International Exhibition of the Eucharistic Miracles of the World in Calgary

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church presents, The Eucharistic Miracles of the World: An International Exhibition Designed and Created by Bl. Carlo Acutis. The exhibit will be hosted in St. John the Evangelist Church (1423 8 Ave SE, Calgary) from Sunday, Nov. 21 to Saturday, Nov. 27. Click here to check exhibition schedule, or visit the Diocesan Calendar at catholicyyc.ca/news

​Pope's Prayer Intention - Nov. 2021

A study published this year estimates that about one in ten people worldwide lives with a mental health disorder—that is to say, about 792 million people, or 11% of the population. Among the various disorders that exist, the study identifies depression (264 million, 3%) and anxiety (284 million, 4%) as the most prevalent in people’s lives. The UN in turn warns that when depression is recurrent and moderate or severe in intensity, it can become a serious health condition. In the worst-case scenario, it can lead to suicide, which currently takes the lives of more than 700,000 people every year and is the fourth leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29.

Pope Francis has said that we need to fully overcome the stigma with which mental illness has often been branded in order to ensure that a culture of community prevails over the mentality of rejection. We are committed to following the Pope’s call to build a community of warmth and affection where people who live with depression and other mental health challenges can find hope and healing”.

“Let us pray that people who suffer from depression or burn-out will find support and a light that opens them up to life.” ~Pope Francis | November 2021 Prayer Intention

2021-2023 Synod on Synodality

People of God throughout ​the world are invited by the Holy Father and the Bishops to examine the way the Church has carried forward her work and mission in the world. 
​In the Diocese of Calgary, you will be able to participate in the Synod through your involvement in parish committees or groups, lay associations, Catholic schools, or online.
Get involved in the Synodal Process
We are in the early stages of the local Synodal process. For more information and to sign up for updates on the Synod on Synodality in our Diocese: catholicyyc.ca/synod

Vocation Seeds parish bulletin inserts

Serra's "Vocation Seeds" are timely parish bulletin inserts corresponding to the theme of the Sunday liturgy for the liturgical year (Cycle C). The Serra Club of Calgary - In Formation invites you to use this handy tool to plant vocation seeds in your parish every Sunday.
If you feel called by the Lord to support our seminarians and priests in a tangible way, consider becoming one of the founding members of the Serra Club of the Diocese of Calgary. Email serracalgary@gmail.com for more information or to sign up. All are welcome! ​
Metanoia youth group
Metanoia is a youth group at Ascension Catholic Parish in Calgary geared towards students in grade 9-12. The group is open to all youth in the diocese. When: Thursday evenings (Nov 25, Dec 9) from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. The first 20 minutes will be a large group catechesis; afterwards, we will split up into small groups to discuss the coming Sunday's gospel. They look forward to meeting with youth and growing in faith together. For more information, contact Ian at office@ascensionparish.ca

Christmas in Elizabeth House

There are two ways to support Elizabeth House this giving season: 
  1. Christmas gifts for Elizabeth House's residents. Bring a joyful Christmas to the residents of Elizabeth Hose and fulfil their wish list. As in previous years, donors will be matched with a family and would receive a wish list from them. This year the limit is $500 per family for gifts, and items must be new. Alternatively, you can donate directly to the house in any amount. Items are to be dropped off at the Catholic Pastoral Centre on December 18 between 1-3 pm, but alternate arrangements can be made. Tax receipts will be provided for donations more than $20 as long as you fill out the gift in kind form and have receipts. If you would like to be part of this year’s campaign, please email Ariel LeClair at Elizabeth.house@calgarydiocese.ca by Nov. 25 to arrange donation.
     
