“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus.”
— 1 Corinthians 1:4

Dear Parishioners,

With deep gratitude and joy, I write to thank each of you for the many ways you continue to support our parish. Through your prayers, your generous gift of time and service, and your financial support, you have helped make our parish a truly vibrant and faith-filled community.

Because of your commitment and generosity, our parishes of St. Francis de Sales and St. Andrew continue to grow in number and in spirit. Together, we are doing wonderful work — nurturing faith, serving those in need, and running many programs that strengthen our parish and community and bring Christ’s love to others.

We are deeply grateful for your financial support, and we want to assure you that these gifts are used responsibly, prayerfully, and in accordance with the wishes and intentions of our parishioners. Your generosity enables us to care for our parish today while also planning wisely for the future.

None of this would be possible without you. Your support truly makes a difference, and it is through your faithfulness that our parish is able to live out its mission. We are truly blessed by your dedication and generosity.

As we continue our journey together in faith, we entrust our parish to the loving care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking her to intercede for us and to bless our parish families, our ministries, and all the work we do in the name of her Son.

On behalf of our parish community, thank you for all that you do. May God bless you abundantly, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary keep you under her loving protection.

With gratitude and prayers,

Your 2025 Tax Receipts are now available for pickup.

If you notice any discrepancies, please contact Nancy at the parish office at 403-652-2203.

Thank you!

Parishioners of St. Francis de Sales Parish,

As the Easter season approaches, the CWL of St. Francis de Sales will once again host our annual Easter Basket Raffle.

To help make this fundraiser a success, we gratefully welcome donations from parishioners. Donation items may be placed in the Rubbermaid containers outside the CWL closet in the main hall from February 16 to February 29.

Suggested items for adults or children include:
tea towels, napkins, Easter decorations, candles, soap, lotion, books, stuffed animals, small toys or games, chocolate, candy, and other small gift items.

Raffle tickets will be available before and after Mass on:

• Saturday, March 14 & Sunday, March 15
• Saturday, March 21 & Sunday, March 22

The draw will take place on Palm Sunday, March 29.

Thank you for your continued generosity and support.

For more information, please contact the parish office at 403-652-2203 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

— The CWL of St. Francis de Sales

The Beginning: Jerusalem (1st–4th century)

From the earliest centuries, Christians in Jerusalem venerated the places connected with Christ’s Passion. Pilgrims would walk the path Jesus walked on the Via Dolorosa, praying at key locations.

After Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in the 4th century, churches were built at holy sites, especially the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (dedicated in 335 AD). Pilgrims began following a more structured route commemorating Christ’s suffering.

2️⃣ The Role of the Franciscans (13th–15th century)

In the 1200s, the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), founded by Francis of Assisi, received responsibility for the Christian holy places in Jerusalem.

Because most Christians could not travel to the Holy Land (due to distance, danger, and cost), the Franciscans began promoting a way for people to “make pilgrimage” spiritually at home. They started establishing stations in European churches to reproduce the Jerusalem pilgrimage experience.

This is how the devotion spread throughout Europe.

3️⃣ Standardization of the 14 Stations (17th–18th century)

The number and form of the stations were not originally fixed. Different places had different numbers—sometimes 7, sometimes 12, sometimes more.

In the 17th–18th centuries, the devotion became standardized as 14 Stations, ending with Jesus being laid in the tomb.

In 1731, Pope Clement XII officially approved the 14 stations for use in churches. The Franciscans were given authority to erect them.

4️⃣ Later Developments

In 1991, Pope John Paul II introduced a “Scriptural Way of the Cross,” aligning all stations directly with events found explicitly in the Bible (for example, Veronica is not included in that version since she is from tradition rather than Scripture).

Today, the devotion is especially prayed during Lent, particularly on Fridays and Good Friday.

✝️ Spiritual Meaning

The Stations of the Cross developed as:

• A substitute for pilgrimage to Jerusalem
• A meditation on Christ’s suffering
• A way for believers to unite their own suffering with Christ
• A deeply incarnational devotion — walking physically while praying spiritually

There are so many things that can be said about the upcoming forty-day season. 

First off, the word Lent means Springtime, Springtime is in March? In Ancient English, the word “lent” is short for “lengthening”, winters darkness gives way to ever lengthening days. While LENT is a penitential season – calling us to turn our lives around and bring our hearts to back to God – it is not to become a time for moaning and groaning. Rather, it’s time to rise up and prepare ourselves to greet the dawn of season of HOPE and JOY. 

