Feast of Our Lady of Fatima - May 13

The Diocese of Calgary invites you to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima on Thursday, May 13, 2021 with your community. The message of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima is an urgent call to conversion of heart, penance and repentance. Please consider joining these events: 
  1. Mater Fatima for the World - Mass & Worldwide Rosary
    On May 13, Colombia will host the worldwide rosary, which will be held at the National Marian Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquira, the Patron Saint of Colombia. The worldwide rosary will be held within the framework of the 450th anniversary of the Battle of Lepanto's victory, in which the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima heard the appeal made by the Church and the people. Holy Mass, Exposition, Rosary, Consecration to Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and Procession will be livestreamed starting at 10 am (Calgary time). Livestream links: Youtube | Facebook Live 
     
  2. Our Lady of Fatima Parish - Mass & Rosary
    On May 13, Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Calgary invites all the faithful to participate in the day's celebration through Mass and Rosary at 6 pm. Livestream links: Facebook Live or watch on TELUS Optik TV Ch. 877

A message from Bishop McGrattan

Bishop McGrattan urges us to be vigilant in protecting our religious freedom, and to not forget that many of our brothers and sisters continue to face much more violent opposition for the living and witnessing of their faith around the world.

Read Bishop's latest message as published in April's edition of Faithfully: Witnessing to the faith at all cost
​

Hike for Life

Calgary Pro-Life Association is grateful for the support they received during last year's Virtual Hike for Life celebrating more than 40 years serving Calgary schools offering educational, respect-life presentations. Your support have allowed them to present the two educational, life-affirming Respect Life programs to students in grades 4 - 9 by Zoom, virtually, in school classrooms. Currently the Calgary Pro-Life Association is gearing up for the 41st Annual Hike For Life. Promo video

​SAVE THE DATE for the 41st Annual Hike For Life campaign. When: May 1 to June 4, 2021. Goal: $40,000. For more information or to register, click here

Stations of the Resurrection

The Stations of the Light is a spiritual journey with Christ through fourteen of the most inspiring events of His post-Resurrection life on earth. In the early Church this practice was known as the Via Lucis, or Way of the Resurrection. It invites participants to walk along a path of transforming joy by following in the footsteps of the Risen Christ and his friends.

Find resources for praying Via Lucis individually or with your family on our website: catholicyyc.ca/blog/stations-of-the-light

Widening the Circle - FCJ Bicentennial

A message from the Faithful Companions of Jesus Sisters: 
Join us virtually, at the FCJ Christian Life Centre in Calgary, in the global tribute of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Society of the Sisters, Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ). Let's honour the service and contributions of FCJ Sisters to the city of Calgary and Southern Alberta since 1885. You will be delighted with the engaging entertainment, testimonials, prizes and fundraising activities. Details here
When: May 16, 2021 at 3 pm to 5 pm
Livestream link: fcjcentre.ca/bicentennial

Pentecost with CCCRS

Calgary Catholic Charismatic Renewal Society (CCCRS) invites you to prepare and celebrate Pentecost this year with the following prayer events: 
  • Novena to the Holy Spirit - Online 
    Join 9 days of Novena with CCCRS, priests, prayer groups and Catholic communities around the Diocese. When: May 13 to May 21, 2021, starts at 6:30 pm. For more details and to join Zoom meetings, click here
    • May 13 – Humility against pride with Fr Jarek Dziuba 
    • May 14 – Kindness against envy with Fr. Rodel Abanto 
    • May 15 – Abstinence against gluttony with Fr. Gabriel Arihi
    • May 16 – Chastity against lust with Fr. Ben Croix
    • May 17 – Patience against anger with Fr. Julian Studden
    • May 18 – Generosity against greed with Fr. Shibu Kallarakkal
    • May 19 – Diligence against sloth with Deacon Norm Dumais
    • May 20 – Holiness, a call to repentance with Fr. Jerry D’Souza
    • May 21 – Rejoice in Hope with Fr. Cristino Bouvette 
       
  • Pentecost Vigil Mass, Eucharistic Adoration & Reflection 
    When: Saturday, May 22 at 7 pm (Mass with Bishop McGrattan), followed by Eucharistic Adoration and reflection. Registration is required for those attending in person. To register, contact Beata at 403-397-6124 or email beatabanka@shaw.ca. If you are not able to attend, watch livestreams with these links (Mass | Eucharistic Adoration and Reflection) ​

Wanted: ASL interpreters

St. Anthony's Parish in Calgary is looking for ASL Interpreters to sign for their livestreamed Sunday Mass at 10:30 am. This Mass is being broadcasted to Facebook and Telus Optik TV ch. 877 (St. Anthony's Parish sub channel). 

