serving at his assigned parish of St. Anthony’s. Despite wearing many hats, Deacon Marc finds time to jog or walk, play the trumpet and the occasional round of golf. Deacon Marc's wife Leonora, his grown children and now four grandchildren are his first priority but he also prioritizes Mass (“There’s nothing better!”). “I’m a regular guy,” Deacon Marc said. “I love Jesus, I love my family, I like sports…and the occasional beer is also a great thing!” He goes on, “I’m excited to begin serving the diocese and really want to be that connector between the clergy and regular people (like me), showing that we really can have a personal relationship with Jesus while striving to become who we are meant to be. That is His greatest desire for us.”
In the spring of 2024, the renewal team led the Pastoral Renewal Survey in our parish. Since we had surveyed our parish twice in the past year, we were familiar with the process. We quickly assembled our team and surveyed the parish using the diocesan Pastoral Renewal Survey. The ELCPAP project spawned several committees to carry out its recommended strategies. Most of our Parish Renewal Team has been added to the Unity Committee. This committee is tasked with creating a plan to guide cultural change in order to strengthen parish unity.
The Diocesan Renewal Leadership Team has been a great support during our winding journey. At the recent Provincial CWL convention, Bishop McGrattan explained our Diocesan Renewal Process. A CWL member from another diocese questioned the Bishop about the support given to the parishes. I was able to explain to her further, explaining the various supports that we have been given. One of the supports I enjoy is the monthly #Renewal Zoom Lunch and Learn meetings. They are a great way to hear what other parishes are doing and ask questions of the Diocesan Renewal team. We always get the message that; We are Called, We Matter, and We Belong. This summer, All Saints Parish will hold several parish BBQs. By uniting over a shared meal, we can get to know each other and celebrate our faith. Our renewal team looks forward to hearing the results of the diocesan survey in the fall. Will our ELCPAP surveys help us focus on the themes that the diocesan survey identifies? Perhaps the two roads will converge for a while. In any case, All Saints Parish will continue to follow its winding road to renewal and unity.
 Last June, hundreds of parishioners at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Calgary were bursting with joy and colour as they celebrated the Feast of the Lord Holy Christ of the Miracles. Fr. Fabio De Souza, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima, shared, "This feast is very prominent in Portugal. Some even travel back to Portugal or visit for this festival because of its huge significance." For those who are new to this cultural celebration, keep reading. 
 The Monastery of Our Lady of Hope The island of São Miguel, part of the Azores archipelago, is rich in faith, cultural heritage, and historical landmarks. One of its most iconic representations is the revered Ecce Homo, known locally as Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, or Lord Holy Christ of the Miracles in English. Carved in the early 16th century, this venerated image was a gift from Pope Paul III to two nuns who traveled to Rome to obtain the Bull for the foundation of São Miguel's first female monastery. Located in Ponta Delgada, Azores, the Monastery of Our Lady of Hope houses a striking wooden bust of Jesus Christ, depicting Him during the Passion. This remarkable statue is known for its profound facial expression and the exquisite craftsmanship of its adornments, which include various precious stones. The devotion to Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres gained significant momentum in the 18th century thanks to Mother Teresa de Jesus da Anunciada and has since spread across the Azores and worldwide, including Europe, Central and South America, as well as the United States and Canada. Major Religious Festival Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres is the focal point of the largest religious festival in the Azores and the second largest in Portugal, surpassed only by the Festivities of the Sanctuary of Fatima. This annual celebration attracts pilgrims and visitors from around the globe, especially immigrants from the U.S. and Canada, highlighting the deep faith and cultural traditions of the Azorean people.
Devotion in Calgary This devotion was brought to Portuguese parishes in Canada by Azorean immigrants, making it, alongside the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, one of the most important celebrations for Portuguese-Canadians. "At least 100 people from Edmonton also came to our parish to celebrate this feast," shared Fr. Fabio. "This feast attracts even those who don't usually attend Mass in our parish. They come for this feast because it's the most important devotional event for them, embedded in their culture." After Mass, the faithful gathered outside the church to join the procession, followed by a social gathering in the Parish hall, complete with traditional Portuguese finger food. 
At Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Calgary, the festivities have been organized by the Confraternity of the Lord Holy Christ of the Miracles since 2014. This group promotes the religious celebrations, procession, and social events, attracting many Azorean faithful, including those from places like Edmonton. These gatherings help preserve the Portuguese heritage in Calgary. In this season of Renewal, the festivity highlighted the importance of a sense of belonging, one of the key pillars of Diocesan renewal. "For this event, volunteers came together and invited everyone to join the festivity. With this cultural event, we as a parish attract so many people, including the unchurched," shared Fr. Fabio. The parish is already hoping to hold this celebration in both Portuguese and English to be welcoming to even more people in their parish and beyond. Submitted by Our Lady of Fatima Parish. Photos courtesy of Our Lady of Fatima Parish.
 My earliest memory of St. Bonaventure Parish dates back to before the church was even built. It was just a grassy field, and across the street, we celebrated Mass at St. Bonaventure School. As a child living in the community of Parkland, we attended Mass every Sunday in the gymnasium. Being so young, I thought it was incredibly cool that church was held in a gym. As luck would have it, years later, I would attend that school myself. Fast forward almost 20 years. I was newly married, and my husband Tony and I had just had our first child. We lived in Northeast Calgary, but we knew we wanted to have our baby baptized at St. Bonaventure, where I had celebrated most of my sacraments. We took our four-day-old baby boy to Sunday Mass, and afterward, we instantly knew that this church and its parishioners would become part of our “family.” After my daughter was born and I became a stay-at-home mom, I joined the St. Anne’s Mother’s Group in the parish. I felt called to be with other Catholic women and mothers, and to get to know my faith better. There was babysitting for my kids, so it was a time of gentle peace with like-minded women. We bonded over our faith, our families, a few family recipes, coffee, and some good old-fashioned girl talk. Several years later, I was still enjoying the Mother’s Group, as it was my two hours of time to myself while my kids were at preschool. One day, I needed a pen, so I decided to stop by the parish office to see if I could borrow one. I noticed the parish secretary seemed run off her feet, moving from desk to desk as though she was doing 20 things at once. Jokingly, but also casually looking for a part-time job, I asked if she was hiring. I remember the look on her face; it was as if I had just been the answer to her prayers. She responded, “Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. Are you up for an interview with me and Fr. Bill?”
