Father Malcolm D’Souza (photo from parish website August 2018)
Father Malcolm D’Souza (photo Carillon June 2002)
Malcom D’Souza (Photo from Carillon January 2000)
Malcolm D’Souza
Father Malcolm D’Souza
Priest, Diocese of Calgary, Alberta. Ordained 2002. Late vocation (in his mid 40s when ordained). Originally from Bombay India. Came to Canada in 1990 “planning to work, marry and raise a family. But one day in 1993, while driving on Crowchild Trail, he suddenly heard ‘loud and clear’ something a priest had told him eight years earlier in India: that God would first take him to Canada and then call him to the priesthood. Shortly after, he entered the seminary, feeling like he was ‘coming home.'”
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20 June 2019: Charges withdrawn
Father D’Souza remains on administrative leave while the diocese conducts an internal investigation (20 June 2019: Diocese of Calgary statement after charges withdrawn)
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January 2019: sex assault charges laid related to allegations of sex assault of a woman at St. Mark’s Roman Catholic Church in the Fall of 2012 (external link):
Calgary Newsroom
Calgary, AB,
15 January 2019
Calgary priest charged with sexual assault
The Calgary Police Service Sex Crimes Unit has charged a Calgary priest with sexual assault in relation to an alleged historic sexual assault.
In October 2018, the CPS received a report of alleged sexual assaults that had occurred in September and October 2012. The victim, an adult woman, reported being sexually touched without consent on several occasions by a priest at the St. Mark Roman Catholic Church, located at 5552 Madigan Drive N.E.
On Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, Malcolm Joe D’SOUZA, 62, of Calgary was arrested and charged with one count of sexual assault. He will next appear in court on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019.
The Calgary Police Service encourages anyone who has been sexually assaulted to report it, regardless of when the assault occurred. There is no time limit on how long a victim has to report a sexual assault in Canada and police can still investigate an incident decades after it occurred.
Victims of sexual assault can report it to the police by calling the non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or attending a district office. Victims in immediate danger should call 9-1-1.
Anyone with information about a sexual assault should call the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line at 403-266-1234, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously using either of the following methods:
TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
Case #18484276/4653
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Bishops of Calgary, Alberta from time of Father Malcolm D’Souza’s ordination: Frederick Bernard Henry (19 January 1998 – 04 January 2017; ); William Terrence McGrattan (04 January 2017 – )
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20 June 2019: Diocese of Calgary statement after charges withdrawn
15 January 2019: Official Statement Diocese of Calgary after charges laid against Father Malcolm D’Souza
27 October 2018: Official Statement Diocese of Calgary re sexual misconduct allegations against Father Malcolm D’Souza (Diocese Statement)
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June 2002: Carillon June 2002 extracted pages re Malcolm D’Souza pending ordination
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Next court date: 20 June 2019: Charges withdrawn
02 July 2019 : 09:00 am, courtroom # 306, Calgary courthouse (515 6th Ave. SW, Calgary); 21 February 2019: Calgary Alberta courthouse
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Media coverage since charges laid
(scroll down page for media coverage prior to charges laid)
21 June 2019: Priest With Local Ties Has Sex Assault Charges Dropped
20 June 2019: “Sexual assault charges against Calgary pastor withdrawn” & related articles
15 January 2019 “Priest in northeast Calgary charged with sexual assault” & related articles
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Unless otherwise indicated the following information is drawn from media (M), the above Official Statement of the Diocese of Calgary (Diocese Statement), above extracted pages from the Carillon June 2002 (Carillon June 2002), and copies of the Canadian Catholic Church Directory (CCCD) which I have on hand
20 June 2019: Charges withdrawn
11 January 2019: Arrested and charged (M)
October 2018: Placed on administrative leave following sexual misconduct allegations involving two minors and several adults. Police contacted by diocese. (according to one comment posted on Sylvia’s Site the minors and adults are all female)
2018: St. Bernard’s and Assumption parishes (Diocese Statement)
17 October 2018: Administrator St. Bernard’s and Assumption parishes ( 17 October 2018 snapshot of website)
02 September 2018: Installation at Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic Church, Calgary, Alberta (Articles, Diocesan Liturgical Calendar, Catholic Diocese of Calgary, Diocese September 2018)
undated: welcome Father Malcolm D’Souza to Our Lady of the Assumption School
August 2018: Father Malcolm welcomed to St. Bernard & Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Churches (Click image to enlarge) ( DSouza WayBack machine August 2018)
“As of the first of August, Fr Malcolm D’Souza will be Pastor of St. Bernard’s and Our Lady of the Assumption churches. Fr. Malcolm was ordained to the priesthood in 2002 at McMahon Stadium by Bishop Frederick Henry. He has served at St. Bonaventure Parish, St. Basil’s Lethbridge, St. Peter’s Parish (Milk River), Christ the King (Claresholm), St. Cecilia’s (Nanton), St. Mary’s (Champion), and at St. Mary’s (Calgary). He comes to us from St. Francis de Sales (High River), where he has served as an Associate Pastor since 2016. His first Sunday Masses at St. Bernard’s Parish will be on the weekend of August 4 and 5. Welcome, Fr Malcolm!” (St. Bernard’s/Our Lady of the Assumption bulletin)
while serving in High River Father D’Souza was Chaplain to High River’s Notre Dame Collegiate High School (scroll down to “Calgary Priest Facing Sexual Misconduct Allegations Has Ties To Foothills Churches,” High River Online, 30 October 2018)
December 2016-October 2018: Associate Pastor, St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church, High River & St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church, Vulcan, Alberta (Diocese Statement) Why was Father D’Souza removed as Pastor at St. Mark’s in October 2016 only to resurface as Associate Pastor in these parishes two or three months later ?
