Showing 47 results

Authority record
Corporate body

Diocesan Planning Commission

  • CA RCDCA 001
  • Corporate body
  • 1998-

Fr. John Schuster sent out a letter on November 30, 1998 to prospective members of Bishop Frederick Henry’s newly established Diocesan Planning Commission. The first meeting was held at the Pastoral Centre on January 4, 1999 and was addressed by the Bishop who clarified the mandate. It was to develop a set of recommendations that would assist the Bishop to address the issue of parish transformation. It required that parishes be examined for their vitality and viability. The purpose was to restructure the Diocese, largely in view of the information about the aging of priests and shortage of new vocations. Early members were Fr. John Schuster (chair), Dr. Bob Gall (co-chair), Terry Allen, Fr. Armand Lemire (Chancellor), Donna Mullen, Bill McGannon, Fr. Joaquim Pereira, Sr. Mary Rose Rawlinson, and Dr. Bob Shultz. Identified consultants included Brian Chikmoroff, Paul Dawson, Jim McKinley and Steve Stewart.
It was established as a Standing Commission in the Diocese following the Committee’s recommendations to the Bishop in the Commission’s Final Report of May 31, 2001. The new mandate was as follows:
‘In service to the Bishop, the Commission will assess and position the utilization of the resources of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary, so that the members of our parishes are served most effectively, which enables them to be called forth in service.’
Fr. Jack Pereira was appointed Chair and members were Terry Allen, Br. Leon Jansen, Donna Mullan, and as consultors – Fr. John Schuster, Jim McKinlay and Sr. Mary Rose Rawlinson, FCJ
[See: RCDCA 288.5080]
Fr. Jack Pereira resigned as Chair of the DPC in August, 2003 due to pressure of work at his parish, Holy Spirit, Calgary. Fr. John took over once again.

Office of Youth Ministry

  • AR OYM
  • Corporate body
  • 1983-2019

Requested by the Synod, a Youth Ministry function had in fact begun on August 25, 1983.
The first Youth Ministry Office person listed in the Alberta Catholic Directory was in the 1985 edition – Robert Cook, the coordinator. Fr. John Schuster was the liaison priest. He was in Rockyford at the time. Following the Calgary Diocesan Synod the recommendations stated that issues pertaining to youth were ranked as the third most important to the people of the Diocese. The Synod asked that an Office for Youth Ministry be established under a youth minister, using volunteers and that a Youth Coordinator be established in each Deanery. Meetings in early fall of 1994 between Sr. Maria Nakagawa, the Synod Implementation Committee and Anthony Hulse established a vision for youth ministry in the Diocese and early in 1995 Hulse was appointed chair of the Diocesan Youth Ministry Commission.

Dandelion Club

  • CA RCDCA AR D4
  • Corporate body
  • 1950-1959

The Dandelion Club and College was founded by Fr. Patrick (Pat) O’Byrne. He chose the name for this youth ministry programme. The dandelion is tenacious, sturdy, gregarious, and radiant and so was the ideal symbol for young Alberta Catholics who met each summer from 1948 in Claresholm, 1949 in High River, 1950 in Fort MacLeod and in the 1950s in Banff. A reunion was held to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Calgary Nov 25-27, 1987, at the Banff School of the Fine Arts.

Allerston, St. Isidore

  • AR-003
  • Corporate body
  • 1911-

The town of Allerston was settled between 1911 and 1918. Mass was celebrated in the school house until 1912. Through the influence of Fr. J. J. Bidault, OMI, the construction of a Church in Allerston was underway. Bishop Legal came in a procession of twenty boys on horseback to bless the new Church on July 31, 1912. In honor of the farming community, the church was named after St. Isidore, the patron saint of farmers. The priests were shared with the community in Lethbridge from 1910- 1921 and from Milk River, 1921 onwards. In 1976, there were concerns regarding the structural integrity of the building and it was relocated onto a new foundation.

