Text Size

Writing the Mandylion

The Sacred Arts Guild of Alberta (SAGA) is thrilled to share an upcoming workshop with Fr. Damian Higgins, the Abbot of a Ukrainian Catholic monastery in northern California, under the title of Holy Transfiguration and commonly known as the Monks of Mt. Tabor.
 
This will be a five day workshop writing the Mandylion, between Sat. Aug. 8 - Thurs. Aug. 13, 2026, from 9:30AM - 5:00PM at St. Stephen Protomartyr Ukrainian Catholic Church. The cost includes all materials. Beginner to experienced iconography writers are welcome.
 
This will be a very popular workshop, so please register at https://www.sacredartsguildofalberta.com/mandylionwfrdamian to secure your spot. 
 

 

Career and Volunteer Opportunities

Diocese

Parishes

For detailed job descriptions and application process, visit our Careers page

Other

Volunteer

Volunteer Screening

 

 

Clergy Personnel Assignments

January 28, 2026

PRIEST Leaving the Diocese

Rev. Edward Anthonipillai, OFM, assigned as Associate Pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, Cochrane, and served at Mount Saint Francis Retreat Centre has returned to Sri Lanka, effective January 20, 2026.

RETIREMENT

Bishop McGrattan has announced the retirement of Msgr. Noel Farman, currently Pastor of Ste. Famille Parish, Calgary effective October 1, 2025. We are grateful for Msgr. Noel's devoted priestly service and hold him in our prayers with best wishes. 

The Diocese of Calgary is grateful for their service, and extends our prayers and best wishes.

 

PRIEST Apointments

  • Rev. Joung Ho Sin, “Fr. Benedict”, from the Archdiocese of Daegu, South Korea, has been appointed Pastor of St. Anne’s Korean Parish, Calgary, effective February 1, 2026. 
  • Rev. Anthony Ngwaba, from the Diocese of Aba, Nigeria, has been appointed to Hospital Chaplaincy, Calgary, effective February 1, 2026 and will be in residence at Sacred Heart Rectory, Calgary, beginning February 15, 2026.
  • Rev. Kelvin Chukwurah, currently Associate Pastor of St. Michael’s Parish, Calgary, has been appointed Administrator of St. Mary’s Parish, Brooks, effective March 1, 2026 and will be in residence at the parish beginning February 15, 2026.
  • Rev. Andrew Obinyan, currently in Hospital Chaplaincy, Calgary, has been appointed Associate Pastor of St. Michael’s Parish, Calgary, effective February 15, 2026.

LEAVE of ABSENCE

  • Rev. Eligio Canete, currently Pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, Brooks, has been granted a leave of absence from March 1 to July 1, 2026.

PRIEST Assignments

  • Rev. Andrew Obinyan, in addition to being the Associate Pastor of St. Michael’s Parish, Calgary, has been appointed Spiritual Advisor to the Calgary Catholic Charismatic Renewal Society (CCCRS), effective February 1, 2026.

DEACON Pastoral Assignments

  • Deacon Patrick Woo, currently serving at Ascension Parish, Calgary, has been appointed to Holy Name Parish, Calgary, effective February 1, 2026.
  • Deacon Andrew Ross, currently serving at St. Joseph Parish, Calgary, has been appointed to Ascension Parish, Calgary, effective February 1, 2026

 

Jubilee Year of Saint Francis of Assisi

Entering the Year of St. Francis

 From Jan 10, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027, the Church marks a special Jubilee Year of Saint Francis of Assisi on the 800th anniversary of his death. During this year, the faithful may obtain a plenary indulgence by fulfilling the usual conditions (confession, Communion, prayer for the Holy Father, detachment from sin) and engaging in acts inspired by the Franciscan spirit, such as pilgrimage, prayer, works of charity, and humble service.

This Jubilee invites not only celebration, but a deeper imitation of St. Francis through a Gospel life lived simply, faithfully, and daily.

 

Marriage Enrichment Workshops

The Diocese of Calgary invites engaged and married couples to a series of marriage enrichment workshops beginning on Thursday, Jan 22 at 7 pm, at the Catholic Pastoral Centre.