24, 25 February 2018: Associate Pastor St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church, High River (Pastor Father James Hagel) ( Front page St. Francis de Sales Bulletin 24 25 Feb 2018)
01 April 2017: Speaker at St. Francis de Sales CWL Lenten Retreat ( St Francis de Sales bulletin March-26-2017)
11 December 2016: Associate Pastor, St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church, High River, Alberta (this is the first parish bulletin in a series of online bulletins which I can find which references Father D’Souza (Bulletin St Francis de Sales Front-Page-December-11-2016as Associate Pastor . Pastor is Father James Hagel)
2010-October 2016: Pastor, St. Mark’s Roman Catholic Church, Calgary, Alberta (Diocese Statement)
July 2010- February 2016: Pastor St. Mark’s Roman Catholic Church, Calgary, Alberta(Click image to enlarge)
– 16 October 2016: St Mark Bulletin October 16 2016
– scroll down to article “Northeast Calgary church gets attention for rising attendance” Tracy Tapamg, 19 February 2016)
About 80% of congregation at St. Mark’s is Filipino.
Saw a large increase in Mass attendance after implementing a 6 pm Mass every Sunday.
- “I always like to keep a light-hearted [sermon],” Father Malcolm D’Souza said in a Feb. 1 interview…. “I try to have interactive [sermons] where people get to raise their hands, and I try to use everyday examples for people to relate to.”
- Along with the evening mass, his church has also implemented a few programs to attract the young and old, such as Couples for Christ Foundation and Life, Ultimate Faith Challenge (UFC) and Singles for Christ.
– According to media reports, “The incidents are alleged to have taken place at St. Mark’s Parish in Calgary between 2010 and 2016.”
06 September 2014: at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church – Father Malcolm D’Souza “pastor of St.Mark’s parish” preached homily at “Monthi Fest”for Mangaloreans and Goans living in Calgary, Alberta (Daijiworld.com Sept 2014)
– charges laid January 2019 relate to allegations dating to 2012 while he was serving at St. Mark’s
10 September 2011: Celebrated “Monthi Fest”for Mangaloreans and Goans living in Calgary, Alberta (scroll down to article “Mangaloreans, Goans in Calgary, Canada Celebrate Monthi Fest,” Daijiworld, 12 Sept. 2011)
07 September 2010: Celebrated “Monthi Fest”for Mangaloreans and Goans living in Calgary, Alberta (scroll down to article “Canada: Grand Monti Fest celebration in Calgary”, Dajii World , 07 September 2010)
2006-2010: Pastor, Christ the King Roman Catholic Church, Claresholm,
St. Cecilia’s Roman Catholic Church, Nanton & St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Champion, Alberta (Diocese Statement)
2006-2010: at St. Cecilia’s, Nanton, Alberta ( Articles, Catholic Diocese of Calgary, [Carillon 01 Sept 2017])
2003-2006: Pastor, St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, Milk River &
St. Isidore Roman Catholic Church, Allerston, Alberta (Diocese Statement)
02-04 May 2003: Catholic Youth Fest 2003, St. Mary’s High School – Father Malcolm D’Souza facilitated a Saturday afternoon session “No one comes to me except by the gift of the Father” (Pages extracted from Carillon June 2003 )
October-December 2002: Associate Pastor, St. Basil Roman Catholic Church, Lethbridge, Alberta (Diocese Statement)
July-September 2002: Associate Pastor , St. Bonaventure Roman Catholic Church, Calgary, Alberta (Diocese Statement)
19 July 2002: ORDAINED (CCCD) “at McMahon Stadium by Bishop Frederick Henry” (Bulletin & The Carillon ordination September 2002 pp 1 and 2)
From “Marrying a higher calling: Thousands to witness ordination of Calgary priests,” Joe Woodward, Calgary Herald, 19 July 2002 (scroll down for complete article)
Candidate D’Souza, 46, followed his parents from India in 1990, planning to work, marry and raise a family. But one day in 1993, while driving on Crowchild Trail, he suddenly heard “loud and clear” something a priest had told him eight years earlier in India: that God would first take him to Canada and then call him to the priesthood. Shortly after, he entered the seminary, feeling like he was “coming home.”
When asked how the clerical sexual abuse scandals affect him, D’Souza said: “Personally, I focus on myself rather than others, that I’ll be ready for the challenges of parish life. I pray.”
D’Souza likes to use the analogy of someone marrying in a period of rampant divorce.
“Just because there are so many divorces, it doesn’t mean people can give up on marriage.”
