Sign-up here to attend
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Fr. Edmunds Pastoral Notes…
Be not afraid…
In our gospel today, Peter did well at the start of his improbable experience of walking on water. At the start, he was focused on Jesus, his eyes fixed on him as he stepped toward him. It was only when he became distracted and began to focus on his own efforts rather than on Jesus did he start to falter. In our lives, we can be like Peter and the disciples who can be so overwhelmed at times by fear or grief or doubt that we fail to recognize the presence of Jesus in the very midst of our personal storms. We can be so wrapped up in our own struggling efforts to deal with our problems and challenges that we tend to forget to trust in the One who alone can rescue or lose focus on the person of Christ who is our Lord and Savior. Many times, we fail to recognize Jesus in the events or places where we least expect to find him. We sometimes fail to recognize Jesus, refusing to believe the evidence of our own senses, in the midst of our critical times and experiences.
It is interesting to note that this event of walking on water is narrated after Jesus spent some time in the mountain by himself to pray. Today’s gospel states: “Immediately after feeding the crowd with the five loaves and two fish, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After he dismissed the crowds, he went the mountain by himself to pray…”
His life and his ministry is powered by his continuing dialogue with God the Father. The power of prayer is the principle of his powerful words and his powerful works. As Christians, we have to acknowledge the role of regular prayer in our lives. As Christians, we have to maintain that sense of focus on the person of Christ, if we expect not to falter in the midst of our personal storms. Prayer makes us strong, courageous and confident in God’s presence in our lives.
In a book entitled Man the Unknown, Nobel prize winner Dr Alexis Carrell writes about prayer: “Prayer is the most powerful form of energy we can generate… The influence of prayer on the human mind and body is as demonstrable as secreting glands… Only in prayer do we achieve that complete and harmonious assembly of body, mind and spirit which gives the frail human reed its unshakable strength.”
Let us end with a prayer that reminds us of our constant failure to experience the presence of God not only in the challenging moments of life but especially in the magnificent beauty of the things around us, which is particularly recognizable in the days of summer: “Lord of wind and rain, how are we to recognize you? We long to see your face, to hear your voice and to unveil the mystery that is your magnificence. Yet our human limits hold us back from fully recognizing you in the sunset and sunrise, the cycles of nature, the beauty of a flower, and the sounds of wind and water. Open us, free us, cleanse us that we might come to know and understand a little more of all that you can be in our lives. Amen.”
Healing Corner. Immigrant and refugee women who wanted to leave an abusive relationship reported that they faced numerous barriers to leaving including: attitudes of family, friends and community members; fear of poverty and homelessness; not knowing where to turn or what help was available; partners who dominate and control their communication with the outside world; and their immigration status or lack of status
Fr Edmund’s Updates
Wellness protocols will be with us a little while. By estimates, we are getting a mere half of our usual weekend Mass attendees. It can be construed that some parishioners are still afraid or not comfortable in attending in-person Masses. That hesitation may come from a perception that our church is not in compliance of the required AHS and diocesan directives, including the physical distancing, wearing of masks and disinfecting/sanitizing our church space. Our volunteers are doing their best to make our church worship services as safe as possible. We thank our volunteers for coming forward to help out. We ask our pre-pandemic volunteers and non-volunteers to indicate their willingness to help in our wellness ministries.
Our monthly Baptism Preparation Class (online at this time) will be on Saturday, August 22, 10am to 12noon. For next month, it will be on Saturday, September 26, 10am to 12 noon and every fourth (4th) Saturday of the month. We thank Ferdie & Malou Gayos of the Missionary Families of Christ (MFC) for coordinating and presenting this monthly catechesis. The timeline and preparation classes for Confirmation, First Reconciliation & First Communion will be finalized by September. For Marriage Preparation Classes, please contact the Catholic Family Services. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults will also be organized by September. For questions and clarifications, please contact Fr Edmund directly.
The Refugee Family from Turkey, sponsored through our parish upon suggestion of the diocese, is still going through the immigration process. We thank our group of supporters who have raised $22,750 of the targeted goal of $30,000. We will keep you updated as the process develops.
