St. John's Chaldean Church: A Parish Marked by Baptism and Hope

The Feast of Saint John the Baptist offered a moment of deep joy and gratitude for the parish community of St. John the Apostle Church in Calgary. In the Chaldean Church, this feast honours the great forerunner of Christ, the voice crying out in the wilderness, calling God’s people to repentance, purification, and conversion of heart.
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This celebration carried special meaning for our parish. On this feast, we were blessed to welcome Bishop William T. McGrattan for the first time since moving into our newly acquired and renovated church building. At the conclusion of the sacred mysteries, we also celebrated the blessing of a new holy image of the Baptism of Our Lord, now mounted in our narthex.

Each of these moments holds deep significance for the spiritual and historical life of our parish. Together, they speak of new beginnings, beginnings rooted not in human achievement alone, but in God’s providence, mercy, and love.
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The Feast of Saint John the Baptist reminds us that his mission was not only to prepare the way for Christ long ago, but to prepare our hearts today. His preaching of repentance and purification continues to call each of us to leave behind whatever keeps us from God and to embrace a life of faith, humility, and obedience. Through his witness, Saint John challenges us to be ready to encounter the Lord with open and purified hearts.

In the spirit of Renewal, Bishop McGrattan's pastoral visit to our parish marked an important moment in our community's life. In this first year of worshipping in this sacred space, we have truly begun a new chapter in our parish story. Our story, though marked by persecution, displacement, and hardship, has not ended in sorrow. By God’s grace, it has blossomed into a story of hope, growth, and new life.

In the same spirit of renewal, Bishop McGrattan's pastoral visit to our newly purchased and renovated church reminds us that, in this first year of worshipping in this sacred space, we have truly begun a new chapter in our parish story. Our story, though marked by persecution, displacement, and hardship, has not ended in sorrow. By God’s grace, it has blossomed into a story of hope, growth, and new life. The presence of His Excellency among us was more than an honour. 

For this reason, it is my prayer that every time we enter this holy church and see the sacred image of Our Lord being baptized by Saint John the Baptist, our hearts will be stirred once again. May that image remind us that we are a baptized people, called daily to conversion, renewal, and deeper communion with Christ. May it remind us of who we are: a people of faith who have endured persecution in our homeland, yet have remained steadfast in faith, rooted in Christ, and unwavering in hope. May it also remind us of the mission entrusted to us: to live the Gospel with courage, to pass on the faith to future generations, and to be a living witness of Christ’s love in this land.  

​It is a sign of his fatherly care and loving closeness to our community, and it is also an invitation for our parish to take part in the wider diocesan call to Renewal. Renewal is one of the central themes of this holy season of the Baptism of Our Lord in the Chaldean Church. Through Renewal, we are invited to put on Christ, to be washed in His grace, and to let go of all that separates us from Him.

This path of Renewal is not easy. It demands courage, humility, and trust, the very virtues that Saint John the Baptist embodied so powerfully. His fearless witness challenges us to remain faithful even when renewal requires sacrifice, and to remain open to God’s transforming grace even when we face resistance or uncertainty.

As we give thanks for the many blessings God has poured out upon us, I wish to express heartfelt gratitude, on behalf of Bishop Robert Saeed Jarjis, Eparch of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Mar Addai in Canada, and on behalf of our entire parish community, to the Diocese of Calgary for its constant support, care, and loving solidarity with our growing immigrant parish.

May the Lord, who began this good work among us, bring it to fulfillment. May He continue to renew our hearts, strengthen our faith, and unite us as one body in Christ. And may this church always be a place where faith is renewed and hope is proclaimed. As we joyfully proclaim in Chaldean: The Lord has been baptized: Glory to His name.

Written by Fr. John Jwad, Associate Pastor of St. John the Apostle Chaldean Catholic Church, Calgary. 

Photos courtesy of St. John the Apostle Chaldean Catholic Church, Calgary.