Sunday of the Word of God - Jan 24

Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter, Motu proprio Aperuit illis, published on September 30, 2019 establishes that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (January 24, 2021) is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God. 

Please read the letter from The Canadian Bible Society who offers their full support for this inspiring initiative. The Canadian Bible Society have several excellent Catholic editions of the Bible available in a wide range of languages and approved translations, resources for the Sunday Lectionary Gospel of Mark, as well as Lectio Divina and other devotional tools.  
  • Sunday of the Word of God resources from the Canadian Bible Society
  • Note from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on the Word of God Sunday. The note highlights opportunities and practical suggestions for the Word of God Sunday celebration. Read here in English | French 
  • How to enthrone the Bible in your home? See leaflet here
  • Word of God Sunday Liturgical Suggestions - Download here
  • Current online offering of formation and events on scripture:
    • The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz (following the Great Adventure Bible Timeline with Jeff Cavins) - currently #1 in podcasts top chart. Tune in
    • The WORD 2021 International Catholic Bible Summit (Feb. 11-13) with speakers: Fr Mike Schmitz, Scott Hahn, Chris Stefanick etc. Learn more
    • Daily Lectio Divina with the Sisters of the Seeds of the Words in Calgary! This is a daily program, every morning at 7:30 am. Tune in via YouTube
    • Find more online scripture program/courses here 

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

​The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated around the world on January 18-25. 

The 2021 theme – Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit (John 15:5-9) – calls us to pray and to work for reconciliation and unity in the church, with our human family, and with all of creation. Drawing on the Gospel image of vine and branches, it invites us to nourish unity with God and with one another through contemplative silence, prayer, and common action. Grafted into Christ the vine as many diverse branches, may we bear rich fruit and create new ways of living, with respect for and communion with all of creation.The importance of unity among Christians and the responsibility of the people of each parish to work for this unity should be emphasized throughout the week. All members of the parish should seek to have a deeper understanding of ecumenism. 
  • A resource kit containing program materials for the Week of Prayer adapted to Canadian context is available from https://www.weekofprayer.ca/2021-wpcu-resources  This resource kit contains practical suggestions on prayers or activities for parishes, families, schools and campus ministries for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the 2021 theme.
  • Event poster template for parish/school/campus events Download 
  • Save the date: An Evening Service of Prayer will be held on Wednesday, Jan 20 at 7 pm, and livestreamed via Ascension Catholic Church's livestream link. More information will be shared next week. 

World Day of the Sick - Feb. 11

"The celebration of the XXIX World Day of the Sick on 11 February 2021, the liturgical memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes, is an opportunity to devote special attention to the sick and to those who provide them with assistance and care both in healthcare institutions and within families and communities. We think in particular of those who have suffered, and continue to suffer, the effects of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic." ~ Pope Francis.

The theme of this year’s message is “You have but one teacher and you are all brothers" (Mt 23:8), which encourages a trust-based relationship with the sick and the nurturing of integral human healing. Please find here some resources for the World Day of the Sick (Feb. 11) this year:
  • Pope Francis' Message for the XXIX World Day of the Sick - English | French
  • Some themes for our reflection on World Day of the Sick - Download 
  • Liturgical notes for World Day of the Sick in the Diocese of Calgary - Download
  • World Day of the Sick resources (prayers, petitions, graphic/poster etc.) will be shared as they become available
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)

We would also like to direct your attention to the updated Bill C-7 webpage, and ask that you continue to pray and voice your concern on MAiD. "May our Lord both inspire and bring to accomplishment our efforts to embrace and protect the suffering and vulnerable, and to honour and uphold our rights and freedoms." ~ AB & NWT Bishops See webpage  
  • Statement by the group of disability advocates opposing Bill C-7. Read here
  • Calgary Catholic Medical Association (CCMA) is a lay association with a mission to foster personal and professional formation of healthcare professionals, in accord with the magisterium of the Catholic Church. Read an article from CCMA's website regarding the consultations on expanding MAiD here. What physicians are saying about the dangers of the euthanasia expansion. Read here 
COVID-19
  • To get the latest update on COVID-19 Pandemic in the Diocese, click here
  • Revised article with notes from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith re COVID-19 vaccination. Read here

Sunday Livestream Masses with the Bishop

Bishop McGrattan is offering Sunday Masses at the following parishes in January. Masses will be livestreamed via Parish Livestream link(s).
  • Sunday, January 10 at 10 am - Feast of the Baptism of the Lord  | Ascension Catholic Church, Calgary. Watch on Youtube 
  • Sunday, January 17 at 5 pm - Second Sunday in Ordinary Time | St. Joseph's Church, Calgary. Watch on Youtube | Facebook | Telus Optik TV Ch. 877 
  • Sunday, January 24 at 11 am - Third Sunday in Ordinary Time | Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, Calgary. Watch on Youtube 
  • Sunday, January 31 at 11 am - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time | St. Albert the Great, Calgary. Watch on Facebook 
You are invited to join virtual sessions of "A Priest and a Rabbi Read Scripture Together" with Fr. Adrian Martens and Rabbi Mark Glickman (Temple B'nai Tikvah). This event highlights the new released resources from CCCB "The Psalms: A Doorway to Jewish-Catholic Dialogue." When: January 21, February 4 and February 18 at 7 pm to 8:30 pm, via Zoom. To register, contact:office@bnaitikvah.ca

Coldest Night of the Year 2021

​Due to COVID-19, Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) will be a little different this year. It will be a “virtual” walk, meaning we won’t have a big walk day and rally at Eau Claire as in past years. Teams and individuals will register and fundraise through the CNOY website as in the past. We encourage teams and individuals to do your own “COVID safe” walk at a location and distance you choose. You may walk any day during February 2021, but we recommend event day Saturday, February 20 so you can join in the excitement across the country on social media. We strongly recommend wearing masks and following group numbers as limited by current restrictions. We want everyone to be safe! 

Support the Sunday meals at Feed the Hungry this year by walking with the Coldest Night of the Year. 

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.”

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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Resources
The Holy See
Mount St. Francis Retreat Center
Catholic Diocese of Calgary
CCCB
Saint Gabriel School
Our Lady of Wisdom School

Office Hours

Tue - Fri:  9:00am - 4:30pm

Telephone

1(403) 455 0196

Email

office@saintgabrielparish.ca

@ Copyright St. Gabriel Parish, 2019