Akenstad, St. Nicholas

  • AR-002
  • Corporate body
  • 1911-1915

A community of Dutch people settled around Akenstadt, north of Strathmore. The parish was canonically erected on February 16, 1911, and called St. Nicholaus, with property donated by the CPR Irrigation Company. This community was named for Fr. Van Aaken who came with the pioneers to this district. However, no church was ever built there and the community was served from Strathmore. Records indicate that Mass was celebrated at the Akenstadt School or at the home of A.J.J. Weyers until 1915. Other pioneer family names include the Bartelens, Cammaerts, Damens, Gaertzs, Vanderswesterns and Voermans.

Administration of Ecclesiastical Temporalities

  • CA RCDCA AR-001
  • Corporate body
  • 1972-

The Administration of Ecclesiastical Temporalities is currently delegated by the Bishop to the Executive Director. This office looks after the secular functions of the Diocese, including administration, finance, staffing, etc. In 1972 the Alberta Catholic Directory first lists a business accountant in the Bishop’s Office, Mr. E. Howard Smith. In 1979 Temporalities were overseen by a Business Manager, Mr. Joseph Comessotti and the two worked together until 1981 when Smith retired. In 1986 the ACD lists Comessotti as Business Manager and in charge of Revenue/Project Forward. In 1987 Financial Administrator, Rev. Robert Devine was appointed to replace Comessotti in looking after temporal affairs and Stewardship. In 1990 Rev. Devine began administering the Hospice of St. Jude as well as heading the Stewardship Program and Mr. Denis Doucet was hired as Business Manager. In 1991 Fr Pat Cramer became Vicar of Temporalities and Chairman of the Diocese Finance Council. In 1992 Dr. Marilyn Smelski headed the Stewardship Program and in the following year Colin MacIsaac became Finance Officer, working with Doucet and Smelski. In 1995 the Annual Bishop’s Appeal took over some of the role of the Stewardship Program. It was headed by Richard Garnett.
By 1997 there had been an overhaul of the Business Office with the arrival of Michael Chan who became the Chief Operating Officer, and Lydia Ducharme, who became Financial Administrator. They were joined by Colin MacIsaac in a new role as chief Administrative Officer. The Annual Bishop’s Appeal was being run by Dr. Robert Gall.

Annual Bishop's Appeal

  • AR-004
  • Corporate body
  • 1992-2010

Approved by Bishop Paul J. O’Byrne and launched on Jun 15, 1992 by Catholic Charities, which was a separate charitable organization at the time, to raise funds for charitable works. The first campaign kicked off on Feb 21, 1993. The ‘ShareLife’ Committee had been preparing, planning and negotiating for months to get the Appeal going. The name was chosen after consultation with the Council of Priests. They wanted a name that originated with the Diocese and that ‘signi[ied] the Body of Christ active in a work of charity’. The first director was Richard Garnett. By Oct 19, 1992 the Annual Bishop’s Appeal had a name, logo, and a board of directors, including Fr. Burke Hoschka, Patrick Doherty (Chair), Richard Garnett and Fr. Ed Flanagan.
Its purpose was:
It was registered as a charity on Jul 24, 1992. The first theme of the ABA was ‘Love one another as I have loved you’.

Ascension, Calgary

  • AR-005
  • Corporate body
  • 1982-

As Calgary expanded, in 1981 the Diocese removed part of Corpus Christi's geographical territory to found a new parish. Fr. Jack Bastigal was the founding pastor. On Feb 28, 1982, Fr. Jack and Fr. Patrick O'Byrne, associate pastor, celebrated the inaugural liturgy for approximately 350 people in the gymnasium of St. Bede Elementary School. A week later the name, Ascension, was announced. A rectory was purchased on Bearberry Crescent, and an office was shared with Mount Calvary Church of the Lutherna Triune Congregation. This sharing culminated in the opening of a shaed church facility in 1988. Rev. R. Schoenheider was the Lutheran pastor. The new building was blessed on Nov 20, 1988 by Bishop Paul J. O'Byrne and Lutheran Bishop Robert Jacobson.

