ST. STEPHEn's PARISH, Olds, Alberta
  • Home
    • Message from the Pastor
    • Contact
    • SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION
    • Weekly Bulletin >
      • Parish Calendars
    • History
    • News & Events >
      • More News
    • Parish Registration Form
    • Week at a Glance
    • Engaging the Mission >
      • Support Our Parish
  • Sunday Reflections
  • OUR FAITH
    • Growing in Faith
    • Just Five More Minutes - Videos
    • Consubstantial?
    • Dogmas of the Catholic Church
    • Indulgences
    • Liturgical Colours
    • Liturgical Year
    • PRAYER >
      • Some Basic Prayers
      • Grace Before Meals
      • Divine Mercy Chaplet >
        • The Divine Mercy Novena
      • Eucharistic Adoration
      • The Rosary
    • Purgatory
    • Saint of the Month >
      • Patron Saints
  • Liturgical Schedules
  • Youth
  • Our Hope
  • Careers
  • Resources
  • Called by Name
    • Permanent Deacons
  • Retreat Centres
  • Our Lady of Fatima
  • St. Anthony Parish - Didsbury
  • Knights of Columbus
  • PILGRIMAGES
Telus Livestream moves to new Channel​

Our livestreamed masses from St. Joseph's Basilica will now be found on Channel 877 on Telus Optik TV.

Picture
We want to hear from you!
Do you have a local news story, parish or community event, or comment about the WINDOW e-newsletter? 

Send your news stories, events and comments to the communications team by email or use the online form at https://bit.ly/windowform 

Event or program information can be submitted as JPEG or PDF ads / posters, or as text in an email or Word file. Note: If you are submitting a JPEG or PDF, consider leaving out the phone / email / website from your ad. We we will include this information as "clickable" links, to make it easy for people to connect with you.

Deadline for submission: Tuesday @ 4:00 p.m.

​Do you have a Loved One in Hospital?
 
When you can't visit the hospital, here's a link by which you can send wellwishes to patients. Your kind words of encouragement will be delivered by the volunteers of Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health facilities.
albertahealthservices.ca/info/wellwishes.

​The first episode of our Embrace Limit podcast series is here.
The Church’s teachings on sexuality – saving sex for marriage, marriage is solely between a man and a woman, contraception, the idea that there are only two sexes – can feel like a limiting burden.

But what are the underlying principles that inform all these teachings?  

​Listen to all episodes
Picture
Picture
​YouCat: How are we to have life in Christ?

Chaplain Mike Landry explains the moral life helps us understand what we are expected to do in the great story God has been unfolding.

Read more
​Crunch On Curiosity
Explore and ask challenging questions. Crunch on Curiosity, at St. Joseph's College, runs Tuesdays 5-6:30 p.m. There will be a talk and discussion. It's free and you don't need to be a student.
Picture
​Register

​Read more

Picture
Picture
Archbishop Smith recalls the times he met and talked with Pope Benedict XVI, and reflects on what his enormous contribution to the Church has meant to him as a priest and bishop.
​We explore one of Archbishop Smith's favourite saints, Augustine of Hippo. We look at how the heretics and heresies St. Augustine confronted still have an influence.
Listen to all podcast episodes
​Our Lady of Victory camp re-opening

Camp ministry offer a week-long faith experience. At summer camp everyone can Encounter Christ, Encounter Community, and Encounter Creation.

​Read more
Mother Teresa: No Greater Love

This documentary film produced by the Knights of Columbus, will return to Edmonton theatres January 22-23.

This film reveals not just who Mother Teresa was, but how her singular vision to serve Christ in the poor continues to be realized through the Missionaries of Charity today.​

​More information
​


​Buy tickets
Picture
Our Deceased Priests
 
We pray in a special way for all our priests who have died in the month of January.
Picture
​Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
​Rev. Joseph William BURKE
Jan.  3, 1980
Rev. Theodore ROZMAHEL
 Jan.  3, 2011
Rt. Rev. Howard Gerald GRIFFIN
 Jan.  4, 1965
Rev. Patrick J. O’MALLEY
Jan.  7, 1940
Rev. J. Peter EHMAN
Jan.   7, 1953
Rev. Larry PEDERSON
Jan. 8, 2023
Rev. Francis TOMCZAK
 Jan.  9, 1975
Rev. Francis Peter KOOLEN
Jan. 10, 1956
Rev. Francis Joseph ELKIN
Jan. 10, 1984
Rt. Rev. Donald G. MacDONALD
Jan. 10, 2005
​Rev. Mike McCAFFERY
Jan. 12, 2021
Rev. J. Arthur McGOWAN
Jan. 14, 1951
Rev. Lawrence BONNER
 Jan. 15, 1971
Rev. Ralph F. MALONE
Jan. 16, 1958
Rev. José T. SUGAY
 Jan. 16, 2011
Most Rev. John Hugh MacDONALD
 Jan. 17, 1965
Rev. Joseph W. McLEOD
Jan. 18, 1972
Rev. Joseph FAY
 Jan. 19, 1941
Rt. Rev. James Alexander MacLELLAN
 Jan. 21, 1981
Rev. J. Emmett CROUGH
 Jan. 25, 2006

Picture
​What should we pay attention to in the Christmas Masses? What is the meaning of different prayers which are prayed in the Christmas liturgies? In this episode, His Grace discusses the truth behind the many liturgies celebrated for Christmas, the history of the Midnight mass tradition, and many more insights into the celebration of Christmas.
​
Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast that seeks to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful. T
Listen
Picture
Visit website
Give
Picture
Picture
​Last week, we shared the exciting news that we will be hosting youth at Our Lady of Victory Camp in 2023, but there's a lot of work to be done to get there. 

