Clergy Moves:

Archbishop Greg is pleased to announce that he has appointed The Rev. Brandon Witwer to be the new Incumbent for the Parish of All Saints, Cochrane as of March 8.  We ask for your prayers for Rev. Brandon as he transitions to this new role, and ask God to bless the parish as they journey together.

We welcome two new priests to our Diocese:

Rev. Lawrence Kopp has been received into the Anglican Church and will be assisting at St. Augustine, Lethbridge when needed.  Rev. Joshua Kwak, an Anglican priest from Korea is now residing in Calgary and will be assisting at Holy Trinity, Calgary, offering services in Korean.  We are thankful for the ministry of these two priests and look forward to getting to know them.

Sabbatical:

Archbishop Greg will be on sabbatical from January 18 until April 16.  During this time away, he has appointed The Right Rev. Michael Hawkins as Commissary for Episcopal acts and representing Archbishop Greg at Diocesan committee meetings.  He has also delegated oversight of the Diocesan Office to The Rev. Deacon Charmaine Evans, our Executive Officer.

Archbishop Greg Kerr-Wilson along with the Diocesan Council has announced that the 80th Convention of Synod has been called for Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24, 2026, to be held at St. Peter Anglican Church, Okotoks.

Licensed Clergy and Lay Delegates to Synod must attend. Each parish needs to ensure that appropriate Lay Delegates have been elected at their Annual Meetings of Parishioners. These delegates must meet the criteria detailed in Canon 13.4c, and be willing to commit to the preparation for and attendance at Synod. Preparation includes the reading and being familiar with all materials sent out prior to Synod. Delegates, both Clergy and Lay, may be called upon to put their name forward for the following nominations:
- Provincial Synod (required: 3 Clergy, 2 Lay, 1 Youth)
- General Synod (required: 3 Clergy, 3 Lay, 1 Youth)
- Diocesan Council (required: 1 Clergy and 1 Lay from each of the 5 Deaneries)

This year’s Synod will be held over two days to allow for time to consider Missional, Financial, and Budget issues, and to avoid rushing the consideration of other issues. We are pleased to be celebrating this 80th Convention of Synod, and ask for ideas regarding how we can mark this occasion.

Please remember: Annual Returns must be in by Saturday, March 14th, 2026 in order for parishes to be permitted to send Synod delegates.

Any questions or concerns can be forwarded to The Rev. Deacon Charmaine Evans, Chair of the Synod Steering Committee and Executive Officer of the Diocese (officer@calgary.anglican.ca).

Please note that according to our Canons, Annual Meetings of Parishioners must be held prior to February 28, and the Annual Return forms must be in by March 14.

On Saturday, January 17, Archbishop Greg ordained The Rev. Luke Lima as priest, at Grace Anglican United, Blairmore.

We celebrate and ask God to bless this new ministry for Rev. Luke.

Photo credit - Kim Getty

January 18 to April 16 - On Sabbatical

Please hold Archbishop Greg in your prayers as he takes this time away for rest and refreshment.

The Diocesan Office has received word that The City of Calgary’s new water main line to run parallel to the current aging water main will be constructed along 34^th Avenue NW – which is the roadway which runs beside St. Edmund’s House.

This construction project is scheduled to begin January 26 and last for approximately three weeks.  This will make access difficult for visitors to our office.  Access is still available through the back alley and parking will still be available on a limited basis in our parking lot. 

If you are arriving at our office for a meeting or appointment, please check with the staff as to the street conditions and parking availability during this time.

The Ministry Development team offers time for lay ministers from around the diocese (new and locally ordained too!)  to gather each week to discuss and reflect upon the readings for the week in preparation for preaching. Academic resources (commentaries, etc) will be made available for participants, and it will be a great opportunity to share ideas and resources for lay ministers who are preaching in their local services.  

Time: Tuesdays from 1:00 to 3:00 pm

Location: on Zoom

Please contact Br. Jason Carroll to sign up or for more information. 

The Ministry Development team offers 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. 

In the third week of each month, we will be producing a podcast with a different guest and topic for discussion. 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 contact Br. Jason Carroll for more information (jcarroll@calgary.anglican.ca)

This course will introduce students to the discipline of theology. We will discover the "why" and "how" of theology, drawing on some of the most important theologians of Christian history. The course will be structured around the Apostles’ Creed as the backbone of theology. We'll also cover how Anglicans approach theology.  And we will begin to see how theology is lived out in our daily lives. 

This is an entry-level course and will be tailored to different levels. It will, as much as possible, be seminar-style or discussion-based rather than lecture-based. We will be reading both primary and secondary sources.

A second class may be considered if this time does not suit many students or if interest greatly exceeds the 12-student limit.  A syllabus is available.  Students should register early to secure a spot and order their texts.

Date: Saturdays, January 31 to April 18, 2026

Location: On Zoom (and Google Classroom)

Time: 2:00 to 4:00 pm

Cost: $100

Instructor: The Rev. Greg Clark

To register, please contact Barbara Labrecque.

