When I came here – sent and missioned by the Provincial – in September 2011, the  image noted in GC 35 – “to new frontiers” – was an important element of my discernment  process. I had spent 5 years in Winnipeg working as the National Ecclesial Assistant (as well as Prairies and Rockies/BC Assistant) of the Christian Life Community in Canada, as well as giving and directing people in the Spiritual Exercises and doing other pastoral ministry. 

I came regularly to Calgary and Lethbridge areas to visit the CLC groups and to encourage them in the Ignatian vision as part of the commitment to the CLC way of life.  As much as I enjoyed the people and ministry in Winnipeg, the desire grew in me to be more present in this area that had had some experience of Jesuits (about 30 years ago, Bob Chase and Joe McArdle initiated lay people into the Annotation 19 of the Exercises and taught them how to give the Exercises;  and more recently, Max Oliva, a California Jesuit who worked with business people) but perhaps needed a renewed presence of the Ignatian vision.  Why not relocate to Calgary as the base for my continued ministry with CLC and the Spiritual Exercises?

After talking to Jim Webb, our former Provincial, about this possibility, conversations followed with the local bishop, Fred Henry, who was quite open to have a Jesuit working in his diocese.  And after a few months of dialogue with the Provincial, he decided to send me to Calgary.  

Calgary is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada, with a population of well over a million people.  It is multi-cultural and a hub of business, culture and immigrants from all over Canada  and other parts of the world.  Our Province has been talking about moving westward for some years.  Vancouver has been the focus in last few years. And now Calgary is on our Province map.

Part of the arrangement with the diocese was that I would be a resident priest at St. Mary’s Cathedral helping out on weekend and weekday sacramental ministry to cover the cost of my room and board.  This is working out quite well for me. We are 7 priests living here in community doing various ministries.  It leaves me free to continue my ministry with CLC  – nationally, here in the Rockies/BC region, as well as in the Prairie (Winnipeg/Thunder Bay)region. 

When I came here in September 2011, the combined focus of Christian Life Community and promoting Ignatian spirituality was my main mission.  I didn’t know exactly how this would evolve. But it didn’t take long to find out.  When people heard that I was a Jesuit now working in the diocese, they made a connection with giving spiritual direction and the Spiritual Exercises. 

I was soon asked by a number of people if I would be willing to accompany them in their journey of faith, either through regular spiritual direction or giving the Spiritual Exercisesin different formats.  This has continued both among Catholics and Christians of other traditions. 

Another surprise:  within weeks of arriving here I received a call from the director of an ecumenical retreat centre north of Calgary.  He had made the 40 day institute  – 30 day Spiritual Exercises and  spiritual directors’ workshop  – in Guelph the previous summer.  He was looking for a Jesuit in Alberta to collaborate in doing some Ignatian type retreats at his centre.  We met at his centre – Kingsfold Retreat Centre – and I was impressed by the beauty of the surroundings and the sense of community of  those who welcomed and  cared for the guests who came to this site.

We talked about and decided to schedule an Ignatian type retreat in the following spring.  This has been a very fruitful collaboration and I have over the past year given some talks on Ignatian spirituality and led an Advent weekend of prayer at this centre.  We will have another 5 day individually directed retreat in early May of 2013.

As a priest working in the diocese I participate in the Pastoral zone meetings each month. It was through this contact with the parishes that I was invited to give 2 eight week sessions entitled:  Meeting Christ in Prayer . This “program” was really an initiation into Ignatian type of meditation and contemplation based on the Spiritual Exercises.  Those who took part found it an enriching experience for their spiritual journey of faith.

I have mentioned the two Jesuits who worked for 2 years giving the Exercises in the 1980’s. This lay group called C.A.S.E.A. – Calgary Association of the Spiritual Exercises Apostolate – has continued the work of handing on the Exercises. (We have a similar type group in the Maritimes called the A.A.S.E.A. – the Atlantic Association of the Spiritual Exercises Apostolate).  I serve as the Jesuit liaison with this group which meets twice a month. 

All the members of this group have had the experience of the Spiritual Exercises and are involved in programs with other lay people in companioning people in prayer or in giving the Spiritual Exercises.  We meet at the Faithful Companions of Jesus  (FCJ) Christian Life Centre behind the Cathedral.  Because of this religious community’s roots in Ignatian spirituality, they have been supportive of our group. 

What an amazing medium of communication the Skype program is! Since my taking on the National Ecclesial Assistant role for CLC Canada and moving to Winnipeg,  we began using the Skype medium for our executive meetings within regions and across the whole of Canada.  Through this medium we have had, at times, up to 10 people from the 4 regions of Canada carrying on a very fruitful conversation about CLC concerns.

The Skype medium has enabled  me to continue to meet for our regular sessions with groups in the Prairies. One can actually pray together and have spiritual and serious conversation via the Skype medium.  God’s presence can be found in all things, even via the Internet.

Another grace of my moving to Calgary has been to meet and connect with 3 former Jesuits and their wives. They have been meeting for a number of years. They invited me to join them early last year and we meet every month for a Saturday morning brunch. 

Our conversations have centred around the oft-repeated term “collaboration”.  These former Jesuits – Russ Sawa (a medical physician), Dave St. Amand (in adult education) and Vince McGrath (counsellor in social work) –  are all successful in their present professions. They acknowledge their indebtedness to their Jesuit formation, esp.through the Spiritual Exercises.

They have been asking the question of how some collaboration might be possible with the Society of Jesus.  These gatherings and meetings have served as a kind of “Jesuit” community for me in Calgary. But more, they have been a venue for a stimulating conversation for all of us as to what the future holds for collaboration with our former companions.

How does one fully describe all the richness of one’s ministry in a new setting, like Calgary?  I have given a few examples of ministry in which I have been led in this past year and a half in Calgary. I have a sense of being confirmed in the Society’s decision to send a Jesuit to Calgary.  And I am grateful to be here to explore the possibilities of this “new frontier”.  Perhaps the Lord will send other labourers to further his work in the vineyard of Calgary?