Seasons of #Renewal and change

A Renewed Faith: A Parishioner's Path to Renewal

​You are called. You matter. You belong. Being an immigrant, this slogan is the perfect start to the Renewal, especially since society has told many of us to go back to where we came from.

By its theme, the Diocese also signals its willingness to embrace, on a daily basis, its people in all their diverstiy. The Renewal is comprehensive in intent and nature, being personal, familial, parochial, or diocesan or, most likely, various combinations thereof.

I read the 2023 Diocesan Synthesis several times, and each time, my joy increased, and my desire to cooperate with the Holy Spirit intensified. By the time I attended the Calgary Renewal Gathering (Nov 4, 2023) and heard Bishop McGrattan’s Q&A, I was convinced of a calling to serve the Church in a way that would be more meaningful than what I had done previously. I was inspired to become engaged in the Pastoral Renewal process. How would I be engaged in the Renewal? I did not know, but my contemplation of the Bishop’s proposed next steps led me to ask myself what tools (charisms) I possessed that could benefit the Renewal process. Consequently, I registered with the Catherine of Siena Institute for its Called & Gifted Process to discern my charisms.

As I expected, I am seeing growth in my faith ― my personal renewal has begun. Cradle Anglicans of the Anglo-Catholic tradition, my wife and I (and the entire congregation) converted in 2011 to Roman Catholicism in (the Diocese of) the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. This was made possible by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 (Anglicanorum Coetibus) to allow Anglicans to convert in groups.

COVID-19 brought into our lives new realizations, one of which was the awareness of our desire to enter the Diocese of Calgary. After visiting several parishes, we registered with Sacred Heart Parish in Calgary in the Spring of 2023. Since then, we have been allowing ourselves time to become acclimatized, to see how things are done in both the Diocese and the Parish.

The concept of “missionary disciples,” introduced or restored by Pope Francis, is new to me. I have the understanding that, as a Catholic, I accept the dual role of imitating Jesus while contributing to the building-up of His Church. This is consistent with the main goal of the Pastoral Renewal process.
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Therefore, I am expressing my heartfelt gratitude to the Renewal Leadership Team for organizing and managing the Pastoral Renewal process. I am happy to have been caught in its net, and I pray that I shall discover my true calling at last.

May the Holy Spirit strengthen and guide us all in the fulfillment of God’s will.

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Shared by Roy Ifill. Roy was a cradle Anglican of the Anglo-Catholic tradition. Roy converted in 2011 to Roman Catholicism in the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. After COVID-19, he joined the Diocese of Calgary, and is a parishioner at Sacred Heart Parish in Calgary. 

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Unburdened: My Spiritual Renewal

I grew up a nominal and cultural Catholic, prior to the reforms of the Vatican II, which appeared then to be more divisive than unitive. Splinter groups, that is, conservative/liberal groups, were formed. The old idea of Catholic by birth, baptism, conviction and calling appeared to be diminished. Sixty years later, I found myself to be a disaffiliate, at best a nominal, cultural, and peripheral Catholic.

Today, I find the wheel has turned. A new season of renewal, with the constant call to continual conversion, is here. I find myself excited and motivated. I have returned to the sacraments and was overwhelmed by reconciliation and forgiveness. The old baggage I had been carrying is now gone.

Shared by Gerald Morton. 
All Saints Parish, Lethbridge, Alberta

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If you have a #Renewal story to share, we'd love to hear from you. Please reach out to us at [email protected]