OUR LADY OF THE ROCKIES PARISH

​Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)
September 23  (1887-1968)
Francesco Forgione was born in the Italian village of Pietrelcina.  He entered the Capuchin Friars at the age of 16 and was ordained in 1910.  A stigmatic, he lived more than 50 years at the friary of San Giovanni Rotondo, devoted to a life of ministry through sacramental reconciliation and celebration of the Eucharist and helping countless people who sought his counsel.
Pope Paul VI said of him:  “Look what fame he had, what a worldwide following gathered around him! But why?  Perhaps because he was a philosopher?  Because he was wise?  Because he had resources at his disposal?  Because he said Mass humbly, heard confessions from dawn to dusk and was—it is not easy to say it--one who bore the wounds of our Lord.  He was a man of prayer and suffering.”
 
Announcements:
 
Join us at the parish office for two more video presentations on the Eucharist.  Part 2 titled “The Story of the Eucharist” to be held on Tuesday, September 24.   Part 3 titled “Bread for the Journey” held on Tuesday, October 8th.  This is to prepare us for a short course on the Eucharist based on the books of Scott Hahn later in the fall.
 
The First Reconciliation and Communion classes start again this fall.  The parent’s meeting has already happened.  Deadline for registration is at the first class at 6:00 pm Thursday, October 3rd.
 

ROSARY MEDITATION WALK
To celebrate Rosary month, we are having a meditation walk after mass on Sunday, October 13, 2019.  We assemble at 1:30 pm in the Save On Food parking lot and as a group walk through the trails to the river and back.
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Replicas of the stained glass window for the new shrine are again available for sale at $50.  All proceeds to go to the building fund.

 
Announcements:

• We are having a three-part video presentation on the Eucharist to be held on Tuesdays, September 17, 24 and October 8th at the parish office.  This is to prepare us for a short course on the Eucharist based on the books of Scott Hahn later in the fall. 

• The OLR Ecumenical Adult Ministry is a discussion group for maturing adults focusing on relevant topics, with the objective of staying young and positive in pursuit of agelessness.  The next workshop will be at 2:30 pm on Thursday, Sept. 19th, 2019 at Origin in Spring Creek. The topic of Vision will be explored.   Please join us.

• The First Reconciliation and Communion classes start again this fall.  The parent’s meeting is Thursday, September 19th, 7:00 pm at Our Lady of the Snows. This class will be the first to celebrate First Communion in the Shrine.

• Replicas of the stained glass window for the new shrine are again available for sale at $50.  All proceeds to go to the building fund.

​

 ROSARY MEDITATION WALK  To celebrate Rosary month, we are having a meditation walk after mass on Sunday, October 13, 2019.  We assemble at 1:30 pm in the Save On Food parking lot and as a group walk through the trails to the river and back reciting all four mysteries of the rosary.

Announcements:
 
We are having a three-part video presentation on the Eucharist to be held on Tuesdays, September 17, 24 and October 8th at the parish office.  This is to prepare us for a short course on the Eucharist based on the books of Scott Hahn later in the fall.
 
The OLR ecumenical Adult Ministry is a discussion group for maturing adults focusing on relevant topics, with the objective of staying young and positive in pursuit of agelessness.  The next workshop will be at 2:30 pm on Thursday, Sept. 19th, 2019 at Origin in Spring Creek. The topic of Vision will be explored.   Please join us.
 
The First Reconciliation and Communion classes start again this fall.  The parent’s meeting is Thursday, September 19th, 7:00 pm at Our Lady of the Snows. This class will be the first to celebrate First Communion in the Shrine.

