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A Pastoral Letter from Bishop William T. McGrattan
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Duc in Altum | Put out into the deep
4. In this year of 2020, we will mark the 20th anniversary of Novo Millennio Ineunte (NMI), the Apostolic Letter issued by Pope John Paul II during the great jubilee year. He began the Letter by recalling the words of Jesus to Simon inviting him to “put out into the deep” for a catch: “duc in altum” (Luke 5:4) where “they caught a great number of fish” (Luke 5:6).
5. The Lord continues to speak these words to us today and invites us to put out into the deep. It is in this same spirit that we embark as a Diocese to rediscover and renew our common mission of proclaiming the Gospel through the spiritual and pastoral renewal of our clergy, the religious and lay faithful, and our parishes in anticipation and preparation for a formal process of Diocesan pastoral planning.
6. At the beginning of the millennium, the Letter was the Holy Father’s way of calling for the ongoing renewal of the Church’s mission through the laity and ordained ministry, and the ongoing pastoral planning at every level of the Church in order to rediscover the mystery we behold as a Church and as contained in Sacred Tradition. That mystery is Jesus Christ, the Good News that we are called to proclaim.
7. Pope John Paul II stated, “The program already exists: it is the plan found in the Gospel and in the living Tradition. Ultimately, it has its centre in Christ himself, who is to be known, loved and imitated, so that in him we may live the life of the Trinity, and with him transform history until its fulfilment in the heavenly Jerusalem. (The program) must be translated into pastoral initiatives adapted to the circumstances of each community. It is in the local churches that the specific features of a detailed pastoral plan can be identified which will enable the proclamation of Christ to reach the people, mould communities, and have a deep and incisive influence in bringing Gospel values to bear in society and culture.” (NMI par. 29)
8. The Church’s mission must take into account the current times and culture. An important and essential part of this renewal is for priests to first rediscover their centredness in Christ so that they can truly offer a renewed pastoral leadership within the parishes in today’s context.
9. Pope John Paull II stated, “It is prayer which roots us in this truth. It constantly reminds us of the primacy of Christ and, in union with him, the primacy of the interior life and of holiness. When this principle is not respected, is it any wonder that pastoral plans come to nothing and leave us with a disheartening sense of frustration? We then share the experience of the disciples in the Gospel story of the miraculous catch of fish: ‘We have toiled all night and caught nothing’ (Lk 5:5). This is the moment of faith, of prayer, of conversation with God, in order to open our hearts to the tide of grace and allow the word of Christ to pass through us in all its power: Duc in altum! On that occasion, it was Peter who spoke the word of faith: ‘At your word I will let down the nets’ (ibid.).” (NMI no. 38)
10. When pastors are grounded in Christ who calls them to “put out into the deep”, they can then invite the faithful with joy and confidence to renew their own zeal for living their faith as missionary disciples in the world.
4. In this year of 2020, we will mark the 20th anniversary of Novo Millennio Ineunte (NMI), the Apostolic Letter issued by Pope John Paul II during the great jubilee year. He began the Letter by recalling the words of Jesus to Simon inviting him to “put out into the deep” for a catch: “duc in altum” (Luke 5:4) where “they caught a great number of fish” (Luke 5:6).
5. The Lord continues to speak these words to us today and invites us to put out into the deep. It is in this same spirit that we embark as a Diocese to rediscover and renew our common mission of proclaiming the Gospel through the spiritual and pastoral renewal of our clergy, the religious and lay faithful, and our parishes in anticipation and preparation for a formal process of Diocesan pastoral planning.
6. At the beginning of the millennium, the Letter was the Holy Father’s way of calling for the ongoing renewal of the Church’s mission through the laity and ordained ministry, and the ongoing pastoral planning at every level of the Church in order to rediscover the mystery we behold as a Church and as contained in Sacred Tradition. That mystery is Jesus Christ, the Good News that we are called to proclaim.
7. Pope John Paul II stated, “The program already exists: it is the plan found in the Gospel and in the living Tradition. Ultimately, it has its centre in Christ himself, who is to be known, loved and imitated, so that in him we may live the life of the Trinity, and with him transform history until its fulfilment in the heavenly Jerusalem. (The program) must be translated into pastoral initiatives adapted to the circumstances of each community. It is in the local churches that the specific features of a detailed pastoral plan can be identified which will enable the proclamation of Christ to reach the people, mould communities, and have a deep and incisive influence in bringing Gospel values to bear in society and culture.” (NMI par. 29)
8. The Church’s mission must take into account the current times and culture. An important and essential part of this renewal is for priests to first rediscover their centredness in Christ so that they can truly offer a renewed pastoral leadership within the parishes in today’s context.