Diocesan Ecumenical Commission

  • CA RCDCA AR D6
  • Corporate body
  • 1967-2011

Active from 1967, the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission was discontinued in 2011 under the tenure of Kristoph Dobrowlski in the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. A landmark achievement was the signing of the Calgary Covenant on Oct 4, 1996 between Bishop O’Byrne, Anglican Archbishop Barry Curtis, and Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Stephen Kristenson. Here the churches pledged to work together in five key areas – spiritual, moral, social, intellectual, and organizational. This signing embodied the ecumenical spirit that followed the Second Vatican Council. Other notable achievements were the creation of the Sandstone Ecumenical Centre, a shared facility for Ascension Catholic and Mount Calvary Ecumenical Lutheran Parishes in 1988, the construction of Carter Place, a senior citizens complex, and the introduction of programs like the Fire in the Rose educational program aimed at preventing abuse in the family and community. The Commission had a role in building relationships, educating parish representatives in working ecumenically and coordinating ecumenical projects.

Vocation Formation Team

  • CA RCDCA AR V2
  • Corporate body
  • 1981-1992

The Vocations Formation Team consisted of Bishop Paul J. O'Byrne and appointed Diocesan priests, who oversaw the progress of seminarians and those in discernment.

Vocation Awareness Committee

  • CA RCDCA AR V1
  • Corporate body
  • 1977-1998

Formed to generate interest in the priesthood among young men. The Synod requested lay representation on the Committee. The Committee organized annual vocation awareness retreats, working with contact representatives in parishes. There were guidelines for the CDVAC. In 1980 the Committee had 12 members including the chair Fr. Hoschka, 5 women religious and 3 priests, 2 laymen, 1 lay woman and Bishop O’Byrne.
[Also known as the Calgary Diocesan Vocation Awareness Committee (CDVAC) or Diocesan Vocations Awareness Council]
In early 1995 Bishop Paul expressed to Bishop Roy of St. Paul that he was having difficulty getting the Vocation Awareness Committee reactivated for Calgary
[RCDCA 343.5342]
Minutes exist from 1977 and papers to 1998.

Diocesan Liturgical Commission (DLC)

  • CA RCDCA AR D5
  • Corporate body
  • 1967-

The Liturgical Commission Office was opened by Bishop Francis J. Klein in 1967. It became of special importance in its responsibility for implementing the new liturgical forms, rubrics, and music following the changes made by the Second Vatican Council. A decree was issued recommending the establishment of a Liturgical Commission, Sacred Music Commission and a Sacred Art Commission. Bishop Carroll had arranged for the formation of a liturgical commission which would also deal with sacred music. He felt that sacred art would fall within the scope of the Building Commission.

The first DLC minutes we have are dated Sept 25th, 1968.

The Diocesan Council of Liturgy worked with the Commission, its members were appointed, with Fr. Toole being the representative on the Commission. The first minutes of the Diocesan Council of Liturgy are dated Dec 11, 1967 but refer to a meeting on Nov 6. The first chair was Mr. Larry Hope. Other council members were Frs. Toole, Beeching, and Sr. St. Edwin.

Its purpose is to provide, under the aegis of the bishop, leadership and practical programmes for implementing liturgical renewal. Its scope covers everything related to liturgy – The Eucharistic sacrifice, design of altars and sanctuaries, sacred music, choirs, training lectors, auxiliary ministers etc. It fosters studies for deepening the understanding by clergy and laity of their roles in liturgy and active participation in it. It encourages the formation of liturgical committees in parishes. In 1977 its membership comprised: Fr. Dennis McDonald (chair), Carmel McConachie (secretary), Fr. Joseph Rigby, Greg McLellan, Greg Coupal, Keith Sorge, Sr. Dorothy Levandosky, and Brian Simpson.

