Parish News
Priests’ Assembly - May 12 - 16
Our priests will be away at their annual assembly from May 12 to 16. There will be no confessions or masses on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday this week.
Mass and confession will resume their normal schedule on Friday, May 16th.
The church will be open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm for personal prayer as usual while the priests are away.
Faith CaFE resumed on May 11. For those of you who have not attended a Faith CaFE yet, CaFE stands for Catholic Faith Exploration. CaFE helps adults between ages 18-106 years to learn about our faith together in a relaxed, welcoming 'café'-style atmosphere.
Our next series is called Strength to Strength – the practical benefits of daily prayer. You will find pamphlets in the church listing the topics and dates for the sessions in this 6-week series. Each Sunday you will see a short video and then discuss what you’ve seen and heard with other adults.
The series will continue for the subsequent six weeks at the same time, in the same place. We promise that we will be finished by 3:30 PM each week, so that you can get to your Sunday dinner on time!
Please consider joining us!
Chanted Credo at 10:30 am Mass
To mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the establishment of the Nicene Creed, we are introducing the chanting of the Credo in unum Deum at 10:30 Solemn Masses from June 15 (Trinity Sunday).
Our Director of Music explains more about the theology and history of the Creed in six brief articles designed to help us prepare for, and deepen our understanding of, this essential element of our Catholic worship.
Online audio and video resources are available to assist you in the learning of Credo III before June 15.
https://youtu.be/BXomSunQe6s
https://youtu.be/dYBMffVUIkI
History of the Creed
This Holy Jubilee year of 2025 also represents the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325. This Council declared Christ “one in being” with God the Father (or in Greek, homo-ouisious, or Latin, con-substantialem) which famously addressed the serious heresy of Arius and his questioning of the divinity of the person of Christ. The subsequent Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381) clarified the divinity of the Holy Spirit, recognizing that Christ “came down from heaven and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.” Furthermore, we now understand that the Holy Spirit originates from both the Father and the Son. The Latin word filioque is used to describe this, and our English rendering is the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father and the Son.” This latter issue is what still separates the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, the latter only accepting the Holy Spirit’s origins from the Father alone. (Cf. Christopher Carstens & Douglas Martis, Encountering Christ in the Words of the Mass, 2011)
The Creed is a unifying component of our worship, despite the variances of the texts used in different ecclesial traditions. St Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians tells us there is “one body, one spirit, one hope… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God, the Father of all.” (Eph 4: 4) This oneness is echoed in the Nicene Creed: “I believe in one God… in one Lord Jesus Christ… in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church... I confess one baptism.”
Contrary to popular belief, the Apostles’ Creed text likely does not date from the apostolic age or from the events of Pentecost, rather it is a brief summary of the tenets of the Apostles’ faith as understood by the early Church. This shorter text, therefore, fails to fully represent the teachings of the Councils of Nicaea, Constantinople and those until the Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451).
Knights of Columbus Lobster Dinner
Join us for a delicious lobster dinner on Saturday, May 31, 2025, with all proceeds supporting charitable causes.
• Doors open at 6:00 PM
• Dinner served at 6:45 PM
• The menu features lobster, potato salad, coleslaw, and dessert.
• A cash bar will be available with beer, wine, and soft drinks.
Tickets are $75 per person and will be available for purchase from the Knights after Sunday Mass starting May 3.
Payment can be made by cheque (payable to Knights of Columbus Council 13312), cash, credit card, or e-transfer.
To purchase tickets, contact Ken Kluchky at (780) 394-6985 or kluchky@telus.net.
Don't miss this great evening of food, fellowship, and fundraising!
SSVP Fundraising Gala - june 5
Did you know the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) is active in 26 parishes across the Archdiocese? In 2024, over 600 volunteers assisted 14,933 people in urgent need—including 6,177 children—right in their local communities. Committed to serving Christ through the poor, Vincentians provide food and grocery cards, beds, furniture, housewares, transit tickets, and more to anyone in need, regardless of their circumstances. They also ship containers of food and essential supplies to nine communities in the Western Arctic.
Requests for help—especially for food and beds—have skyrocketed over the past two years. To meet this growing need, SSVP Edmonton Central Council is hosting its first-ever fundraising Gala on June 5 at the Chateau Lacombe.
Join us for an evening of fine dining, inspiring speakers, and exciting raffle and live auction prizes. Tickets are $250 each or $2,000 for a table of 8, with a portion eligible for a tax receipt.
Get your tickets or make a donation: SSVP-Gala-2025
For more information: gala@ssvpedmonton.ca or 825-582-SSVP (7787)
Thank you for helping us support our neighbours in need!
Important Scam Alert
There have been fraudulent emails circulating, claiming to be from Father Joseph or other clergy members, asking for money or gift cards.
Please be advised:
No priest will ever ask you for money, gift cards, or personal financial assistance via email or text.
If you receive such a request, do not respond. It is a scam.
When in doubt, please contact the parish office directly at (780) 488-7295.
Stay cautious and help spread the word.
Spiritual Care in Hospitals
If you or a loved one are admitted to the University of Alberta or Royal Alexandra Hospital, please ensure:
· Your religion is listed in your medical chart
· You have digitally signed consent to receive a visit from a Catholic Chaplain
Without this consent, chaplains will not be able to access your name on the admitted list of Catholics. For more information, or to contact a Catholic Chaplain, please call:
University Hospital: 780-407-3345
Royal Alexandra Hospital: 780-735-4757
Bulletin Boards & Pamphlet Holders
Any items being posted on the bulletin boards in the church or the pamphlet area at the rear of the nave must be approved by Father Joseph and be stamped by the office. Any items that are not approved will be removed.
FORMED Subscription
St. Joseph’s Basilica has purchased a parish subscription to FORMED for our parishioners.
What is FORMED? Often described as “Netflix for Catholics”, it is an On-Demand platform that has Catholic movies, audio books, podcasts and more.
To access FORMED, go to formed.org, then click on Formed for Parishes, followed by Find Your Parish Subscription. Enter our Postal Code - T5K 1N8 (be sure to have a space entered in the middle) and select our parish, St. Joseph. You will be prompted to enter your name and email address and that’s it, you can enjoy all the programming it has to offer.
Communion for Sick & Homebound
If you or a family member is ill or cannot make it to mass in person, we do have a ministry that will take communion to people. Please call the office to request a visit.
Pastoral Priority Launch
Worship, Witness, and Service – these are the foundational pillars for our diocese, as identified by Archbishop Richard Smith in his pastoral letter Living in the Word.
Growing as a synodal and pastoral Church, we are translating these pillars into action through our 2024-2027 Pastoral Priorities. “Be It Done: Living in the Word” is the theme.
What are the Pastoral Priorities?
Over the next three years, we will draw inspiration from Mary, our patroness, whose life exemplifies Worship, Witness, and Service. Guided by the Blessed Mother’s life and vocation, our pastoral priorities are:
· Formation for Eucharistic Worship: We are a faith community that joyfully celebrates and better understands the Eucharist.
· Formation for Confident Witness: We are a faith community that is confident in proclaiming the Great Commission to spread the Good News of the Gospel within our respective vocations, professions, and communities.
· Formation for Service to Families and Marriage: We are a faith community that accompanies families, fully recognizing the centrality of marriage and family in God’s plan.
Learn more at caedm.ca/pastoralpriorities
Our heartfelt thanks to parishioners and friends who continue to support the parish. Your support is essential to us as we continue our mission.
To make an e-transfer email SJB.etransfer@caedm.ca or click the button below to donate.