9. Pope John Paull II stated, “It is prayer which roots us in this truth. It constantly reminds us of the primacy of Christ and, in union with him, the primacy of the interior life and of holiness. When this principle is not respected, is it any wonder that pastoral plans come to nothing and leave us with a disheartening sense of frustration? We then share the experience of the disciples in the Gospel story of the miraculous catch of fish: ‘We have toiled all night and caught nothing’ (Lk 5:5). This is the moment of faith, of prayer, of conversation with God, in order to open our hearts to the tide of grace and allow the word of Christ to pass through us in all its power: Duc in altum! On that occasion, it was Peter who spoke the word of faith: ‘At your word I will let down the nets’ (ibid.).” (NMI no. 38)
10. When pastors are grounded in Christ who calls them to “put out into the deep”, they can then invite the faithful with joy and confidence to renew their own zeal for living their faith as missionary disciples in the world.
Program of Renewal
11. I am proposing a multi-year program of renewal, and invite us to embrace it as a Diocese in such a way that as we renew our individual commitments to the state of life for which we have been called by the Lord to live and serve, we become the leaven that will renew and transform the parishes, which when burning with zeal for the mission of Christ, in turn will assist in the formation of missionary disciples for the evangelization of our society.
11. I am proposing a multi-year program of renewal, and invite us to embrace it as a Diocese in such a way that as we renew our individual commitments to the state of life for which we have been called by the Lord to live and serve, we become the leaven that will renew and transform the parishes, which when burning with zeal for the mission of Christ, in turn will assist in the formation of missionary disciples for the evangelization of our society.
12. Pope Francis, in Evangelii Gaudium (EG), stated, “The parish is not an outdated institution; precisely because it possesses great flexibility, it can assume quite different contours depending on the openness and missionary creativity of the pastor and the community. While certainly not the only institution which evangelizes, if the parish proves capable of self-renewal and constant adaptivity, it continues to be ‘the Church living in the midst of the homes of her sons and daughters.’ This presumes that it really is in contact with the homes and the lives of its people, and does not become a useless structure out of touch with people or a self-absorbed group made up of a chosen few. The parish is the presence of the Church in a given territory, an environment for hearing God’s Word, for growth in the Christian life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship and celebration. In all its activities the parish encourages and trains its members to be evangelizers. It is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey, and a centre of constant missionary outreach. We must admit, though, that the call to review and renew our parishes has not yet sufficed to bring them nearer to people, to make them environments of living communion and participation, and to make them completely mission-oriented.” (EG no. 28).
13. Parish renewal begins with the priests by renewing their priestly life and spirituality and, in turn, their ministry. It is my belief that this approach will provide us with new pastoral experiences from which to draw upon when we begin a formal process of diocesan pastoral renewal and planning in the coming years. As scripture states, “new wine must be poured into new wineskins” (Mark 2:22). A similar call and path will be extended to the lay faithful, religious and those who live and witness to their faith through their professions.
14. I envision a multi-staged process that will span over three years, engaging respectively the renewal of the Priests, the Laity, Deacons, and Religious, and the Diocese as a whole. It is a process that will focus on the basics, the living of our baptismal faith, deepening our spiritual lives, seeking new ways of outreach in witness to justice and holiness that is a sign of authenticity in today’s world. This renewal must touch the fabric of our parishes, families and youth, young adults, seniors and the elderly. It can be the impetus for building bridges between the parishes and communities, with agencies and pastoral services sponsored throughout the Diocese.
15. Within the renewal of the laity, I also see unique opportunities for renewal in the professional life of Catholic School Educators, Administrators, Teachers and Staff, our Health Care Professionals, and Public Safety Professionals. These occasions of renewal provide the professionals serving in ministries of the Catholic Church the opportunity to plan and implement a year-round program of formation and support best suited to their field of work and expertise.
16. The final stage of renewal, taking place from Pentecost 2021 to 2022 and marked as the Renewal of the Diocese, will be the year of consultation, assessment, and planning for the pastoral life and mission of the Diocese. A working document will be produced for this final stage of renewal which will contain the findings of the previous stages of renewal and the practical and valuable information already obtained from the parish pastoral visits I have conducted since the beginning of my episcopacy.
17. While the process of renewal unfolds in stages, the various moments that liturgically mark the beginning of each stage will cause the processes to overlap and run concurrently with each other. The nature of this renewal will remind us of our interconnectedness and unity in Christ while celebrating the various spiritual gifts and responsibilities.
18. The following are markers of the renewal process.
13. Parish renewal begins with the priests by renewing their priestly life and spirituality and, in turn, their ministry. It is my belief that this approach will provide us with new pastoral experiences from which to draw upon when we begin a formal process of diocesan pastoral renewal and planning in the coming years. As scripture states, “new wine must be poured into new wineskins” (Mark 2:22). A similar call and path will be extended to the lay faithful, religious and those who live and witness to their faith through their professions.
14. I envision a multi-staged process that will span over three years, engaging respectively the renewal of the Priests, the Laity, Deacons, and Religious, and the Diocese as a whole. It is a process that will focus on the basics, the living of our baptismal faith, deepening our spiritual lives, seeking new ways of outreach in witness to justice and holiness that is a sign of authenticity in today’s world. This renewal must touch the fabric of our parishes, families and youth, young adults, seniors and the elderly. It can be the impetus for building bridges between the parishes and communities, with agencies and pastoral services sponsored throughout the Diocese.