Diocesan Finance Council

  • CA RCDCA AR D4
  • Corporate body
  • 1989-

Came into existence in 1989 under Bishop Paul J. O’Byrne. In the early 1990s the chair was Andrew Puczko. Apart from advising and reporting on financial matters for the Diocese its role was to assist the bishop in the alienation of goods according to the guidelines established by the CCCB. Established under Canon law, and a successor to the Diocesan Administration Board, its goal was to ‘assist the bishops as key advisors on major finances, although it did not have a role with fundraising per se.
[Minutes of Share Life Board of Governors, Oct 2, 1991 RCDCA 321.5229]

Diocesan Building Committee

  • CA RCDCA AR D3
  • Corporate body
  • 1946-1997

Minutes exist from 1946, this was the longest serving standing committee in the diocese, made up of priests and laymen, professional planners and construction managers. Its task was ‘to give aid, direction and advice to pastors and parish councils on the planning of parish buildings and on additions and alterations. It is guided by the Diocesan Building Regulations. In 1977 its membership was Frs. LeFort (chair), Reg Sullivan, Bill Stephenson, and lay professionals Victor Bathory, Allan Marzocco and Mr. E.C. Thomas.

Diocesan Board of Administration

  • CA RCDCA AR D1
  • Corporate body
  • 1968-1983

The Diocesan Board of Administration was directed by O’Byrne to review the employment practices of the Diocese following early 1980s committee report on the position of women in the Diocese.

Camp Cadicasu

  • CA RCDCA AR C15
  • Corporate body
  • 1922-

In 1922 the Calgary Council of the Knights of Columbus raised funds to establish a camp for boys in unfortunate circumstances. Camp Cadicasu was improved over the years and is used as a summer camp for youth and adult groups.

Calgary Inter-Faith Community Action Committee (CIFCAC)

  • CA RCDCA AR C14
  • Corporate body
  • 1969-1974

The Calgary Inter-Faith Community Action Committee was co-founded in 1969 by Fr. Patrick O’Byrne who became its executive director. This association of clergy and laity played a key role in such ecumenical initiatives as the Calgary Drop-In Centre, the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank, and the Interfaith Thrift Stores. It was a high profile organization in Alberta which also founded the Pastoral Institute, Carter Place, and the expanded religious studies programs and library holdings at the University of Calgary.
In 1977 the officers of the CIFCAC were: Rev. Leslie Files (President) – Presbyterian, Fr. Pat O’Byrne (Executive Director) – Catholic, Ms. Kay Chute (Secretary).
In 1978 CIFCAC started the Southern Alberta World Development Animation Project (SAWDAP).
In 1980 CIFCAC became an Association. It opened the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank in 1983. The idea had originated in Phoenix, Arizona and had already taken root in Edmonton. Fr. Jack Bastigal was instrumental in initiating the Food Bank in Calgary.

Mission Council

  • CA RCDCA AR M3
  • Corporate body
  • 1970-

The Vatican Council’s new understanding of mission was embraced early in the Diocese of Calgary. Mission Council was established in 1970 according to the wishes of Bishop Paul J. O’Byrne, with Fr. Joseph Toole playing a pivotal part. The immediate concern of the Council was to activate the relationship of the people of this Diocese with Fr. Malo in Peru and to take a complete look at the Diocese and its mission commitments as a whole. The first need was to conduct a mission education program and this was started in Fall 1971 with the aid of the Scarboro Foreign Mission Fathers.

In 1972 negotiations started with the Spiritan Fathers to promote joint efforts towards Mission work. Fr. Louis Connelly and Fr. Patrick O’Donoghue volunteered together with Fr. James M. Hagel, a diocesan priest. In March 1983 Fr. Toole was the Director of Mission Council and John Stoeber was Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Council worked with a National Mission Council and a Western Regional Council.

