Clergy Move:

The Rev. Brian Way will be retiring, and stepping down as Priest-in-Charge of St. Clement, Balzac, after over five years of faithful ministry there.  We wish him all the best in his retirement, and ask for your prayers for the future of ministry at St. Clement's.

Ordinations:

Archbishop Greg is pleased to announce his intention to ordain, God willing, two candidates to the Order of Deacons.  We ask for your prayers for Mrs. Pat Kover of St. Andrew, Calgary and Mrs. Kari Pentland of St. Aldhelm, Vulcan.  The Ordination Service will be held at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, Calgary on Saturday, May 2 at 2:00 pm.  Clergy are asked to vest for this service; color will be RED.

Sabbatical:

Archbishop Greg will be on sabbatical until April 16 and will return to the office on April 28.  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.

Clergy of our Diocese are asked to mark their calendars for these events that are being planned:

- Blessing of the Oils and Renewal of Ordination Vows will be held, God willing, at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, Calgary on Tuesday, March 31, beginning at 10:30 am.   Our Assistant Bishop, The Right Rev. Michael Hawkins will be officiating.  Clergy are asked to robe; color will be RED.

- Ordination Service at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, Calgary on Saturday, May 2 beginning at 2:00 pm.  Clergy are asked to robe; color will be RED.

- the annual Clergy Conference will be held, God willing, at Waterton Lakes Lodge from Monday, May 4 to Thursday, May 7.  Registration for this event has been sent out to clergy.

January 18 to April 16 - On Sabbatical

April 17 to 25 - Provincial and National House of Bishops

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

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!  This month, The Rev. Dr. Pilar Gateman discusses Missional Coaches.  Tune in to the Podcast here.

Please contact Br. Jason Carroll for more information (jcarroll@calgary.anglican.ca)

We at the Church of the Epiphany took our turn in Rimbey to host the annual World Day of Prayer.  Approximately 40 people from several of the churches in the community attended and participated in the presentation of the service, written this year by the women of Nigeria.  Following a worship service of information, inspiration and some lively music, we enjoyed a luncheon consisting of Nigerian recipes, prepared by the women of our ACW and served in our fellowship hall.

The 40 days of Lent symbolize the 40 days in the wilderness by Jesus. Spending time in the wilderness often coincides with a period of fasting but what if we need to fast from other things than food? Maybe our soul needs a different kind of fast. Maybe it needs a fast from the need to be strong or to be busy or to be right? This quiet day retreat will invite us to hold a different kind of fast during this season of Lent. 

Saturday, March 21

For more information, please contact the Cathedral office.

Our next AFP Morning Prayer on zoom will be March 28, 2026 at 8:30 am.

Have you been reflecting on how we care for one another within our parish family?  Are you curious about pastoral care and how you might share in this ministry of compassion and presence?

We invite you to join us for a seven week online Zoom course, where we will gently explore the heart of pastoral care together. Topics include the theology of pastoral care, caring for self, compassionate communication, and the realities of grief, death, dying and loss, alongside themes of healing, wholeness, and joy.  There will be opportunities to learn, reflect, and practice in a supportive environment.

Together, we will share resources and build a sense of pastoral community.

Whether you are beginning to explore pastoral care, hoping to deepen your skills, or discerning your place within a team, you are warmly welcome. This course is open to both clergy and laity.  Please ask all questions or register by contacting Rev. Tracey.

When: Wednesdays from May 6 to June 17

Where: Zoom

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:45 pm

Cost: none

Number of participants: Minimum of 6; Maximum of 14

Deadline to register: April 22 or a full course.  A waiting list will be available.

Please note that effective April 1, 2026, our email address will be:

stedmundsfoodbank@gmail.com

As of April 1, please use this e-mail address for e-transfers.

Church Banners Available: The Mission of St. Edmund's has approximately 12 colourful banners in excellent shape, free to a good home.  They are about 2' x 3' in size and  include most of the church seasons.  These are available from the St. Edmund's Foodbank, open on Mondays and Thursdays from 9:00 to 11:30 am.  We are located in the Mission Hall building behind the Diocesan Offices at 8336 - 34 Avenue NW.  You can also make an appointment with Linda.

Urgent Need for Prayers for Refugees in Pakistan and Afghanistan:

We ask for your prayers for refugees that we are currently sponsoring in areas that are under active conflict or war, in particular our Afghan cases in Pakistan (and also in Afghanistan).

Some of our parishes and other groups have teamed up with us to bring several refugees and refugee families from Afghanistan, and they are yet to arrive.  We have had the opportunity to communicate with all the refugees prior to deciding to sponsor them.  Many are human rights defenders, women's rights advocates, social workers, teachers, parents with small children and women escaping forced marriages and inhumane treatment.

Most of them are seeking asylum in Pakistan, but the government of that country is massively deporting all Afghans, while Canada's processing times are lengthy and currently not in the position to bring the refugees to safety as soon as needed.  Sadly, we have had several cases deported back to Afghanistan, where their lives are at significant risk from the Taliban.  To make matters worse, last week, a war broke out between the two countries, putting many innocent refugees at even more risk.

We would ask that you please pray for their safety and for a prompt arrival in Canada, where parishes and family members are ready to receive and fully support them.