Written by Michelle Fraser for Faithfully. Michelle has been the Sacrament Coordinator at St. Bonaventure Church for over 22 years. Michelle and her husband Tony are native Calgarians with two grown children. She volunteers at the parish as ministry coordinator for Art & Environment and the Hospitality Ministry. She enjoys travelling with her husband and bicycling. Photos courtesy of Lance Dixon and Michelle Fraser.
With prayer and the Holy Spirit as our guide, we made progress. Parishioners were introduced to and informed about the Pastoral Renewal and its importance through pulpit announcements and email updates. Posters were also put up, including some of our own, which were made on very bright paper to ensure they were not missed. When it came time for the survey in June, we hit the ground running. Promotion of the survey was approached the same way as the Renewal information was shared, with pulpit announcements, information, and reminders via email and posters. On Corpus Christi Sunday, June 2, 2024, we adopted the process of not having the procession after the final blessing at Mass (this had been noted to parishioners in shared information before June 2nd) to give time for survey completion. Father Silvano asked all to stay after Mass and complete the survey, which he noted was not mandatory, but greatly encouraged. All parishioners listened, and we had a great response. We received everyone's completed surveys on the first Sunday of the Survey. Our aspirations and goals had been met, above and beyond, in one Sunday gathering! St. Mary’s parishioners have a deep dedication to our church and to the parish as a community. Their support is unsurpassed when it is needed and asked for! Everyone definitely came together to help achieve a successful end result with the Renewal survey—each and every parishioner is to be commended! We will await the survey results, which will be sent to our parish, as these will continue to guide us on the path of the Renewal process. When the results are received, they will greatly aid us in identifying the areas we need to focus on and address moving forward. The Renewal team will review the results and then present the information to the parishioners, gathering feedback as the journey continues. Although at the beginning, the needs for and presentation of the survey were a tad daunting, prayer, the Holy Spirit, and St. Mary’s parishioners reign supreme! Written by Elaine Carley, Parish Renewal Team chair of St. Mary's Parish in Beiseker. Photo credit: Town of Irricana.
Three challenges have been laid out in the Diocesan Renewal: Form missionary disciples in Christ; Be a church of encounter and witness; and Strengthen family life. These goals are very much in line with the work I'm trying to do with Heroicmen, so I have had the opportunity to spend a lot of time thinking about this mission.
 I reflected that as the father of the groom it was my responsibility to be a loving and authentic representation of the Catholic Church to everyone attending. I always try to see the face of Christ in all people of different walks of life and love them as His children. I wanted them to leave knowing that we are a church of welcome. Deacon Stephen Robinson, who officiated the wedding, did an excellent job of letting them know why we were there in the presence of God to witness a sacrament. We don't have to (and shouldn't) sugarcoat or water down the Gospel. The following day was my youngest daughter's birthday, and she wanted to bring her siblings from Idaho and British Columbia to the Saint Francis Xavier Chaplaincy Mass at the Cathedral. At the end of Mass, the young man seated in front of us turned to my second youngest daughter and questioned how we could worship with the kids making noise and disturbing his "worship experience." He then questioned me and my wife. In that moment, I tried to engage him but realized I was not going to gain any traction. So, I told him that God loves him and that I needed to leave as we were going out for a family dinner. What the young man did not realize was that my daughter had taken in two young nephews who had been seized by Social Services. The boys carried with them the trauma of losing their father this past Christmas, and a mother who is struggling with addictions. I was able to settle one of them during Mass, and he actually fell asleep. We listened to Fr. Troy's homily, where he talked about a man who was lost to drugs and alcohol but found his way back through serving the poor. Fr. Troy then invited us to journey together with the goal of becoming saints. I recall Bishop Scott McCaig saying, “The renewal periods in the Church are messy”, and I wish I could have spent more time talking to the young man to better understand him. We are not always going to come to a definitive answer in that moment. We do have to remain focused on Christ and listen to the Holy Spirit to continue to move forward. We all need to consider how we represent Christ to those visiting our churches, especially our young people. Many young adults are attending for the first time and worry about their kids making noise. We need to let them know they are welcome, as they are the future of our church. There are many others who are lost and don’t know the love of the Father. They might have a grandma or relative praying that someone like you will be a light to their family member. I was inspired and challenged by these lines in St. Patrick’s Breastplate, Prayer for Protection: Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me Let us continue on this path of Renewal by bringing Christ to the world around us!
 We began our 40 Hours Devotion for Vocations last week with so many blessings that we should be grateful for. Within that weekend, the responsorial psalm proclaims to us the greatness of God’s love for each one of us for our families and communities. Our parish is so blessed that on Saturday, June 22, 2024, the daughter of Andrew and Karen Serafini, Sr. Eve Mary (formerly Mary Serafini), had her first vows as a Sister of Life at Sacred Heart Church in Suffern, New York, dedicated to protecting and enhancing the sacredness of human life. Both parents are actively involved in our ministries and organizations. It was also the same weekend that Vicky Oliphant's daughter, Sister Aimee Marie (formerly Lindsay Oliphant), went home to join her mother, Vicky, to visit her grandmother in Nova Scotia, who has health issues. These two consecrated Sisters are powerful testaments of God blessing our families and communities as seedbeds of vocations for priesthood and consecrated life. From the comments, sharing and experiences of our Adorers, they were telling me that spending an hour or two before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament in continuous prayer was truly renewing and nurturing one’s spiritual life. It was not only moments of personal connection with the Lord, but of deepening one’s intimacy with Him in Adoration. Many, including Bishop McGrattan, had recommended holding it at least once a year in every parish.