Further, he added: “It’s not fair to ask a new bride on her wedding day what she thinks of all the divorces.”
June 2002: On retreat (“in preparation for ordination to the priesthood”) at St. Peters Abbey (“People and events around the abbey,” St Peter’s Abbey Newsletter, Fall 2002 ) (St Peter’s Abbey is a Benedictine Monastery in Muenster, Saskatchewan)
January 2000: Age 42. (Carillon January 2000)Pastoral year at St. Bonaventure Roman Catholic Church, Calgary, Alberta (Carillon January 2000)
Shown in diocesan publication as being “from St. Mark’s Parish” in Calgary (Carillon January 2000)
studied Theology at St. Joseph Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta (Carillon June 2002)
studied Philosophy at Seminary of Christ the King in Mission British Columbia (Carillon June 2002)
1990: to Canada (Carillon June 2002)
Came to Canada “planning to work, marry and raise a family. But one day in 1993, while driving on Crowchild Trail, he suddenly heard ‘loud and clear’ something a priest had told him eight years earlier in India: that God would first take him to Canada and then call him to the priesthood. Shortly after, he entered the seminary, feeling like he was ‘coming home.'” (“Marrying a higher calling: Thousands to witness ordination of Calgary priests,” Joe Woodward, Calgary Herald, 19 July 2002: scroll down for complete article)
1986: began work in Middle East as a service technician (Carillon June 2002)
founded a youth organization in Bombay (Carillon January 2000)
graduated from St. Francis Xavier High School, Bombay, India (Carillon January 2000)
studied at Jesuit school in Bombay India (Carillon June 2002)
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Calgary Priest Facing Sexual Misconduct Allegations Has Ties To Foothills Churches
High River Online
Published: Tuesday, 30 October 2018 07:19
Written by Russell Skeet
St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in High River was one of three Foothills Churches where a Calgary Priest, facing sexual misconduct allegations, worked at over the last two years.
A Calgary Priest who’s facing accusations of sexual misconduct spent time working in High River, Vulcan and Claresholm.
Two minors and several adults have filed allegations of sexual misconduct against Father Malcolm D’Souza, while he worked at St. Mark’s in Calgary between 2010 and 2016.
D’Souza worked as a Pastor or Associate Pastor at Christ the King in Claresholm from 2006 to 2010 and at High River’s St. Francis de Sales and St. Andrews in Vulcan from 2016 until this year.
The Principal of High River’s Notre Dame Collegiate High School, Paul Dunphy sent an e-mail to parents Monday, October 29, saying they have no indication any of the allegations had a connection to schools in the Christ the Redeemer School Division.
D’Souza is on administrative leave, while the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary investigates.
So far no charges have been laid by police.
Anyone with information is asked to call Calgary City Police at (403)266-1234, their local RCMP detachment.
The Chair of the Sexual Abuse and Misconduct Committee with the Calgary Diocese, Patricia Jones at 1-833-547-8360 or the Bishop’s Delegate, Father Timothy Boyle at 1-(403)330-5923.
Here is Principal Dunphy’s letter to parents:
Dear Families,
This letter is to inform you of difficult news the Diocese of Calgary recently shared with our community. Please see the attached information that was distributed at the affected parishes yesterday.
We have been made aware that Bishop McGrattan has removed Fr. Malcolm D’Souza from St. Bernard’s and Assumption parishes in Calgary and placed him on administrative leave following these very serious allegations. Prior to this, he was an Associate Pastor as St. Francis de Sales in High River. Both the Church and the authorities are taking this matter extremely seriously. We have no indication that any of these allegations had connections to our schools.
As always, delivering quality education in a supportive, safe and caring, faith-based learning environment remains our top priority. We are guided in our actions and decisions by our commitment to student wellness and success.
If you have any questions or concerns, please refer to the attached statement from the Diocese of Calgary.
Sincerely,
Paul Dunphy
Principal
Notre Dame Collegiate
Send us your news tips, story ideas and comments at news@highriveronline.com
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Calgary Catholic Priest With Links to Southern Alberta Accused of Sexual Misconduct
94.1 CJOC Classic Hits
Father Michael D.Souza has been put on administrative leave in Calgary amid the allegations. Over the years he’s also served at Catholic churches in Lethbridge, Milk River, Claresholm, Nanton, and Champion.
A southern Alberta priest being put on administrative leave amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
A statement from the Diocese of Calgary says Bishop William McGrattan has removed Father Malcolm D’Souza from active service at two parishes in Calgary and has contacted law enforcement to investigate the allegations.
Fr. D’Souza was an associate priest at St. Basil’s in Lethbridge in late 2002 and served as Pastor at Roman Catholic churches in Claresholm, Nanton, Milk River, and Champion over the past ten years.
While the investigation remains open, the Diocese says anyone with information regarding alleged misconduct or abuse by Fr. D’Souza, is asked to contact police.
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Calgary Catholic pastor placed on leave over alleged sexual misconduct
CTV News
October 29, 2018 9:24AM EDT
The Canadian Press
CALGARY — A Catholic pastor who worked at a number of parishes in southern Alberta has been placed on administrative leave over allegations of sexual misconduct involving two minors and several adults.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary says in a statement that the misconduct allegedly occurred at St. Mark’s Parish in Calgary while Fr. Malcolm D’Souza was pastor there from 2010 to 2016.