We are planning information meetings about our 2023 programs at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 4 at either St. Charles Parish in Edmonton (17511 112 St. NW) or at Sacred Heart Parish in Red Deer (4816 55 St., Red Deer). 

​Read more
CALLED TO PROTECT

Thursday, January 12
7:00-9:30 pm

live via Zoom
​Called to Protect is an abuse prevention training session that is mandatory for all volunteers and employees in the Archdiocese of Edmonton. 

Pre-registration is required. Please clIck below.
Register

Picture
Picture
"Do not be anxious about anything" Phil 4:6
"Am I stewarding my eyes? Am I stewarding my ears? What am I allowing into my thinking by what I choose to see and listen to?" This week Archbishop Smith speaks specifically about what our Catholic faith can bring to the conversation around anxiety. Can we find healing through the spiritual realities of our faith, most especially the Eucharist?
Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful.
​YouCat: Sacraments of Healing

One of Jesus’ most well-known and enduring parables is the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). In this story Jesus speaks plainly about what it means to love your neighbor as yourself, looking out for anyone we might meet who is in need.

Part of a series of reflections on the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church by Mike Landry, Catholic Youth Camps director for the Archdiocese of Edmonton and chaplain for Evergreen Catholic Schools.
Listen
Read more
Picture
Picture
Picture
​Notice of Annual General Meeting of Members


The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of The Foundation of St. Joseph Seminary and Newman Theological College will be held electronically via Zoom videoconferencing on January 5, 2023, at 2:30 pm (MST). 


Click below to see Agenda and to RSVP by January 3, 2023.
Read more
​Can you help push Together We Serve over the top?

To the end of November, the Together We Serve Annual Appeal has raised 78% of its $1.5 million goal. Eleven parishes have already achieved (or exceeded) their targets and 26 more are at 80% or better! Congratulations to all. 

How is your parish doing? Check out the November financial report.
Picture
​
CALLED TO PROTECT


Thursday, January 12
7:00-9:30 pm


live via Zoom


Called to Protect is an abuse prevention training session that is mandatory for all volunteers and employees in the Archdiocese of Edmonton. 


Pre-registration is required.
​Please clIck below.


Read more

Register
Picture
​To attend the event via Zoom please
register by Tuesday, December 13.
Log into the Zoom meeting by 5:25 pm MT.

​Register
Register
Picture
​

​A Christmas Gift for your Marriage   

If you are struggling in your marriage relationship or looking to improve it, consider the Gift of Retrouvaille this Christmas. This program has helped thousands of marriages improve communication and enrich their marital connection.

The next program begins the weekend of March 17-19, 2023. For more information, contact us by email, call 587-598-4357, or visit the website. 

​Visit website

Picture
Picture
Hurry up and wait...

"Advent is not just getting ready for the Christmas celebrations." This week Archbishop Smith sets the record straight on Advent, its true meaning, and what modern day pitfalls to avoid leading up to Christmas.

Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful. The podcast features our host, Jenny Connelly, in conversation with Archbishop Richard Smith.
​Landry: What is Advent?

On the morning of Friday, January 12, 2007, the Washington Post conducted a social experiment. The paper hired Joshua Bell, one of the world’s most gifted violin players and had him busk in a subway station during rush hour. 
​
Mike Landry is the Catholic Youth Camps director for the Archdiocese of Edmonton, and chaplain for Evergreen Catholic Schools.
Listen
Read more
Picture
Picture
​For more information, contact Michelle Foisy at michellefoisy@shaw.ca or call/text 780-886-1338.
​For more information, contact Alana LaPerle at alaperle@telus.net or call/text 780-446-9009
Register
Register


A Christmas Gift for your Marriage   ​

If you are struggling in your marriage relationship or looking to improve it, consider the Gift of Retrouvaille this Christmas. This program has helped thousands
of marriages improve communication and enrich their marital connection. The next program begins the weekend of March 17-19, 2023. For more information, contact us by email, call 587-598-4357, or visit the website. 
Picture
Website
View newsletter

Picture
Picture
Picture
​Archbishop Smith goes to Ireland!

After a much needed break, Archbishop Smith sits down to to talk about his recent trip to Ireland. A great conversation on rediscovering cultural and family roots, trusting in God, and the joys of a pint of Guinness.

Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful.
Fr. Kris asks some good questions​

Why isn’t the promise of eternal life not much of a selling feature for Christianity anymore? Why can’t we just stick a sign on our front lawn that says, “Have a contrite heart? We’ve got eternal life!” Why isn’t that appealing? Why don’t people come flocking through our doors to get this promise and gift of eternal life? The answer is not really simple...

