Diocesan Office

After many years of service to our Diocese in his role as Chancellor and Solicitor, Peter Crisfield will be stepping down.  We are truly grateful for his wisdom, guidance, sense of humor and leadership.

Archbishop Greg has nominated Jeff Davidson as the new Chancellor for our Diocese, and this has been ratified by Diocesan Council.  We look forward to continuing to work with Jeff in this role, and ask for prayers for both Peter and Jeff as they journey forward.

Induction:

Archbishop Greg Kerr-Wilson will be inducting The Rev. Dr. Pilar Gateman as Incumbent of St. Benedict, High River on Sunday, September 7 at 10:30 am.  Please pray for Pilar and the people of St. Benedict as they move forward in faith together. 

New Clergy:

Archbishop Greg is pleased to announce, in consultation with the parish wardens and search committee, the hiring of a new priest.  The Rev. Daniel Hughes has been appointed as the new Incumbent for Church of the Epiphany, Rimbey as of September 1.  His first service will be September 14.  Please pray for Daniel and the parish as they journey together in faith. 

August 25 - 29 - Canadian Anglican Cursillo Secretariat gathering in Ottawa

August 31 - Annual Tri-Parish Service and Corn Roast at St. Ambrose, Redcliff at 10:00 am

September 7 - Induction Service for the Rev. Dr. Pilar Gateman at St. Benedict, High River at 10:30 am

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

O’kii. Greetings of grace and peace in the name of Christ.

From August 4-10, approximately 150 Indigenous and non-Indigenous lay, clergy, and elders gathered at the University of Calgary for the 12^th Sacred Circle of the Anglican Indigenous Church in Canada. Delegates, observers, and volunteers traveled from every province and territory to meet, celebrate, and connect, and to elect representation for the continuing work of Sacred Circle in its emerging self-determination from an Indigenous Ministry within the Anglican Church of Canada.

Beginning and ending with Celebrations of Holy Eucharist, the week saw an array of presentations, honourings, traditional teachings and dances, give-aways, and essential discussions. We concluded with elections to the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples, who carry out the tasks and directives given to them by Sacred Circle. Anglican Journal has several informative articles about the week, and  Anglican Video has some excellent videos you can access on the Anglican Church of Canada website.

God bless you.

Ven. Jacqui Durand

The Diocese of Calgary proudly sent our elected representatives to the Anglican Church of Canada's General Synod, held from the 23rd to the 30th this past June in London, Ontario.

Our delegates included Archbishop Greg Kerr-Wilson, three elected Clergy (Ven. Jacqui Durand, Ven. Noel Wygiera, and The Very Rev. Dr. Chris Dowdeswell), three elected Lay Delegates (Donna Wilson, Connie Jensen, and Hanna Wygiera) and our elected Youth Delegate, Beatryce Hardock.  

These representatives have created a report on the various aspects of their week in London, which can be found as a PDF below.

Thank you to all our Delegates for representing our Diocese, and for being part of the important decision-making and being our voice to the National Church.  

Annual Women's Auxiliary & Silver Cross Recipients Meeting and Luncheon: Saturday, September 20 at St. Peter Anglican Church, Calgary, with registration at 10:30 am, Eucharist beginning at 11:00, Lunch and a speaker at 12:00 noon.  Cost is $15.00.  If you are planning to attend, please contact Ann Bright at (403) 249-4975.

Starting in September 2025, the Ministry Development team will be offering time for lay ministers from around the diocese to gather once a month for discussion and conversation around the opportunities, challenges and needs of lay ministry. It is also a great opportunity to create connections and fellowship with other lay ministers in the diocese. 

Each month, we will be producing a podcast to engage in the third week of the month, with a different guest and topic for discussion each month. The Round Table will be held on the fourth Thursday of the month on Zoom in the afternoons, where the podcast and any other issues are on the table for discussion!

Please join us for our first sessions in September:
Sept. 18 – Podcast with Most Rev. Gregory Kerr Wilson
Sept. 25 – Round Table Discussion on Zoom @ 2pm
Please contact Br. Jason Carroll for more information (jcarroll@calgary.anglican.ca)

These workshops will give students a basic understanding of the theology, structure and purpose of the Daily Office, the Eucharist and the associated rite of the Reserved Sacrament. Students will be trained to organize appropriate services from the Book of Alternative Services (BAS), the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), and locally developed service books approved by the Bishop. Students will be able to plan a service of worship effectively, taking into account the sacramental context and liturgical season, and selecting appropriate Propers, readings, hymns, prayers and collects. The course will also cover practical matters such as appropriate strategies to navigate unexpected events in worship and the use of appropriate postures for leading worship. 

The Calgary Council of Christians and Jews is planning two special events on Tuesday, September 16.  Guest Speakers will be Dr. Norman C. Tobias with The Very Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Ready.

