1600 Acadia Drive SE, Calgary, Alberta T2J 3B3  Phone: (403) 278-7556  Fax: (403) 271-9360

Make the Sunday Mass a priority in your life

Tired of not knowing our Catholic Faith? Wanting to grow spiritually? Uneasy with the questions raised by your family and friends about our Catholic Faith? It‟s never too late to learn and to grow in the knowledge and practice of the Faith.


The St. Bonaventure Adult Catholic Faith Academy* has been successfully established to fulfill the request of parishioners for continuing faith enrichment. The founding principles are:


  1. Bulletcatechetical courses will faithfully adhere to the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.

  2. Bulletnon- catechetical courses will be provided to have an element of fun and to build community.

  3. Bulletattendance at all courses is limited to adults (18 years old and over)

  4. Bulletpreferential consideration will be given to registered parishioners, if a need arises to limit numbers for any course

  5. Bulletmanaged by a Board responsible to the pastor [for final approval of policy, courses, implementation and expenditure.]

*not for credit.

The Academy is going through a re-organization. Will return.
The St. Bonaventure Adult Catholic Faith Academy Board Members: Francesco (Chic) Paolini was born in Fossacesia, Italy and immigrated to Calgary with his family in 1954. He grew up in Bridgeland and Renfrew. He graduated from St. Francis High School and the University of Calgary, BPE and MEd. (Curriculum and Instruction). Retired after 32 years of teaching with the Calgary Separate School Board. He enjoys teaching and is currently a substitute teacher. He married his childhood sweetheart Marie. They have three children and six grandchildren. They are longtime members of the parish and are active in many ministries. Chic enjoys sharing his talents in serving the parish of St. Bonaventure Church. Marie Paolini was born in Fossacesia, Italy. She immigrated to Canada in 1954 with her family. She grew up in Bridgeland (Little Italy) and attended St. Angela's Elementary/ Junior High and St. Francis High School. She is married to her lifelong friend Chic Paolini, they have 3 children and six grandchildren. They have been members of the St. Bonaventure Church Community since 1974. Their children, Michelle, Tricia and Marc grew up in this community and received all their sacraments here at St Bonaventure. Marie has contributed to this church community through her involvement in the RCIA, CWL, Eucharistic Adoration, Baptismal Preparation and other various ministries. She is most thankful to God for being given the opportunity to serve on our newly formed St. Bonaventure Academy and hopes to help present many faith enriching programs for our community. Peter Thompson Peter was born in London, England. At sixteen he entered the Holy Ghost Fathers seminary ( Spiritans) to train as a foreign missionary. However the ordained ministry was not his calling. He is married to Madeleine and they have three children and a growing number of grandchildren. Since his recommitment to Christ in 1974, he has served extensively in the Catholic charismatic renewal and this has taken him repeatedly to Africa and for two years he and his wife served with Sion Catholic community for evangelization in England, where they did Parish missions that included door to door evangelization. This gave Peter a thirst for Catholic apologetics as he experienced a constant stream of challenging questions during these outreaches. Peter served with ICCRS (International Catholic charismatic renewal services) as the Vatican offices representative to Canada for eight years, and also serves with Renewal ministries as country coordinator for Kenya.

PRAYER OF SAINT BONAVENTURE


Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, and with true, calm and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with entire love and longing for Thee, may yearn for Thee and for thy courts, may long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.


Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the Bread of Angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and super substantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delightful taste.


May my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, Whom the angels desire to look upon, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst for Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the fullness of the house of God;


may it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, come up to Thee, meditate on Thee, speak of Thee, and do all for the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, with perseverance to the end; and be Thou alone ever my hope, my entire confidence, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession, my treasure; in Whom may my mind and my heart be ever fixed and firm and rooted immovably. Amen