Announcements:
 
Our parish is serving at the Food and Friends dinner tomorrow, Monday, September 2nd.   Please call Lorraine at (403) 609-3757 if you can help.
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     It was a fine morning when thirty-two of us gathered at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Banff to gather for our first pilgrimage from Banff to the site of the Shrine Church of our Lady of the Rockies, Canmore to celebrate the Queenship of Mary.
     Father Dan sent us off with a lovely litany in honour of Mary, Mother of God. Just as we left a small shower seemed to bless us on our trip. We escorted the statue of Mary to the rest stop at seven mile hill.
     As I was pulling the chariot I could hear Val Heath singing hymns behind me. It gave me that extra incentive to keep going even when the hill seemed to want me to stop and walk. I was also inspired by those who came and cheered me on that long climb!
     Father Nathan was watching the reactions of oncoming bikers. He said it was quite interesting in seeing the different reactions  when they saw what was in the bike carrier. Everything from disbelief to that is "Mother Mary!" We then proceeded to the information centre in Canmore, then to the site of our new church. It was a lovely twenty-six kilometer ride.
     Father Nathan gave us a final blessing at our new site. We are looking forward to the pilgrimage next year to celebrate the feast of the Queenship of Mary.
Richard Veronneau

Announcements:

• Monday, August 26, five volunteers are needed for Food and Friends community dinner.  Call Lorraine at (403) 609-3757 to join. 

 

• Daily mass at the office is cancelled for this Wednesday, August 29th as Father is away.

 

• School is back in session this week so we need to stack the chairs again after Sunday mass.

 

Announcements:

• Check out the new Sponsorship boards on the shrine in the school entrance, after mass.

 

• St. Mary’s church in Banff has begun the novena of masses, every evening until Thursday, August 22nd.  See their schedule   here.
• This coming Saturday, August 24rth, we are holding a bicycle pilgrimage from Banff to Canmore by the Legacy Trail. Participants are required to sign a waiver and wear helmets.  We will start at 12:15 pm to bring the statue of Mary to Canmore for crowning at the 7:00 pm mass.  

Announcements:

• See the new Sponsorship boards on the shrine in the school entrance.  They show some of the internal components and opportunities to sponsor.

 

• St. Mary’s church in Banff are celebrating their feast day, the Assumption of Mary by having a novena of masses from Wednesday, August 14th to Thursday, August 22nd.  Click here for the schedule.


• The shrine has been featured in the Faithfully newsletter from the Diocese.  You can  subscribe to Faithfully: http://Faithfully.calgarydiocese.ca

 

• For our feast day in August, the Queenship of Mary, we are holding a bicycle pilgrimage from Banff to Canmore by the Legacy Trail. We start at noon and finish between 2:00 and 3:00 pm at the new shrine site.  We will bring the statue of Mary to Canmore for crowning at the 7:00 pm mass on Saturday, August 24rth.  

Announcements:

• See the new Sponsorship boards on the shrine in the school entrance, after mass.


•   St. Mary’s church in Banff are celebrating their feast day, the Assumption of Mary by having a novena of masses from Wednesday, August 14th to Thursday, August 22nd.  See their schedule on our website under Parish Life (click here for their schedule) or get a copy at the grocery table.

 

• For our feast day in August, the Queenship of Mary, we are holding a bicycle pilgrimage from Banff to Canmore by the Legacy Trail. We will bring the statue of Mary to Canmore for crowning at the 7:00 pm mass on Saturday, August 24rth.  

  

Announcements:

• Check out the new Sponsorship boards on the shrine in the school entrance, after the weekend masses.

 

• Wednesday, July 24rth and Thursday, July 25th, the daily masses at the office are cancelled as they are being held at the school with the visiting youth at 11:15 am. 


• St. Mary’s church in Banff are celebrating their feast day, the Assumption of Mary by having a novena of masses from Wednesday, August 14th to Thursday, August 22nd.  See their schedule here.

 

• For our feast day in August, the Queenship of Mary, we are holding a bicycle pilgrimage from Banff to Canmore by the Legacy Trail. We will bring the statue of Mary to Canmore for crowning at the 7:00 pm mass on Saturday, August 24th.  For more information check the flyer at the grocery table or call the office. ​