40 Days for Life

A message from 40 Days for Life:

Pray with 40 Days for Life (40 DFL), the largest pro-life organization in the world, coordinating 40-day campaigns to end the injustice of abortion through local prayers and fasting, community outreach and peaceful vigils in front of abortion businesses. Calgary has been leading these 40 DFL campaigns for more than a decade. We invite you to get involved by leading the campaign at your Parish. The fall campaign runs from Sep. 22 to Oct. 31. If you are interested, please get in touch with us.
  • The fall campaign will kick-off on Sep. 13 at 8 pm MST via videoconference with guest speaker Sue Thayer, Director of Outreach for 40 Days for Life Head Quarters. She is the founder and former director of Cornerstone for Life Pregnancy Resource Center. Sue has truly come full circle and is proof that God can save and use anyone. Videoconference will be through Zoom with meeting ID: 403 472 3905 no password required.
  • Vigil location: Abortion "Kensington Clinic" at 2431 5 Ave NW, Calgary, AB. Vigil hours 7 am to 7 pm. To join the vigil, 403-870-3905 or email 40daysforlife.calgary@gmail.com ​

Retreat for unemployed persons

Loss of employment can be trying to our souls and our emotional balance, not just our financial health. Struggling for a sense of hope, in the midst of disappointment, is an arduous task. 
The FCJ Centre invites you to the The Gift of Hope Retreat for Unemployed Persons. The focus of the retreat will be on getting in touch with feelings, discovering gifts, and supporting one another in a time of personal transition. It is designed to help find patience, hope, humour and self-esteem in God’s creative love. 
  • When: Sep. 17 - 18 at the FCJ Christian Life Centre. This retreat is “a live in” retreat and starts with supper on Friday at 5:30 pm, and finishes on Saturday at 5 pm. It is free of charge. RSVP: 403-228-4215 or info@fcjcentre.ca | Online registration​

Digging for the truth about Canada's Residential School graves

In this special three-part series, C2C Journal writer Hymie Rubenstein sorts through the heated claims and allegations and sets forth what is actually known about the unmarked graves at Canada’s former Indian Residential Schools.
  • "When disturbing evidence is unearthed that points to malfeasance by individuals, organizations or entire countries, it is understandable that feelings would run high among the aggrieved parties. But are unrestrained emotionalism, exaggeration and wild accusation the proper responses for politicians, experts, commentators and the population at large? How does this help a nation get at the truth, pursue justice or settle accounts – let alone move the parties along the path of forgiveness and reconciliation?" Read Part One
     
  • "The reported discovery of unmarked graves at former Indian Residential Schools confirmed what many Canadians thought they already knew about this now-discredited system. But how much of this foundational knowledge is actually true? Did “all” Indigenous children attend residential schools? Were they forced to go? Was this done over the objections of their parents and chiefs? How did the buried students die? And what, in turn, was the system’s real purpose? In Part Two of this special three-part series, Hymie Rubenstein digs deep into the historical record in the search for answers to these difficult questions." Read Part Two

Love More 4.0 - Concert for retired priests

Couples for Christ Calgary invites you to Love More 4.0 - A benefit concert for the benefit of the retired priests in the Diocese of Calgary and ANCOP (Answering the Cry of the Poor). When: Saturday, Sep 25 at 7:30 pm at St. Albert the Great Parish. Featuring: Laurie Perez, Leah Callao, Olin Molina, Madee Canete, Carlos Perez and many more amazing singers!

Support Fr. Eli & St. James Knights of Columbus team

St. James Knights of Columbus will again participate in the Ride for Refuge in support of Elizabeth house.  Last year the Knights were joined by parishioners, friends and family and raised $4,500. This year our goal is set even higher. 

Fr. Eligio Canete of St. James Parish has agreed to join the cause and has been doing his part to raise money for Elizabeth House. The St. James Knights have participated in The Ride for Refuge since 2013 and have raised to date over $28,000 for Elizabeth House.
 
