Yay for minus fifteen weather!

We, Encounter Team One, have been very busy these last few weeks! We have gone from the Regina Diocese to the Prince Albert Diocese, and finally to the Calgary diocese.

While still in Regina some of us went to a Valentines dinner put on by CCO, with NET Ireland Alumnus, Reed Miller. We had dinner and met some very cool people, including the Marian Family. Sister Lillian of the Marian family gave a talk after the dinner and told us her very amazing story of how her family escape the Rwandan Genocide. Her story was very inspiring and reminded us that true peace comes from God and that He really can get us through anything.

The Prince Albert Diocese was an amazing couple of weeks. Ministry wise, we had quite a few ‘firsts’ while on retreat. We had our youngest retreats one day, and our oldest the next. Both those retreats were challenging but extremely rewarding. Apart from ministry, we stayed in some amazing host homes everywhere we went. The people of the Prince Albert diocese welcomed us so kindly and generously that this diocese will remain in our memories and our hearts.

One chilly (minus 30) day in the lovely village of Debden, Claire, Judith and I decided to take a walk around the town. We came upon a beautiful shrine to our Lady of Fatima, and when we got back to our host home, we asked our host dad about it. He told us a story that was amazing. During World War II, forty-nine soldiers went from Debden to fight (this is only a village of 300-some people). The Priest at that time prayed to our Lady of Fatima, that if she would keep them safe, he would a build a shrine to honour her. All forty-nine returned home at the end of the war, uninjured. He told of the story of two of those soldiers, two brothers. One was a pilot, and he flew in and out of the battle five times without being shot down. His brother was captured and put in a concentration camp. The camp was getting too full, so people were beginning to be shot on a daily basis. The day that he was scheduled to be shot, the war ended. So the shrine was built, in thanksgiving of the protection of Mother Mary. Isn’t that amazing? Go Mary!

Later, we traveled to the Calgary Diocese, and are now staying with Carissa’s family! We’re also enjoying the warmer weather of Alberta. My mom laughed at me, but -15 does feel significantly warmer than -35!

In the coming couple of weeks we will be continuing to travel the diocese of Calgary! Please keep us in your prayers!

Yours in Christ,
Maria Kalin
Encounter One