I have experienced this improved hearing when hiking three of Waterton’s Front Range Six because each peak taught a spiritual lesson.  Lesson One: Preparation Matters When I accepted the invitation to hike Bertha Peak, I was not fit enough to ascend twelve hundred meters on a 15 km out-and-back trail. I hate being embarrassed more than I hate working out, so I started getting up early and doing a high intensity workout in my basement consisting of thousands of squats and lunges to get my legs, heart, and lungs ready for stairclimbing at high altitude. I then followed my workout with a 40-minute walk with my wife before biking to work. The spiritual parallel is that I also needed to build a routine of prayer and spiritual reading and do it every day (even when I didn’t feel like it). When I started the permanent diaconate program, I did not have prayer routine, but St. Paul tells us to pray unceasingly and give thanks in all circumstances. This takes discipline and practice, and prayer became part of my morning workout. The liturgical calendar exemplifies the need for preparation beautifully. Advent and Lent provide sacred times to make way for the Lord’s presence at Christmas and Easter. The mountaintop experience (like Christmas morning) is short-lived, but the weeks of preparation are essential to experiencing the fullness of incarnational joy throughout the year. Daily prayer, even when it’s dry and boring (perhaps especially when it’s dry and boring) tunes us in to God’s frequency. Lesson Two: It’s Easy to Get into Trouble Mt. Galwey was a relentless, 7-hour battle against gravity that mirrored the truism, “There is no plateau in the spiritual life.” You are either climbing or losing momentum. The Front Range Six are not technically climbs, but scrambles. Erosion creates scree, a collection of broken rocks that can become slippery and dangerous. On the way up, a dislodged piece of shale can quickly turn into a deadly projectile (helmets are recommended). On the way down, I slipped on a slab of dust covered shale and gashed my hip. It was an ordinary step, like the countless other steps I had taken that day. As I scramble towards God, the most dangerous hazards I face are the simple ones, the spiritual equivalent of a sprained ankle. My pride makes it easy to step into sin, and the step that puts my soul in danger will look and feel like every other step I have taken successfully because the devil uses my overconfidence against me. 
This could have been my peak of disappointment, but God revealed to me what he wanted me to see: the reward is not up to me. My job is to put in the work, ascend towards him, and accept what he offers. At the foggy peak, I remembered a question from Rabbi Harold Kushner’s The Lord is My Shepherd: Do you love me because I am God and give you everything you want, or do you love me because I am God? My routine of daily prayer enabled me to receive this message about humility and recognize how often I superimpose my desire on God’s plan. Much of what I see depends upon what I am looking for. If I want to find reasons to doubt God or be angry with the Church, I don’t have to look very hard. But if I trust that God’s love means that he always has something to teach me, I will find that too, not because I am naïve, but because he promised, “Seek and you shall find.” I sought Him in the mountains, and He was there (but He was with me in the basement, too).
In June, we celebrated the Sacred Heart of Jesus where the heart of our Lord is adored as a three-fold symbol of love: human, spiritual and divine. This symbol of love for us as Christians is demonstrated in our commitment to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The most common corporal work of mercy is to care for the sick and to accompany those who are dying. This past May I was privileged to participate in an international interfaith symposium "Towards a Narrative of Hope" on palliative care in Toronto. It brought together Catholic Bishops, many other faith leaders, health care providers, and various professionals who are aware of the need to advocate and ensure that our communities provide the best, most comprehensive accompaniment and care possible to the sick and dying, and their families. In the face of euthanasia and medically assisted suicide in our country, this symposium offered an authentic witness of a true compassionate society that values all human life. The following are excerpts from the address that I gave at the symposium. We know that illness or infirmity will touch almost every person and every family in one way or another. How we as individuals, healthcare workers and our institutions respond to the needs of the sick and dying reflects the kind of society we are. It is my firm belief that this symposium on palliative care will make an important contribution to improving our society by exploring how we can all respond more compassionately and holistically to the sick, especially those who are dying, thus opening new horizons of hope not only for individual patients and their families but for humanity as a whole.
Unfortunately, our present culture offers a contrasting narrative and set of values. After receiving a serious health diagnosis, individuals often grapple with feeling like a burden to their families and thus struggle with the sense that their worth as a person has diminished. Many other people experience fear when anticipating the pain of suffering which they may encounter through an illness or the experience of dying. There are other factors that also heighten this reality including challenges related to those living in poverty, those with disabilities who may be alone or marginalized, and those who already have multiple and complex health and relational needs. Families and caregivers can also struggle with keeping up with the demands that are required of them in providing care.
We believe that this vision for humanity opens up the possibility for churches, faith communities and like-minded organizations to play a role in affirming human dignity and advocating for healthcare that adequately responds to this need. Palliative care is multidimensional care in that it brings together people from many disciplines and areas of society. Similar to those gathered at the symposium who are specialists in palliative medicine and research, healthcare professionals, academics in the field of ethics and theology, communication specialists, legal and policy experts, pastoral workers, and volunteers. The Bishops in Canada have been committed to promoting and defending life by consistently speaking against the legal expansion of euthanasia and assisted suicide and by focusing efforts on an effective alternative, namely palliative care. In 2019, the CCCB and partners published Horizons of Hope: A Toolkit for Catholic Parishes on Palliative Care. This parish-based community pastoral resource begins with understanding the experience of death and the dying process, then moves to decision-making about how to seek the appropriate medical, familial and social supports. It continues with the importance of accompaniment at the end of life and finishes with the urgent need to promote Compassionate Communities that are integrated into the wider community of society. The Renewal that has begun throughout the diocese in our parishes can begin to reflect the love of the heart of Jesus in becoming those compassionate communities, and in offering Horizons of Hope: A Toolkit for Catholic Parishes on Palliative Care.