Interpreters can sign at the Mass in-person, or virtually from a remote location. As per the guideline from Deaf and Hearing Alberta, there will be an honorarium of $120 for each Mass. Those who are interested can send their information to secretary@stanthonysyyc.ca ​

Ethical concerns related to COVID vaccines

In case you missed it: Here is the latest note from the CCCB on ethical concerns related to currently approved COVID-19 vaccines - shared by Bishop McGrattan for all the faithful. Read note here

Feed the Hungry - 25k to go

We have raised over $142,000 in pledges, with $25,000 to go! 

Thanks to the generous support of the Bishop’s Dinner sponsors, we are well on our way to serving over 15 thousands guests this year through Feed the Hungry program. The annual Bishop's Dinner is a little different this year. With so many of our community members facing food insecurity, we have redirected our efforts to provide care packages to those in need. Feed the Hungry has been providing “curbside-pickup” care packages to around 300 guests every Sunday since the beginning of the pandemic, being unable to host the weekly sit-down dinner. 

Donations to Feed the Hungry through the Birdies for Kids website are matched up to 50%! Donate now using this link https://shawcharityclassic.com/donatenow/  
 Donate now through #Birdies4Kids
Other ways to help Feed the Hungry:   

1. Sponsor a Sunday.  Each dinner costs about $6000, and we're seeking donors to help us meet our goal of getting every Sunday covered. Reserve your Sunday(s) here
2. Provide items to cover 300 food bundles, including store-bought and individually wrapped sandwiches, fruit, snacks or bottles of water. Contact us at feedthehungry@calgarydiocese.ca  ​
​Thank you for joining Bishop McGrattan by donating to Feed the Hungry.

Elizabeth House & #Birdies4Kids

Do you want to make a bigger impact with your donation to Elizabeth House?  Donation gifted to Elizabeth House through #Birdies4Kids are matched up to 50%!  

CCCB responds to Bill C-7

Canada’s Catholic bishops have issued a forceful condemnation of the country’s new assisted suicide law, saying the possible pressures it will place on Canadians with mental illness or disabilities are “all too real, perilous, and potentially destructive.” Read review

Below is the link to CCCB's message to the faithful on euthanasia and assisted suicide. The message was prompted by and responds to the passage of Bill C-7 into law on 17 March 2021, which expands the eligibility criteria within Canada’s “MAiD” legislation.  Note that Bishop William McGrattan and Bishop Noël Simard serve as CCCB spokepersons in this matter. 
 ​

Development and Peace

Development and Peace (The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, or D&P) is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada and the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis. Development and Peace is a membership led organization supported by parish collections, individual donations and government grants, principally from Global Affairs Canada.

For over 50 years, Development and Peace has supported 15,200 local initiatives in fields such as agriculture, education, community action as well as the consolidation of peace and advocacy for human rights in 70 countries. Inspired by Gospel values and in particular the preferential option for the poor, Development & Peace is to support the actions of people in the Global South so that they can take control of their destiny and educate Canadians on issues related to North-South imbalance.

Representing the Western Region in the Development and Peace National Council is Bishop William McGrattan. Read more about the National Council for Development and Peace here.

We are excited to announce that you can now give directly to Development and Peace-Caritas Canada from the Diocese of Calgary's Giving page at catholicyyc.ca/donatednp

We ask that you consider joining Development & Peace in their work for the poor and vulnerable.

Year Amoris Laetitia Family

Through a series of 10 videos, beginning with the chapters of the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, the Holy Father, with the help of several families, invites us to journey together to rediscover the family as a gift, despite every problem, obstacle and challenge that families have to face today.
 
In the first video “Walking Together” Pope Francis and a family share about the beauty of being a family and how each person is called to lovingly care for the life of the family.  Never a problem, families are always a gift and, in terms of the future, they are an opportunity. Each video is accompanied by a guide that can be used either by families or by groups within the parish. The objective is to nurture reflection, dialogue and pastoral practice and, at the same time, to provide encouragement, stimulus and help to families in their spiritual and concrete daily lives. 
 
Information on the Year of Amoris Laetitia can be accessed here. ​

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.”

February Edition of Faithfully

​The February edition of Faithfully was released last Thursday, on Feb. 11. This month, Faithfully is featuring the Bishop's Lenten message, faith stories from those who are sick and their carers, Catholic schools advocates, and stories highlighting the month of the Holy Family.
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
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