Inductions:

Archbishop Greg will, God willing, conduct several Services of Induction in the month of September:

The Rev. Dr. Julio Reis Simoes as Incumbent of Christ Church, Fort Macleod, on Tuesday, September 3, at 6:00 pm. 

The Rev. Simba Mutandwa as Incumbent of Holy Cross, Calgary, on Wednesday, September 4, at 7:00 pm.

The Rev. Rob Cowie as Incumbent of Christ Church, Nanton, on Wednesday, September 18, at 7:00 pm.

The Rev. Tony Hilling as Incumbent of St. Paul, Calgary, on Wednesday, September 25, at 7:00 pm.

Please mark these dates on your calendar.  Clergy who are able to attend are asked to do so to support these Incumbents in their ministries.  Color will be Red.

August 10 - Deacons' Day at Holy Nativity, Calgary

August 10 - Cursillo Ultreya and Potluck, Ingevelds' Ranch, Sundre

August 11 - Outdoor Eucharist and BBQ, Greenwood Campground, Sundre

August 12 to 19 - Holidays

Please hold Archbishop Greg in your prayers as he serves as our Bishop and Metropolitan.

Join us at St. Martin's Church at Heritage Park throughout the summer, as clergy from St. Peter, Calgary conduct a short mid-day prayer service from the Book of Common Prayer in this historic house of worship.

Built in 1896 in the Pincher Creek area, St. Martin's Church was donated to Heritage Park in 1964. The church grounds have been consecrated and put under the aegis of the Anglican Diocese of Calgary, meaning only ordained ministers are permitted to perform services there. Special Sunday services and numerous weddings are performed in St. Martin’s Church each year.

Revs. Bonnie and Rob will do their best to provide services that are authentic to the time period, with prayers, hymns and a short reflection. The church is small, but all are welcome!

To register for this course, please contact Barbara Labrecque.

What is worship?   Why do we worship?  What constitutes Christian Worship?  This course will examine the Biblical and theological foundations of worship and its particular expression in our Anglican liturgical tradition.  Students will explore the theology, structure, and purpose of the Offices and sacraments, with a view to building connections between understanding and practice, and growing in sensitivity and reverence.  The course will also cover practical matters, including instruction about appropriate use of vestments, and appropriate liturgical forms according to Diocesan norms.

This course is one of the requirements for obtaining License A, B and C.

Date: Saturday, October 19, 2024, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Location will be via Zoom and in-person at Holy Cross Anglican Church, Calgary.

Instructor: The Most Rev. Gregory Kerr-Wilson

To register for this course, please contact Barbara Labrecque.

For many years, students of the Calgary School of Discipleship have been working hard to obtain licenses for Licensed Lay Ministry.  This spring, six students achieved all the necessary coursework to receive a permanent license.  Medallions have been designed and ordered, and the Diocese Office is excited to announce that they are now here.  Permanent Licenses and Medallions for Leading Morning and Evening Prayer, Offering Reserved Sacrament and Preaching, or a combination of the three, will now be awarded and blessed, once parish services for the students have been arranged.  We are so grateful to all the students who have achieved or are working towards licensing, for their hard work, efforts and willingness to share their faithful leadership.

Looking for a way to deepen your understanding of the Christian faith and enhance the connection between what you believe and how you live your daily life?  The Education for Ministry (EfM) program combines independent study and weekly small group discussions to provide a basic grounding in theology to Christian laypeople. The EfM curriculum explores the content and origins of Scripture, follows Church history from its earliest days, and examines issues in Christian theology. Group members engage in individual and group theological reflection throughout their studies to bring our different life experiences and perspectives into conversation with our faith, helping to discern God’s call to each of us. EfM is an extension program of an Episcopal theological school; there is a lot to read (including the whole Bible) but there are no exams. Students commit to one year at a time and those completing all four years of the program receive a certificate of completion.   

For more information on registration or this program, please contact Jennifer Solem at efmcalgary@outlook.com.  

We were so thrilled to have Lois, Debbie and Pam, three of our Missional Coaches, travel to St. Cyprian, Lacombe and provide a Missional Workshop.  Folks in Lacombe were welcoming and open, and it was our pleasure to spend time with them!

ALL Parish Councils have been asked by Archbishop Greg to have a Missional Workshop/Presentation from our coaches.  When will yours be?

Please email the Missional Coaches to book your workshop today!

Outdoor Ultreya – Campout – Outdoor Service - BBQ

The great Sundre Outdoor Ultreya, campout, outdoor service, and BBQ is being planned for the second weekend in August. 