 On June 7-9, 2024, the Sacred Heart Parish in Calgary held the 40 Hours of Adoration for Vocations. This prayer gathering was a testament to the unwavering faith and devotion of the parish community to the importance of vocations to the priesthood and religious life within the Diocese of Calgary. The parish community responded enthusiastically. Many parishioners participated in the adoration, taking turns spending time in prayer and meditation. This collective effort demonstrates the deep commitment of the Sacred Heart Parish to supporting and nurturing vocations, which are crucial for the growth and vitality of the local Church. Through this prayer initiative, the parish fostered an environment of prayerful support and encouragement for those discerning a religious vocation. We are thankful for the success of the 40 Hours Adoration for Vocations, and the active participation of the parish community. It was truly a strong testament to the community spirit that thrives within our parish.
 Written by Fr. Arjay Arbanto, pastor at Sacred Heart Parish, Calgary. Photos courtesy of Sacred Heart Parish.
 On Saturday, June 15, 2024, forty parish coordinators of Sacramental Preparation, RCIA and parish support staff gathered at Sanctum Retreat Centre in Caroline, AB. The retreat was organized by the Office of Pastoral Ministry and led by Fr. Fabio Desouza, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Church, Calgary. The day included two meditations by Fr. Fabio, Lauds (Morning Prayer from the Divine Office), small group discussions called “Conversations in the Spirit,” celebration of Holy Mass, and Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. There was also time for silence and personal reflection, walks on the beautiful grounds of the Centre, and the opportunity for confession and spiritual direction with Fr. Ray Lowing. We were thankful for the grace to experience community, support, and fellowship throughout the day.
 When I was offered the opportunity to attend the retreat, I was, for some strange reason, reluctant. My husband and I both identify deeply with the figure of Job from the Old Testament, and we contemplate and wonder what God's plan might be for us and our family. Just this week, my mum started chemotherapy, and my youngest brother welcomed his first child; an adorable and healthy baby girl. They naturally gave her my mum's name. My family and I are very close. I hear quite often that such situations happen in life – birth and life – people coming into this world and people heading home. I don't mean to sound like a Louis Armstrong song, but it really can be a "Wonderful World."
Submitted by Caroline Dixon, Children's Liturgy Coordinator, St. Michael's Parish, Calgary. Photos courtesy of Fr. Fabio DeSouza and Anthony Banka. More photos can be accessed here.
 Human trafficking is a distressing and complicated issue that affects people all over the world… sadly it’s not something new. The Calgary Catholic School District has been increasing their awareness and building strategies to combat human trafficking by preventing our youth from being groomed and exploited, growing in our ability to identify potential vulnerable youths, and providing supports to those who are victimized. The prevention strategy starts in our Religion and Wellness courses where we teach our students about the gift that God has given us in the form of our bodies and that these bodies deserve to be treated with the utmost respect. We also talk about what healthy, good relationships look like. As we move upward in our grades, we do explore family life in terms of anatomy and discuss the concept of consent. Having students understand their worth and value as a child of God creates the understanding that they do not deserve to have anything but love in their life and if it is not love, it should not be tolerated. There are still students who have been traumatized in their life and this trauma may lead to a greater vulnerability of being exploited. Make no mistake, the traffickers groom their victims with great sophistication where the young person may not even realize until it is to late what is happening and feels trapped and ashamed by what they have involved themselves in. Calgary Catholic is proud to promote the education course on the Not In My City to help educators and staff understand signs of potential trafficking victims. When we find a potential youth at risk of being trafficked, being trafficked or have ben trafficked, we work to support them and their families through targeted supports that may include supports though a mental health professional such as a psychologist or District Wellness Worker, collaborative supports with agencies outside of CCSD and creating a learning environment where the student feels safe enough to learn and brave enough to try. One of the examples of ways that we raise awareness and help to support victims is by supporting IWIN (I’m Worth It Now). This wonderful organization is based out of St. Michael's parish in Calgary, and has strong spiritual connection and support through the Diocese of Calgary. They have two projects that schools in Calgary Catholic can participate in. The first is building backpacks that are provided to survivors of human trafficking who are entering a wrap-around program to support them emotionally physically and spiritually. The backpacks contain brand new items such as a change of clothes, toiletry items, a handwritten car of encouragement and a bracelet. A matching bracelet is given to a volunteer prayer warrior to support the survivor through prayer. The second is an awareness prayer service called the Red Sand Prayer Service where red sand is spread through the cracks in a sidewalk or tarmac to bring awareness to the atrocity of human trafficking. St. Josephine Bahkita school, whose patron saint of victims of human trafficking, participates in the Red Sand Prayer Service every year on their feast day.
The Calgary Catholic School District works hard to provide learning environments for all of our students that are safe enough for them to learn in and help our students become safe enough to try new adventures in their learning. Human trafficking is one way that a student can be victimized by those who look to exploit the vulnerable. The district works hard with families and parishes to create safe environments for students to experience success. We are blessed to have the opportunity to serve those who need our help.
 We are truly blessed! Thank you to all who participated in the Survey!