The diocese says D’Souza has been removed from his current posting at the parishes of St. Bernard’s and Assumption in Calgary.
It says police have been contacted in accordance with the policy of the sexual misconduct committee of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary.
Anyone with information about the allegations is being encouraged by the church to call police or the diocese.
The statement was announced at all weekend masses in every parish where D’Souza has served.
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Calgary Catholic pastor placed on leave over alleged sexual misconduct
Toronto Globe and Mail
29 October 2018
A Catholic pastor who worked at a number of parishes in southern Alberta has been placed on administrative leave over allegations of sexual misconduct involving two minors and several adults.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary says in a statement that the misconduct allegedly occurred at St. Mark’s Parish in Calgary while Fr. Malcolm D’Souza was pastor there from 2010 to 2016.
The diocese says D’Souza has been removed from his current posting at the parishes of St. Bernard’s and Assumption in Calgary.
It says police have been contacted in accordance with the policy of the sexual misconduct committee of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary.
Anyone with information about the allegations is being encouraged by the church to call police or the diocese.
The statement was announced at all weekend masses in every parish where D’Souza has served.
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Calgary priest removed from local parishes following allegations of sexual misconduct
Global News
28 October 2018
File: St. Mark’s Parish in Calgary.
Global News
A priest who has worked at Catholic parishes around southern Alberta has been put on administrative leave after allegations of sexual misconduct were brought forward to the Diocese of Calgary.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary made the announcement in an official statement released on Saturday.
The diocese said it received allegations of sexual misconduct involving two minors and several adults by Fr. Malcolm D’Souza. The incidents are alleged to have taken place at St. Mark’s Parish in Calgary between 2010 and 2016, according to the diocese’s statement.
The statement said diocese officials have contacted law enforcement authorities and “there will be no further comments until the investigation has been completed.”
The statement said Bishop McGrattan removed D’Souza from the St. Bernard’s and Assumption parishes, where he was most recently working, and placed him on administrative leave.
A Calgary Police Service spokesperson said on Sunday that there is “no active investigation by the Sex Crimes Unit into this incident as of yet,” adding that the CPS has been in contact with the diocese.
The statement is being announced this weekend at all masses in every parish where the priest has served in the Diocese of Calgary.
Global News has not been able to reach D’Souza for comment.
Anyone with information is encouraged to come forward to police, Patricia Jones, the chair of the Sexual Abuse Misconduct Committee at 1-833-547-8360, or Fr. Tim Boyle, the bishop’s delegate, at 1-403-330-5923.
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Calgary Catholic diocese removes priest after allegations of sexual misconduct
Calgary Herald
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary has placed a priest on administrative leave after receiving allegations of sexual misconduct.
In an official statement released Saturday, the diocese said the allegations involve two minors and several adults. The incidents are alleged to have taken place between 2010 and 2016.
Diocese officials say they have contacted law enforcement and that “there will be no further comments until the investigation has been completed.”
The priest on leave was assigned to multiple Calgary and southern Alberta parishes between 2002 and 2018. Members of all the parishes where the Calgary priest served were notified of the allegations this weekend.
Calgary police say the sex crimes unit does not currently have any active investigations in relation to the announcement.
Postmedia Calgary has chosen not to identify the priest because he has not been criminally charged.
Saturday’s announcement follows a statement released by the diocese on Oct. 6 indicating a Calgary priest was suspended in response to allegations of sexual misconduct in a Vancouver parish between 1998 and 2003.
Calgary diocese officials said earlier this month a hotline and campaign were established in August to encourage people to report misconduct and sex abuse.
At an Oct. 10 news conference, Bishop William McGrattan spoke in support of new protocols detailed in a document by the Conference of Canadian Catholic Bishops.
“We need to move away from a culture of silence,” McGrattan said, adding the Calgary diocese will update its policies and make sure the protection of minors and vulnerable adults is a priority.
Patricia Jones, CEO of Catholic Family Service and chair of a sexual misconduct committee formed by the diocese, said at the October news conference she has received about two to three calls a week through the hotline, including many calls from seniors reporting historic cases of abuse.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary stretches across southern Alberta and includes 68 parishes.
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Immigrants fill the pews: Calgary churches enjoy resurgence thanks to newcomers
‘Immigration’s just a phenomenally important source as far as the vitality of religion in Canada’
CBC News
Posted: Oct 04, 2016 2:00 AM MT | Last Updated: October 9, 2016
This story was originally published Oct. 4.
Father Ephrem swings a pot of burning incense and calls to his congregation in Arabic.
They respond with chants they sing every Sunday, chants that people from this sect of the Catholic Church have used for 2,000 years.
It’s an ancient tradition, today being performed in a southwest Calgary church. The pews are mostly filled — not bad for a church that didn’t even exist a year and a half ago.
Immigration keeping churches alive
Father Ephrem — Kardouh is his last name, though no one seems to bother with it — is a priest in the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. These are the Christians from the Middle East.