  2. Double your donation! Starting now to Dec. 20, your donation to Elizabeth house will be doubled by one generous Calgary couple, up to $25,000! Double your donation to Elizabeth House by giving online at: elizabethhousecalgary.ca/donation-form For cheque, please make it payable to Elizabeth House and you can mail it to Catholic Pastoral Centre at 120 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2T2 | 

Did you know that in 2021, your generous donations helped Elizabeth House housed 11 pregnant and parenting women between the ages of 16-30 who would otherwise be homeless? It also helped increased outreach efforts and provided support for 85 single mother families in total, including outreach efforts (that is 170 women and children!). 

Elizabeth House provides much more than housing! They support pregnant and parenting young women to gain assistance for financial barriers, domestic violence, substance use recovery, mental health, basic needs, continuing education, building relationships, in addition to pregnancy and parenting.  

Advent Missions & Retreats

  • All Saints Parish Advent Mission | Assumption Church, Lethbridge & also livestreamed at allsaintslethbridge.org at 7 pm to 8 pm
    • Dec. 1 - The Garden and the Promise with Fr. Kevin Tumback
    • Dec. 8 - God’s Promise with Michael Chiasson & Fr. Kevin Tumback
    • Dec. 15 - Rebellion with Fr. Kevin Tumback
    • Dec. 22 - Redemption with Fr. Kevin Tumback
       
  • Rejoice in the Lord Always: 33 hours of Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation  | St. Mary's Cathedral. To celebrate the third Sunday of Advent: Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday, everyone is invited to St Mary’s Cathedral to spend 33 continuous hours in Eucharistic Adoration and the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation starting Friday Dec. 10 at the 7:30 am Mass and concluding on Saturday, Dec 11 at the 5 pm Mass. For more information, please visit https://www.stmaryscalgary.ca | Download graphic
     
  • Advent Mission with Fr. Max Oliva SJ | Holy Spirit Parish, Calgary. When: Mon, Dec. 6 to 9. Mornings (9:30 am), Evenings (7:30 pm). In this 2021 Advent Mission, Fr. Max Oliva will guide us on how we can become a person of mercy. During the sessions, we will have questions for reflection and discussion to help us discern how God calls us to extend mercy to others, and to ourselves. 
     
  • Advent Mission with Bishop Emeritus Frederick Henry | St. Joseph's Parish, Calgary. When: Sunday, Dec. 12 to 14, at 7 pm to 8 pm. 
    • Dec. 12 - St. Francis and the word of Gubbio: Make me an instrument of your peace
    • Dec. 13 - The willing witness of St. John the Baptist: The Benedictus
    • Dec. 14 - Mary - The Mercy of God Becomes Flesh: The Magnificat 
       
  • Advent at the Retreat Centres
    • FCJ Centre, Calgary
      Advent fireside gathering on Dec. 1 at 6:30 pm to 8 pm; Taize Prayer of Light on Dec. 3 at 7 pm; Deck the Halls of our Hearts: A family event in preparation for Christmas on Dec. 18 from 1:30 pm to 4 pm; Full listing here
    • Mount St. Francis, Cochrane
      Advent twilight retreat on Nov. 30 and Dec. 15 at 6 pm to 9 pm; Advent retreat with Br. Michael on Dec. 3-5; Winter Stillness Retreat on Dec. 10-12; Greccio: A St. Francis Christmas Pageant on Dec. 12 - virtual event | More info and full listing here 
    • Martha Centre, Lethbridge
      Advent twilight retreat on Dec. 6 at 4:45 pm to 9 pm. More info and full listing here ​

Prison Ministry Lay Volunteers

We are looking for new male and female volunteers for Bible study and rosary programs for both the Remand Centre and the Calgary Correctional Centre.
 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.
  • If you are interested in being considered for prison ministry in Calgary, please email Sr. Mariflor Jacob Mariflor.Jacob@calgarydiocese.ca for the Volunteer Information form. To complete the application, fill-out the form and return to Sr. Mariflor.  