Join Bill & Tracy Tomiak as participants explore communication styles, strengths and weaknesses within their relationship, and skill-building for strong communication in marriage. Bill and Tracy have been married for 35 years and have five adult children, four sons-in-law, and five grandchildren. Bill is the Executive Director of Clear Water Academy with a background in conflict resolution and team development. Tracy is a counselling therapist in Calgary with a passion for strengthening communication and conflict resolution in couples and families.

For more info on the workshops and to register, click here. You can also contact 403-218-5521 or email

 

St. Mary’s Cathedral formation

Registration Required! To plan our breakfast we need to know who is attending in advance, so we do not have too much or too little food. Contact Carol by text to 403 796 3601 or by email.

 

Gaza Emergency

September 18, 2025

Since it began its attacks, Israel has allowed food into Gaza only intermittently. This has caused a full-blown famine, that is spreading across the Strip. Over 2 million Gazans now live in constant fear, not knowing when they will eat!

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has called humanitarian aid in Gaza “a matter of life and death.”

Through it all, our partner Caritas Jerusalem, the official humanitarian arm of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, has remained a beacon of hope for the people of Gaza. Over 125 of its staff are braving starvation and risking life and limb to reach and serve the people.

I invite you to make a donation to support Caritas Jerusalem so that it can continue providing lifesaving aid, including food, water, sanitation and hygiene supplies; psychosocial support; and health care

Thank you for bringing the light of Christ to the darkest places in the Holy Land. 

 

Threats to charitable status designation

On Fri, Sep 12, 2025, CCCB President Bishop William T. McGrattan sent a letter to the federal Minister of Finance regarding potential threats to the charitable status of pro-life centres and organizations that promote religion. This follows an earlier letter from the Permanent Council on Mar 8, 2025, to which no response was received.

On Monday, 10 March 2025, the members of the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) expressed their grave concern regarding two recommendations made by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance within Report 21: Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2025 Budget. These recommendations (#429 and #430), if adopted, would be profoundly detrimental to Canada’s charitable sector, because they would:

  • Revoke the charitable status of “anti-abortion organizations” (#429);
  • Amend the Income Tax Act such that “the advancement of religion” would no longer qualify as a legitimate purpose for granting charitable status. (#430)

After consulting widely, including with experts in charity law, the members of the Permanent Council sent a letter to the Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Finance, defending the value and role of faith-based charities for Canadian society, as well as the unfairness of targeting pro-life organizations. They urged the government to abandon the two recommendations and to conduct comprehensive consultations within the charitable sector before embarking on any legislative changes that could threaten the viability of charitable organizations and adversely affect the millions of Canadians who depend on them for essential services and support.

Letters were sent to:

For the French version, visit: 

 

Towards Wellbeing

Towards Wellbeing: Mental Wholeness in Church, Person, and Community is a new study guide from the Canadian Council of Churches. Rooted in Scripture and Christian teaching, it offers practical insights for pastoral care and parish life, and includes reflection questions for groups and individuals.

Learn more and download the guide

 

Sacred Fire Stories

Sacred Fire Stories: A Testament to Reconciliation

The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) are pleased to share Sacred Fire Stories, a short film highlighting Indigenous-led healing initiatives that preserve language, celebrate culture, and support education. This powerful film showcases the real impact of reconciliation in action.

Alongside the film, the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund Annual Report 2024 is now available, detailing the progress of over 200 projects supported by $18.9 million in funds raised since 2022. 

For more information, visit irfund.ca or contact

Social Media

Pastoral Letter on the Use of Social Media

On this one-year anniversary of the publication of the Pastoral Letter on the use of social media, “Let Your Speech Always be Gracious,” authored by the Episcopal Commission of Justice and Peace, here is a new CCCB video series and other resources to help readers – individually or in group settings – to unpack the rich pastoral and moral insights of the Pastoral Letter more fully.

The video series and resources are located at Pastoral Letter on the Use of Social Media.

Let your speech always be gracious

Pastoral Letter on the roles of social media in modern life was recently issued by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). It offers a reflection on both the good and harm which social media impacts individuals and communities. As we prepare for Lent, it may inform our decisions around fasting and of almsgiving related to our use of social media.

Using insights from the latest CCCB pastoral letter, "Let Your Speech Always be Gracious," and the Holy Father's Lenten message, Bishop McGrattan highlights the seven commitments we should make to witness to core Christian values and help build a healthy online environment that serves the common good. 

 

 

 

Report gives voice to Canada's Indigenous Christians

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