In 1969 the Council sent Fr. Louis Malo to assist in an Alberta-sponsored mission in Lima, Peru. He was the first native Calgary diocesan priest to enter missionary work. A small group of lay people formed a committee, the Alberta Mission Committee, to act as a liaison with Fr. Malo in Peru to assure him of moral and financial support. This major initiative was nurtured and overseen by Fr. Joe Toole. In 1980 Fr. Malo returned to the Diocese but was missioned again to South America in 1982 to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where he remained for the rest of his life.

In 1974 Mission Council established a partnership with the Diocese of Chikwawa in Malawi. It was chosen because it lacked personnel – there were 19 priests for 61,000 people, and it was a young diocese. This was the first time in Canada that a Catholic diocese had joined an overseas missionary community in sending and sponsoring missionaries to the Global south. In the 1970s Spiritan priests served for the Diocese and in the 1980s Fr. Jim Hagel and Fr. Larry Bagnall served there. When the missionaries withdrew from Chikwawa in 1985 it was because the young diocese could now stand on its own.

In 1982 Mission Council gave a grant of $10,000 to CCIS to support the ‘mission’ work being done for refugees and immigrants who were temporarily housed at Cabrini House. In 1983 Mission Council committed itself to supply a counselor for the Calgary Interfaith Welcome and Recreation Centre.

In 1973 Mission Council became involved in fundraising, principally in October (Mission month) and Advent, which concentrated on Diocesan projects.

As mission awareness increased it became clear that home missions particularly the Indian reserves deserved attention. As of May 1976 the Council accepted responsibility of the financial support to the reserves in the Diocese as well as the Drop-In Centre, then known as the Inner City Project under the Council of Social Affairs. Mission Council helped sustain faith on the Tsuut’ina Reserve largely since 1980. In 1996 Sr. Annette John was parish administrator at Our Lady of Peace Parish.

In 1986 the Father Latour Native Pastoral Centre was established at 216 – 18th Ave. SW, Calgary. This was a year of new beginnings. The first lay missionaries, Patricia and Luis Flores were missioned by Bishop Paul in June to the Diocese of Tehuacan, Mexico. The family was involved in parish ministry in the rural area of Los Reyes Mezontla. A lay missionary formation program was created. Funding was also given to some ethnic communities – the Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese and to a Native Leadership Training Program.

Aims are to assist and advise the bishop on mission matters, to coordinate all missionary efforts outside and inside the Diocese, foster greater lay involvement and raise and distribute the necessary funds for mission work in the Diocese. It differed from all other services in the Diocese as it had to raise its own budget.

As the Mission Council evolved its constitution was revised in 1978 and 1985.

Two missionaries were sent to the North West Territories (the MacKenzie Missionary Project) on July 1, 1989, prospective seminarian Roland and Mount Angel seminarian Hans Englehart.

Funding was obtained by asking groups like the Knights, Church Extension, Teachers’ Association and making general appeals. It also received an allocation from the Annual Bishop’s Appeal, $85,000 in 1993.

Sr. Cecily Graves FMM was working as a Native Catechist in 1993. In 1992 she was listed as being on Mission Council staff, and as Coordinator of Religious Instruction on the Reserves.

Council of Priests

  • CA RCDCA AR C11
  • Corporate body
  • 1968-

A new constitution of the Presbyteral Council of the RC Diocese of Calgary was signed by Bishop Paul O’Byrne and the Moderator and Vicar General, and chair of the Presbyteral Council V. Rev. John Schuster on May 11th, 1992 and revised on December 9th, 1997.
While the official name of the organization is the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese of Calgary, it is known as the Council of Priests. Governed by the Code of Canon Law its express purpose is to ‘provide a forum for the full and free discussion of issues of pastoral concern in the Diocese,’ and to aid the Bishop in the governance of the Diocese, seek out means for more effective ministry and to ‘be representative of the unity of the priests as a whole.’