Lunchtime Event:  The Re-establishment of National Christian Jewish Dialogue in Canada

More than ever, the relationship between Christians and Jews is crucial in times of growing polarization around the world.  Clergy, scholars and everyone are invited to hear about the current and growing state of dialogue in Canada.

Location: Paperny Family JCC at 1607 - 90 Avenue SW, Calgary

A modest registration fee of $15 will apply to cover the cost of the kosher lunch.

Evening Lecture: Jewish Conscience of the Church: Jules Isaac and the Second Vatican Council

In the ever-important relationship between Christians and Jews in our world, this lecture explores the pivotal time when the Catholic Church, and all Churches, explored and re-examined their relationship with the Jewish people and Judaism.

Location: Temple B'Nai Tikvah at 900 - 47 Avenue SW, Calgary, 7:00 pm, free admission

Further event details will follow in the coming weeks.  

For more information about these events or the CCCJ, please contact: cccj.ab@gmail.com

Do you long to deepen your understanding of the Christian faith?  Would you like to live your faith more fully in word and deed in your daily life?  Do you enjoy meaningful conversation, engaging diverse viewpoints, and exploring differing interpretations? 

For more information or to register, please contact Jennifer Solem (Mentor)

If it has been a while since you took EfM or are new to EfM, now may be the time to join a group.  EfM can now be experienced in two ways: EfM: Classic (the program people have known and loved for 50 years) and now EfM: Wide Angle (a one-year taste of EfM: Classic's four years).

This new voice - EFM: Wide Angle takes a narrative approach and introduces participants to the EfM: Classic by touching on elements of all four years of the classic program in one year.  Anyone can take Wide Angle at any time.

How do participants experience the four years in one year?

- Through Rachael Held Evans' book Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again, participants learn about the stories of the Old and New Testaments and their impact on Christianity.

- Winnie Varghese introduces participants to the development of the church's teachings and how they have evolved for our present day in the book, Church Meets World: Church's Teachings for a Changing World.

- Joan Chittister's wisdom from The Monastic Heart: 50 Simple Practices for a Contemplative and Fulfilling Life is sprinkled throughout the year.

- Ladder to the Light: An Indigenous Elder's Meditations on Hope and Courage from Steven Charleston introduces theological thinking.

- Being Disciples: Essentials of the Christian Life by Rowan Williams provides guidance for living a Christian-based life.

- All core tests are supplemented by Bible readings, podcasts, videos, and other media.

How do participants experience the Wide Angle offering?

Both EfM: Classic and EfM: Wide Angle are delivered through an EfM mentor-led seminar group.  Both offerings can be combined into one seminar group and approached as five voices, or Wide Angle and Classic can be kept in separate seminar groups.  There is no pre-requisite for taking Wide Angle.

How do mentors and pariticipants access the Wide Angle offering?

Participants will access assignments through an online platform which also provides access to the multi-media content.  EfM: Wide Angle assignments are delivered alongside EfM: Classic content each week.  Everyone in the seminar has access to all assignments for every year of the program.

For more information, please contact Jennifer Solem.

The Commissioning Service will take place on Saturday, September 20, gathering at 9:00 and Eucharist service at 9:30, at Christ Church, Fort Macleod.  Please support those planning and serving on this Fall's teams.

Please consider sponsoring someone to experience a Cursillo Weekend.  Remember to share your Cursillo experiences with others in your church community and continue to pray for the Cursillo Movement in our Diocese and around the world.

Please join us for this one-day symposium, connecting the Old Testament Prophets with the Book of Revelation.

Guest Speakers will be The Rev. Deacon Dr. Megan Roberts and Dr. James Neumann, from Prairie College.

Saturday, September 27 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at St. Leonard-on-the-Hill Anglican Church.  

More details will available soon.  For questions and/or to RSVP, please contact the planning team.

This year, Alongside Hope is shining a light—literally—on safer births in Mozambique and Madagascar. We're raising funds for 49 Solar Suitcases: compact, powerful kits that bring light and essential tools to rural maternal clinics that often have no electricity. Thanks to a generous $150,000 matching gift, every dollar you give goes twice as far—bringing hope, safety, and light to where it’s needed most.

We are inviting photo submissions for the 2027 calendar and would love to see contributions from your diocese. Note that the deadline is earlier than usual this year: November 1, 2025. Submission guidelines and details are available at anglican.ca/about/calendar/submit-photos.

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 Anglican Communion, and for the selection of a new Archbishop of Canterbury;

- for the work of the General Synod, and for our new Primate, The Most Rev. Shane Parker;

- for our Companion Diocese of the Windward Islands;

- for those who are sick, suffering, isolated or in need.  We ask for prayers for Barbara, Maureen, Karen, Ruth and James, Kate, Rosemary, Patricia, Rob, Alan, Gloria, Joan, James, Sheila, Doug, Isaac, Beth and Janis;

- for those who have died and those who mourn, praying for the family of Jose Francisco Simoes;

- 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.

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