Warming Stations Volunteer With the temperature dropping, it's important to remember those who don't have a safe space to stay warm this winter. The Salvation Army’s Behind the Shield: Warming Stations is an incredible initiative working tirelessly to provide a warm, safe and clean space for the vulnerable this frigid winter. Let’s come together and support this worthy cause - consider helping them out today. More information here Contact (403) 410-1109 or email
Prison Ministry Volunteers We need more volunteers to serve during Liturgy of the Word and Rosary prayers in both Calgary Remand Centre and the Calgary Correctional Centre. For more information, visit our website at catholicyyc.ca/blog/prison-ministry-lay-volunteers or email Sr. Mariflor at
Mentor for young moms If you're a parent, you probably remember the support you needed when you were starting out with a new baby. Elizabeth House serves at-risk women and provides shelter, love, guidance & support systems. Help be a volunteer mentor to support young moms! Volunteering as a mentor for a young mom is your chance to walk alongside someone who's just starting on their own parenthood journey. For more information, contact Sarah at
Save the date: Pastoral Care Ministry training course in March
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 orthose previously trained in Pastoral Care Ministry.
Session 1: Friday, March 24 (7 to 9 pm) to Saturday, March 25 (9:30 am to 4 pm)
Session 2: Friday, March 31 (7 to 9 pm) to Saturday, April 1 (9:30 am to 4 pm)
Participants must be pre-approved by their Pastors and/orPastoral Care Coordinator. Please contact your parish forscreening requirement. To receive a certificate of completion, participants must attend both Part 1 and Part 2.
Location: Catholic Pastoral Centre (120 17 Ave SW, Calgary)
Registration Fee: $50/person (Covers training costs, lunch for both sessions, and refreshments). Fee should not be a deterrent. No one will be denied participation. Please contact Anthony to make other arrangements. PHONE 403-218-5521REGISTER BY MAR 15
Calgary Regional CWL organized Christmas stocking donations for Stardale. Consuelo Munar arranged delivery on Dec 14th. This is the response:
On behalf of Stardale, I would like my gratitude to each of you and all your teams that work with you to give the gifts for the Stardale girls. This is HUGE!
A few weeks back in circle, I brought up the topic of the pending Christmas season and asked what that looked like this year? For the women who work and volunteer at Stardale and who were listening to what the girls explained, I was told after how these women were worried as so many of the girls would receive little to nothing, in terms of gifts so they could at least have a meal together.
One of the little girls came over to me on Wed evening and asked me how come there is so many presents? My response is because “they love you”. She walked away smiling.
I was at a women’s retreat last evening at the FCJ Centre, the evening was contemplation on the advent season and that love is everything. I like one of the topics listed below and fits with my experience at Stardale.
“The universe unfolds in God, who fills it completely. Hence, there is a mystical meaning to be found in a leaf, in a mountain trail, in a dewdrop, in a poor person’s face. The ideal is not only to pass from the exterior to the interior to discover the action of God in the soul, but also to discover God in all things” Pope Francis
Giving in action and your charitable deeds for these young girls / women is something they will never forget.
Michaela ( Communications person) told me that she took over 600 photos. As soon as she has them sorted, we will send to you.
Blessings to all,
Helen
Helen McPhaden Executive Director Stardale Women’s Group Inc. (403)243-6615 Website: www.stardale.org Twitter: @stardalecharity
Oftentimes, while walking along, a song will come to mind which really seems to express how we are feeling. This is also true for the life of faith, which is a pilgrimage toward the light of the Risen Lord. The Sacred Scriptures are steeped in song, and the Psalms are a striking example: the prayers of the people of Israel were written to be sung, and it was in song that the most human events were presented before the Lord. The tradition of the Church has continued this, making music and song one of the lungs of its liturgy. The Jubilee, which in itself is expressed as an event of people on pilgrimage to the Holy Door, also uses song as one of the ways of expressing its motto, "Pilgrims of Hope."