Although all priests of the Diocese are said to have an ‘active and passive voice’ there are three categories of members who attend meetings. They are:

  1. Ex officio members; priests who are Vicars General, Chancellor, Moderator, members of the College of Consulters.
  2. Those appointed by the Bishop (maximum of five).
  3. Those elected by the presbyterate. Although the Bishop appoints the Deans for each deanery or pastoral zone, who are the deanery representatives on the Council, the dean may, with the Bishop’s permission chose to relinquish his place to another elected priest.

Although the bishop is not a member of the Council of Priests he is the ex officio President of the Council. The chair is normally the Moderator and the members elect a vice-chair and also, if required, a treasurer. The executive secretary is responsible for taking and distributing the minutes etc.

There will be no less than eight monthly meetings per year

Quorum is 2/3 Council membership. The executive committee – President, chair, vice-chair, and executive secretary prepare the agenda. Standing committees may be designated by the council according to its needs.

The Council is only consultative by its nature. Decisions of the Council are normally reached by consensus but if that is not possible in the view of the presider then a majority vote will decide.

The Council may be dissolved by the bishop but only after consultation with the Metropolitan. The Council ceases to exist and its functions revert to the College of Consultors when the Episcopal See becomes vacant.

The Council of Priests produced a newsletter 1968 to 1970.

Catholic Charities

  • CA RCDCA AR C13
  • Corporate body
  • 1956-

Bishop Carroll had been Vicar General in Toronto between 1933 and 1935. He had direct experience of Catholic social services in Toronto and once in Calgary recognized the need. Due to the scarcity of clergy he could do nothing until in 1945 he sent Fr. Pat O’Byrne to St. Louis University to study social services. On March 21, 1956 O’Byrne was appointed part-time executive secretary of the newly-established Diocesan Charities. This later became Catholic Charities. In the sixties its duties were to advise and co-ordinate the charitable work of the Catholic Women's League of Canada, Knights of Columbus etc., to relate Diocesan welfare work to that of the civic provincial and federal governments, and to community fund agencies etc., to counsel and advise individuals and families on relationships, refer cases to professionals. It had a board of directors who were lay Catholics. Offices were opened in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Blairmore, and Claresholm. Thrift Stores were opened, for example, at Sacred Heart Parish, and connections were fostered ecumenically and with branches of government.
In 1961 Fr. John Kirley was sent to the University of Ottawa to train in social work. In 1964 he was appointed assistant executive secretary, and later director of the Catholic Family Services.
Klein renamed Catholic Charities the Diocesan Council of Social Agencies but in was reestablished as Catholic Charities in 1990 following Diocesan conflict with the United Way. Catholic Charities’ new mandate included collecting and distributing funds to agencies and organizations which upheld Catholic values.
“In 1996, Catholic Charities began accepting contributions made through the Donor Choice program of the United Way” (Inter-Office Memo from Fran Oleniuk to Bishop Henry, October 28, 1998, Subject: “United Way, Catholic Family Services & Catholic Charities Partnership). In 1997, Bishop O’Byrne “encouraged” Catholic Charities to “discuss” the possibility of “a joint project” with Catholic Family Services and the United Way (ibid.). After discussions with the United Way concerning the problem of prostitution among adolescents in the city, Catholic Charities and Catholic Family Services chose not to partner with the United Way and instead “decided upon” FAST (Families and Schools Together), an “early intervention program for children” established by Catholic Family Services (ibid.). In 1998, discussions with the United Way resumed “with the support of Bishop Henry” (ibid.).
[Winds of Change]

Catholic Bible College of Canada

  • CA RCDCA AR C12
  • Corporate body
  • 1979-1991

Established 1984 in Canmore. It was a project of the Western Bishops rather than the Diocese of Calgary.

Bellevue, St. Cyril

  • CA RCDCA AR B3
  • Corporate body
  • 1914-1997

After the community of Bellevue was established in 1903 when the mine was opened the Catholic population was visited by Oblates. Fr. Ronald Beaton came in 1914 and established the parish, built a church which was finished in 1915 on land donated by the Western Canadian Colliery Company. The title, St. Cyril was chosen by Fr. Beaton.

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