Join us at the historic Double N Ranch, south of Sundre, AB on Saturday, August 10 for a Potluck and Ultreya.  Arrival around 4:00 pm, potluck supper at 5:00 pm, Ultreya at 6:00 pm.  We have lots of room for campers and tents, even some RV hook-ups.

The Outdoor Service on Sunday, August 11 will take place at the Greenwood Campground Gazebo (in Sundre) beginning at 11:00 am, with Archbishop Greg presiding.  BBQ to follow; bring a salad or dessert for Sunday; we’ve got everything else.

Call to reserve a free camping spot at the Ingeveld Ranch at (403) 638-6908 or Jack Goodall for camping in Sundre at (403) 638-2130.

Join the Franciscan Friars at Mount St. Francis as we celebrate 75 years of Retreat Ministry.

Saturday, August 10 - Family Festival Day with live music, food trucks, and activities for the whole family

Sunday, August 11 - Anniversary Mass with Bishop McGrattan.  BBQ Banquet to follow

We will be gathering on Saturday, October 5 (from 9:45 am to 3:00 pm), graciously hosted by St. Barnabas, Calgary, to be together, to learn from others and each other, and to celebrate pastoral care ministry happening in our parishes.  This is meant to be a time of interaction and team building.

While this day may specifically be helpful to those with a pastoral care team (however formal or informal), others are certainly welcome.  Topics will include: grief and end-of-life; Hospice Calgary; prayer; Anglican Fellowship of Prayer; examples of pastoral care teams; diocesan parishes; and thoughts around a healing service.

You are asked to bring your own lunch/beverage, and consider a free will offering to support pastoral care in our Companion Diocese of the Windward Islands.

For more information, please contact Rev. Tracey.

We are excited to announce the dates for upcoming Fall Cursillo Weekends!  The Men's Weekend will run from Thursday, October 31 to Sunday, November 3, and the Women's Weekend will be from Thursday, November 7 to Sunday, November 10.  Now is the time to pray and consider if you should attend, or you should sponsor someone to attend.  

The Cursillo Secretariat has been considering how to streamline the Movement by looking at the way Weekends are currently run, and the potential for offering a shortened version in the form of a two-day Weekend next Spring.  

It is vital for timely communications to be made available at the Parish level, so each parish should have a Parish Rep, who can receive and distribute information to the Cursillistas, and encourage folks who may wish to attend Weekends.

As well, our Clergy are asked to consider attending a Weekend if they have not done so, to promote the Movement when they can, and to consider working on the Spiritual Team on a Weekend.

For more information or to be in touch with the Secretariat, please click here.

A retired Anglican priest is offering his library of books to be gifted to any who might want it.

The collection includes several biblically-focussed theological books, on topics of the Old Testament, Judaism, New Testament, apologetics, and philosophy of religion.  (He is guessing there's 2000 books there).  As well there are about 250 books on meditation, personal prayer, spiritual direction, and related topics, about 120 books on theories of democracy and social justice, 35 books on world religions, and miscellaneous recent books on modern thought (genetics, evolution, secular society, etc.)

This collection would also come with sturdy bookshelves to hold the books.  

It is preferred that someone take the entire library and cull it at their convenience.  The books would need to be packed and transported.

If this collection appeals to you, please contact the Diocese Office for the priest's contact information.

Two brothers with Bachelor Degrees in Accounting and Finance from their home countries, as well as diplomas from SAIT majoring in accounting, are seeking volunteer opportunities in accounting or office administration so that they can build up job experience for work resumes.  They are in their mid-twenties and their English is excellent.  If your Calgary-area parish can offer some weekly volunteer hours where they might fulfill this request, please email the office at St. George's, Calgary or call (403) 280-3579.

Many people have been wondering how to help the good folks in Jasper.  As is common in these situations, it takes time for people and organizations to sort out details after attending to the emergency issues.

There are two ways to donate funds to this cause:

1. An e-transfer to The Anglican Diocese of Edmonton

2. Cheques to The Anglican Diocese of Calgary, with Jasper Wildfire in the memo line, or an e-transfer to our office.  We will collect funds until August 31, at which time we will forward all funds to the Diocese of Edmonton who ensures us that all those funds will go to ministry efforts in Jasper.

Donations to either of these will guarantee a donation receipt.

Thank you for your consideration of a donation, and your concern and care for our brothers- and sisters-in-Christ in Jasper.

Please keep them in your prayers.

The Diocese Office was greatly saddened to learn of the death of The Ven. Peter Millen on July 22.  He was 91.