Misang Pilipino (Filipino Mass) will be celebrated on Saturday, September 5, at 6:30pm and every first Saturday of the month at 6:30 pm. Confessions (in English and in Pilipino) will be available at 5:45 to 6:15pm. Attendees need to register online at volunteersignup.org/AMQYL. Those unable to register online may email efvargas@shaw.ca or text 403 8742015 for seat reservations. The Mass will be in full compliance with the current AHS and diocesan directives, including contact tracing documentation, physical distancing, wearing of masks and disinfection/sanitizing procedures. Those interested to volunteer may contact Patricia Blas (403 6805979) or Fr Edmund (403 2521137).
Our sincere appreciation for your continuing support for the parish through your in-person contributions, mail-in and online donations.
We pray for health, healing and holiness.
Our livestream Mass at 10:30am Mass is now on Telus Optik Channel 876 under the Diocese of Calgary menu.
Please contact Fr. Edmund by phone (403 252-1137) or email (efvargas@shaw.ca) or text (403 8742015) for any need or concern.
FEED THE HUNGRY
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
St. Anthony’s will sponsor the traditional “Sunday Night” Feed the Hungry dinner on Sunday, September 20, 2020. CONFIRM YOUR PARTICIPATION AS ONE OF OUR 80 VOLUNTEERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Food/Hall preparation 9:30am – 1:30 pm (families with children under 12 welcome). Serving and greeting 2:30pm – 6:00pm (ages 12 years and up). Register as a volunteer.
| Shift | Activity | Positions Available |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30am - 1:30pm | Food & Hall Preparation | 15 of 20 |
| 12:30pm - 2:30pm | Desert Preparation | 0 of 3 |
| 2:30pm - 6:00pm | Serving & Greeting | 49 of 57 |
Event Ends In
isupport@stanthonysyyc.ca
Now you can conveniently e-transfer your contributions directly to St. Anthony's bank account. Just note in the memo how you would like your contribution directed.
Support St. Anthony's during the COVID Pandemic
Our parish relies on our regular offertory giving for maintenance and growth. We offer many convenient ways for you to make your contributions including: sign in to your to own banking institution and e-transfer the amount to: isupport@stanthonysyyc.ca; or by online credit card donation, or sign up for pre-authorized debit withdrawal; you may also mail your cheques to St. Anthony’s Church 5340 4 St. SW Calgary, AB T2V 0Z5, or drop off your donation envelopes into our donation box in the church foyer when you come to Mass. You are providing crucial support to care for your parish during this difficult time. Thank you for your generosity.
| DONATIONS | BUDGET | COLLECTION | DIFFERENCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD - 2020 | $ 344,643.77 | $ 212,082.26 | $ 132,561.51 |
| MTD - AUGUST | $ 25,634.11 | $ 10,805.72 | $ 14,828.39 |
| TIA | $ 41,030.00 | $ 15,580.45 | $ 25,449.55 |
| Feed The Hungry | $ 5,000.00 | $ 2,598.61 | $ 2,401.39 |
| Turkey Refuge Family | $ 30,000.00 | $ 22,750.00 | $ 7,250.00 |
Pray for Lebanon
Our hearts and prayers are with the victims of Beirut’s explosion on Tuesday morning, where it killed more than 70 people, and injured thousands. Let us pray for those who died in the explosion, for their families and all those who mourn them. May God heal the injured, and may they find strength and support in God’s help and in the community.
- In solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Lebanon and the Lebanese Community in the Diocese, Pray For Lebanon Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Peace Maronite Catholic Parish with Fr. Michel Kassas on Sunday August 9, 2020 at 11:30 am (in English, with the Words of Consecration in Aramaic). The mass will be livestreamed on our Diocesan website (www.catholicyyc.ca) and posted on the Diocesan Facebook.