An incredible 19,000 parishioners from across the diocese participated in the survey, demonstrating a belief in the importance of Renewal in their faith life and thatof the parish community. We look forward to sharing the many insights gained from the survey results, which will help us understand our greatest strengths and opportunities for growth on our path to Renewal. Special thanks to diocesan and parish staff for their hard work! Our collective efforts in promoting and facilitating the Survey in every parish community made a significant impact and allowed us to truly hear the voice of our parishioners. What next? Here's a look at the key milestones prepared by the Diocesan Renewal Leadership Team as we move forward to the second year of our Renewal journey:
 Photo from Teacher Appreciation Week, St. Joseph's Collegiate Facebook But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labour among you and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." ~1 Thessalonians 5:12-18
 Written by Quinton Amundson for the Catholic Register For years the members of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in Chestermere, Alberta, have held steadfast to a belief that if you build a community, a church will eventually come. Since 2007, Catholics who reside in this rapidly-growing commuter city 20 km east of Calgary, and in the surrounding Rocky View County, have convened for Saturday and Sunday Eucharistic celebrations inside the gymnasium of St. Gabriel the Archangel School. Despite the population of Chestermere skyrocketing from 12,000 in 2007 to approximately 30,000 in 2024, the community remains deprived of a traditional Catholic house of worship. But the blossoming congregation is making a concerted push to change that reality over the next three years with a pledge campaign to raise approximately $10 million. The Diocese of Calgary has promised to cover 20 per cent of the costs Previous efforts have indeed been staged to accumulate funding over the years and that work yielded $2 million for the parish building project. This latest, and poised to be most formidable, fundraising effort is largely inspired by the success of the Sacred Heart Parish community in nearby Strathmore, who, on June 14, celebrated its inaugural Mass inside of the new church retrofitted out of an old IGA store. The Sacred Heart community performed worship services in the Holy Cross Collegiate gymnasium prior to its new church opening. “Our push that we are doing now is what Strathmore did about three years ago, which is start a pledge drive,” said Fr. James Hagel, St. Gabriel’s pastor. “We are talking to individual parishioners and saying to them, ‘what can do you do help with this. What can you give? What does giving until it hurts mean? Give a little bit less than that.’ This is the push Strathmore did and they have a building project now — that is the goal.” Mary Miller has been involved in the fundraising cause since 2011. She said “95 per cent of parishioners” who responded to a survey stated they want to one day attend Mass inside of a proper church instead of continuing inside the school gymnasium indefinitely. She added that many participants believe the sacramental life of St. Gabriel will be significantly bolstered as a result. “We can have funerals and weddings — you can’t have those inside of a school gymnasium,” said Miller. “No bride wants to,” added Hagel Miller said churchgoers also said “they would feel closer to God if they had a presence as opposed to seeing sports memorabilia on the walls while they were in Mass.” Both Hagel and Miller said continuing to build the congregation of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish is key in order to accrue the nearly $6 million yet to be raised. Though weekend services garner a combined crowd of over 500 people, the size of this congregation is mathematically small considering Hagel said Catholics make up around 20 per cent of the Chestermere population (more than 5,000). It is easy for local Catholics to believe there is no church in the community if they don’t see a building with an ornate steeple, and there are parishes aplenty in nearby Calgary. The building project team is actively posting signs with Mass times around the city and in March hosted an open house about this endeavour at the Chestermere Rec Centre. Plans call for a post-and-beam construction strategy to build a structure exteriorly similar to a Quonset but which on the interior will look like any other Catholic church. Miller said this approach will be cost effective and not saddle future generations with debt. Ten acres of land valued at $1.2 million has been donated to this undertaking. Nettie Hendricks, chair of the successful Sacred Heart Parish fundraising committee, provided insight in an email to The Catholic Register on what it will take for St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish to realize this ambitious goal. “When the parishioners at St. Gabriel the Archangel parish put together their committee for fundraising it should include a varied skillset which includes people with vision, optimism, enthusiasm and a brakeman to focus on the needs vs. the wants when putting together the budget,” wrote Hendricks. “St. Gabriel is noted for ‘communication’ and that in my opinion is likely the number one tool that guides to a more successful campaign. It's invaluable to keep open communication between the diocese, update parishioners, include community involvement throughout the process and organize a prayer group for the success of the project.”
 It is Saturday morning, around 8:30 am. I am crossing the Banff Avenue Bridge heading northwards. The air is crisp and clean, there are a few pedestrians ambling along, the Bow River floats, and Cascade Mountain glints enticingly off at the end of the main strip, a postcard of serenity. It is the calm before the storm. In a few hours’ time, Banff Avenue will be an anthill of tourists, and the streets will be clogged with cars going this way and that way, only to find the parking lots full… The restaurants and the shops will be busy; later in the afternoon, the check-in desks in the hotels will be too. This is the rhythm of Banff: she puts her best foot forward with the 3am shuttles to Lake Louise, and can finally put her feet up when the last nightclubber departs from the Dancing Sasquatch at 2am. A good analogy would be the waterfowl that nest in the marsh near my work at the Cave and Basin — serenely floating along above water, paddling madly underneath to keep it all going. And in the middle of all of this is the beautiful church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, fondly known as St. Mary’s, led by their pastor, Fr. Daniel Stevenot. Established by the Oblate Fathers in 1888 as an outreach to both the Îyârhe Nakoda (who historically had more ties with the Methodist Church) and the tourists that were beginning to come to Canada’s first national parks, the present church was built in 1951 in a modestly sumptuous Romanesque revival style by Fr. Robert McGuinness. It features bespoke Austrian windows, detailed mosaics of church history, and beautiful limestone and marble altar furnishings. Each detail was carefully saved for and crafted by generations of Banffites, who have been proud to say that St. Mary’s is their spiritual home. The Diocesan Renewal will have to look quite different here in Banff than in other parishes. Not only is St. Mary’s one of the smallest in the Diocese, its unique situation as a congregation which both sustains and is sustained by the hospitality industry means that renewal must take the accompanying challenges into consideration. I am one of a very fortunate few here in Banff who has a Saturday/Sunday weekend. Historically, most have had days off in the middle of the week, when we have fewer visitors. This means that often, parishioners cannot always make a Saturday or Sunday Mass, try as they might. Instead, they dutifully come to a mid-week Mass, which then becomes the Lord’s Day to them. Visitation to Banff National Park is at an all-time high — 4.1 million visitors last year and demand is still growing. On the supply side, Banff still only has a population of about ten thousand. Work is plentiful, but houses are few, and people in Banff often work two jobs to keep the town running, to support loved ones overseas, and to keep up with the high price of living here in the Bow Valley. Banffites are naturally people of action, and so the renewal in Banff needs to be active, not a series of talks or meetings, but rather something that is accomplished by prayer and communal activity.