Year Amoris Laetitia Family

The gratuitous dimension of love

Pope Francis: "Love always gives life. Spousal love is not exhausted within the couple, but generates a family. Parents’ love is the means by which God shows His love. He awaits the birth of every baby. He accepts and welcomes each child as they are".
Through a series of videos, the Holy Father, with the help of several families, invites us to journey together to rediscover the value and beauty of the family. Each video is accompanied by a guide that can be used flexibly either by families or by various ecclesial realities (dioceses, parishes, communities). 
In this video, the Holy Father speaks to us of the fruitfulness of conjugal love.
​

Year of St. Joseph

​With the Apostolic Letter Patris corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis recalls the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the Holy Father has proclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph” from Dec. 8, 2020, to Dec. 8, 2021. Read more
  • Read Patris corde (With a Father's heart) here
The Apostolic Penitentiary also issued a decree granting special indulgences for the duration of the special year to celebrate the anniversary and “to perpetuate the entrustment of the whole Church to the powerful patronage of the Custodian of Jesus.” Conditions for the plenary indulgence:
  • The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions) to Christians who, with a spirit detached from any sin, participate in the Year of St. Joseph on these occasions and manners indicated by the Apostolic Penitentiary:
  • The plenary indulgence is granted to those who will meditate for at least 30 minutes on the Lord’s Prayer, or take part in a Spiritual Retreat of at least one day that includes a meditation on St. Joseph. “St. Joseph, an authentic man of faith, invites us”, the decree reads, “to rediscover our filial relationship with the Father, to renew fidelity to prayer, to listen and correspond with profound discernment to God’s will.”
  • The indulgence can also be obtained by those who, following St. Joseph’s example, will perform a spiritual or corporal work of mercy. St. Joseph “encourages us to rediscover the value of silence, prudence and loyalty in carrying out our duties,” the decree notes.
  • The recitation of the Holy Rosary in families and among engaged couples is another way of obtaining indulgences, in order that “all Christian families may be stimulated to recreate the same atmosphere of intimate communion, love and prayer that was in the Holy Family.”
  • Everyone who entrusts their daily activity to the protection of St. Joseph, and every faithful who invokes the intercession of St. Joseph so that those seeking work can find dignifying work can also obtain the plenary indulgence. On 1 May 1955, Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of St. Joseph “with the intent that the dignity of work be recognized by all, and that it inspires social life and laws, based on the fair distribution of rights and duties.”
  • The plenary indulgence is also granted to the faithful who will recite the Litany to St. Joseph (for the Latin tradition), or the Akathistos to St. Joseph (for the Byzantine tradition), or any other prayer to St. Joseph proper to the other liturgical traditions, for the persecuted Church ad intra and ad extra, and for the relief of all Christians suffering all forms of persecution. Because, the decree notes, “the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt shows us that God is there where man is in danger, where man suffers, where he runs away, where he experiences rejection and abandonment.”

Faithfully print edition | November 2021

As promised, Faithfully is available monthly as a printable edition (curated and compact) for those without access to the digital edition. 
Bishop McGrattan has heard from parishioners from various parishes the issue of not having access to Faithfully, and access to digital devices. Please print for distribution to parishioners in your local health care facilities, long term care or those who are shut-ins, and those without access to digital devices. 
Click here for a quick glance at formed.org

We are the body of Christ, nourished by the Eucharist, joyfully committed to living the Gospel message, and working together to share our gifts.

316 Windermere Drive,
Chestermere, AB T1X 0B9

​Phone:  1(403) 455 0196
Fax:  1(403) 455 0335
​Email:  office@saintgabrielparish.ca
​
 Our Weekend Masses Are:

Address:   197 Invermere Drive, 
Chestermere AB T1X 1M7

Saturday:  5:00 PM
Sunday:     9:00 AM
​Sunday:     10:30AM
Bulletin

    Enter your email and we will send you our parish bulletin
Resources
The Holy See
Mount St. Francis Retreat Center
Catholic Diocese of Calgary
CCCB
Saint Gabriel School
Our Lady of Wisdom School