Many themes of the Holy Year are woven into the text prepared by Pierangelo Sequeri and offered to the musical creativity of those who wish to participate in the International Competition for the Jubilee Hymn 2025. First of all, the motto, “Pilgrims of Hope”, is best echoed biblically in some pages from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 9 and Isaiah 60). The themes of creation, fraternity, God's tenderness and hope in our destination resonate in a language, which although not "technically" theological, is in substance and in the allusions, so that it rings eloquently in the ears of our time.
With each step of their daily pilgrimage believers trustingly rely on the source of Life. The song that arises spontaneously during the journey (cf. Augustine, Discourses, 256) is directed to God. It is a song charged with the hope of being freed and supported. It is a song imbued with the hope that it will reach the ears of the One from whom all things flow. It is God who as an ever-living flame keeps hope burning and energizes the steps of the people as they journey.
The prophet Isaiah repeatedly sees the family of men and women, sons and daughters, returning from their scattered ways, gathered in the light of God's Word: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Is 9:2). The light is that of the Son who became Man, Jesus, who by His own Word gathers every people and nation. It is the living flame of Jesus that stirs the step: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Is 60:1).
Christian hope is dynamic and enlightens the pilgrimage of life, revealing the faces of brothers and sisters, companions on the journey. It is not a roaming of lone wolves, but a journey of people, confident and joyful, moving toward a New destination. The breath of the Spirit of life does not fail to brighten the dawn of the future that is about to arise. The heavenly Father patiently and tenderly watches over the pilgrimage of his children and opens wide the Way for them, pointing to Jesus, his Son, who becomes a pathway for everyone.
The Seeds of the Word community invites you to an incredible and prayerful experience with the Word of God. To get their Lectio Divina journal for 2023, visit seedsoftheword.org/lectiodivina
The Airdrie Knights of Columbus Council 8045 have launched their sixth annual Airdrie Dream Vacation Lottery. The next early-bird draw is set for Valentine’s Day Feb. 14, 2023. Tickets can be purchased online at airdriedreamvacation.ca or after all masses on the weekend at St Paul’s Church. There will be a draw of $2500 dream vacation travel voucher each month starting in April 2023, plus four draws of $120 in cash. Airdrie Dream Vacation fundraiser will help these charities (PDF)
Please print the monthly Faithfully for distribution to members without access to digital devices, including those in your local health care or long term care facilities, and those who are shut-ins.
The Pastoral Ministry Office of the Diocese of Calgary is offering Transitions, 15-week peer led support group for individuals who are working through the pain of separation and divorce toward growth and new life.
Every Tuesday, from January 17, 2023 to April 25, 2023, from 7 pm to 9 pm at the Catholic Pastoral Centre (120 – 17th Avenue SW, Calgary)
Indigenous Pastoral and Lay Leader Ministry Education : Jan to Mar 2023
Jointly sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, St. Thomas More College, and Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, the online Indigenous Pastoral and Lay Leader Ministry Education program is led by teams of Indigenous and non-Indigenous instructors, modelling respectful and reconciling relationships.
This course: Indigenous-Settler Relationship will be held Jan. 10, 2023 to March 7, 2023, offered online from 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. MST (4:15 pm to 5:30 pm CST) on Tuesday afternoons. Registration is now open! Cost is $200 per course (some funding assistance available.) There is no-prerequisite required to take the course. (However, Directed Study is available to take concurrently for those who wish to complete the previous course). Those who complete all four courses will earn a ministry certificate.
The war in Ukraine rages on with no end in sight, claiming the lives of thousands of innocent children, men and women, with millions more on the move as refugees in search of safety, food, shelter, clothing and medicine, in addition to the destruction of countless homes, schools, hospitals and business. As winter approaches, hundreds of thousands of people will have no heat in their homes, with energy being used as a weapon of punishment.
Ukraine and its people are in crisis. Let us renew our efforts to pray, fast, and act. Together we can make a difference in the millions of lives of the children, men and women who are counting on us:
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has issued a Pastoral Letter to Young People in honour of the anniversary of the death of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first beatified millennial. This Pastoral Letter is meant to inspire young Catholics to live their faith in an extraordinary way, encouraging them to strive toward holiness, and assuring them of the steadfast support and accompaniment of their Bishops along their individual journeys of faith. This Pastoral Letter responds to the CCCB’s virtual conversations with over 200 young people from across Canada, between the ages 12 to 25, held in the fall of 2020.