He was sent to Calgary when the Canadian government announced it would open its door to 25,000 Syrian refugees, many of whom are Christian.
“We used to go [to the airport] almost on daily basis, sometimes we used to go twice a day, to greet the people, to welcome them to tell them here they are welcome and they are safe.”
Over the past 18 months, Father Ephrem says his congregation went from about 20 faithful to 600.
This is an unexpected by-product of immigration. After years of declining attendance, churches are filling up again.
Religious schism
A new survey of Canadian values and identity conducted by the Angus Reid Institute (ARI) in partnership with CBC shows a growing schism in attitudes towards religion.
A majority of those surveyed say religion does not play a big role in their day-to-day lives, says Shachi Kurl, executive director of ARI.
But if you tease out the immigrants from within the survey sample, you get a different story.
“Newcomer communities are the ones filling churches again. They are the ones filling mosques and temples and really bringing a sense of religious communion back to Canada.”
Most newcomers say religion isn’t just important in their day to day lives — they want more of it in the public sphere.
“Religion is who we are,” says Father Ephrem.
“In the West, you speak about a person separate from their religion. In the Middle East, religion is who we are above everything else.”
Filipino phenomenon
In an opposite corner of Calgary, another congregation of new Canadians is keeping their faith — and their church — alive.
Father Malcolm D’Souza with St Mark’s Church in northeast Calgary says, when he arrived in Calgary in 2010, his congregation was very small.
Then the church started offering a twice-a-month service in the Filipino language — mostly to make the temporary foreign workers from the Philippines feel at home — and the attendance numbers exploded.
D’Souza says the church regularly gets 800 people for noon mass and 700 for the 6 p.m. service.
D’Souza, who is originally from India and does not speak Filipino himself, says those special services have stopped but the Filipino church-goers have stayed.
……..
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Northeast Calgary church gets attention for rising attendance
The Press
19 February 2016
St. Mark’s Roman Catholic Church is defying the ongoing trend toward declining church attendance through one simple strategy – engagement.
“I always like to keep a light-hearted [sermon],” Father Malcolm D’Souza said in a Feb. 1 interview.
“I try to have interactive [sermons] where people get to raise their hands, and I try to use everyday examples for people to relate to.”
D’Souza, who has been pastor at St. Mark’s for five years, emphasizes the importance of connection between himself and the congregation.
“When the priest talks about everyday struggles or everyday situations, it’s not just something that happened 2,000 years ago, but it’s something that happens today in their lives,” he said. “When you find a connection, then you begin to want a little more.”
The declining attendance in churches across Canada, evident from the continuing rise in the number of empty pews, has been cause for concern for years. Statistics Canada reported in 2010 that only three in 10 Canadians attended a service at least once a month.
In November 2013, former archbishop of Canterbury George Carey issued a warning during a speech in Britain, saying Christianity was a “generation away from extinction” in Britain unless something was done to attract young people back to churches.
The decline in attendance at religious services reflects the increasing number of people who have removed themselves from faith, but the church can do more to change that, D’Souza said.
“It has become a sort of supply and demand with today’s society. If the music is boring and the [sermon] is boring, then people will not come,” he said.
“People are always willing to give the church an opportunity, but the more disconnected the church is, the less they are willing to come.”
The Catholic Church continues to have the largest congregations in Canada and in some countries around the world. That is mostly thanks to the immigration of Catholics from countries like the Philippines, D’Souza said.
“Eighty per cent of the congregants at St. Mark’s are Filipinos,” he said. “The rising attendance started in August of 2010, when the church started [offering] one evening mass per month, held especially for foreign workers who cannot attend the church at 8 a.m. or noon.”
In 2010, St. Mark’s had an average of 1,500 parishioners at six masses per weekend. However, they saw a rise after the implementation of 6 p.m. masses.
“We noticed that 50-70 people attended the 6 p.m. mass, so we decided to do evening masses every Sunday instead of just once a month.”
The word spread, and soon the masses started to take on a life of their own.
People are always willing to give the church an opportunity, but the more disconnected the church is, the less they are willing to come. – Father Malcolm D’Souza
By 2014, St. Mark’s was looking to accommodate 2,900 parishioners per weekend.
“We were so amazed,” D’Souza said.
Along with the evening mass, his church has also implemented a few programs to attract the young and old, such as Couples for Christ Foundation and Life, Ultimate Faith Challenge (UFC) and Singles for Christ.
“I tell everyone to make Sunday [communion] a priority in their life,” D’Souza said.
“If you’re disconnected with your faith, then it is a struggle.”
To know more about St. Mark’s Catholic church, visit their website.
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Local Filipino community glad for Canada’s help
Michael Franklin, CTV CTV News Calgary
Published Tuesday, November 12, 2013 5:15AM MST
Last Updated Tuesday, November 12, 2013 2:53PM MST
The Government of Canada has pledged $5M in financial aid to the Philippines, along with members of its Disaster Assistance Response Team to help in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, an act that has brightened the spirits of Calgary’s Filipino community.
A lot of parishoners at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in northeast Calgary have family in the Philippines and they say that news out of the country has been sporadic.
