Bill C-218

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In June 2025, the member of parliament (MP) for Cloverdale—Langley City introduced private member’s Bill C-218: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying) to add the following exclusion:
(2.1) For the purposes of subsection (2), a mental disorder is not a grievous and irremediable medical condition.

Bill C-218 is an important bill in ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable populations from choosing to die because Canada does not have adequate resources to treat mental illness. It is scheduled for second reading in the House of Commons on December 5th.

In the second reading, the MP who put forward the bill outlines the principles of the bill, followed by a debate and a vote. If the vote passes, the bill is referred to a committee that studies it and may hear witnesses and make amendments before referring it back to the House for a third and final reading. Second reading is a crucial step in the process, as if the vote is unsuccessful, it dies there.

Please inform members and request that they urgently contact their MPs to ask them to support Bill C-218. Letters, emails and telephone calls are important.

Many online resources to help with this are available, including the following:
• Contact Us, House of Commons
• “How to Write to Your MP,” Results Canada
• Personal Letter Writing Guide (#173), The Catholic Women’s League of Canada

Please take the time to call or write. If MPs do not hear from Canadians, they cannot represent us in the vote.
Your sister in the League,

Jessie Parkinson
National Chairperson of Social Justice

Dilexi te

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Dilexi te | "I have loved you"

Pope Leo XIV has released his first Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi te (“I have loved you”), on the Church’s care for the poor, on the Feast Day of St. John Henry Newman, Oct 9, 2025. Signed on Oct 4, 2025, the document was originally drafted by Pope Francis before his death and later revised and promulgated by Pope Leo XIV. It continues the reflection begun in Pope Francis’ final encyclical, Dilexit nos.

At its heart, Dilexi te invites believers to unite prayer with service, faith with action, and devotion with justice, reminding the Church that authentic love of God always leads to love of neighbour, especially the poor.

• Read Dilexi te 
• Resources for Dilexi te

Prison Ministry Lay Volunteers

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We are looking for new male and female volunteers for Liturgy of the Word and Rosary prayers in both the Remand Centre and the Calgary Correctional Centre.

• If you are interested in being considered for prison ministry in Calgary, please email for the Volunteer Information form and return the completed form to the same address. 

Prison Ministry Needs Help - North Calgary

We urgently need new volunteers to serve in our prison team at the Calgary Youth Offender Centre (CYOC). The commitment is to serve once a month on Saturday, from 1:30-2:30 pm, soon extending by an hour. The Lord calls us to be His instruments of hope and refuge, and through this ministry, we have a unique opportunity to answer that call. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Catholic Pastoral Centre at  . 

Volunteering Opportunities at Calgary Remand Centre

• A prison for male inmates awaiting sentencing of crimes (ranging from murders, sex offenders, petty crime violators to immigrants awaiting hearings and even persons with un-paid ticket violation). 
• Duties include attending either “weekend afternoon” and/or “weeknight” programs including Rosary Program, Liturgy of the Word reflection and potentially Alpha program.
• Serving the religious needs of Young to Middle-Aged Adults in an ecumenical setting.
• Comfortable serving inmates of all ages, races and first nation background and from faithful to atheists.
• Respect inmates, and cooperate with guards, staff, chaplains, and fellow volunteers.
• Follow Diocesan Volunteer Codes of Conduct and prison rules.
• Keeping of boundary condition in a high security environment.
• Be a pastoral minister, being genuinely empathic, generous, and gracious with a heart to serve Jesus; I was in prison and you visited me. (Mathew 25:36)
• Look past the inmates’ exteriors and help them to find a connection between their personal story and the biblical stories of faith; Sharing of the message of Faith, Hope and Love.
• Commitment of once a month to every two weeks frequency.
• One on one training will be provided.
• Praesidium Course, Police Check and Prison Orientation required.

Volunteering Opportunities at Calgary Correctional Centre

• A prison for sentenced male inmates (less than 2 years; crimes ranging from sex offenders, pesty crime violators to immigrants awaiting hearings and even persons with un-paid ticket violation).    
• Duties include attending either “weekend afternoon” and/or “weeknight” programs including Rosary” Program, Liturgy of the Word reflection and potentially Alpha program.
• Serving the religious needs of Young to Middle-Aged Adults in an ecumenical setting
• Comfortable serving inmates of all ages, races and first nation background and from faithful to atheists.
• Respect inmates, and cooperate with guards, staff, chaplains, and fellow volunteers
• Follow Diocesan Volunteer Codes of Conduct and prison rules
• Keeping of boundary condition in a high security environment
• Be a pastoral minister, being genuinely empathic, generous, and gracious with a heart to serve Jesus; I was in prison and you visited me. (Mathew 25:36)
• Look past their exteriors and help them to find a connection between their personal story and the biblical stories of faith; Sharing of the message of Faith, Hope and Love
• Commitment of once a month to every two weeks frequency
• One on one training will be provided
• Praesidium Course, Police Check and Prison Orientation required