If you would like to join us in raising money for Elizabeth House, please visit rideforrefuge.org/charity/elizabethhousecalgary  You can join any of the Teams with activities like bike riding, walking, or crafting, or to try your own activity before Oct. 2 deadline. 
We would also like to thank the Lyceum Society, the CWL and parishioners that have donated or created teams to raise funds while enjoying a fun activity all in the support of this wonderful ministry. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Real Phaneuf, Campaign chair at real.phaneuf@shaw.ca

Note: the photo above was taken in 2019. ​

Prayer for the upcoming Federal Election

  • NEW! Videos feature representatives from Canada's Liberal, Conservative, and NDP answering questions on key issues from the perspective of Catholic social teaching. 
  • Join Catholic Conscience for this free webinar on Wednesday, Sep. 15 at 5 pm MDT - RSVP here: https://bit.ly/CatholicsAndCanPoli  
  • How to vote like a Catholic? Download poster
  • UPDATED! Catholic Conscience’s election page and parties' platform comparison (a work in progress, more parties will be added by Monday)
  • A prayer for Elections (jpg)

Employment opportunities

If you have the skills, talent and inspiration to take on the challenge, we invite you to consider these exciting opportunities in the Diocese of Calgary:
  • Family and Youth Ministry Coordinator (full time) at All Saints, Lethbridge
  • Sacrament Preparation Assistant (contract) at St. Pius X, Calgary
For more information and job application details, please visit catholicyyc.ca/careers

Pray for The Seeds of the Word's new mission in the Phillippines

​The Seeds of the Word Community invites you to a Mass in Tagalog at Our Lady of Fatima Parish (4747 30 St SE, Calgary), on Sunday, Sep. 26 at 3 pm to celebrate the Feast of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, and to ask for his intercession for their new mission in the Phillippines

Clothing/Textile Drive for Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi Parish in Calgary is once again hosting their clothing/textile recycling drive (May 24 to 29). Proceeds from the textile/recycling drive will go toward the Parish Fund. Here is a message from the Corpus Christi Parish:  
This is a chance to clean out your closets and bring in surplus textiles of all types, and help Corpus Christi Parish in Calgary. We can accept wearable, gently worn clothing, usable shoes (in pairs), belts and handbags, usable household textiles: curtains, towels, bedding, table linens, etc. and soft toys. Please drop off at Corpus Christi Parish Hall at 5931 4 St NW, Calgary - Sep. 27 to Oct. 4., from 1 pm to 7 pm. For more information, click here

Notes:
  • Items simply need to be clean and dry.
  • Please make sure shoes, socks, mitts, etc. are paired.
  • Please ensure all textiles are in good useable condition and delivered in secured garbage bags.
Note that we cannot accept: pillows, rugs, rags, scraps, uniforms or corporate clothing, carpets, plastic, metals, books, china, dishes, pots/pans/cutlery, sample books, pet clothing or beds, hard toys, cardboard, furniture, electronics, suitcases, sports equipment, upholstery, etc. Do not bring items that are wet, moldy, smelly, oily or paint covered. Thank you for your help! ​

Prison Ministry Lay Volunteers

​Ride for Refuge #anniversary
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.  
Want to contribute but aren't a biker? Ask family and friends $__ for every year you’ve been married by RIDE Day (Oct. 2)
Help us spread the word that Elizabeth House is a wonderful organization that empowers pregnant young women and young women with small children by offering them a safe home while teaching them life skills. Who can be more vulnerable and who more could use you help? Visit: rideforrefuge.org/charity/elizabethhousecalgary to get started! 
If your parish or your ministry have any questions or need ideas on how to fundraise or use the Ride for Refuge website, please contact Real Phaneuf, our 2021 Ride for Refuge campaign chair at Real.phaneuf@shaw.ca  – and he’ll be happy to assist you!

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.”

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
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Our Lady of Wisdom School