When they learn anything, it’s rarely good news.
The news that Ramil Pesa received about his family was devastating to say the least. After several days with no word, Pesa learned that 41 members of his family were killed in the storm.
Pesa says he is still working to find out what happened to the rest of his family, but says he is tortured by the lack of information. “It’s a torture, a mind torture. Three days of waiting. What happened to our loved ones? It’s not easy.”
Pesa’s wife had to wait three days before hearing from her brother. She says he told her he had to walk two hours to find a spot where he could get cell phone service.
Those who’ve survived are desperate for food and water, so the Calgary community is banding together at the church to help.
“We did have a lot of people saying, ‘Father, can you pray for our family?’ So that’s all they need right now; just kind words and the affirmation of the spirituality,” says Father Malcolm D’Souza.
A number of fundraisers are now being planned over the next few weeks to help family and friends, but the main thing they’re working on now is finding out who has survived the devastating storm.
On Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said that Ottawa would be sending members of DART to help.
An advance component of the team, about 35 to 50 members along with equipment and essential items, left for the Philippines on Monday afternoon.
(With files from CTVNews.ca)
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Mangaloreans, Goans in Calgary, Canada Celebrate Monthi Fest
DAjii World
Mon, Sep 12 2011 11:31:22 AM
Report: JerryMoras.com
Pics: Steven Lobo
Calgary, Sep 12: Mangaloreans and Goans living in Calgary, Canada celebrated Monthi Fest for the third time at St Mark’s parish, 5552, Madigan dr NE, Calgary, AB, Canada on September 10 at 6 pm. There were also guests from Banff, Edmonton and Lake Louise.
Monthi fest is also known as birthday of Mother Mary, feast of new first corn and very close to children as they offer flowers to Mary. There are only two birthdays celebrated in the catholic church other than Jesus Christ: One is John the Baptist and other is Virgin Mary. Church celebrates on December 8 conception of Mary and exactly after nine months, on September 8 catholic church celebrates birthday of Mother Mary.
Mangaloreans and Goans celebrate this feast of Mother Mary in unique way by honoring her as Mother of creator of life and with bountiful of new crops of the season through her unique blessings.
Feast Mass was presided by Fr Malcolm D’Souza, pastor of St Marks’s Parish. In his homily Fr Malcolm D’Souza spoke about reconciliation and healing. He invited to be reconciled by healing the wounds of sin and division.
Fr John Pinto, OCD blessed the new harvest (novem). The recital of ‘Sokkad Sangathan Melyam’ and Morieak Hogolceiam hymn was accompanied with offering of flowers to Mary. This was followed by the traditional Novem Jhevan at the Parish hall. Fr Gabriel, OCD also joined fellowship, Novem Jhevan. Mr. William Andrade aged 95 yrs the eldest member of the community shared about history and origin of Mangaloreans.
The choir sang hymns under the leadership of Cheryl D’Souza in both Konkani & English language and this time choir really made the difference with all musical instruments players. This time, we had formulated children’s choir. Jerry Moras, took initiative to arrange liturgy for the mass – new first corn, fruits and vegetables were offered during the mass. Augustine Perriera took in charge of master of ceremony for entertaining the guests in the parish hall.
Food was blessed by Fr William Monis and everyone enjoyed the authentic vegetarian food with sannas idlee, paisam, channa, ambar and many others which was cooked by the community members – Moras fly, Lobo fly, Mendonce fly, D’Souza fly, D’Cunha fly, Pinto fly, and many others contributed to make great meal enough for more than 200 people.
Priya and Neal conducted games and prizes were distributors instantly. Community enjoyed singing Konkani songs and Mando.
The programme concluded at 11 pm and all the community members made this Monthi Fest a grand success.
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Canada: Grand Monti Fest celebration in Calgary
DAjii World
Tue, Sep 7 2010 10:53:08 PM
By: Rev. John Alex Pinto OCD
Pics: Jerry Moraes
Calgary, Canada, Sep 7: Mangaloreans and Goans living in Calgary celebrated Monthi Fest for the second time at St. Thomas More Parish 15, Templebow St. NE, Calgary, AB , Canada on September 4th, 2010 at 3.45 pm.
The event was organized under the leadership of Mangalorean Carmalite Priests, Fr. John Pinto OCD and Fr. Gabriel with the help of Mendonca, Moras,, D’souza, Andrade, Almeida, Lobo families and other community members.
Feast Mass was presided by Fr. John Pinto OCD Pastor of St. Thomas More Parish. In his homily Fr. Malcolm D’Souza the Pastor of St. Mark’s parish explained the significance of this celebration and stated that the Mangaloreans celebrate this feast of Mother Mary in unique way by honoring her as Mother of creator of life and comparing that with bountiful of new crops of the season through her unique blessings. He gave a clarion call to be a true disciple of Jesus like Mary and he stressed the need to ask help.