Email Scam
Several reports of email scams have been brought to our attention. The emails have been written in a compelling way that the email addresses of the senders were not visually verified and responses were sent. Perhaps this is a reminder that when someone you know asks you to email them back and sounding desperate to perhaps check the sender’s email address. The scammers have become more intelligent in acquiring the tone of how we write as clergy.
Pope’s Intention for August 2020
The Maritime World: We pray for all those who work and live from the sea, among them sailors, fishermen and their families.
Our world cries out for healing and renewal. May we place our hand into the hand of the God who calmed the seas that his beautiful gift of creation may be restored and all whose lives depend on the fruits of the ocean be protected, this day and always. As one, may we rejoice and give thanks. Amen.
Resources Worth Sharing
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings | In his time of trail, Elijah is looking for the Lord to save him. The psalmist pleads for God’s salvation. Paul recounts the covenantal bond between God and all the People of God. And Jesus. Jesus feeds those who hunger. Jesus tries (again!) to go off and pray. But he sees his disciples in peril and walks on troubled water to offer courage and safety.
-
- How will I keep looking for God in this troubled time?
- How will I act because God choose me – and us?
- How will I take courage and not be afraid trusting in Jesus’ power to save?
- Unique Way of the Cross | Watch and pray with members of St. Theresa Point First Nation, a fly-in community in northern Manitoba where 95 per cent of the 4,500 residents are Roman Catholic. This Way of the Cross prayers are beautiful, and they are accompanied by dramatizations of each station by young people in the community. If you are currently feeling discouraged, this will definitely help! For more videos from the 2020 Watch here
- Retrouvaille is a lifeline for marriages, a weekend and post-weekend program for married couples with emphasis on communication between husband and wife. The next program in the Edmonton area begins August 14-16. For more information, email info@helpourmarriage.ca or call 587-598-4357.
TELUS Optik TV Channel 876
Two more parishes are live-streaming their Sunday Mass to TELUS Optik TV Channel 876. Kindly share this schedule with your parishioners, especially the elderly who may prefer to watch the Mass on TV. Note that this is only available to TELUS Optik subscribers. The updated schedule:
- Sunday Masses
- Saturday at 5 pm (English) with Fr. Bob Dielissen – NEW
- Sunday at 10:30 am (English) with Fr. Edmund Vargas – NEW
- Sunday at Noon (Portuguese) with Fr. Fabio DeSouza
- Sunday at 5 pm (English) with Fr. Marek Paczka, SDS
- Weekday Mass on Wednesday at 6 pm (Bilingual, Portuguese & English) with Fr. Fabio DeSouza
- Daily Rosary (Bilingual, Portuguese & English) with Fr. Fabio DeSouza
Development & Peace Organizational Review
Following an organizational review of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace – Caritas Canada to improve its collaboration with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, implementation of the resulting recommendations will begin this fall.
“Throughout these discussions, we never lost sight of Development and Peace’s mission to serve the poorest and most vulnerable of our world and to build God’s kingdom of peace and justice,” says Evelyne Beaudoin, President of Development and Peace. “We all agree on the vital importance of preserving the identity of our organization as rooted in the Church’s social teachings and embodied in and through acts of solidarity; and we agreed to move forward in the vision of Pope Francis of a synodal Church”
Preparatory meetings will take place over the summer with the formal work of the working committees to begin in September. The working committees will be assisted by the firm Deloitte, and the implementation process is expected to be completed by the end of December 2020. Regular progress reports will be communicated throughout the process.
- Download the 14 recommendations
Golf Tournament “HIS Building Charity Golf Tournament”
Sacred Heart Parish in Strathmore is pleased to announce their third HIS Building Charity Golf Tournament, which will be held on Saturday, September 12 at the Strathmore Golf Club (check-in begins at 12 noon, with a shotgun start at 1 pm).
Please come out and support this fantastic event! No real skill is needed as it is a Texas Scramble. Your registration fee includes a fantastic meal, 18 holes of Golf, your cart, a Tee Gift Bag and Prizes. Due to COVID-19 regulations at this time (which may change), there will not be a sit-down meal.
