“The radical living of our baptism is a continuous call for every person to follow Christ. It's never static, nor does it focus on self.” ~Bishop McGrattan
In his support for Serra Calgary’s apostolate for the promotion of vocations, Bishop McGrattan talks about the true heart and essence of a vocation - a lifelong commitment to the service of God and the Church, and of our new seminarians.
Have you ever thought of a vocation to consecrated life?
Join Vocatio: An event for men discerning the Priesthood and men and women discerning the Consecrated Life. Vocatio begins with anticipated Mass at 5 pm, followed by pizza, presentations and discussions, and Night Prayer. There will be separate groups for men and women. When: Saturdays, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, and Dec. 9, from 5 pm to 9 pm.
Bishops from all over Canada are gathering for the 2023 Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) in King City, Ontario this week. The Plenary Assembly is held every year and includes discussion on a variety of topics that affect Catholics in Canada. During the meeting, there will also be reports from different committees and an address by the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada.
The Diocese of Calgary is sponsoring a workshop for parish RCIA teams, catechists, sponsors, clergy, and anyone interested in learning more about the RCIA process with speakers: Rev. Bill Corcoran and Dave & Sandy Marshall. When: Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 from 9 am to 3 pm - St. Anthony’s Parish, Calgary.
The topics covered will include:
Why establish year-round catechumenate?
How to establish and maintain year-round catechumenate?
Implications for four “Periods” and three liturgical “Steps”
Preparing ministries: catechists, sponsors, team and parish.
A year has passed since the visit of our Holy Father Pope Francis to Canada which was the beginning of a new era of understanding with our Indigenous Sisters and Brothers.
I am pleased to share with you a poster inviting each of you and all the members in your dioceses to attend a Virtual Retreat celebrating Truth & Reconciliation Dayon Sunday, October 1st. The Retreat Facilitator is Father Cristino Bouvette from Calgary who is of Metis and Cree-Ojibwe heritage and was a member of the organizing team for the Papal Visit. He will share with us his views on faith and reconciliation & there will be a Q & A at the end. The retreat promises to be a compelling gathering encouraging us as we Walk Together as People of Faith.
Please mark your calendars and share this event with your members ...
Blessings, Mary Hunt Alberta Mackenzie Provincial President The Catholic Women's League of Canada
NOTE: Please login between 1:00 and 1:25 so as to be able to start promptly at 1:30.
IWIN is seeking the following donations for our upcoming backpack assembly date. Items can be brought to the upcoming Diocesan fall meeting or Calgary regional meeting.
All items must be new, regular size and unopened. No small samples or hotel sizes please.
Unidentified assailants set fire to a parish rectory in Nigeria's Kafanchan Diocese, killing a seminarian in the attack at St. Raphael's parish rectory in Fadan Kamantan. Dozens of priests have been abducted in Nigeria in recent years, with many killed and several others still missing. Read more
Miscarriages can cause a range of emotions, such as grief, guilt, anger, and loneliness, and it is often hard to find people who understand what you are going through.
The Diocese of Calgary invites individuals or families to join a transformative workshop designed for those navigating the grief of miscarriage. Connect with others who understand your pain, share your experience in a safe and compassionate environment, and learn coping strategies from professionals and peers who had gone through this journey.
Back for a second series, every third Monday of the month, beginning Monday, Sep. 18 at 10:30 am Fr. Tim Boyle will speak on The Art of Accompaniment, picking up on the theme from the Synod preparation document "Enlarge the Tent."
Sessions will be available in-person at St. Martha's, Lethbridge, or watch via livestream at stmarthsparish.ca
The Diocese of Calgary is offering a Pastoral Care Ministry Training for those who feel called to assist their parish in a healing ministry to the sick, elderly, dying, homebound and bereaved members. This workshop is applicable for new or those previously trained in Pastoral Care Ministry.
Note that fee should not be a deterrent. No one will be denied participation. You can contact the Pastoral Ministry Office via email to make other arrangements.
Participants must be pre-approved by their Pastors and/or Pastoral Care Coordinator. Please contact your parish for screening requirement.
Certificates of Completion will be provided after successful completion of the course (complete attendance of the entire training).
Locations
Medicine Hat: Friday to Saturday, Sep. 22-24 - Register by Sept 15
Calgary: Saturdays, Nov. 11 & 25 - Register by November 3
We are pleased to announce that 12 men will be ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in our diocese this year! Bishop William T. McGrattan will preside at the Mass of Ordination on Saturday, November 18, at 11 am at St. Mary's Cathedral. All are welcome!
