Showing 818 results

With the oil boom in the Drayton Valley area in the 1950s plans to develop a Catholic Parish in Evansburg began. In 1962 Entwistle parish was transferred to Evansburg. A new church was built on land donated by Leonard M. Corkey and the church was blessed and dedicated to St. Elizabeth of Hungary by Coadjutor Archbishop Anthony on March 18, 1964. Today the parish is served from Drayton Valley.

The Alberta Vocation Directors’ Executive (AVDE) was founded in 1973 and consisted of a group of at least eight members who acted as a liaison between the Alberta Conference of Catholic Bishops (ACCB) and those groups actively involved in vocation ministry in Alberta.

The role of the AVDE was to provide a means of communication between the ACCB and all individuals and groups in vocation ministry in Alberta. AVDE produced resource materials and, after 1997, the Executive organized a successful one-day workshop for vocation directors.

Although the Archdiocese has owned the land where Camp Encounter currently operates since the early 1900s, its usage was limited. However, a renewed interest emerged as the value of the site for affording youth a unique Christian experience in a natural environmental setting was realized. In 1980, at the request of the Most Rev. Joseph MacNeil, Archbishop of Edmonton, the Camp Encounter Society was formed. The Society successfully developed and operated Camp Encounter for the next 23 years. In 2013 a more formal relationship with The Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton was formed. A symposium on Youth Evangelization and several other reviews and recommendations affirmed the importance of Camps in the Archdiocese. The Most Rev. Richard Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton, asked that the Camp connect more directly to the Archdiocese through the Office of Youth Evangelization. This allowed for additional support and resources to the Camp and a more intentional connection of the Camp to the mission of Evangelization in the Archdiocese and its parishes and schools.

Currently Camp Encounter is owned and operated by the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton and set on the eastern shores of beautiful Lac la Nonne, Camp Encounter is a camp for all seasons. It includes 70 acre mainland property offers accommodation, dining, and programming facilities, historical trail systems and multiple adventurous activity areas. In addition Camp Encounter also boasts a 30 acre island which houses an extensive trail system and ten tipi sites for overnight use. Since 1980, Camp Encounter has offered outdoor, environmental and adventure experiences in a Catholic-Christian setting for children, youth and adults alike.

For more information see http://www.campencounter.com/

The Toastmasters Program originated in California in 1924 when Dr. Ralph Semedly approached a small group of business men to relate his desire to improve their communication and leadership skills. Although Dr. Semedly’s goal originally was to assist his partners in their business, he soon realized the potential to improve the lives of people in all segments of society. His concept grew from the original meeting, spread through California, then United states and around the world.

At the time of its development in 2002 Gospel Lights Toastmasters Club was one of 75 clubs in the greater Edmonton area. Although there were 250 toastmasters clubs in District 42 [Alberta and Saskatchewan] Gospel Light was the only distinct Catholic group.

As a division of Toastmasters International, the Gospel Light Toastmasters Club meet twice a month at the Pastoral Centre. A small executive organized meetings and events where members meet to practice their public speaking skills. The goals of the club were to enhance interpersonal skills; learn and practice communication and leadership skills in a friendly, supportive environment; develop problem solving and listening skills; and provide an opportunity for experience members to support and mentor new members.

After seven years of operation the club ended in 2008.

Archbishop John Hugh MacDonald established St. Pius X as a parish on the 18th of April, 1954 and Rev. Francis Gillis was appointed its first pastor. The original boundaries of the parish were specified in a letter from the Archbishop in which he explains that “you will have the Airport on the east, 118th Ave on the south, the railway tracks to the north, and for the present, whatever they may be to the west.” Given the rapid growth of Edmonton in the 1950s it appears that the Archbishop understood that at some point in the near future a second parish would be erected to the west.

A special ceremony was held on Saturday May 39, 1954, a special sod turning ceremony was held at 123rd Avenue and 131st Street, the site designated for St. Pius X Parish. The ceremony was held to coincide with ceremonies held in Rome to celebrate the canonization of Pope Pius X. Construction started shortly thereafter in July 1954. Although construction was incomplete, the first mass at St. Pius X Parish was celebrated by Father Francis Gillis, the first pastor, on Christmas night 1954. During construction, mass was celebrated at the Sherbrooke School (later renamed St. Pius X School). Finally in 1956 Archbishop Anthony Jordan presided at the official blessing on January 1956.

Rev. Gillis retired in 1970 and died on September 27, 1973. After his retirement he was replaced by Father Albert Laisnez. Father Albert organized the Parish Pastoral Council with recommendations taken from Vatican II. In December 1973, women in the parish began to serve as auxiliary ministers of the Eucharist. In June 1974, Sister Cecilia Hudec was chosen as Pastoral Assistant to assist Father Albert with the work of the parish. In 1977 he was transferred to Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Sherwood Park and Father Malcolm Campbell followed him as pastor.