15. Within the renewal of the laity, I also see unique opportunities for renewal in the professional life of Catholic School Educators, Administrators, Teachers and Staff, our Health Care Professionals, and Public Safety Professionals. These occasions of renewal provide the professionals serving in ministries of the Catholic Church the opportunity to plan and implement a year-round program of formation and support best suited to their field of work and expertise.
16. The final stage of renewal, taking place from Pentecost 2021 to 2022 and marked as the Renewal of the Diocese, will be the year of consultation, assessment, and planning for the pastoral life and mission of the Diocese. A working document will be produced for this final stage of renewal which will contain the findings of the previous stages of renewal and the practical and valuable information already obtained from the parish pastoral visits I have conducted since the beginning of my episcopacy.
17. While the process of renewal unfolds in stages, the various moments that liturgically mark the beginning of each stage will cause the processes to overlap and run concurrently with each other. The nature of this renewal will remind us of our interconnectedness and unity in Christ while celebrating the various spiritual gifts and responsibilities.
18. The following are markers of the renewal process.
Year 20207th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Feb 23
Ash Wednesday, Feb 26
Mass of Chrism, Monday, Apr 6
Easter Sunday – Apr 12
Pentecost Sunday – May 31
Catholic School Division Opening Masses – August 2020
White Mass - Oct 2020
Red Mass - Oct 2020
Blue Mass - Oct 2020
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, World Day of the Poor – Nov 15
The Feast of the Holy Family – Sunday, Dec 27
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Year 2021The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Tuesday, Feb 2
Mass of Chrism, Monday, Mar 29
Easter Sunday - April 4
Pentecost Sunday – May 23
Catholic School Division Opening Masses – August - Sep 2021
White Mass - Oct 2021
Red Mass - Oct 2021
Blue Mass - Oct 2021
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, World Day of the Poor - Nov 14
The Feast of the Holy Family - Sunday, Dec 26
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Year 2022The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Wednesday, Feb 2
Mass of Chrism, Monday, Apr 11
Easter Sunday – Apr 17
Pentecost Sunday – Jun 5
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19. In this multi-year process, it is my hope that we all deepen our commitment to the Lord in living our vocation every time we make the act of renewal on the marked feasts and occasions. We also strive to increase the formation we are receiving in the corresponding states of life and professions so that we may be able to deepen our sense of discipleship in our daily lives.
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Call to Holiness
20. Pope Francis, in his Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exultate (GEE), states, “We are frequently tempted to think that holiness is only for those who can withdraw from ordinary affairs to spend much time in prayer. That is not the case. We are all called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves. Are you called to the consecrated life? Be holy by living out your commitment with joy. Are you married? Be holy by loving and caring for your husband or wife, as Christ does for the Church. Do you work for a living? Be holy by labouring with integrity and skill in the service of your brothers and sisters. Are you a parent or grandparent? Be holy by patiently teaching the little ones how to follow Jesus. Are you in a position of authority? Be holy by working for the common good and renouncing personal gain.” (GEE no. 14) 21. Beginning this Season of Lent, we open our hearts, minds, and homes to the Holy Spirit. May these years of renewal be for us a source of inspiration and grace not only for our personal holiness and development but also for the holiness and development of the entire Diocese. 22. With the Diocese of Calgary under the patronage of our Blessed Mother, I conclude this pastoral letter with the prayer to our Lady from Evangelii Gaudium. We honour her for her humility and for her docility to God the Father, and we praise God for raising her to the stature of being the greatest disciple of our Lord and the “model of evangelization” (EG no. 288). |
Mary, Mother of the Church
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Mary, Virgin and Mother,
you who, moved by the Holy Spirit, welcomed the word of life in the depths of your humble faith: as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One, help us to say our own “yes” to the urgent call, as pressing as ever, to proclaim the good news of Jesus. Filled with Christ’s presence, you brought joy to John the Baptist, making him exult in the womb of his mother. Brimming over with joy, you sang of the great things done by God. Standing at the foot of the cross with unyielding faith, you received the joyful comfort of the resurrection, and joined the disciples in awaiting the Spirit so that the evangelizing Church might be born. Obtain for us now a new ardour born of the resurrection, that we may bring to all the Gospel of life which triumphs over death. Give us a holy courage to seek new paths, that the gift of unfading beauty may reach every man and woman. |
Virgin of listening and contemplation,
Mother of love, Bride of the eternal wedding feast, pray for the Church, whose pure icon you are, that she may never be closed in on herself or lose her passion for establishing God’s kingdom. Star of the new evangelization, help us to bear radiant witness to communion, service, ardent and generous faith, justice and love of the poor, that the joy of the Gospel may reach to the ends of the earth, illuminating even the fringes of our world. Mother of the living Gospel, wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones, pray for us. Amen. Alleluia! Sincerely Yours in Christ, Most Reverend William T. McGrattan Bishop of Calgary |