Fr. Gabriel Dias OCD blessed the new harvest (novem). The recital of ‘Sokkad Sangathan Melyam’ and Morieak Hogolceiam hymn was accompanied with offering of flowers to Mary. This was followed by the traditional Novem Jhevan at the Parish hall. Mr. William Andrade aged 94 yrs the eldest member of the community shared about history and origin of Mangaloreans. Food was blessed by Fr. William Monis and everyone enjoyed the authentic vegetarian food with sannas which was cooked by the community members.
The choir sang hyms in both Konkani & English language and this time choir really made the difference with all musical instruments players.
Under the leadership of Riana and Priya kids had games and prizes were distributors instantly. The group sang Mando and Konkani melodies.
The programme concluded at 7.00 pm and all the community members made this Monti Fest a grand success.
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Four Calgarians ordained on church’s ‘special day’
Calgary Herald
20 July 2002
Sorcha McGinnis
Strains of “I will go up to the altar of God” filled McMahon Stadium on Friday evening as four Calgarians were ordained as Roman Catholic priests.
Huy Nguyen, Wojciech Jarzecki, Malcolm D’Souza and Mario Basque prostrated themselves before an altar at midfield and promised to be obedient to Calgary Bishop Fred Henry and his successors, the church and its people.
The ceremony, marking the first time in more than 35 years in which the Calgary church has had so many men join the priesthood, was attended by as many as 7,000 people.
“I look forward to the day when we will be doing this on a regular basis,” Henry told the crowd of all ages. “This is a very special day for the diocese.”
The bishop put his hands on each man’s head, breathed upon them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” transmitting what Catholics believe to be the sacramental graces empowering them as priests.
“May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfilment,’ said Henry, who also anointed the new priests’ hands with chrism, or consecrated oil.
Jarzecki, 30, spent three years in a seminary in his native Krakow, Poland, before receiving an invitation to come to Canada.
“I think my vocation started to become clear when I was in Grade 11,” he told The Carillon magazine recently. “I started to look more seriously into the possibility of entering the seminary. I spoke to a few priests and took a closer look at the life of a parish priest.”
Nguyen, 26, grew up alongside 12 brothers and sisters in Vietnam. He came to Calgary 11 years ago. “Despite times of indifference when it came to faith, I came to realize that no matter what I did, God must always be the centre of my life,” he said.
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Marrying a higher calling: Thousands to witness ordination of Calgary priests
Calgary Herald
19 July 2002
Joe Woodard
Calgarian Mario Basque could have decided not to become a Catholic priest, but only if he had had a stubborn streak. At mass one day in 1988, Basque said he was watching the priest lift the host at the consecration of the Holy Eucharist, when he clearly heard a voice say out loud, “You can do that.”
He asked himself, “Who in his right mind wants to be a priest?” and dismissed the experience.
He then spent the next five years accumulating what he thought he wanted: “a management position, a great girlfriend and a position as a lay minister” in his local parish. Yet he remained restless and unsatisfied.
And so it was in 1993 that he began the long process that tonight will see him ordained a priest.
Basque is one of four Calgarians who will be ordained by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary tonight at McMahon Stadium. It’s the first ceremony in more than 35 years in which the Calgary church has had so many men joining its priesthood.
For the four — Huy Nguyen from Vietnam; Polish immigrant Wojciech Jarzecki; former New Brunswicker Basque; and Bombay-born Malcolm D’Souza — tonight’s ceremony in front of an expected 7,000- plus witnesses is more important than any wedding. And for the church they are “marrying,” the group represents a rejuvenation.
“This is a significant historical benchmark,” said Bishop Frederick Henry.
“Given the shifting values of society, smaller families and the many more options open to young people, we’ve had to work harder to have the gospel message heard and nurtured.
“In a consumer society, we have to stress the deep and profound meaning and purpose and sense of accomplishment that’s possible in the priesthood.”
The Catholic church in North America may be awash in a “sexually liberated” culture, weakened by doctrinal disputes and wounded by clerical sexual abuse scandals, but in Calgary, it appears to be overcoming a long-menacing priest shortage and attracting men to the celibate life.
For more than a decade, it has ordained barely one priest a year to renew its aging corps of 130. In addition to the four being ordained tonight, it now has 11 more in seminaries.
“It is counter-cultural; it’s very counter-cultural. But there’s no shortage of vocations out there,” says Friar Myles Gaffney, 45, the diocese’s first full-time vocations director.
“The important thing to realize is that the vocation is something that comes from our Lord himself. If you have the vocation, you won’t really be satisfied with anything else.”
At tonight’s ceremony, the four priestly candidates will first prostrate themselves before an altar set up at midfield, in symbolic humiliation and surrender to the will of God.
Then, in a ceremony the church says goes back 2,000 years, Bishop Henry will lay his hands upon their heads, breathe upon them and intone, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” transmitting what Catholics believe to be the sacramental graces empowering them as priests of Jesus Christ.
Candidate D’Souza, 46, followed his parents from India in 1990, planning to work, marry and raise a family. But one day in 1993, while driving on Crowchild Trail, he suddenly heard “loud and clear” something a priest had told him eight years earlier in India: that God would first take him to Canada and then call him to the priesthood. Shortly after, he entered the seminary, feeling like he was “coming home.”
When asked how the clerical sexual abuse scandals affect him, D’Souza said: “Personally, I focus on myself rather than others, that I’ll be ready for the challenges of parish life. I pray.”