Celebrating the mysteries of Christ
I have loved Lego for as long as I can remember. This highly sophisticated interlocking brick system captured my imagination as a child...
Part of a series of reflections on the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church by Mike Landry, Catholic Youth Camps director for the Archdiocese of Edmonton and chaplain for Evergreen Catholic Schools.

 Listen
Listen
Read more


Picture
Picture
​Have a complaint?

Like any other public figure, a Bishop is no stranger to criticism. But in the Church how does a disciple offer criticism to someone who has legitimate authority over them? We ask Archbishop Smith how he receives and processes feedback, and how he decides if a public response is necessary.

Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful. The podcast features our host, Jenny Connelly, in conversation with Archbishop Richard Smith.
Youcat: God and the Sacred Liturgy

I will never forget the first night I held her hand. We were driving on a cold night in early March 2004; I had misplaced my gloves and my hands were cold…and my future wife graciously obliged my need by clasping her hand into my own. 

This column is part of a series of reflections on the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church by Mike Landry, Catholic Youth Camps director for the Archdiocese of Edmonton and chaplain for Evergreen Catholic Schools.
Listen
Read more

​Catholic Women’s League celebrates more than a century of faith and service

“Catholic and Living It” is the motto of the Catholic Women’s League as it celebrates 110 years of service, right where the CWL was originally founded, here in Edmonton.
Read more

​Synod: Now What?

Register now for our Synod: Now What? Workshops where, together, we can discern the next steps that the Holy Spirit is calling us to take. All are welcome!

Register
Picture

Picture
Picture
​A burden or a gift?

In this week's discussion with Archbishop Smith we get into the why's, the objections, and the beauty of celibacy in the priesthood. We talk about perceived problems with mandatory celibacy in the Latin Rite Catholic priesthood, and His Grace speaks to why he believes in it's immense spiritual value.

Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful. The podcast features our host, Jenny Connelly, in conversation with Archbishop Richard Smith.

Listen
​Landry: Just Five More Minutes

This week, I look into the two questions I probably get asked most often by students in religion classes: When we read Genesis, where are the Dinosaurs? (and) Did God really do this in six days?

My answer is found in a special “extended” Just Five More Minutes video (it’s 7 minutes long). Click below to watch the video AND to access some great resources that will help you dig deeper.

Mike Landry is chaplain for Evergreen Catholic Schools.

Watch

Picture
​YouCat: God acts...by means of sacred signs

In 1983, The Karate Kid was released, and audiences were treated to one of the most unique (and memorable) training montages in any movie.
​
This column is part of a series of reflections on the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church by Mike Landry, Catholic Youth Camps director for the Archdiocese of Edmonton and chaplain for Evergreen Catholic Schools.

Read more

Picture
Picture
Visit website
​Campaign passes the $1 million mark!

With just over a month and a half to go, the Together We Serve 2022 campaign has raised 69% of its $1.5 million goal. Ten parishes have already achieved (or exceeded) their targets and 15 more are at 80% or better! Congratulations to all. 

How is your parish doing? Check out the October financial report.

What if I want to give directly to a TWS beneficiary?
By all means, give! Together We Serve does not replace individual charitable giving to those organizations and causes that are near and dear to you. In fact, most of our Together We Serve beneficiaries reach out to their own supporters through modest fund raising appeals. If you are a supporter, please give!

​Give 

Picture

Accepting our ultimate destination


A follower of Jesus is always in the process of accepting death. Whether that be a spiritual death to self, or accepting our mortality, whenever we gaze upon the cross we are reminded of our ultimate destination. This week, for November (the month of the dead), we get into the many questions surrounding death, the decrease in the traditions surrounding it, and the Catholic view of cremation.


Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful.
Listen
Picture
​Truth, reconciliation and the beauty of the Catholic Faith


Fr. Cristino Bouvette, from the Diocese of Calgary, was the National Liturgy Director for Pope Francis' recent visit to Canada. In this podcast, he talks about his experience of the Papal visit, his family history, his kokum (grandmother) who went to a residential school and taught him many things about the Christian faith, and the meaning of truth and reconciliation, and his own experience of seeing the beauty of both the Catholic faith and the traditions of Indigenous culture.
Watch

Picture
​Trick or treat?

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. This week we queue up Halloween with a discussion on spiritual warfare, how to approach Halloween with some of the unsettling and even demonic symbols that surround it, and whether our Archdiocese has an exorcist or not!
​
Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful by discussing the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith. The podcast features our host, Jenny Connelly, in conversation with Archbishop Richard Smith.
Listen
Picture
Youcat: I believe in the Holy Spirit

One of the most well-known and heartrending stories about St. Peter is the account of his threefold denial of Jesus....When he heard the rooster crow, I imagine Peter was awash in shame, embarrassment, and failure. He had failed his dearest friend and went off to weep bitterly. But after Pentecost Peter was a different man...

This is part of a series of reflections on the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church by Mike Landry, Catholic Youth Camps director for the Archdiocese of Edmonton and chaplain for Evergreen Catholic Schools

​Read more

​Catholic Social Services has been a Together We Serve recipient since 2015. Through its Sign of Hope campaign, CSS delivers at least 14 programs that are not eligible for government funding but which serve an essential role in our community. Some of these programs include Welcome Home, Lurana Shelter and Gianna Centre. This year, 20% of funds distributed by Together We Serve will go to Catholic Social Services.