On December 3, 1978, at the suggestion of Archbishop MacNeil, the parish welcomed 200 Spanish-speaking families living in various parts of the city. Father Campbell was tutored in Spanish by a Chilean parishioner and Sister Rita Schiller provided assistance. The Spanish-speaking community was active at St. Pius X until 1986. They would eventually go on to form Santa Maria Goretti Parish in Edmonton.

In 1996 the Lebanese (Maronite) Christian Community of Edmonton requested to use St. Pius X to celebrate the Eucharist with their priest and to participate in other pastoral functions. Unfortunately the arrangement was short-lived and the agreement was terminated in May 1998 as the community no longer had a priest.

On July 1, 2012 St. Pius X hosted its last Mass, marking the closure of the 58-year-old parish. Based on the findings of the Transformation of Parishes (ToPs) review process started in 1996 it was recommended that St. Pius X be twinned with St. Angela Merici Parish. Unfortunately due to declining membership and shortage of priests, St. Angela Merici will close its doors in June of 2013.

The Alberta Papal Visit Secretariat (hereafter The Secretariat) was formally established in the fall of 1983 after the announcement of Pope John Paul’s II Canadian visit in September 1984. The goal of the Secretariat was to organize, coordinate and implement Pope John Paul’s II Alberta Visit. It was incorporated under the Companies Act of the Province of Alberta as a limited company on November 17th, 1983. W. Paul Lefaivre, Jack Chesney, Ivan Radostits, and W. Roy Watson each purchased a share in the corporation, and were appointed its first directors, with Roy Watson as President.

From September, 1983, until just after the Papal Visit, in September, 1984, the Secretariat operated out of space at 10123 - 99 Street in Edmonton. From September, until the closure of the Secretariat, what business that remained was conducted out of the chancery offices adjacent to St. Joseph Basilica, 10013 – 113 Street.

The Secretariat submitted its incorporation papers to terminate its formal existence on February 12th, 1985.

On March 26, 1992 Rosaleen Zdunich, Chair of the Commission for Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations at the Archdiocese of Edmonton, and Rev. Bernard de Margerie, Chair of the Saskatoon Diocesan Commission for Ecumenism wrote to the Most Rev. Antoine Hacault, Archbishop of St. Boniface requesting the permission to establish a regional ecumenical conference or association in Western Canada. Similar organizations had previously been established in Ontario and Quebec.

The purpose of the association was to lend support and encouragement to the ecumenical movement in the Church and its leadership, especially to diocesan ecumenical officers. Conferences are organized annually to provide a time for individuals working in Ecumenical and Interfaith rolls in Dioceses and Eparchies in Western Canada to gather and share resources and knowledge.

There appears to have been a break in activities between 1999 and 2004. When the organization re-formed in 2004 they created a formal set of guidelines in which the aims, membership, dues, voting, and responsibilities are explained in detail.

The National Federation of Councils of Priests was established in 1969 to collaborate with the Bishops of Canada in the development and implementation of those programs of a national nature which are designed to serve the pastoral needs of the people of God; to provide a forum whereby the Councils of Priests of the local Churches can share their experiences as collaborators with their local Bishop in the governance of the local Church; to promote and collaborate with others in ministry in programs of pastoral research and action; to accomplish and/or collaborate in accomplishing those tasks which cannot be adequately or easily done by individual councils; to provide a means for Councils of Priests united nationally, to cooperate with the Bishops, Religious and Laity of Canada in addressing the needs and concerns for the church in the modern world; to provide a forum whereby priests of the English sector can work in closer harmony with priests of the French sector in addressing issues of mutual concern; and finally to provide an instrument whereby Canadian priests can be represented on the international level in the most representative manner possible.

Inspired by Pope Paul VI's call for every Bishop to establish a Diocesan Synod Archbishop MacNeil organized the first meeting of the Archdiocesan Synod Committee. On December 16, 1992 Tom Drinkwater, Dorothy Rudowski, Darlene Cavanaugh, Frank Bischoff, Msrg. Hamilton, and Rev. Will White formed the first Archdiocesan Synod Committee.

The first goal of the new committee was to conduct a survey to determine what topic would be most important for the first synod. The survey was based on a 1987 survey conducted by the Steering and Consultative Committees (of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council) to identify issues which parishioners of the Archdiocese believed to be of concern to the Catholic population as a whole. Evangelization, Amalgamation, Religious Education of Children, Youth and Adults, Communications, Lay participation, and Youth were identified as major issues. In addition topics of concern were social justice, abortion, vocations and parish pastoral council guidelines.

First know as the Archdiocesan Synod Implementation Committee when the topic of "family" was chosen the committee was re-named the "Synod on the Family Committee."

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is the national assembly of the Bishops of Canada. It was founded in 1943 and officially recognized by the Holy See in 1948. After the Second Vatican Council (1962–65), the CCCB became part of a worldwide network of Episcopal Conferences, established in 1965, as an integral part of the life of the universal Church. Until 1977, it was called the Canadian Catholic Conference. The change in name reflects more clearly the fact that it is an association of Bishops.