The Letter can be used for individual reflection, as well as in group settings, such as parish or diocesan/eparchial youth groups, schools, families, ecclesial movements and associations, and faith-based communities. The Pastoral Letter may also serve as a tool and resource for pastoral coordinators, youth group leaders, teachers, and anyone who accompanies young people in the faith.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is releasing it’s President’s annual report to the members, highlighting major pastoral initiatives undertaken by the CCCB since the last plenary meeting, such as the Indigenous Delegation to the Vatican in March 2022, the Apostolic Visit of Pope Francis to Canada in July 2022, as well as in the areas of family and life, and Church’s ongoing journey toward the Synod on synodality.
Nigeria continues to suffer unrest and extremism, the International Catholic Migration Commission appeals to the UN's human rights council to work towards preserving the rights of all Nigerians. Read more
The first phase of the “Synod on Synodality,” listening at the diocesan level, has concluded. Synthesis Reports were prepared by each of Canada’s four Regional Episcopal Assemblies - Western, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic regions. These four regional reports were then received by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and used to draft a national synthesis, which has been submitted to the General Secretariat of the Synod of the Holy See on 15 August 2022.
We invite everyone to read the reports, which is the culmination of a sincere listening exercise that occurred in every diocese across the country.
All are invited to a monthly reflection on ministry with Fr. Timothy Boyle at St. Martha's Parish in Lethbridge. Reflection will be inspired by the teachings of Pope Francis. When: Tuesdays at 10:30 am, starting Sep. 20. Online participation via livestream will be available from St. Martha's Youtube Live page or visit StMarthasParish.ca
Thisis a unique 3-hour online course that promotes a renewed relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Canadians through transformative learning about truth and reconciliation. This workplace course provides the basic foundation on the relationship between Canada and Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC).
Smudging and Catholic Liturgy with Fr. Cristino Bouvette A debrief with Fr. Cristino Bouvette on the Papal Visit liturgies. We take a deep dive into the decisions made around the Papal liturgies and the elements of indigenous inculturation that happened, like smudging and praying in the four directions. Listen to podcast
The Holy Father said it was "a visit like no other."
“In fact, the main motivation was to meet the indigenous peoples to express to them my closeness and my sorrow, and to ask for forgiveness – to ask for forgiveness – for the harm done to them by those Christians, including many Catholics, who in. the past collaborated in the forced assimilation and enfranchisement* policies of the governments of the time.”
Repentance and reconciliation
Much analysis, the Pope suggested, "shows that, on the one hand, some men and women of the Church have been among the most decisive and courageous supporters of the dignity of the indigenous peoples, coming to their defence and contributing to raising awareness of their languages and cultures."
"But, on the other hand," he added, "there was unfortunately no shortage of those participated in programmes that today we understand are unacceptable and contrary to the Gospel."
In this sense, he reiterated, this visit was penitential, and even if there were many joyful moments, "the meaning and tone of the whole was one of reflection, repentance and reconciliation."
Many images captured Pope Francis' Penitential Pilgrimage to the land of the indigenous people, and offered a window onto the moments that put the focus on the path of healing and reconciliation of peoples who have greatly suffered and who today encounter a new face of the Church. Read more
Need to forgive or heal? Take these 4 reflections from the Pope in Canada Reconciliation is not merely the result of our own efforts; it is a gift that flows from the crucified Lord. The Holy Father offered an insightful reflection on reconciliation, the role of the Church, and how the faith must be shared. While his address was given in the context of his “penitential pilgrimage” to help heal the wounds caused by residential schools, the ideas apply for any situation that needs reconciliation. Read more
Tru Earth is a Canadian company working to reduce the use of plastic in everyday life. They are best known for Eco-Strips Laundry Detergent, a new and revolutionary eco-friendly detergent in strip form, that produces zero waste. One year’s supply of laundry strips fits in a small shoe box and replaces 9 plastic laundry bottles!