You can be a sign of hope for vulnerable people in our community. Please give today.

​Give
 

Picture
Picture
Still confused about what the Synod on Synodality was all about? Who responded? Will anything come of it? Archbishop Richard Smith is joined by Dr. Eugenia Pagnotta-Kowalczyk, coordinator for our local contribution to the global Synod. We examine the initial recommendations from the diocesan Synthesis Report, which drew from all the listening sessions and survey submissions.
Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful.
Listen
​Rolheiser: Celebrating 50 years of ordination

Fifty years ago, on an overcast, cold, fall day in the gymnasium of the local public high school, I was ordained to the priesthood. Beyond the grey sky, another thing marked the event. This was a tender season for my family and me. Both our parents had died (and died young) within a year and a half just prior to this and we were still somewhat fragile of heart. In that setting, I was ordained a priest.
Read more

Picture
Picture
At the first LIVE recording of Upfront with the Archbishop, October 5, His Grace gave Catholic young adults three points of wisdom, and then turned it over to them for a lively Q&A. Questions were asked about Catholic education, relations with the Eastern Orthodox, the apparent lack of a Youth Coordinator at the Archdiocese, and more in what turned into an exciting conversation.


Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful.
Listen
​Rolheiser: How to pray when we don't feel like it


If we only prayed when we felt like it, we wouldn’t pray a lot. Enthusiasm, good feelings, and fervour will not sustain anyone’s prayer life for long, good will and firm intention notwithstanding. Our hearts and minds are complex and promiscuous, wild horses frolicking to their own tunes, with prayer frequently not on their agenda. 

​
Read more
Give

​Canada's bishops release Pastoral Letter to Young people
Most Rev. Raymond Poisson, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), issued a Pastoral Letter to Young People, October 12, to honour the anniversary of the death of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first beatified millennial. This Pastoral Letter responds to the CCCB’s virtual conversations with over 200 young people from across Canada, aged 12-25 during the fall of 2020
Read more

Picture
Youcat: I Believe in God the Father

Luke Skywalker had put up a good fight, but Darth Vader had gained the upper hand by cutting off Luke’s right hand. Luke crawled away off the catwalk, just out of Vader’s reach. He was trapped and defenseless...

This is the seventh in a series of reflections on the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church. Mike Landry is Catholic Youth Camps director for the Archdiocese of Edmonton and chaplain for Evergreen Catholic Schools.

​
Read more

Picture
Picture
​"People are entrusting their wounds to you." That's how Fr. Philip Creurer describes his work in the tribunal, where they investigate whether or not a marriage was valid to begin with. This episode we get into specific questions around annulment, the process, and what about those very difficult cases? It makes for an enlightening second episode in our two part series. 

Listen
​Join us October 5 (today), 7:00 pm for the first LIVE recording of Archbishop Smith's new podcast, Upfront with the Archbishop! His Grace's conversation with our podcast host, Jenny Connelly, will be recorded in front of a live audience at Newman Theological College. Archbishop Smith will be taking questions from the audience, so bring your questions and bring a friend!

Facebook

​Rolheiser: Writing your own obituary


There comes a time in life when it’s time to stop writing your resume and begin to write your obituary. I’m not sure who first coined that line, but there’s wisdom in it. What’s the difference between a resume and an obituary? 

Read more
Picture

Picture
​Youcat: The Christian Profession of Faith

You don’t need to look far to find a story centered on a battle between good and evil. While many movies, novels, and comic books make the heroes and villains plain to see, some of the best of these stories add a little intrigue. In these stories it can be much harder to know who’s on whose side...

This is the sixth in a series of reflections on the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church. Mike Landry is Catholic Youth Camps director for the Archdiocese of Edmonton and chaplain for Evergreen Catholic Schools.

Read more

GrACE September Newsletter

As we look forward to a faithful year of learning, we ask you to join us in Walking Together in Catholic Education. This year’s theme is rooted in words from the Book of Micah:

As for us, we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever. — Micah 4:5.

And so it is that Catholic education exists; for the purpose of walking with our children, families and communities in the name of the Lord our God.

Read more
Picture

Picture
​Podcast: 'Til death do us part?

Is divorce a legitimate option for Catholics? In the first part of a two part series, Archbishop Smith, with our Judicial Vicar Fr. Philip Creurer, tackle the intense subjects of marriage, the declaration of nullity, and divorce. Who defines marriage? What makes a marriage valid or invalid? What is an annulment? Listen for the answers! 
​
Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful by discussing the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith. The podcast features our host, Jenny Connelly, in conversation with Archbishop Richard Smith.
Listen

Picture
​Rolheiser: Dying alone in the desert


Recently I received a letter from a friend who shared that she was afraid to accept a certain vocation because it would leave her too much alone. She shared this fear with her spiritual director who simply said, Charles de Foucauld died alone in the desert!” That answer was enough for her. 