Peter served throughout this diocese from St. Luke’s, Red Deer to Crowsnest Pass parishes, from St. George-in-the-Pines, Banff, St. Edmund’s, Calgary, and most recently St. Michael & All Angels prior to its amalgamation with St. Cyprian to form Holy Cross, Calgary.  He was Regional Dean of Calgary and Palliser, Archdeacon of Bow Valley and as Diocesan Registrar during his ministry. 

A full obituary can be found here.

Please pray for Anne and family, for peace, strength and comfort at this sad time.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of The Rev. Canon Herbert O’Driscoll, at the age of 95.

An obituary from the Diocese of New Westminster can be found here: https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/news/in-memoriam--12843

For nine years prior to his retirement (1984 to 1993), he was Incumbent of Christ Church, Calgary.

May he rest in peace and rise in Glory.

One of the gifts of belonging to a global communion is that we discover our family ties with Anglicans around the world and become more aware of our responsibility as siblings in Christ to support and care for one another.  The Anglican Church of Canada shares a particular concern for the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, its Archbishop, Hasam Naoum, and its people as the land of Jesus' life and ministry, and in the midst of ongoing politiacal tensions in the Middle East and the current war between Hamas and Israel.

The Companions of Jerusalem was formed to nurture and support our relationship with the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and its ministries and to educate ourselves in preparation for pilgrimages and for advocacy for justice and peace in the Holy Land.  

Anglicans across Canada are asked to consider a modest donation and share information about the Companions of Jerusalem.  A video has been created, teaching about the land and its people.  Click here to become a Companion.

Thank you for your mutual support as part of the family of God.

Many folks may not know that the Diocese of Calgary is corporately a member of The Compass Rose Society.  The Compass Rose Society was created in 1994 to support the global ministry of the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Anglican Communion, and has become an important financial resource to the Communion and a valuable voice in supporting the work of maintaining and improving unity in the Communion.   It is involved in and supports life-improving projects all over the world – working in impoverished and overcrowded cities in Brazil or in the church-run orphanages that house HIV/AIDS victims in South Africa amongst other projects. 

While the Diocese is a member corporately, the Compass Rose Society also seeks individual members to support the work and engage with the projects.  The Society meets once a year in London, and members also have rare opportunities to participate in Communion Visits to Anglican churches around the world. You will meet church, political and governmental leaders and travel in the company of the secretary general of the Anglican Communion.  Canadian members also become members of the Canadian Chapter of the Society.

If you are interested please do visit the website, and/or speak to the Diocesan Office.

We need your help!  Each year, Hope Mission provides backpacks and school supplies to children and youth we support.  Please consider donating a backpack and/or school supplies.

There is a wish list on Amazon, but items we need are: binders, notebooks, washable markers, pencil crayons, erasers, pencil sharpeners, pencil cases, rulers, glue sticks and white glue, lined paper, calculators, and Duo Tangs or folders.

We are open to receive donations Monday to Thursday, from 9:00 am to Noon, at the Hope Mission Hub, 4869 Hubalta Road SE.  Deadline for drop off items is Friday, August 16.

Please help if you are able.  You will make a huge difference to vulnerable kids in our communities!  Thank you!

Please remember in your prayers:

- for peace within our country, and in the world, for victims of violence, war and natural disasters, and for areas of unrest and riots.  We ask for wise discernment in our leaders; 

- for the Windward Islands recovering from Hurricane Beryl;

- for the Town of Jasper, and the people of the Parish of St. Mary & St. George, suffering the loss of their church home;

- for those who are sick, suffering, isolated or in need.  We ask for prayers for Barbara, Dan, Karen, Ruth and James, Kate, Rosemary, Janet, Winnie, David and Gay, Victoria, Patricia, John, Joanna, and Lester;

- for the Wall family - for peace and strength during this difficult time, and for Lily, that the Lord will keep her safe and cared for and that she will find a way to return home;

- for those who have died and those who mourn, remembering the Millen family and the O'Driscoll family;

- for the poor, the homeless, and the needy in our communities;

- for our Indigenous brothers and sisters, and their leaders in our diocese and country; 

- for refugees, remembering those fleeing regimes around the world.

Request a prayer:

Send prayer requests to ctubman@calgary.anglican.ca to let us know how we can pray for you.  We will only use first names which will be removed after two or three weeks.  We will also pray for you during our regular Chapel services each week.  Please ensure that you have permission from those whose names you are submitting for prayer, and that they understand their name will be made public to all who subscribe to the Newsletter.

We are interested in what is happening in your parish and would love to highlight those events and news in our newsfeed.

We look forward to your contributions - feel free to forward your event announcements, your parish news, your stories.  Send in your details and pictures to ctubman@calgary.anglican.ca.