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Tru Earth's packaging uses zero plastic
Free shipping directly to your home anywhere in Canada or the US
Help make a sustainable environmental impact while supporting CWL. Check periodically for new products and special promotions.
Tru Earth’s fundraising program provides 20% of the sale to participating Councils (see below):
Use this link: https://fundraising.tru.earth/StPetersCWL to have 20% of your purchase go to St. Peter's CWL to support their work over the coming months. Many thanks!
Use this link, https://fundraising.tru.earth/CorpusChristi, to support Corpus Christi CWL. Please note on subscription purchases, we get paid on your initial purchase only, not on the automated following deliveries.
You can purchase any time you need. All orders have Free Shipping to the purchaser's home anywhere in Canada and the U.S.A.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to us via email and phone offering to assist in whatever way possible. We are overwhelmed and so grateful! Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to every individual inquiry and so encourage you to please check back here for updates regarding volunteering opportunities and donation opportunities. Thank you and may God bless you for your prayers and support during this difficult time.
Humanitarian Aid Shipments
As of today, the packing of boxes is complete and our second shipment of 206 boxes has left Calgary for Edmonton to join a flight heading to Ukraine on Monday March 28, 2022.
We extend a heartfelt thank you to all the generous individuals who participated in donating, packing boxes, and loading pallets; we could not do this without all your support.
We have notification that our first shipment of 51 boxes has arrived in L’viv Ukraine.
Anyone still wishing to support the Humanitarian Aid Collection for Ukraine can do so electronically via this website, via mail, or in person by visiting the church between 1 to 6 pm daily (including Sat & Sun). Alternatively, donations can be completed online through either of the following organizations, both of which have been vetted as trustworthy and ensure the best impact on the ground.
Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), a Papal Charity that has already been working with internally displaced people in Ukraine since 2014. Donations made through the Eparchy of Edmonton at https://eeparchy.com/donate are being dollar matched.
Canada Ukraine Foundation at www.cufoundation.ca, which supports the population of Ukraine impacted by Russian attacks.
Update at 4 PM on Monday, March 7 as per website of the Ukrainian Catholic Parish of CalgarySt Stephen Protomartyr:
We are now asking donors to hold off on donations of goods. One can still support the effort through cash donations to either of the following organizations, both of which have been vetted as trustworthy and ensure the best impact on the ground:
Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), a Papal Charity that has already been working with internally displaced people in Ukraine since 2014. Donations made through the Eparchy of Edmonton at https://eeparchy.com/donate/ are being dollar matched.
Canada Ukraine Foundation at www.cufoundation.ca, which supports the population of Ukraine impacted by Russian attacks.
The scope of this project is changing rapidly given the circumstances. We will continue to provide updates on our next steps in an effort to support the needs of the people in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Catholic Parishes of Calgary the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (704 6 St NE Calgary) and St Stephen Protomartyr (4903 – 45 Street, S.W., Calgary) are joining forces to send humanitarian aid to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. Items are urgently needed and MEEST will ship by AIR from Toronto to their warehouse in L’viv and distribute to various organizations within Ukraine who are distributing aid to where needed. Estimated 5-7 days arrival. Cash donations will be accepted to cover the $2 per kg shipping to Toronto.
You can participate by purchasing items Ukraine is in desperate need of and dropping off at the Ukrainian Catholic Churches.
Drop off dates and times: Saturday March 5th from 11 to 4 at St. Stephens and 1 to 5 pm at Assumption Sunday March 6th after each Divine Liturgy
We are requesting volunteers to come and assist with packing of boxes on Monday March 7th and Tuesday March 8th from Noon to 5 pm.
Priority Items for humanitarian relief: Please note only new items can be accepted for shipment
People across the globe are expressing solidarity with the people of Ukraine and calling for an end to the unprovoked Russian invasion. As women of faith and compassion, let us pray for our sisters and brothers whose lives, safety, and freedom are under attack. Let us lift our hearts and voices by praying for a peaceful end to this tragic conflict. Our collective prayers matter, so please contribute anytime and anywhere that works for you.
Lord God of peace, hear our prayer. Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts and give us the courage to say: "Never again war; with war everything is lost." Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation.