Read more


Picture
Visit website

Picture
Podcast: I will not treat the gifts of God as pointless
​
Sunday as a day of rest is no longer culturally normative, and we often treat it as a second Saturday. As Catholics, what does it mean to actually rest on the Lord's Day? Do sports count as work? What if I own a business? This week we talk about whether we need to change our behavior to better witness to how we live out our Sundays as Christians.


Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful by discussing the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith. The podcast features our host, Jenny Connelly, in conversation with Archbishop Richard Smith.
Listen

Picture
Podcast: A Beggar's Heart

"What I want to do today is…reflect a little bit on the state of the Church that we live in, and how that affects us and how we live our faith here in this parish in the universal Catholic Church. So, to start with, the priesthood, the state of the priesthood in our Archdiocese."

​Listen

Picture
Listen
​Podcast: money, money, money

How much of your income should go to the Church? It's a fairly personal and direct question, and the answer may differ depending on the tradition you come from. This week we ask Archbishop Smith what Catholics are obligated to to give, and why.

Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful by discussing the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith. The podcast features our host, Jenny Connelly, in conversation with Archbishop Richard Smith.

​Mark your calendar!

Join us for the first LIVE recording of Archbishop Smith's new podcast, Upfront with the Archbishop! His Grace's conversation with our podcast host, Jenny Connelly, will be recorded in front of a live audience at Newman Theological College. Archbishop Smith will also  be taking questions from the audience, so come prepared with whatever questions you would like to ask His Grace!


Stay tuned for more details (including the topic of this live conversation!). See you live and in person on October 5. Tell your friends!

​Like
Picture

Picture
Podcast: "I'm just a guy!"

“It wasn’t that long ago when I was the one sitting in the pew, like you are, looking up at the priest. And so I can still remember that, until you broach that relationship, the priest can be an intimidating figure….”


Listen

Picture

Picture
​Podcast: Shia LaBeouf and other celebrity Catholics

Who are the voices that shape and inform your Catholic faith? Mostly contemporary speakers / celebrities, or traditional voices from the past? This week we react to the buzz around celebrity conversions, like Shia LaBeouf recently, and how much weight to give the countless voices available to us throughout the internet and Church history.

Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful by discussing the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith. The podcast features our host, Jenny Connelly, as well as Archbishop Richard Smith.
Listen

Podcast: A Beggar's Heart

How much does your Christian faith inspire your life? If I asked you after Mass, on a scale of one to ten, one being, “I’m baptized,” and ten being, “I will drop my nets and follow you Jesus wherever you want me to go,” where would you be on the spectrum?

Listen
Picture

Visit Mike's website
​Landry: Calling all teachers!

Mike Landry's Just 5 More Minutes videos are great resources you can use with your religion / homeroom classes to start lively discussions about our Catholic faith. 

This week's video looks at our 2022-23 Division theme, Growing in the Peace of Christ, offering some thoughts on what Christ’s peace actually is...and a couple of concrete ways to grow in it.

Visit Mike's website for questions, comments, or suggestions for future videos.

Rolheiser: A biblical formula for forgiveness

Nothing is as important as forgiveness. It is the key to happiness and the most important spiritual imperative in our lives. We need to forgive, to make peace with the hurts and injustices we have suffered so as not to die angry and bitter. Before we die, we need to forgive – others, ourselves, and God, for what happened to us in this life.

Read more
Picture

Picture
Landry: Filling the God-shaped hole in our hearts

Mike Landry writes the human heart is designed in such a way that we have a built-in yearning for God. Some have called it a God-shaped hole, a place in our hearts which only God can fill.


This is the third in a series of reflections on the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church. Mike is Catholic Youth Camps director for the Archdiocese of Edmonton. He is also chaplain for Evergreen Catholic Schools.

Read more

Picture
Picture
​​Called by Name: Reflections from Camp Encounter and Ignite

In the second week of August, we four interns – Ruth, Marc, Samuel, and I – spent the week at the St. Thérèse Institute in Bruno, SK, for the Face-to-Face Ministries’ summer camp called Ignite. Ignite is a Catholic week-long camp for high school students...

Read more

​Rolheiser: Magnificat gives voice to how God responds to powerlessness of poor

A wise old Augustinian priest once shared this in class. There are days in my life when everything from the pressures of my work, to tiredness, to depression, to distraction, to flat-out laziness make it difficult for me to pray. But, no matter what, I always try to pray at least one sincere, focused Our Father every day.

Read more
Picture

Picture
Landry: The Ring of Power

About two-thirds of the way through The Fellowship of the Ring, all the forces of good gather for a council. Trouble is brewing, and they lay out the dangers they and their people are facing. The situation is dire, but there is hope. If someone was to destroy the enemy’s weapon – a simple gold ring of power that has come into their possession – evil would be defeated and there could be a lasting peace.

Read more
Picture

​Podcast: Let's talk

Abortion is the hot topic, and rightfully so. Even with the Church's teaching being crystal clear, it is often misrepresented. This week Jenny and Archbishop Smith are joined by Gabrielle Johnson, the Executive Director of the Alberta Life Issues Educational Society, to talk about abortion, the rhetoric around it, and what is being done locally to help women, and their babies, during a crisis pregnancy.

Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful by discussing the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith. The podcast features our host, Jenny Connelly, as well as Archbishop Richard Smith.
Picture
Listen
​


Picture
​Podcast: A Beggar's Heart

In this week's homily, Father Kris talks about a big hurdle that we must get over to receive the gift of faith: our pride. The Lord disciplines those He loves, but pride can keep us from accepting that discipline. When we refuse discipline we become narcissists.

Listen

​Podcast: What is sacred music?
The music played at mass can often become a lightning rod for disagreements. What instruments are most appropriate? Are hymns necessary? How do we navigate conflict? Archbishop Richard Smith is joined again by Roderick Bryce in tackling these practical questions on Sacred Music.

Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful by discussing the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith. The podcast features our host, Jenny Connelly, as well as Archbishop Richard Smith

​Listen
Picture

Picture
​
​Landry: What we believe and what we do


Alongside a well-read copy of the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church is a book that should be on every Catholic’s shelf. And it should be our first stop when we have questions about the faith (before we turn to Google.) Knowing our way around the Catechism can help us when we have questions about the faith, or when we are challenged by others on what the Church teaches and believes.

Read more

Picture
​Podcast: Two new homilies

Fr. Kris Schmidt, pastor at St. Francis Xavier parish in Camrose and Vocations Lead for the Archdiocese of Edmonton, says, “My desire is that, as a priest through my homilies, God might make Himself known to you more clearly for He is simply Beautiful.” Listen to two new homilies from Fr. Kris: Keep Your Head Up and Family Reunion.

​Listen

​Podcast: One plus a bonus!
In this week's episode, we finally sit down with Archbishop Richard Smith to debrief Pope Francis' historic visit and penitential pilgrimage to Canada. His Grace discusses the highlights and key takeaways from his insider's perspective.

Want more? We are very excited to share with you a special BONUS episode with Fr. Cristino Bouvette (Papal Visit Liturgical Coordinator). We take a deep dive into the decisions made around the Papal liturgies and the elements of indigenous inculturation that happened, like smudging and praying in the four directions.


Listen
​
​Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful by discussing the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith. The podcast features our host, Jenny Connelly, as well as Archbishop Richard Smith.
Picture
Picture

Picture
​Landry: Loud voices and restless hearts
With so much noise and so many voices competing for our attention, we need to be aware of who and what we pay attention to.
Read more

Picture
Picture
​Berube: Am I Giving Life?
Over the course of the past month, we at the Benedict XVI internship got our hands deeper and deeper into the work of assisting in volunteer coordinating for Pope Francis’ visit to Canada. Our work bore fruit as the Holy Father landed for his penitential visit.

Read more

Picture

​I was in prison and you visited me (Matthew 25:36b)
Are you interested in being the hands and feet of Jesus in Edmonton and area prisons? There are 5 prisons in the Edmonton area. Edmonton Maximum Security Institution, Edmonton Institution for Women, Edmonton Remand Centre, Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre, Edmonton Young Offenders Centre, and Red Deer Remand Centre.

Currently there is a need for musicians to help out at Mass/Celebrations of the Word at Edmonton Maximum Security Institution and Edmonton Institution for Women. All other prisons are always accepting volunteers.If you have a heart to show compassion to incarcerated women and men, have strong boundaries, and an active faith life, contact:
​
Darryl Tymchuk, Supervising Chaplain for Alberta Provincial Prisons, at 780-221-5620, or email.
Picture


Podcast: Who is Archbishop Smith?
In this week's episode, we get to know a little bit more about Archbishop Richard Smith. His Grace shares his personal testimony on how he came to the faith and his call to the priesthood.

Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful by discussing the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith.

The podcast features our host, Jenny Connelly, as well as Archbishop Richard Smith of the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton Alberta.
Picture
Listen​

Picture
Rolheiser: Why is there something instead of nothing?

The Belgian theologian Jan Walgrave, who directed my doctoral thesis, was a true intellectual and a rare one. True, in that his thought naturally, instinctually gravitated towards the huge philosophical questions of essence and existence. Why are we here? Who are we really?  
Read more

Picture
​Podcast: You can be part of history!
Leading up to the Papal visit to Canada next week, Archbishop Richard Smith wants to let Catholics know how they can and should engage with this historic moment in the life of the Church in Canada and the country.

Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast where we discuss the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith
Listen

Landry: The Pope is more than a celebrity
Anywhere you go that hockey is played, the number 99 is synonymous with greatness. The number 99 was the number that belonged to Wayne Gretzky, who is universally recognized as the greatest player to ever play the game…
Read more
Picture

Podcast: What makes sacred music sacred?

What music is appropriate for mass? Is there a right and a wrong to what songs and styles get played? Roderick Bryce, Music Director at St. Joseph Basilica, joins us as we dive deep into what the Church teaches about sacred music. What makes it so sacred, anyway? In this episode, part 1 of our discussion, we get into the official teaching and principles. In part 2 (to be released in a couple weeks) we get into some practical questions.


Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast where we discuss the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith
​


Listen
Picture

Picture
Podcast: Instructions for Disciples
"Coming to know God's Word in our lives is a bumpy and sometimes complicated road. I know this because it is true in my life," says Fr. Kris Schmidt, Mission Formation Lead for parishes in the Archdiocese of Edmonton. "My desire is that, as a priest through my homilies, God might make Himself known to you more clearly for He is simply Beautiful."