The season begins on Ash Wednesday when we fast and abstain from eating meat, receive ashes on our foreheads to remind us that from dust we have come and to dust, we shall return. It continues with fasting and meat-free Fridays. The are three main aspects of the Lenten season: 

Prayer, for the good of the soul. Prayer really means to open up your mind and mind to a loving God who thirst to be close and once again one with you, not only in theory but also in practice. It is the intimacy of relationship. Intimacy not only with God but with one another. If we know God, we share intimacy with God. If we know our need for each other , then we become something special, for we are the ones who knit together relationships and families, civilizations and cultures. During this Lenten Season, we must search out quiet places and even more important, learn to sit still!

Fasting, good for the body.  The most common form of Fasting is to go with out food. This kind of fasting is to make people who have, realise and become one with people who have not. Fasting is giving something up not because it’s necessarily bad, but because we want to be sure we are in control our bodies and our bodies are not controlling us. When done with the correct spirit, fasting detaches us from the pleasures of the world and helps us to focus on what really matters. Apart from food fasting can also mean fasting from distractions like social media or excessive phone use, or from things like gossiping or yelling at our loved ones. 

Almsgiving, for the good of our neighbour. To take upon ourselves personal responsibility for helping a brother or sister in need is to reach out and touch God Himself. Almsgiving is probably most popular, because each Lent have various  collections : we give Alms. Remember Jesus once said “Whatever to give tot least of my brothers and sisters, you give to me. 

During Lent like at New Years, we make resolutions, but these resolutions have a different focus. Lenten resolutions are focused on spiritual growth.  Here are three thoughts: 1.) What ever you choose for your resolutions, the goal is not to offer it up in gloom and read but with JOY. 2.) Sacrificing without purpose can be a waste. Every time you make a sacrifice, offer it up for someone who needs prayer, and it will transform what can fell like suffering into an act of love. 3.) Lent is a gift. It’s an opportunity to reset,  to realign, to grow but like any opportunity, it requires effort.

Take time now to intentional about your resolutions. Ask yourself, will this resolution help me grow spiritually? Will it challenge me in a way that brings me closer to God. Most importantly, will it make me more like Christ?

Blessings

Deacon Larry 

Have you been looking for a Ministry in the Church to help with? We might have the answer for you!!
We are looking for more volunteers to help with Share the Word on Sundays at the 11:00 am mass. You will be teamed with another person, and would only have to commit about once every 5/6 weeks.
You would be working with children age 3—6 for about 20 minutes during the mass. If you are interested, please call Nancy in the church office at 403-652-2203 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Parish Schedule   22-28 February

Sunday, February 22 - CHAIR OF ST. PETER

9:00 – 10:00 AM – Mass (Vulcan)
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Mass
4:00 – 5:00 PM – Confessions
5:00 – 6:00 PM – Mass

Monday, February 23 - ST. POLYCARP

8:00 – 9:00 AM – Confession
9:00 – 9:45 AM – Mass

Tuesday, February 24

1:00 - 2:30 PM - Pastoral Care - Talk
6:00 – 7:00 PM – Confessions
7:00 – 7:45 PM – Mass

Wednesday, February 25

3:30 - 4:15 PM - Mass at Manor
5:00 - 6:00 PM - Confession
6:00 - 6:45 PM - Mass

Thursday, February 26

8:00 – 9:15 AM – Confessions
9:15 – 10:00 AM – Mass
7:00 - 8:30 PM - RCIA
10:00 AM – 9:00 PM – Adoration & Benediction

Friday, February 27 - ST.GREGORY OF NAREK

8:45 – 9:15 AM – Confession
8:45 – 9:15 AM – Rosary
9:15 – 10:00 AM – Mass
9:00 - 11:30 AM - Tops Group East Hall
5:00 - 5:30 PM - Stations of The Cross - Vulcan
6:30 – 8:00 PM – Stations of The Cross - High River

Saturday, February 28 

8:00 – 9:00 AM – Confessions
8:30 – 9:00 AM – Rosary
9:00 – 9:30 AM – Daily Mass
4:00 – 5:00 PM – Confessions
5:00 - 6:00 PM - Vigil Mass
6:00 - 7:00 PM - I Holy Communion Session #2