The candidates to be ordained:
John Arbeau, Ascension Parish, Calgary
Bruce Alan Barnett, St. Martha’s Parish, Lethbridge
Ferdinand Gayos, St. Albert the Great, Calgary
Randy Victor Gritter, St. Michael’s Parish, Calgary
Thomas Hing Cheung Ha, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Calgary
Brian Kinahan, St. Augustine’s, Taber
Timothy Peter Lilienthal, All Saints Parish, Lethbridge
James Arnold Manzara, All Saints Parish, Lethbridge
Carlos Perez, St. Thomas More, Calgary
Ricardo Rosero, Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, Calgary
Andrew Ross, St. Joseph, Calgary
Reynaldo Tadifa, St. Albert the Great, Calgary
You can learn more about the candidates in Faithfully, "Sacred Service." Please keep these men and their families in your prayers.
Another year of exciting programming is starting soon…
Stardale is prepping for back to school and another year of helping our girls thrive. While we’ve been gardening up a storm and making the most of the sunshine all summer long with our off season programming, our regular classes will commence again this fall. Like many programs this time is vital for funding and programming support to help us start out the year strong. With our program reaching more people then ever through a variety of initiatives, multimedia projects and educational tools, we are in need of the support of our community to continue to make it all happen. From sharing our stories to supporting our programming, It’s individuals like you that make what we do possible.
We hope you’re just as excited as we are for a whole new year of programming and growth for the Stardale girls and ready to make a real impact!
For the second year the community is coming together to collaborate on this event in honour of Truth and Reconciliation. This event is an opportunity to discuss the effects of residential schools and their legacy and is open to the public. During the afternoon, it will include multiple Elders present, A Ceremonialist and a drumming performance from The Stardale Girls Drumming Group. Additionally, there will be a screening of an original film created by Stardale Women's Group. Refreshments will also be served and a selection of Indigenous Owned Businesses will be showcased as part of the event in an art market format.
In the evening commencing at 7:00 (doors open at 6:30), the event will continue with a screening of the new film Bones of Crows with host George Canyon. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with moderator Gerald Auger.
A video, Papal Visit to Canada, One Year Later, has been produced by the Archdiocese of Edmonton with reflections from Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Archbishop Anthony Wieslaw Krotki, Archbishop Richard Smith, and Maskwacis Chief Victor Buffalo. The video highlights Pope Francis’ visit as a significant step on the road to healing and reconciliation, noting that the work and commitment will continue. It demonstrates that the Holy Father’s visit also made not only the idea, but the reality of reconciliation possible.
Walking Together: Into One Beat - A new documentary from Salt + Light on Pope Francis' penitential pilgrimage to Canada In July 2022, Pope Francis visited Indigenous communities, celebrated Mass in Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium and at the National Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré and, most importantly, apologized for the Church’s role in the country’s Residential School System. Walking Together: Into One Beat features interviews with members of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit in Alberta, Quebec, and Nunavut, who share their heartfelt stories as they prepare for the Holy Father’s arrival. After the visit, they offer their reactions, impressions, and hopes for this country of many nations moving forward, as one, on the journey of reconciliation. Watch it here.
The Eucharistic Miracles of the World is a collection of Miracles that are recognized by the Church which occurred through the centuries in various countries. Through these photo panels you can “virtually visit” the places where the miracles happened. There are 158 Vatican approved Eucharistic Miracles which would be displayed on panels. They will be displayed in the Upper Room and the Narthex.
Sacred Heart Parish is also looking for volunteers that will be able to be present at the Exhibit, to answer questions or give people directions. If you would like to volunteer for this extraordinary Exhibit, please sign up.
If you'd like to donate to the costs of running this exhibit (materials), please donate here.
A groundbreaking report published by the Ottawa-based Cardus Institute has given voice to Indigenous Canadians who are frustrated by secular society’s unawareness of — or unwillingness to accept — the fact that almost half of them are Christian. The executive director of the Catholic Civil Rights League, Christian Elia, says society should grant Indigenous Catholics the respect and personal agency that is due all Canadians. He said his organization has heard from many Indigenous Catholics who are “growing weary of the ongoing assumption that somehow they have been coerced into the faith, that it is inconceivable that they wish to be Catholic. This condescending attitude must stop.” Read more
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The Diocese of Calgary is sponsoring a workshop for parish RCIA teams, catechists, sponsors, clergy, and anyone interested in learning more about the RCIA process with speakers: Rev. Bill Corcoran and Dave & Sandy Marshall. When: Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 from 9 am to 3 pm - St. Anthony’s Parish, Calgary. 
