Beware of scams

Please be vigilant: Our bishops, priests, deacons, and religious do not request gift cards or cash through emails or texts. If you receive such requests, they are highly likely to be a scam. Protect yourself by ignoring these messages, and do not respond. For the safety of our community, report any suspicious activities to the parish office. Your awareness and action can help prevent these scams from spreading.

 

Safe Environment Policy

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops released a Safe Environment Policy to protect children and everyone from sexual abuse in the church: Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse: A Call to the Catholic Faithful in Canada for Healing, Reconciliation, and Transformation. Read the document here. 


Break the cycle of silence. You can choose to talk about it and report abuse. The Diocese of Calgary has launched a Safe Environment web page. Talk to someone you trust or call the toll-free number at 1-833-547-8360.


 

Click on the names in blue to go to their website:

The Vatican

 

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary


CWL:

World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations

Catholic Women's League of Canada

  • National Voluntary Funds constitute monies forwarded by councils through national office for disbursement annually to the appropriate agencies, Parish Councils complete the National Voluntary Fund Remittance Form indicating which funds they wish to support, and forward it to national office with a cheque made out to The Catholic Women's League of Canada. A copy of this form is to be sent to the diocesan treasurer for her information.
    • Permanent Voluntary Funds: these agencies are permanently assisted by donations received from members and councils of the Catholic Women's League of Canada.

      • Coady International Institute of St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia was founded by Dr Moses Coady who gave leadership to the Antigonish Movement which promotes the ideal that by learning and working together, men and women become "masters of their own destinies".  Coady offers a six-month diploma program designed for leaders engaged in the development of people-based organizations in developing countries. The students, ranging in age from 25 to 45, are persons employed with public and private sector organizations engaged in human and international development. All students sign a commitment to return to their country of origin upon completion of the program, and are required to undertake a Diploma Study Project that relates the student's work at home to Coady's formal training.

      • Canadian Catholic Organization for Development & Peace (CCODP) established in 1967 is Canada's official Catholic overseas development organization launched by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. CCODP has helped support projects such as grassroots community development, literacy programs, mother and child health care, skills training, agricultural programs and emergency relief. CCODP also supports educational programs, helping make Canadians more aware of the problems and goals of people in developing countries. CCODP's primary source of funds is the yearly "Share-Lent" campaign, Canadian International Development Agency and donations from individuals and groups. Since 1969, the CWL has encouraged its members to support the 1% program. Brochures are available free of charge from National office.
      • Catholic Missions In Canada (CMIC) - CWL Mission Partners Fund raises funds to provide missionaries with the tools they need to catechize throughout 24 Mission dioceses found within Canada. CWL Mission Partners, in conjuction with the League, supports six religious education programs. The fund established at CWL National Convention 2001. Learn about the Day of Prayer for Canadian Home Missions.


      • Catholic Near East Welfare Association
        (CNEWA aka Velma's Dream) raises funds to support Eastern Catholic churches by building up the church, affirming human dignity and alleviating poverty, encouraging dialogue and inspiring hope.
  • National CWL Facebook page

Alberta Mackenzie Provincial CWL


Diocesan Voluntary Fund

Calgary Diocesan CWL Councils:

  1. Airdrie – St. Paul
  2. Allerston – St. Isidore  
  3. Beiseker – St. Mary
  4. Bow Island – St. Michael
  5. Brooks – St. Mary
  6. Calgary – Ascension Parish
  7. Calgary – Corpus Christi #10
  8. Calgary – Holy Name
  9. Calgary – Holy Spirit
  10. Calgary – Holy Trinity
  11. Calgary -- Sacred Heart
  12. Calgary – St. Albert The Great
  13. Calgary – St. Bernadette
  14. Calgary – St. Bonaventure
  15. Calgary – St. Cecilia
  16. Calgary – St. Gerard
  17. Calgary – St. Joseph
  18. Calgary – St. Luke
  19. Calgary – St. Mark
  20. Calgary – St. Mary’s Cathedral
  21. Calgary – St. Michael’s
  22. Calgary – St. Patrick
  23. Calgary – St. Peter
  24. Calgary – St. Pius X #25
  25. Calgary – St. Thomas More
  26. Chestermere – St. Gabriel
  27. Coaldale – St.  Ambrose
  28. Drumheller – St. Anthony’s
  29. Foremost  – Our Lady of Perpetual Help
  30. Fort Macleod – Holy Cross
  31. Hanna – St. George
  32. High River – St. Francis de Sales                
  33. Lethbridge – Our Lady of the Assumption
  34. Lethbridge – St. Basil
  35. Lethbridge – St. Martha
  36. Medicine Hat – Holy Family
  37. Medicine Hat – St. Patrick’s      
  38. Milk River – St. Peter
  39. Okotoks – St. James     
  40. Picture Butte – St. Catherine
  41. Pincher Creek – St. Michael
  42. Rockyford – St. Rita
  43. Strathmore – Sacred Heart
  44. Taber – St. Augustine
  45. Vulcan – St. Andrew     


 

Scams Alert

There are many scams going around masquerading as your clergy (priests, deacons or even the bishop).

Please exercise caution when responding to email messages.  If you receive unusual emails, check the sender's email address to see whether it is the person’s genuine address. Even if the sender's address looks correct, always verify suspicious emails by phoning the sender. There have been many similar scams reported by several parishes in our diocese and across Canada. 

Note that these scams do not stop at emails. Those in social media should stay vigilant when responding to friend requests or to other compelling posts requiring a response. There are many fake Twitter, Facebook and other social media accounts trying to impersonate people you know and our church leaders. Some scammers may take the time to build a relationship with you to gain your trust, before trying to extort money or other things like gift cards.

Please exercise vigilance when you are being charitable. Use the channels you are most familiar with and avoid becoming victims of a scam.

 

For samples of scam emails see Diocese of Calgary


 

Support your Parish

Our faith community needs us. Please remember to keep supporting your parish with weekly or recurring donations. If you are not using offering envelopes at this time, you can support the parish through online giving, either on your parish's website or on the Diocese of Calgary website.

The online giving page on the Diocese of Calgary website allows you to set up a one-time or recurring donation to your parish. All funds donated will be transferred to the selected parish. See https://www.catholicyyc.ca/give or go directly to https://www.catholicyyc.ca/donatetoparish.html