According to the statutes of the CCCB, the Bishops together exercise some pastoral functions for Catholics in Canada, while respecting the autonomy of each Bishop in the service of his particular Church.

Through the work of its members, the Conference is involved in matters of national and international scope in areas such as ecumenism and interfaith dialogue, theology, social justice, aid to developing countries, the protection of human life, liturgy, communications and Christian education. The Conference also provides the Bishops with a forum where they can share their experience and insights on the life of the Church and the major events that shape our society.

Members of the Conference include all diocesan Bishops in Canada and those equivalent to them in law and all Coadjutor Bishops and Auxiliary Bishops. Also included are Titular Bishops of any rite within the Catholic Church who exercise a special office in Canada that has been assigned to them by the Holy See or by the CCCB.

In the Ottawa offices of the CCCB, a staff of about 31 people – laypersons, priests and religious – are at the service of the bishops. The Office National de Liturgie de la CECC is located in Montreal. The staff is supervised by Msgr. Patrick Powers, P.H., General Secretary of the CCCB.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) meets once a year at its Plenary Assembly. Every two years (on odd-numbered years), the Bishops elect from among their midst the members of the Permanent Council (a minimum of 12 members) and the Executive Committee (four members: the President, Vice President and two Co-Treasurers). Every third year, the Bishops also elect the Chairmen of their six Episcopal Commissions. A General Secretariat serves the Conference, doing the day-to-day work and ensuring the execution of the decisions taken by the members of the Conference.

The Plenary Assembly constitutes the essential structure and the highest authority within the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, gathering over 80 Bishops every fall. For the past few years, this five-day meeting has been held in Cornwall, Ontario, and Saint-Adèle, Quebec.

The Permanent Council’s authority is derived from the Plenary Assembly to which it reports. The principal responsibility of the Permanent Council is to oversee the general work and orientation of the Conference and to prepare and carry out the main undertakings of the Plenary Assembly. The Permanent Council is elected for a two-year term by the members present at the Plenary Assembly. It is composed of a minimum of 12 members, equally represented by Bishops from the English and French sectors. The Council meets at least three times a year.

Six Episcopal Commissions, five Standing Committees and one Aboriginal Council are at the service of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Each Commission and Standing Committee specializes in one pastoral area, to assist and support the Bishops in their pastoral ministry. Led by the work and expertise of the Bishops and assisted by one secretary (consultants and observers may also be invited to help), each Commission and Standing Committee studies current events, analyzes the needs of the Church in Canada, and organizes projects aimed at supporting our Catholic communities. Three of the Commissions are national – formed by Bishops equally distributed between the French and English sectors. The three others are named “sectoral” because they report either to the English or French sector.

The Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council, established in 1998 by the Bishops of Canada, advises the Conference on Indigenous questions.

Additional information can be found on the following webpage http://www.cccb.ca/site/index.php

From the ACSTA website http://www.acsta.ab.ca/about-us/history

Catholic schools are part of the dual system of public education in Alberta. They are publicly-funded, and operate under the same provincial legislation (the School Act) as non-denominational schools. They have been operating in Alberta since the 1840's, before Alberta became a province of Canada.

But what is unique about Catholic schools? The Declaration on Christian Education, published in 1965 following the Second Vatican Council, describes the purpose of a Catholic school as trying "to relate all of human culture to the good news of salvation, so that the light of faith will illumine everything that the students will gradually come to know about the world, about life, and about the human person." Parents, teachers, administrators, trustees, and the entire Catholic community are involved in this vital mission.

Parents are recognized as the primary educators of their children, and they choose how their children will be formally educated. Teachers play a crucial role in leading students to an understanding of the world which is illuminated by "the light of faith", and administrators create the environment in which this understanding takes place. The Catholic community is involved through local parishes, which work closely with schools in areas such as sacramental preparation; individually, through the allocation of property taxes; and through the Church, represented by the local Bishop, who is responsible for approving the religious education program taught in the school.

Catholic trustees have a significant role within this partnership. They oversee the operation of their local school district on behalf of the provincial government, and on behalf of the Catholic community who elect them. As such, they are both political and faith leaders in their communities. To support trustees in this unique role, and provide an opportunity to discuss and report on issues significant to Catholic education across the province, the ACSTA was formed in 1966.

As an incorporated society, the ACSTA operates under a set of objectives, and is guided by a mission statement which is developed and approved by the membership.

Today, the Alberta Catholic School Trustees' Association (ACSTA) represents all 23 Catholic anglophone and francophone school boards, and 153 trustees, who in turn serve more than 130,000 students in 407 schools. Our membership includes the Catholic districts of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory and Lloydminster, which is designated as both an Alberta and Saskatchewan jurisdiction. The non-denominational St. Paul Education Regional Division is also a member of ACSTA.