D’Souza likes to use the analogy of someone marrying in a period of rampant divorce.
“Just because there are so many divorces, it doesn’t mean people can give up on marriage.”
Further, he added: “It’s not fair to ask a new bride on her wedding day what she thinks of all the divorces.”
Jarzecki, 30, finished three years of seminary study in Poland before moving to Canada in 1996. Under the old Communist regime, the Polish church was “focused on survival” and highly disciplined, he said. So he found it hard to adapt to freewheeling Canada. But culture shock never caused him to question his vocation.
Contemporary western culture sees a celibate life as either impossible or neurotic, “but if God wants you to be a priest, he will help,” Jarzecki said.
“Choosing between becoming the father of a family or giving your all to a parish is a choice between two good things,” he said.
Every Christian vocation requires its own kind of chastity, Jarzecki said. A priest freely gives up the chance to be intimate with every woman in the world; a married man, with every woman except one.
“Some say we would have more priests and fewer scandals if we allow priests to marry. But no,” he said.
“As human beings, we always see some other life as better. But every life has tough times. If a priest can’t keep chastity as a single person, he could not keep it married. Then we would be adding divorces to the scandals.”
In his book, Pedophiles and Priests, University of Pennsylvania sociologist Philip Jenkins found pedophilia to be slightly less common among Catholic clergy than among married men. And he now argues the media glare of the past few months has simply revealed the accumulation of 30 years.
“We are human; individual priests will always do things that we can all be condemned for,” Jarzecki said.
The cure? “We must understand the greatness of the gift we have undertaken. If we could truly see that, we would have none of these problems.”
New Brunswick-born Basque, now 41, was working in Fort McMurray in 1982 — where he had “lots of friends, lots of girlfriends” — when he unexpectedly converted to Catholicism. Shortly after his then-fiancee broke up with him, he saw a movie about Jesus, showing him at his crucifixion saying from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” And he realized that divine forgiveness was the only way out of the pain of ordinary life.
But deciding to practise the Christian faith did not automatically translate into the desire to become a priest. That took his 1988 experience at mass, followed by five years of frustration with being “successful” in the world.
“God gave me everything I wanted, it was all good, and I wasn’t fulfilled,” Basque said. So, he found a spiritual adviser, spent a year in prayer, and then, in 1993, entered the seminary.
The average age of Catholic seminarians now is 35, Basque said, and a majority of them are “second-career professionals.” Secular culture may be causing that. Forty years ago, people were mature and married by 19, he observed, and these days they aren’t considered fully adult until 29.
Nguyen, 26, the youngest candidate, came from Vietnam to Canada in 1991, determined to “get a university degree, get a job, get a sporty car and live happily ever after.” But “God is very important in my life,” he said and, without any drama, over the next three years the possibility of the priesthood loomed larger. Now, after eight years of seminary, he’s ready.
Nguyen said the persecution in Communist Vietnam was ironically a more congenial ground for priestly vocations than the seductions of Canada.
“Where there’s little religious freedom, it encourages us to be more religious,” Nguyen said.
“Here, faith is a second option.”
Vocations director Gaffney said the Catholic church always needs more priests.
He’d like to see three ordinations a year and 25 seminarians in the nine-year training pipeline. Yet, whatever the need, not everyone can join.
“We only accept one out of every six who apply,” Gaffney said.
“We screen for average or better intelligence, for psychological health, for a morally upright life, for spiritual maturity.
“And whether a man is in communion with the church.
“Since it’s harder to get in these days, the great majority get through the process.”
Fr. Malcolm D’Souza has been charged:
link to article
These days, people are so gung ho to crucify priests as soon as someone makes an accusation. Fr. Malcolm was accused by some Filipino people for reasons that were political, but no investigations were made either by the church or the police. Fr. Malcolm’s name was made mud and a good priest is lost to the church. Now that the prosecutor’s office have withdrawn the charges, after they investigated the accusations, how is Fr. Malcolm going to get his ‘name’ back?? Shame on everyone who claimed he was guilty; are you now going to loudly proclaim him ‘innocent’??? No, you won’t, because then you have to admit you were wrong.
This website does nothing except encourage hate and anger … Sylvia, whoever she is, will have a lot to answer for, when her time comes.
Jesse – all I see here is a list of newspaper articles, notices from the diocese, and statements regarding court dates and police information.
Why are you so pissed with Sylvia?
As far as I can tell, it was the police and the judiciary that attempted to prosecute, not Sylvia. Your anger directed at Sylvia makes absolutely NO sense at all!
Are you maybe just pissed at the whole world, and were looking for a target? Mike.
Jessie, “This website does nothing except encourage hate and anger”… you are so wrong. This website tries to shed light on the atrocities perpetuated by collars, the church and those who defend pervert collars. Most of the hate and anger comes from those who want to defend the perverts and come here to insult Sylvia and those who have been abused. This particular collar had the charges dismissed…this does not mean he is innocent. Rather, dismissing the charges means the chance for successful prosecution is slim. If he is truly innocent, I pray that God helps him to deal with the fallout.