We will share, in the near future, other ways you can help us advocate for these and other refugee cases so that they find safety in Canada sooner.

If you are interested in learning how you can support our work, please write to Joanne or Sofia.  

Parish Reps for Alongside Hope do important work.  They keep their congregations up-to-date on the important work of our Anglican Charity. There are many projects underway: emergency food relief, training in small farming practices, training in how to run a small business, water capture, solar energy the size of a suitcase for remote hospitals, purchase of livestock for food security and income generation, and on and on.  Many Parish Reps hold an annual fundraiser for Alongside Hope.  Many congregations enjoy keeping track of how many goats they can purchase from the Christmas World of Gifts campaign or collect donations for our Alongside Hope partner, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. This is not always an easy task and it is my job to support them.

In that light, we are hosting an informational and inspirational conference for ALL Alongside Hope Representatives. In the interest of pooling resources and generating enthusiasm, all the three dioceses of Alberta will be hosting this conference.   People from the Diocese of Athabasca, the Diocese of Edmonton as well as the Diocese of Calgary are invited to attend.

May 22-24, 2026.(The weekend after the long weekend.)  Most expenses will be covered and carpooling will be provided.

Not a Parish Rep?  That’s OK, you are still invited.  Any person interested in the work of Alongside Hope is encouraged to apply.

For more information or questions, please email Lois Reid, Diocesan Rep.

This may be a bit of a long shot.  The Carewest Garrison Creen is seeking a volunteer who speaks Azorean Portuguese who would be willing to visit one of their residents.

The recreational therapist feels that this resident would greatly benefit from spending time with someone who speaks their native language.  Having a visitor who can communicate in Azorean Portuguese could make a meaningful difference in helping reduce feelings of isolation and support their overall well-being.

If you happen to speak this language and would be open to visiting this person at Carewest Garrison Green (3108 Don Ethell Blvd. SW in Calgary), please feel free to be in touch with their volunteer coordinator.

This is our 36th annual gathering and our theme is “Finding Comfort in the Valley” {based on Psalm 23}, with the Rev. Elizabeth Short.

The weekend is a nurturing and renewing time for women from a variety of Christian communities.

Affordable Housing: Speaking to City Council:

Affordable housing remains one of the top issues facing Calgarians.  Our city has been making great strides in addressing this crisis following its affordable housing strategy that we campaigned for.

Now, one of its key strategies, along with over $800 million in funding for affordable housing, is at risk if the rezoning strategies are repealed without a replacement that secures federal funding for affordable housing and continues to meet the objectives of the affordable housing strategy.

You can act and make a difference.  One of the key actions that is needed is for people to speak before the Council at the Public Hearing that starts on March 23, 2026.

If you sign up here, we will send you times, links to training on how to speak to Council, fact sheets, and most importantly, we will connect you with others who are speaking before Council so that we can engage this important issue together.

WHEN: March 23 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

WHERE: Calgary City Council (800 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary, T2G 5E6)

CONTACT: Ryan Anderson or call (403) 993-7123

The Uncommonly Good Celebration Dinner: 

Special Guest: Honouring former Mayor Jyoti Gondek for her Uncommonly Good leadership.  We will hear her reflections on the lessons she learned about public leadership and on the future of our city.

We are requesting each of our organizations contribute items for one to three baskets or one to three items, experiences or opportunities for our Silent Auction.  If you are interested in contributing or have any questions, please contact us.  We would be delighted to arrange for item pick-up or receive donations.  

To buy tickets, please click here.

WHEN: April 25 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

WHERE: Temple B'nai Tikvah (900 - 47 Avenue SW, Calgary, T2S 3C8)

Taste and See...

Anglican Renewal Ministries (ARM) is dedicated to bringing the life and power of the Holy Spirit to all Christians.  Thanks be to God, ARM has been serving the Anglican Church of Canada for 40 years!  In addition to workshops on the person and gifts of the Holy Spirit, we also offer a quarterly magazine called "Taste and See..." with articles to uplift and encourage you in your walk with Christ.  We hope this magazine will be a source of encouragement to all.  Sample articles and a free copy of the magazine are available on our website.

The Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2026 Say Yes! to Kids (SYTK) campaign, the Foundation's national fundraising initiative supporting children and youth-focused ministry across the Anglican Church of Canada.

Parishes, dioceses and Anglican-affiliated organizations can register by April 1, here.

SYTK equips local ministry partners with fundraising tools, matching incentives and communications support to help strengthen programs that serve children, youth and young people in their own communities.   Campaign teams will fundraise locally in the spring, with Say Yes! to Kids Sunday taking place on Sunday, June 14.

To support teams who are new to the campaign - or those who would like to learn more before registering - AFC will host a series of Say Yes! to Kids Info Sessions via Zoom on Wednesdays in February at Noon EST (10:00 am MST).  Participants can register for a Zoom Info Session here.

For questions or more information, please contact Michelle Hauser.

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 Archbishop of Canterbury, 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, Joan, James, Doug, Beth, Janis, Faten, John, John and Lucille, Ronalynn and Chris;

- for those who have died and those who mourn, remembering the family of The Most Rev. Douglas Hambidge;

- 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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