In many people's minds, the word "ministry" refers to a domain restricted to clergy.  All baptized Christians, however, are called by God into ministry.  This course will explore how our personal faith journey and the living out of our baptismal vows relate to how we are called to engage the world as followers of Jesus.  Jesus calls us to follow him, and that means he also calls us to be a Christian for others.  Students will explore how their spiritual formation and discipleship engage the world.

This is one of the required courses for CSD licensing.

Date: Saturdays, February 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2026

Location: on Zoom

Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Cost: $60

Instructor: The Rev. Chris Roth

To register, please contact Barbara Labrecque.

Christmas Gift Cards: The Diocesan Refugee committee extends its deep appreciation to the parishioners of Holy Nativity, Calgary for their generous support of our newcomers through their Christmas Gift Card donation program!  For 11 families and individuals, the Christmas season was brighter and easier with your kind support!

The WOMEN IN NEED Initiative: In some societies, women and girls face discrimination and violence every day simply because of their gender. An ordinary task like collecting water or going to the toilet can put them at risk of rape or abuse. In times of displacement, this problem escalates.

Women and girls make up around 50 per cent of any refugee, internally displaced or stateless population, and those who are unaccompanied, pregnant, heads of households, disabled or elderly are especially vulnerable. (Taken from the UNHCR website.)

The Women in Need program is a new initiative developed by the Anglican Diocese of Calgary Refugee Committee for the sponsorship of women refugees and their children who are victims of torture, physical, sexual or emotional abuse, discrimination due to their gender, or other violations of their human rights.

The Refugee Committee is accepting donations from individuals and parish groups to help fund sponsorships for vulnerable women and children. Please consider donating to assist these very worthwhile cases through the WIN Project.  For more information, contact refugee@calgary.anglican.ca

You can donate by:

• Cheque - Make the cheque to “The Synod of the Diocese of Calgary” and note “Refugee Sponsorship Group - WIN project” in the MEMO Please mail to the Synod Office. Tax receipts are available.
• Canada Helps - Click the Donate button on the Diocesan Website and select “Refugee Ministry” from the drop down Please specify the donation is for WOMEN IN NEED Project.

The Kakuma Empowerment Program (KEP), a refugee-led initiative established in 2021, is dedicated to empowering refugee youth in the Kakuma Refugee Camp and the Kalobeyei Resettlement in Northwestern Turkana County in Kenya.  KEP has been supporting young people through biennial high school scholarships, tutoring, and mentorship initiatives designed to build capacity, resilience and leadership among refugee communities.

Currently, KEP operates on member contributions of $10 a month, which provides the foundation for scholarships and other programming.  Now the organization is seeking innovative and sustainable fundraising approaches.

The ReCYcle for EduCAtion project aims to address this need by creating a recycling-based fundraising model.  Starting in September 2025 in Calgary, the project will mobilize volunteers to collect reusable bottles and cans from partner institutions, including churches, schools, and residential apartments.  These items are delivered to recycling depots and proceeds will be directed toward KEP's education fund.

This is a pilot project to serve as a foundation for possible expansion across Canada.  The goal is to increase the number of KEP's scholarships from two to three, creating more opportunities for refugee youth to pursue secondary education.

If any one has recyclables, they can contact Rev. John Chuol who will pick them up and take them to the depot.  The money will be sent to support the KEP project.

Alongside Hope (formerly PWRDF) is our beloved Anglican charity that provides immediate humanitarian relief and long-term livelihood sustainability.  Many churches throughout our Diocese support this charity and have Alongside Hope Parish Reps.

We are excited to announce an all-expenses-paid Parish Rep Conference, taking place from Friday, May 22 to Sunday, May 24 (after the Long Weekend), along with representatives from the Diocese of Edmonton and the Diocese of Athabasca.  We will be gathering at the beautiful Star of the North Retreat Centre.  

Parish Reps have already begun to register, and we are now opening registration to any interested persons in our Anglican churches throughout the Diocese.

Please contact Diocesan Rep Lois Reid by email to register.  Act soon, as space is limited.

The next Calgary Cursillo Ultreya will be via Zoom.

We invite Cursillistas to join us for an evening of praise, online fellowship and an inspiring talk from our speaker.

The Wisdom Centre announces that Dr. Hillary McBride will be in Calgary for two events on January 25 & 26.  This includes a public lecture (with livestream option) to be held on the evening of Sunday, January 25, and a professionally oriented workshop to be held on Monday, January 26.

Tickets are available for the lecture (live or livestreamed) or as a package which includes the lecture and workshop.  

Please remember in your prayers:

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

- for the Anglican Communion, and our new Archbishop of Canterbury-elect, The Most Rev. Sarah Mullally;

- for the work of the General Synod, and for our 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, Gloria, Joan, James, Doug, Beth, Janis, Faten, John, and John and Lucille;

- for those who have died and those who mourn;

- 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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