Hope reflected in city and in bishop’s Easter message
Volunteers to take turns carrying cross on route during Good Friday celebration
For Calgary’s new bishop the traditional Easter message of hope and rebirth is reflected in the attitudes of the city in which he says he is quickly feeling at home.
This morning, starting at 9 a.m. from the steps of St Mary’s Cathedral at 219-18th Ave, S.W., Bishop William McGrattan will walk the entire downtown route that marks the way of the cross in the traditional Good Friday celebration in Calgary.
Various groups of Christian volunteers will take turns carrying the cross, stopping at 14 stations along the route. The journey is expected to take about two hours. All faiths and denominations are welcome to join the procession.
Bishop McGrattan is looking forward to the celebration as a way of connecting with more Calgarians — something he’s enjoyed doing since his arrival in the city six weeks ago from Peterborough, Ont., following the retirement of the longserving Bishop Fred Henry.
Before arriving Bishop McGrattan said he expected to find a city outwardly suffering because of the long economic downturn.
However the spirit of optimism he’s since discovered has been eye opening.
“I can honestly say one of my first impressions coming to the diocese was that I expected more pessimism and comments of lament but I found people to be positively confident that things will turn around. Not coming from the West that optimism struck me, I must admit. It is a wonderful spirit.
“It is not just optimism but I think, with people here in Calgary, that they have faced these things before and seem to understand that things will improve if one shows patience and trust.”
The Easter message of resurrection and hope is a truly fitting one, added the bishop.
“The Easter message is always one of new hope and that’s why Calgarians, with what they have been facing, can see in the Easter celebration that we are offered hope by God and we ultimately see that in the person of Christ as we celebrate not only his death but also his resurrection.”
Bishop McGrattan said he has been overwhelmed by the welcome he’s received from so many people since he took up his post. “I’m still trying to get my feet under me and I’m doing that by accepting as many invitations to meet with people and groups as I can.
“When I have been at St. Mary’s celebrating mass and then afterwards have been standing at the back of the church people come up to greet me and whisper in my ear ‘welcome to Calgary.’
“I have heard that over and over again. It is a very welcoming greeting, so very simple and heartfelt. People are going out of their way to make me feel welcome and accept me as bishop,” he added.
Bishop McGrattan is also looking forward to celebrating the service and recent retirement of Bishop Henry.
His predecessor was initially reluctant to be honoured so publicly but the new bishop convinced him that so many Calgarians wanted to say thank you.
“One of my first acts was to tell him it would be wonderful for the diocese and for him. He looked at me, smiled and said ‘that’s fine, then.’ He is a humble man but I think he knows it is important for the diocese to celebrate the 19 years and thank him and wish him well.”
Everyone is welcome at the free event, although they need to RSVP with the diocese office in advance.
The retirement gathering takes place on Sunday, April 30 from 2-5 p.m. at the Commonwealth Centre, 1177 3961, 52 Ave. N.E.
I found people to be positively confident that things will turn around. Not coming from the West that optimism struck me, I must admit.