So, for the inaugural renewal gathering in Banff, we spent a Saturday morning cleaning house. The people of St. Mary’s have an unparalleled opportunity to be missionary disciples, to be the face, arms, legs, and hands of Jesus in a town whose arms are open to receive the whole world, and part of that is to have a church that is freshly vacuumed, with the lawn is tidied up, the hymnals straightened and the oil candles freshly refilled. We spent the morning caring for our little St. Mary’s, and then had a pizza lunch together, at which we sang a few hymns, including “You are Called,” written by the music director at St. James’, Calgary for the renewal. Nothing particularly grandiose, but for busy St. Mary’s, simple can be best. And so, we went to work with our paraffin bottles and dust rags. At the end of the morning, someone remarked that the couple getting married that afternoon would have such a nice clean church to be married in. Upon further thought, it really is a Banff comment, one born in a town that exists for the service of others. We prepared a church for worship as an act of missionary discipleship, making her ready to receive the people of God, from the four corners of the world. In this little corner of the world, where parish life can often feel fragmented due to the demands of the wider social situation, our work of renewal goes on, building up the Church in a town that never sleeps.
 Residents of Nagorno-Karabakh were forcibly displaced into Armenia, October 2023, as a result of Azerbaijan's occupation. CNEWA has supported refugees in the Middle and Near East since 1926. Photo: Shant Khatcherian/CNEWA Refugees are deeply connected to both our Christian tradition and the daily realities of our modern world. Whether you’ve come to understand this through the Church’s teaching, the more caring forces in our contemporary culture, or something as simple as the story of the Holy Family fleeing King Herod during the Massacre of the Innocents, most of us appreciate the plight and importance of refugees in world history. Today, like yesterday, refugees remain on the move in search of safety, wellbeing and a new life. In regions where we serve, both with our Church partner and colleagues, the desperate cry of refugees and migrants echoes through the alleys and valleys, conveying their deep desire to not only survive, but to retain a remnant of hope for a better tomorrow. In almost all areas of our work, we hear their stories daily. It is during the crucial first moments of displacement that their cries are the loudest, but their need for essential services, goods and pastoral support almost always extend beyond months, and all too often years. On this day, when we call to mind refugees around the world, we think of faithful stewards like Sister Bernadette D’Hauteville and the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary who have been present in Aleppo, Syria since 1914. Before the outbreak of conflict in 2011, their convent was equipped to receive aging sisters from across the region. Before the civil war, the community counted some 23 sisters. Today, four remain. Originally from France, Sister Bernadette spent some 50 years living in various places throughout the Middle East, but returned to Aleppo in 2014 to serve those needing refuge. In a recent exchange with CNEWA, sister reminisced how during the war she had a very important role to play in welcoming everyone – without regard to the circumstance or situation. Millions of people, including many Canadians, have been steadfast in remembering heroes like Sister Bernadette and have supported people like her and families around the world facing the devastating effects of conflict, poverty or other forms of disaster. Acts of charity delivered by us and our partners are all the more effective and expansive thanks to the ongoing generosity of Canadian Catholics. Despite living in a post-pandemic world with its own difficulties, members of our Canadian Church have been faithful in giving of their love, prayers and financial support to those who need it most. As we mark this day in union with humanitarian and faith-based organizations around the world, CNEWA Canada will continue standing in solidarity with many people in need – feeding them when they are hungry, bandaging them when they are injured and sheltering when they have no place to call home or at risk of losing hope. This work is a direct response to the call of Jesus Christ in Matthew’s Gospel, where we are called to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and visit the sick. As an instrument of healing and hope, as per our mission, we bind the wounds of a broken world. Quietly, prayerfully, joyfully, we live out the great command to “love one another.” May we continue to support refugees of all stripes and be great witnesses of love and care for those in need. Our work is incredibly important and life-giving, yet far from over. Why? Because every day is World Refugee Day. Written by Dr. Adriana Bara from CNEWA Canada.
Praised be Jesus Christ! Your Excellency, Dear brother priests and deacons, My beloved parishioners and friends of our Strathmore community, Sisters and brothers in Christ, It is surreal to have come to the conclusion of this celebration with you in this absolutely marvellous space. Now enthroned, our Lord has a permanent home in Strathmore only two meters from behind where I now stand, and from here the love of His Sacred Heart will beat forth throughout our whole community. In the second act of Romeo and Juliet, when Romeo has secretly scaled the walls of the Capulet estate into Juliet’s courtyard, she asks him from where he came and how he risked getting there. Romeo responds, "With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls, For stony limits cannot hold love out, And what love can do, that dares love attempt." My dear friends, we must never forget that what has happened here tonight was because of love. First, because of how much God loves us and how aware of His love for us that we are. But also because we love Him, and because we simply could not go on without a dedicated space to worship Him. Many walls and obstacles have been scaled over 16+ years in our community, only to show that those stony limits cannot hold love out. Love dared attempt to turn a grocery store into a magnificent little country church out on the prairie. And love did it. This has been a long ceremony and I do not mean to unnecessarily prolong it; however, it is necessary to extend a few brief words of thanks. First, we would like to thank the team who began with us, both at the front door tonight, but also ten months ago, from Chandos. At my first meeting with them very soon after the renovation actually began, they told me they would be done on May 30- and I laughed at them. But as sure as the day is long, with almost never facing a delay and remaining miraculously close to our budget every step of the way, the incredible team at Chandos handed us over keys on May 30 a couple of weeks ago. Our parish owes Danny, John, Julie, Johnny, Tabia, all their staff and sub-trades more than we could ever repay, and so we simply say ‘thank you.’ None of this beauty would be standing here, however, if it were not for the vision, and one could even say ‘mission’, of our chief design architect, Mr. Jun Lee, from whom we heard at the beginning of our celebration. Every detail in it’s elegance and noble simplicity of our beloved new church was born of his skillful creativity and so, we thank you, Mr. Lee. His work was realized, guided and guarded by the wonderful team at Peake Design, who served as our Architects of Record. We are most grateful to Ken, Tony and Will for the care they showed every step of the way in leading us to this moment. In the wisdom of our diocese, it was discerned early on in this project that we needed to entrust the process to a carefully chosen point man who would guard the interests of the diocese while also helping us to achieve what we set out to accomplish as a parish. To fill that role was the inestimable, Mr. Don Verdonck, who generously volunteered of his time to steer our project to this happy end. One of his earliest insights was proposing to our diocese that we hire a firm to manage the project for us, and so entered into the equation M3. We were carefully accompanied step by step of this journey by their team and specifically Bryanne, whose attention to detail and good management skills were demonstrated by holding the record of being the person to singlehandedly send me the most emails in my whole priestly ministry. Each of those emails have led us here today, and so again, we give thanks. All of this outside help was only necessary, however, because of the unrelenting handwork and dedication of our own parishioners who have stepped forward in an unparalleled way to help us realize this moment. Putting their time, their professional competencies and personal gifts and abilities at the service of the parish, our Building Committee, Finance Committee and Parish Pastoral Council have made an immeasurable contribution towards us having just celebrated the Holy Mass in our new church, and so to each of you who have given so selflessly to get us here, whether a committee member or simply as engaged parishioners, we thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. Undoubtedly, what has made this night as glorious as it has been were the rituals of our timeless worship. Foremost in its beauty has been the music which was offered tonight. We thank the Diocesan Choir, joined by many of our own parishioners, as well as the male chant schola, whose gift of music has lifted our minds and hearts to God tonight. We were also helped in our worship by our sacristans, servers and sacred ministers who have attended to the Holy Altar, now consecrated in our sight, with such care and reverence. I am especially proud of the young people of our parish who have turned out in full force to serve the Holy Mass tonight. Since March, a steering committee of twelve people, including our two fabulous deacons- who are such gifts to our parish- have considered and attempted to lay out every detail of all that has unfolded over the last few hours; AND for the promised party that is about to begin, I promise! To our Dedication Mass Subcommittee, we cannot express adequate thanks and praise. I would like to briefly add my own words of more personal thanks in a few directions. First, to Pope Francis, who only gave us six months notice to plan his trip to Canada two years ago which has proven to be a big help in preparing me to undertake the challenge of the last nine months in Strathmore. Who would have thought that the visit of the Pope was going to ultimately help me be the pastor of a rural, Albertan parish! More seriously, however: to the seminarians of our diocese whom I have been humbled and honoured to serve and hopefully nurture in their discernment of the priesthood for the past seven years. Many of them are here tonight, assisting our altar servers and leading our singing. These young men inspire me daily to strive to be a better priest and they represent God’s promise to us of a very bright future in our diocese. I thank you and am grateful to continue to serve you. To the young adults of the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy, who have been the object of my attention and affection for the past five years. Many have travelled here to Strathmore tonight to witness this momentous occasion and to be close to their padre, who loves them very much. Thank you for being patient with me these past nine months as I have tried to serve both this community in Strathmore while remaining as available to you as I could. I am grateful to our Bishop for the exciting new course he is charting for the next chapter of our beloved chaplaincy. To my brother priests who have concelebrated the Mass with us this evening or who have humbly come simply to be present in the midst of God’s People and take part in our worship, thank you for your selfless service and the support you have shown us all by travelling here this evening. In particular, I thank my predecessors, living and deceased, who have served Sacred Heart, Strathmore, for over 100 years. Fr. Wojciech and Fr. Tomy, present here this evening, you each have contributed more to this building project than I possibly could have in the last few months and so we all thank you in a special way. To our Bishop, William McGrattan, we express our most heartfelt thanks. You came into this diocese well into the long and somewhat complicated story this parish has faced over the last number of years. All the while along, you have believed in us, you have supported us, and the generosity you have shown to our parish has helped us to arrive here today, and hopefully, has set up other parishes in the future for the same success. We thank your Excellency, not only for your careful management and generous support, but most of all, for the fatherly care you have shown us, and to me personally. We are so honoured to be counted among the few churches you have dedicated over the course of your episcopal ministry. We hope today’s events are but one sign to you of the Renewal you are boldly leading our diocese through. Our final words of thanks must be directed to the Divine Architect of Creation. We are thankful, Father of Mercy, for your abundant blessings. Inspired by your Son’s counsel to ask anything of you in His Name, we have humbly sought Your help, for many years, in building a new parish church. Now, having worshiped You from within it, we ask that it would be a fitting temple for Your praise and glory. Grant that it will remain forever a house of prayer; a refuge for the weary; a field hospital of penitence and forgiveness; a school of faith and charity; and most of all, a worthy sanctuary for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and Supper of the Lamb.
 The first Baptism in the Baptistry at Sacred Heart Church, Strathmore (Reeves' family). Photo: Manny Everett.
This spring and summer, our parishes are joyfully welcoming families into the sacramental life. We ask for your continued prayers for the youth across the diocese as they receive their Sacraments of Christian Initiation, particularly First Communion and Confirmation. We also extend our gratitude to Bishop Jon Hansen (see photos below) from the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith for assisting Bishop McGrattan with Confirmation Masses in some of our parishes.  Bishop Jon Hansen celebrated at Confirmation Mass at St. Joseph's Parish in Calgary
 First Communion Mass at St. Anthony's Parish with Fr. Nathan Siray
 First Communion Mass at St. Francis de Sales Parish in High River with Fr. Mariusz Sztuk, SDS
Photos courtesy of Bandi Szakony (St. Joseph's Parish, St. Anthony's, Parish, St. Francis de Sales Parish), Victor Panlilio (Canadian Martyr's Parish), and Maria Hernandez (St. Mary's Cathedral, Calgary).