A few notes:
- Silent auction will be hosted online. To view the silent auction items and to place your bid, please visit: www.sacredhc.ca/fundraising-activities/silent-auction-items
- You may register to golf, sponsor, donate and buy mulligans online at the registration site: www.planmygolfevent.com/33670-HISBUILDING3
- Payment can be made by e-Transfer to hisbuildinggolf@gmail.com or by cheque, made payable to Sacred Heart Church, and mailed/dropped off at the Sacred Heart Church office (located at 23 Strathmore Lakes Way, Strathmore), or call Wendy (403-361-4214) or Nettie (403-875-7981) to arrange for pick up.
All proceeds go towards building the new Sacred Heart Church in Strathmore. For more information, please contact Wendy at 403-361-4214 or email hisbuildinggolf@gmail.com. Thank you for your support!
Resources Worth Sharing
- Online Bible Study: Living on the Edge of Chaos | From Cain and Abel through the persecution of the early Church, the Bible is replete with accounts of fear and violence as reactions to God’s desire for humanity. What Sacred Scripture makes clear, however, is that there is a pathway through fear to hope. Join us as we carefully explore biblical examples drawn from the historical books and the prophets, Wisdom literature, the Gospels, and other New Testament texts to illustrate how the sweep of salvation history often follows a journey from order, through chaos, to a new reality shaped by the Kingdom of God. Join Living on the Edge of Chaos: biblical lessons for finding hope in the face of fear with Fr. John Kartje of Mundelein Seminary. Register here.
- Online Bible Study: Journey through Scripture | This is the St. Paul Center’s flagship Bible study program designed to help ordinary Catholics grow in their knowledge of the Scriptures while deepening their understanding of the riches of our faith. Journey through Scripture takes a holistic approach, looking at the entire Bible and how all of its parts work together. You can also host a Journey through Scripture study at your parish or home. Register here.
- Prayer to accept your sickness as part of God’s will | When we get sick, especially if that sickness is more severe, it can be difficult to accept it as part of God’s divine plan. Here is an article from Aleteia, highlighting a prayer adapted from the Golden Manual that focuses on this aspect of sickness and helps us resign ourselves to God’s mysterious will. Read more
Webinars, Livestreams & Resources
NEW Finding Faith Podcast: “Beauty and the Art of Evangelization” – In this post-literal world of digital media, artists may be the most important evangelists in our time, those who live on the border of culture and dialogue in symbols, images, and metaphors. But who are the artists standing on the border of Church and culture, and what do they understand about our world today that the Church is not hearing? In this episode of Finding Faith we talk to Yuan Wang (St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy), a young adult who was recently baptized a Christian, and as a media artist now has a passion to reveal God through the beauty he sees in culture. Listen to podcast here
Virtual Tour of Our Lady of the Rockies. Join the first Virtual Pilgrimage at the new Our Lady of the Rockies Shrine, hosted by Beloved Daughters Ministry and led by Fr. Nathan Siray and the Sisters of the Seeds of the Word. When: Wednesday, June 17 at 7:30 pm. Live on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beloveddaughtersyyc/
Online Course on “Introduction to Sacred Liturgy.” This free course from the Liturgical Institute (Mundelein, IL) introduces the theological and pastoral dimensions of the sacred liturgy. Specifically, it uncovers the spiritual reality of every liturgical celebration, considers the ritual medium employed by liturgical celebrations, and examines the various sacramental signs and symbols that contribute to a liturgical rite, such as objects, actions, words, time, ministers, music, and architecture. Instructor: Christopher Cartens. This is a self-paced online course, decide when you start and when you finish. Sign up here.