As with any volunteering opportunities, we require a Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check (VSPIC), the completion of the Praesidium Academy sexual abuse prevention training, and the agreement to the Code of Pastoral Conduct and Accountability for Volunteers. This information will be provided to you after submitting your application.

~ Diocese of Calgary

Keep a Healthy Mind

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7 proven ways to protect against cognitive decline

If you’re nearing old age, or have a family history of dementia, you’ve probably started to wonder, “What can I do to keep my mind healthy as I grow old?”  Of course, there’s only so much anyone can do to protect against cognitive decline. Genetics and other factors outside our control play such a big role. But it turns out there are certain things that do make a difference. Researchers have identified some straightforward strategies to stave off cognitive decline as a person grows older.

And it turns out, keeping church and prayer commitments is an important part of it. 

Here are 7 things you can do now to protect your brain as you age. (You might be pleasantly surprised to find that you’re already doing some of them!)

1. Take a walk
   Regularly going on a walk is one of the most reliable ways to keep your brain sharp as you age. Enjoy a scenic forest path, or simply stroll your neighborhood!
   
   
2. Spend time with your friends
   While you’re walking, invite a friend along. Maintaining strong social networks is linked to slower cognitive decline.
   
   
3. Read a book
   Frequent reading is protective of cognitive function in later life. Consider joining or starting a book club to get the benefits of friendship and reading at the same time!
   
   
4. Spend time with your family
   Living near family as you age imparts 4 to 6 years of extra life expectancy, and it’s good for your grandchildren or great-grandchildren, who have lower rates of mortality and lower rates of disease. This is called the “grandmother effect.”
   
5. Keep holy the Sabbath
   Belonging to a faith-based community and attending services about 4 times a month “is worth between four and 14 extra years of life expectancy.” Who knew going to church was so good for you? 
   
   
6. Talk to God
   Praying regularly is associated with lower risk of mild cognitive impairment.
   
   
7. Eat fish and vegetables
   A Mediterranean diet has been associated with longevity for a long time. Now researchers have found that it’s specifically the prevalence of fish and vegetables in this diet that is so beneficial.

  Source

Personal Directive

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Sudden injury (such as concussion) or illness could abruptly take away your capacity to make decisions. That can happen to people of any age or stage of life. If it happened to you, would your family know your healthcare wishes? Who would speak on your behalf? Would their decisions reflect your wishes, beliefs and values?

Every adult Albertan (18 years of age or older) should have:

• a personal directive
• an enduring power of attorney agreement
• a will

A personal directive is a legal document that specifies whom you have chosen to make personal, non-financial decisions on your behalf should you lose the mental capacity to make them due to illness or injury. It ensures that the person you choose is legally entitled to make personal decisions for you if you lose capacity. It gives you control over your future personal matters and brings peace of mind to you and your loved ones.

Preparing it prompts you to:

• think about your values and healthcare wishes,
• discuss them with your family,
• choose a trusted person (or persons) to speak on your behalf,
• and document a plan that reflects your goals.

You and your family can feel confident knowing that decisions made on your behalf will reflect your wishes.

The documents below are based on the Personal Directives Act in Alberta and are provided for information and guidance only. They are intended to foster open dialogue about crisis and end-of-life decisions with your spouse, parents, children or other close contacts. They are not a substitute for legal advice. Please consult a lawyer to create a customized Personal Directive, Enduring Power of Attorney agreement, and Will.

• Personal Directive Overview - This is intended for education and guidance only, as we cannot guarantee the completeness, accuracy or reliability of the information in relation to individual needs.
• "Catholic-Focused" Personal Directive Form - This document is an example of what you might develop. It shows the directive’s structure and type of instructions that could be included to reflect your beliefs and values. It is in Word, so you can edit it to suit your own wishes.

Planning for your future is a wise ‘peace of mind’ investment. A Personal Directive, Enduring Power of Attorney agreement, and Will can all help to reduce stress during times of crisis or grief. They can save time and money; and will help to ensure that your wishes are respected and followed.