​Listen

​Rolheiser: Coping with our own souls
We have many photographs of Therese of Lisieux. Her sister Celine loved using a camera and took many photos of Therese, but there’s an interesting thing to note in those photos.
​
Read more
Picture
©billperry/123RF.COM

Picture
Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples was damaged by fire, sustaining serious damage which requires rebuilding and upgrades. Sacred Heart church was designated as a national Indigenous Parish in 1991. It serves indigenous peoples and settlers as natural hub for Catholic reconciliation work in the Edmonton area.

Watch
The campaign to rebuild Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples offers each of us a unique and privileged opportunity to restore relationships between settlers of Canada and its First Peoples by renewing this house of prayer for all peoples. Bill Perdue and Ron Martineau from Sacred Heart parish provide a video update on the fund raising campaign.

Donate

Picture
Podcast: The game of LIFE
Does God have one specific plan for my life? Or is it more like the LIFE board game where I get to choose between a few equally suitable options? Are these questions even helpful when discerning our vocation? So many questions, and this week we're joined again by Fr. Marc to help answer them!
Fr. Marc Cramer has been the vocations director in the Archdiocese of Edmonton for 9 years, and currently is the pastor of St. Charles Catholic Church in Edmonton.

Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast where we discuss the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith.



Listen
​

Picture
Rolheiser: Suicide and our misunderstandings

Margaret Atwood once wrote that sometimes a thing needs to be said, and said, said again, until it doesn’t need to be said anymore. That’s why I write a column annually on suicide, mostly saying the same things over and over again.
​
Read more

Picture
Podcast: Why can't we keep our pastor?
What goes into deciding when and a where a priest is moved? When can a priest move be harmful for the life of a parish? What do priests think of being moved every few years? In this week's episode, Vocations Director Fr. Marc Cramer joins Archbishop Richard Smith for a frank and revealing conversation about priest moves and their impact on parishes.

Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast where we seek to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful, by discussing the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith
Listen

Picture
Rolheiser: Cheap grace
There’s a tension among Christians today between those who would extend God’s mercy everywhere, seemingly without any conditions, and those who are more reticent and discriminating in dispensing it.

​Read more

Podcast: Alcohol and the Catholic life
Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast where we seek to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful, by discussing the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith.

This week we look at the Catholic approach to alcohol, as we dive into the risk of drunkenness, the celebratory benefits of booze, as well as how Jesus used alcohol during his Earthly ministry.

Stay tuned to the end when the Archbishop will answer the question: "Will we ever see the chalice return for parishioners at mass?"



Listen

Picture

Landry: Sharing the good news
One night in mid-November 2004, the pyramid at Edmonton’s Muttart Conservatory was empty except for myself and my girlfriend. Though there are many different types of plants featured in the arid pyramid, I wasn’t really paying attending to any of it. I had realized that this was the opportune moment I was waiting for. It felt like my heart my beat out of my chest as I took a deep breath and began the speech I’d rehearsed countless times.

Read more
Picture

Picture
Rolheiser: Women, inequality and feminism
There are still people everywhere who believe there’s no longer any issue regarding the status of women.

Read more


Picture
​Podcast: It's the law!

Upfront with the Archbishop 
is a weekly podcast where we seek to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful, by discussing the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith.

Is there a relationship between how we worship and what we believe? This week, (just in time for Corpus Christi!) we discuss the specifics of how we receive Holy Communion, in the hand or on the tongue. It's all within the broader principle of "Lex orandi lex credendi," that is, the law of what is prayed is the law of what is believed.

Stay tuned to the end when the Archbishop will answer a question on ecumenism!

Listen

Picture
"Let anyone who has an ear listen..."
Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast where we seek to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful by discussing the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith.

In part 2 of our interview with Fr. Cristino Bouvette, Archbishop Smith and Fr. Cristino discuss reactions to the news that came out of Kamloops a year ago, remaining Catholic in the midst of scandals, and realistic hopes for the papal visit to Canada.
Listen

Picture
New resources to help enrich your marriage
Acquiring the virtues and skills necessary for a happy and holy marriage requires work (accompanied by a lot of grace, of course!) But you don't have to journey alone. To Know, Love and Serve: A Path to Marital Fulfilment is a book and workbook developed by registered psychologists, Melissa Guzik and and Jean MacKenzie to assist Catholic couples in working towards this lofty goal.

We will be sharing insights from To Know, Love and Serve once a month in the WINDOW. Watch for more to come!
Read more

Picture
​Landry: We are given an indelible spiritual mark on our souls

One lasting image from Toy Story 2 is found on the bottom of cowboy doll Woody’s boot. There, you would find the name ‘Andy’ written in permanent marker.
Read more

​Rolheiser: Naming the present moment

Not everything can be fixed or cured, but it should be named properly. Richard Rohr said that. James Hillman suggests something similar when he wrote that a symptom suffers most when it doesn’t know where it belongs. Where does our present moment belong vis-à-vis our faith in God and the relevance of our churches?
Read more
Picture

​Father Cristino Bouvette: Residential schools, reconciliation and the Catholic priesthood
Fr. Cristino is a born and raised Albertan, ordained for the Diocese of Calgary on June 22, 2012. He served as a seminarian and associate pastor in a number of parishes before taking up his current role as Vicar for Vocations and Young Adults in July, 2017.