Great Catholic Podcasts on Catholic Marriage & Family. If you are looking for some good podcasts on marriage and parenting, check out these projects:
Messy Family Podcast with Mike & Alicia Hernon. “Our mission is to empower parents, strengthen marriage and bring families to Christ. This is done through our podcast, short videos, downloadable resources and live events. We have found that families are hungry for these resources and we are here to help. Marriage and family is where the rubber hits the road with faith and values in our society, and the best thing we can do to help our world is to renew and strengthen marriage and family life.” Listen on Apple Podcasts
The Dad Project Podcast: “At The Dad Project, we find experienced dads who have had success in raising kids. We ask them to give short talks, sharing what has worked for them and what hasn’t. Our goal is to help men everywhere become the dads they were meant to be. And our hope is to change the world for the better, one dad at a time.” Listen on Apple Podcasts
Abiding Together Podcast: “Abiding Together is a weekly podcast hosted by Michelle Benzinger, Sr. Miriam James Heidland, and Heather Khym, providing a place of connection, rest and encouragement for people who are on the journey of living out their passion and purpose in Jesus Christ.” Listen on Apple Podcasts
Coffee & Pearls Podcast: “Join Sterling Jaquith for 15 minutes of wisdom for Catholic moms about spirituality, marriage, motherhood, health, finances, homemaking and recharging!” Listen on Apple Podcasts
NEW Finding Faith Podcast: “The Courage to Love – a young woman discovers the key to sharing faith in a secular culture.” After high school, Raquel Neeser-Carazo set off on a journey across country in search of herself. That journey revealed unexpected lessons on how to become an authentic witness of courage, faith, and love to others. Raquel talks about the challenge of living as a young Christian in a secular culture, and how she overcame her fear of being rejected by others. Listen here.
Kid’s Bulletin | A resource for Catholic kids who would like to have some fun while learning about the readings from the Sunday Mass every week. There is no cost to using and printing the bulletin but you are welcome to donate | See sample bulletin for Corpus Christi Sunday at https://thekidsbulletin.com/
All the faithful are encouraged to observe and practice Spiritual Communion, uniting themselves to Christ in prayer.
Telus Optik TV on Channel 8915
Monday to Saturday, 8:30 am St. Peter’s Church
Sunday, 11:00 am St. Peter’s Church
| 9:00 am (Closed to public) | Private Mass |
| 10:00 am - 3:00 pm (Open to public - limit 14 people) | Blessed Sacrament Private Prayer Confessions |
With a grateful heart, we say thanks to all workers in our critical infrastructure industries and those who courageously help others. These are today's heroes, the people who work tirelessly serving others.
We encourage you to continue to share your gratitude with our everyday heroes, to the many people – men, women, adults and children – who have shown kindness and determination throughout the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pray for them.
Together in Action
Letter from Fr. Edmund
March 2020
Dear Parishioner,
This year’s theme is on Mary’s response: “I am the Lord’s servant” (Luke 1:38). In one of his trips, Pope Francis commented that “Mary did not hesitate or think about herself; instead she surrendered herself; she trusted.”
Bishop William T. McGrattan, in this year’s message, writes: “Together in Action is the way for us to bring His mercy and compassion to others. Let it be a way of exalting God, relying on His strength and righteousness as we recognize our total and complete dependence on Him.”
Last year’s campaign reached our goal of $44,787. Our target for this year is $41,030. Whatever is in excess will be contributed to our fund to replace the boiler in our church.
WHAT COVID-19 HAS TAUGHT ME
Faithfully is featuring the experience of 7 individuals in the Diocese of Calgary during COVID-19
HAVE YOU SUBSCRIBED TO FAITHFULLY?
Faithfully gives a snapshot of faith at work in the lives of everyday people. Get inspired with faith stories and find out what's happening in our diocese. Get it right in your inbox.Liturgical Ministry
Weekly Bulletins
Sacraments
Ministry of Hospitality
Pastoral Notes
Get Involved
Adoration
About us
We, the parishioners of Saint Anthony's Church, exist to continue the mission of Jesus Christ.
We gather to publicly express our faith, our communion with God and with one another.
Support us
St. Anthony Church is a registered charitable organization. We graciously accept any amount.
Your generosity contributes to the mission of St. Anthony's Catholic Church to ensure that every member of the parish will have the opportunity to grow to the fullness of his or her Christian vocation. THANK YOU!