Sacred Heart Church & Columbarium
1307 14th Street SW T3C 1C6 Calgary, AB, Canada

"And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." (Lk 2:7) - Christmas time has so many traditions, expectations and things that we cherish. We always want it to be perfect. We remember the food, the gatherings, the gifts. - But the phrase "she laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn" shows us that Jesus was born into imperfection, rejection, darkn...ess and messiness. The birth of Jesus shows us that we have a God who comes to meet us right where we're at. - And this year "where we're at" is probably missing many of the things that we would normally have during Christmas. We've all suffered in different ways due to the pandemic and restrictions. We're all missing some of family members who would be normally present at our Christmas gatherings. But God works through the messiness and imperfections. And one of the things that I'm sure that God wants to tell us is that he is close to us. He doesn't want to keep distances, he doesn't want to see us isolated. - The greatest gifts that God can give us during this time is Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. He is the source of all of these and they are fruit of his presence in our lives. - As we navigate Christmas in 2020, may we experience God's closeness in a special way. That's what I wish for all our parishioners.....an intimate experience of God's love, shown to us in the scene of the manger. He lies there wanting us to be nourished by his tender love and closeness. Blessed Christmas and New Year's for 2021! - Fr John See more

Christmas Message from Fr. John & Fr. Daniel.

Live from Sacred Heart Church in Calgary AB

You can now sign up to register for Christmas Masses! https://www.sacredheartcalgary.ca/mass-sign-up/ - #christmas #nativity #iamblessed

Fr Daniel's homily for 4th Sunday in Advent "Christianity is not a club but rather a Kingdom of God's people"

Coming Closer to Christ: - Sometimes we experience pessimism because no matter what we do we can't seem to avoid suffering; painful things just keep happening to us and those we love. Sometimes we experience discouragement because we can't seem to avoid sin; we just keep falling into the same patterns of greed, lust, impatience, and laziness. Sometimes we experience cynicism when we look at society and see so much that is wrong, so much injustice, degradation, and violence. -... But the Lord is saying: pessimism, discouragement, cynicism will all come knocking at your door, but don't let them in! Do not let yourself be afraid, because I am your Lord and Savior, and I have not forgotten about you! Advent is our yearly reminder that God has not forgotten about us, no matter how we may feel. - Sending us Forth: - This week we dedicate our roof and thank all our donors in a plaque that will be blessed and hung in the Narthex of the Church. Sacred Heart looks better than ever. Thank you for your continued generosity! - #love #advent #donotbeafraid See more

Support Sacred Heart this #givingtuesday by making a donation! - Every online donation made today will have a candle lit for their intentions by Fr. John. https://www.sacredheartcalgary.ca/support-your-parish/ - Or, give of yourself in another way, through your time or talents! Comment below how you are giving of yourself this Giving Tuesday!... - We appreciate your support! - #iamblessed See more

Coming Closer to Christ: Be Ready! - This weekend's message touches on the importance of a healthy respect for the Lord. The Gospel parable reminds us that fear can rattle us into making bad decisions as well as encourage us to make good ones. We need to be ready for a day of reckoning. But since we know that it will come, St Paul reminds us, we are no longer in the dark. As a result, Paul concludes, we should "stay sober and alert," focusing on our task of following Christ,... not "falling asleep" by giving into worldly habits of self-indulgence and getting swept away by the rat race. - Sending us Forth: - There are two steps we must follow in order to invest our gifts well - from a supernatural perspective. 1) First, we must identify what our gift is. We should always thank God for all countless blessings, but we should also reflect on one or two strong characteristics, traits, or talents that God has given us personally. What type of activity do you enjoy most? What type of activity has always made you excited? What personality characteristics have people always complimented you on? What have you always dreamed of doing but were afraid to get started on? 2) The second step: put our gift at the service of others. We give our lives by putting our talents at the service of those around us instead of just serving ourselves. - #talents #beready #fearofthelord See more

Coming Closer to Christ: - Today’s Sunday is also ominously referred to as the last Sunday in Ordinary time, and not just because next Sunday a new liturgical year begins with Advent. Today’s Sunday reminds us that one day will be the last day of history: the day when Christ, Our King, returns in glory so that, as the Second Reading today phrases it, God may be all in all, and he reigns forever. - Sending us Forth:... - Love for neighbour is not just the ethical and loving thing to do; it is a way to love God himself. We’ll be judged on love for both. Sometimes Our Lord hides really well in those we’re trying to love. Many saints throughout history have persevered in loving nasty, smelly, offensive, ungrateful people because they know they are loving Our Lord and showing those people how much God loves them. We may not feel loving or feel the love, but we continue to try based on a deeper spiritual conviction that it is the right thing to do and a way of loving Our Lord. When we live this deep spiritual conviction, driven by charity, the difference between those who don’t and us is like the difference between a nasty cranky goat and a humble simple sheep: night and day. - #love #christtheking #heshallreignforevermore See more

I am blessed. Be that light for others during these difficult times. This year’s "I am Blessed" campaign highlights our hope that is grounded in Christ He is ...the great light that shines in the darkness. We hope that you are encouraged to visit www.iamblessed.ca and be inspired to give, act, and pray. #CatholicYYC #iamblessed2020 See more

Please read the letter of Bishop McGrattan to the Faithful on the financial status of the Diocese and the decisions that impact the parishes and the Catholic Pastoral Centre.

We are so excited to be announcing the launch of our new brand! We have been working hard over the last few months, focusing on our vision for the parish and how that can be captured in a new logo. It brings together the old and the new, the long tradition of our church and the dynamic aspect of our parish community. - A heart is a pump with two movements, in medical jargon: a systolic and a diastolic movement. It brings blood in and pushes blood out. On a spiritual level, Ch...rist’s heart brings us in to be nourished with the sacraments and ministry and then sends us out, equipping us to share what we have received with those around us. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is foundational in our parish community and we have made it the focus of our ministry and vision. The two shades of red in our new logo highlight this movement and encourages us to be a part of the dynamic. - #sacredheart #branding #vision See more

COMING CLOSER TO CHRIST: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. - In today's Gospel passage, Jesus packs all the wisdom of the world into two short commandments. The keyword is, obviously, love. Usually, we associate this word with some pleasant feelings, intense and delightful emotions. But the word Jesus used means something much deeper. It is the word "agape" [AH-gah-pay], and it refers to the love that means d...esiring union with something that is good in itself. If we love a person, it means we love spending time with them, getting to know them, sharing the experiences of life with them. This is Christian love: not some passing, self-indulgent emotion, but a courageous lifestyle that puts God first, others second, and self third. - SENDING US OUT: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. - Laying down our lives for others is not complicated. Whenever we perform ordinary actions with extraordinary love, such as cleaning the house or taking out the trash or listening when we feel like interrupting, we are laying down our lives for others. We need to be patient: we are not always going to feel extraordinary love, but it is enough to choose the good of the other person and try to carry that out. - Pick someone this week for whom you can do an act of charity and show God's love through action. See more