Since then he has helped to establish the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy for university students and young adults in the Diocese of Calgary. He oversees that growing project based out of St. Mary's Cathedral.

Given his unique perspective, Fr. Cristino was recently interviewed by CJAD radio in Montreal. In this eight minute interview, he shares how he reconciles his vocation with his Indigenous identity, his thoughts on the Holy Father's visit, and a message for those who are struggling with their faith.
Listen to interviewThis week in Up Front with the Archbishop podcast  we sit down with Fr. Cristino Bouvette to talk about the legacy of the Canadian residential schools within his family, the Church's relationship with Indigenous people, and his perspective on the past year as an Indigenous Catholic priest.
Listen to podcast
Picture

Picture
Elder Abuse Resources and Supports (EARS)

EARS provides support, assessment and referral as well as information and presentations to elderly adults who are at risk of experiencing abuse or neglect.

Contact Catholic Social Services at
780-477-2929 to schedule an Elder Abuse Awareness & Prevention presentation in your parish.
Read more

Picture
The Cheerful Giver: Skinny-decaf-latte or Church?
 
"Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." -2 Cor 9: 7
 
Most people, including many Catholics, think nothing about committing to a four-year car loan or a 20-year mortgage, but are not willing to commit to even a year of giving to their Church.

They write a cheque when it doesn’t hurt to do so, or give what is in their pocket when the collection basket comes around. The Church should not be just one obligation among many or – worse – at the bottom of the financial priorities list, somewhere between “skinny-decaf-latte” and “family movie night.”
 
The Church, as the Body of Christ, is the source and succour of our very life and being. We should see giving to the Church as a privilege, not as a duty, and give gratefully out of thanksgiving for all that we have been given by God.

As St. Paul says:

“For your giving does not end in meeting the wants of your fellow-Christians. It also results in an overflowing tide of thanksgiving to God.Stéphane Haché
Moreover, your very giving proves the reality of your faith, and that means that people thank God that you practise the Gospel that you profess to believe in, as well for the actual gifts you make to them and to others. And yet further, people will pray for you and feel drawn to you because you have obviously received a generous measure of the grace of God.” (2 Cor 9:12-14)

If you have questions about Christian giving or fund development in the Archdiocese of Edmonton, please email donor engagement lead Stéphane Haché.
Email Stéphane



​Lessons in Fear
 
There's a lot of fear out there these days, and that's the subject of Steven's vlog this week. He reflects specifically on the biblical phrase "Fear of the Lord Your God," and explains how we can use this kind of fear to make our best and most important life decisions.
 
For more video reflections by Steven, Father Kris, and Sister Marie Therese, check out the Grandin Media vlog playlist.

​Omni Die Dic Mariae
Virtual Choir
 
Seeking the beautiful in this time of pandemic? Vital Grandin Latin Mass Chaplaincy Choir has put together a virtual choir comprising of members of Vital Grandin Choir, some of who are also part of St. Andrews Gregorian Chant Choir, and members from a women's choir at St. Joseph Basilica. Enjoy their wonderful gift!

Left Footers: Who is the Holy Spirit?
 
In a special virtual episode of Left Footers, Grandin Media’s online talk show, Rev. Roger Niedzielski has a conversation with Rev. Michael Bombak about who the Holy Spirit is and what difference it makes to you.
Father Bombak is pastor of the Ukrainian Catholic parishes of St. Olga in Vermilion and Descent of the Holy Spirit Parish in Lloydminster.

More Left Footers

Video Blog: The Hardest Part of being a Father
 
There are a lot of opinions on how to be a good father. Steven Defer, father of three, asked a few of his good friends to name the hardest part of being a dad. The answers he gets are diverse, and illustrative of a central theme that runs through Scripture.
 
See more vlogs from Steven on Grandin Media's Youtube Channel. ​

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
    • Message from the Pastor
    • Contact
    • SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION
    • Weekly Bulletin >
      • Parish Calendars
    • History
    • News & Events >
      • More News
    • Parish Registration Form
    • Week at a Glance
    • Engaging the Mission >
      • Support Our Parish
  • Sunday Reflections
  • OUR FAITH
    • Growing in Faith
    • Just Five More Minutes - Videos
    • Consubstantial?
    • Dogmas of the Catholic Church
    • Indulgences
    • Liturgical Colours
    • Liturgical Year
    • PRAYER >
      • Some Basic Prayers
      • Grace Before Meals
      • Divine Mercy Chaplet >
        • The Divine Mercy Novena
      • Eucharistic Adoration
      • The Rosary
    • Purgatory
    • Saint of the Month >
      • Patron Saints
  • Liturgical Schedules
  • Youth
  • Our Hope
  • Careers
  • Resources
  • Called by Name
    • Permanent Deacons
  • Retreat Centres
  • Our Lady of Fatima
  • St. Anthony Parish - Didsbury
  • Knights of Columbus
  • PILGRIMAGES