St. Anthony’s Parish young adults explore vocations to Consecrated Life

My parish, St. Anthony's, has recently started up a young adults’ group where we meet twice a month for fellowship and formation. Our last event was called "Meet the Religious", where we invited Religious Priests, Brothers, and Sisters to give a testimony of their vocation to the youth of our parish and talk about the beauty of Religious life through the practice of the evangelical counsels to which they have vowed themselves. 
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The young men and the women alike were visibly engaged and enthralled by the passion with which the Religious spoke about their vocations, and the uniqueness of their respective Order's charisms. The vocation stories were followed by a Q and A, where participants had the chance to ask the Religious pressing questions they had on things like why some Religious take on new names, the unique charisms of each Order, and a glimpse into what community life is like for each. 

We, at St Anthony's, are immensely grateful to the Religious present at our event for witnessing to the beauty of celibate Religious life, which is a life modeled by Christ Himself. 

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Written by Michael Ocenar, parishioner of St. Anthony's Parish, Calgary.

Upcoming Vocations Events

Priestly Vocations Night

Fr. Derek Remus, Associate Vocations Director, holds monthly Priestly Vocations Night at St. Luke's Church, Calgary for young men thinking about a vocation to be a priesthood. 

These evenings consist of Evening Prayer, supper, a presentation on vocational discernment and the mystery of the priesthood, and a period of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

Fr. Derek is also available to meet individually with men who think they may have a vocation to be a priest and would like to talk about their discernment.  ​​​​

• Next date for Priestly Vocations Night: Sat, Dec 7, 2024 from 6:30 pm to 9 pm at St. Luke's, Calgary. More 
• To register, email Fr. Derek Remus at [email protected]

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40 Hours Devotion for Vocations

This year, Bishop McGrattan launched the 40 Hours Devotion for Vocations in the Diocese of Calgary.  The 40 Hours Devotion is a centuries-old practice of holding 40 hours of Eucharistic Adoration successively in different churches for special intentions.  Several parishes throughout the Diocese have held the 40 Hours Devotion so far.  Many parishioners have come before Jesus Christ in the Eucharist to adore Him and pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life and for the perseverance of those priests and consecrated men and women serving our Diocese. In January 2025, the Diocese will begin its second year of the 40 Hours Devotion for Vocations. The goal is for the Devotion to be held in a different parish of the Diocese every week of the year. Next dates for the Devotion:
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• ​Ascension Parish, Calgary - Thu, Nov 7 at 7:30 pm to Sat, Nov 9 at 4 pm 
• Holy Name, Calgary - Fri, Nov 15 at 5 am to Sat, Nov 16 at 9 pm
• St. Augustine's, Taber - Mon, Nov 25 at 3 am to Tue, Nov 26 at 7 pm
• St. Anthony's, Calgary - Fri, Dec 6 at 3 pm to Sun, Dec 8 at 7 am (Chapel)

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24-Hours Adoration for Vocations
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Join the Religious and Consecrated men and women to pray for vocations to the Consecrated Life for our Diocese. 

​"We are preparing ourselves for the Jubilee Year of Hope by opening ourselves up to the Lord and His plans for His people through 24 hours of Adoration. We know how important it is that there be Religious and Consecrated persons in the local Church, and we trust that the Lord is calling young men and women to enter this way of live totally consecrated to Him."

• When: Tue, Nov 12 at 8 am to Wed, Nov 13 at 8 am. More