 In April, Holy Spirit Parish hosted a 40 Hours Adoration for Vocations, drawing an impressive number of participants and receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback. "The number of people registered through the 40 hours Adoration was 378," Pauline Jensen, Adoration coordinator, shared, "However, I would put that number up and over 500 as many did not register either from this parish or other parishes. There were many new faces and I surmise the notice on the Diocesan website was instrumental in appealing to those wanting to attend an Adoration at certain hours." This prayer event is a part of the broader diocesan initiative. In his letter promoting the 40 Hours, the Bishop emphasized, "In the spirit of our Diocesan Renewal, I wish to promote the 40 Hours Devotion for Vocations in the Diocese of Calgary. This Devotion is a longstanding tradition of forty hours of continuous prayer before the solemn Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in a succession of churches for special intentions. In the Diocese of Calgary, the special intention will be for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life."
Pauline noted that the event ran smoothly without any issues, thanks to the help of their dedicated volunteers. "The night hours went well," she said. "The Knights arrived at midnight and were in the chapel when I arrived at 7 am." Special prayer sessions marked the devotion. "On Saturday, the Spanish community led the rosary at 5 pm, and the prayer group at 6 pm," Pauline mentioned. Additionally, the Divine Mercy prayer was recited at various intervals throughout the 40 Hours. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many describing the experience as "calm, peaceful, holy" and expressing eagerness for future events. "When can we do this again?" was echoed by many attendees. Fr. David Meadows expressed his gratefulness for the prayer, stating, "Our 40 Hours Adoration for Vocations was a great success. I was impressed by the number of people, and their enthusiasm." The 40 Hours Devotion for Vocations at Holy Spirit Parish not only demonstrated the strong sense of community within the parish but also highlighted the power of collective prayer and devotion. As the Bishop underscored Matthew's Gospel passage in his letter, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38). He added, "Through this initiative of the 40 Hours Devotion for Vocations, we will in time see the fruits of our prayer as the Lord sends out labourers into his harvest, including into the local church of the Diocese of Calgary."
 Submitted by Deacon Greg Barcelon, Parish Renewal Team, St. Mary's Cathedral
In the intricate dance of community engagement, one often encounters unexpected challenges and opportunities. This was precisely the case for St. Mary's Cathedral parish as we embarked on facilitating the Diocesan Pastoral Renewal Survey. Conventional wisdom will tell us that "Strategic" would not come out as one of the top.3 leadership traits listed under Question 15 of the survey. This revelation sparked our curiosity and drove us to delve deeper into thinking strategically. However, before we could delve into details of our strategy, we had to address a pressing concern: how to incentivize participation and ensure that the survey resonated with our parishioners. Understanding the age-old question of "What's in it for me?" was pivotal. With meticulous planning, we tailored our approach to emphasize the tangible benefits of participating, from shaping the future of our parish to fostering a sense of belonging and ownership. Then, we realized we faced a significant hurdle, i.e., the clash between the prescribed June 1/2 survey weekend and the much-anticipated Lilac Festival in the vicinity of the Cathedral. Recognizing the potential impact on attendance, we sought a solution that would accommodate the schedules of our parishioners. Thanks to the advocacy of our Rector, Fr. Avinash, we secured a postponement, allowing us to have a better chance at success, plus it afforded us to observe best practices from other parishes who were doing the survey one week ahead of us. Drawing from this observation period, we refined our approach with three strategic pillars: proactive engagement before Mass, integration of the survey into homilies, and innovative distribution methods to ensure simultaneous participation. These tactics not only streamlined the survey process but also fostered a sense of collective responsibility and engagement among our parishioners. However, our efforts did not end with tapping our regular Mass-goers. We recognized the importance of reaching out to every corner of our parish community, including newly registered parishioners, volunteers of various ministries, parish groups, parents of sacramental preparation classes and newly initiated RCIA attendees. Leveraging digital platforms and personalized communication, we cast a wide net, inviting all voices to contribute to our collective narrative. Looking ahead, our focus shifts to rekindling connections with those who have drifted away from the fold. We envision a grassroots movement where every parishioner becomes an ambassador, reaching out to friends and family members who may have lapsed in their attendance. It's a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives and the collective strength of a unified parish. In closing, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who have contributed to this endeavor, from our dedicated Parish Renewal Team to the countless volunteers and parishioners who recognized the value of our survey. Together, we have embarked on a journey of self-discovery and renewal, paving the way for a blessed future for our beloved parish. 
I started going to mass at St. Michael's last February when I was at a very low, and lonely place in my life. I was surrounded by people constantly who love me, and I was never actually alone, but inside, I had this empty feeling with this deeper hole that I didn’t know how to fill.
Over the last seven months, every aspect of my life has changed as I learn and become closer to God. My faith has challenged me in ways I have never thought possible, and I have been put through a lot of tests and have had a lot of thoughts about giving up , but then I remember that it really is true: “The closer we get to God, the more the enemy draws near”. Which in truth makes me lean even harder on the Lord for strength and protection. Through the RCIA program I was given a deeper meaning to hope and to life. As the year moved on toward Easter Vigil, I found my relationship with Jesus growing stronger and stronger. I also found myself becoming humbled as I thought I knew how to pray and connect to God through conversation - but as I moved through RCIA I came to realize that I didn't know how to have a meaningful relationship with God. What I learned through RCIA changed my fundamental idea of who I want to be and how I want to live in connection with God and his children. 
At the Easter Vigil when Father Edmund prayed over me with his hands pressed to my head, I felt utterly and completely filled with peace and love. An overwhelming sense that this is exactly where I belong… In His Kingdom and His Glory. I will forever be grateful to be known as His. Submitted by Eryn Minifie. Eryn was baptized Catholic on Easter Vigil 2024 at St. Michael's Catholic Community in Calgary. RCIA photos courtesy of Larry Fisher.
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