The Power of the Holy Spirit

Dear GrACE Apostles,

On Friday, October 23, 400 of us filled Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Sherwood Park to close Catholic Education Week with GrACE's 2026 Youth Summit. Most were Catholic students in Grades 9 to 12, with more joining us by live stream.

This year the Bishops gave us Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." On the day, we saw it. The Blessed Sacrament was exposed from the morning until Benediction and never left alone.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation was offered was offered all day. And after Holy Mass, our young people crowded the parish hall to meet their bishops and priests.

Inspire, invigorate, embolden. What the Spirit did for the first disciples, we watched Him do in those pews.

Please keep these young people in your prayers, and all who made the day possible.

Blessings and much love.

'Jesus, I trust in You'!

Kate

Executive Director | GrACE

Our Member Associations and partners were with us from the first conversations.

Bishops, clergy, partners and friends of Catholic education joined us for the day.

Bishop Gary Franken, Chair of GrACE, opened the day in prayer, and his warmth and wit held a full church from the first minute. Archbishop Stephen Hero and Bishop David Motiuk of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton brought greetings, and Bishop David gave an Eastern blessing. Kelly Whalen, President of ACSTA, introduced a recorded greeting from Minister Williams, and Ryan Feehan, President of CCSSA, introduced our keynote speaker.

Michael Chiasson's keynote, "Fearless and Courageous," set the tone for the day. MacKenzie Neufield followed with her testimony, "From Wonder to Encounter," on faith and the beauty of the natural world. At noon, Bishop Gary and a student leader led the Angelus, and the Fraternity of St. Lorenzo Ruiz from Red Deer chanted for us.

Students fill the pews as the day begins.

Our young people led as well as listened, in testimony, prayer and song.

Kyros Enaje, Grade 11, St. Andre Bessette Catholic School, with his blessed icon of St. Carlo Acutis.

Over lunch in the parish hall, students met three Catholic post-secondary institutions, joining the Summit for the first time: St. Joseph's College, St. Mary's University and Newman Theological College.

In the afternoon, students watched a video message from Antonia Salzano Acutis, mother of St. Carlo Acutis, and talked it over together. Every student went home with a St. Carlo Acutis medal and prayer cards from Calgary Catholic, blessed at Holy Mass, to carry his witness with them.

Fr. Sé (Jim) Corrigan led Benediction. Archbishop Hero presided at Holy Mass and Bishop Gary preached. Kaylee MacCormac and Nikita Miller of Lakeland proclaimed the First Reading and the Psalm.

After Mass, our young people crowded the parish hall to meet their bishops and priests.

We give thanks for Bishop Gary Franken, Archbishop Stephen Hero, Archbishop Smith and Bishop David Motiuk, for Fr. Sé (Jim) Corrigan and Deacon Gem Mella, and for all the clergy who concelebrated and were present for our young people.

Thank you to Michael Chiasson, our keynote speaker; to MacKenzie Neufield, who travelled to share her testimony; and to Mike Landry, our emcee and music minister.

A special thank you to Stacey MacNeil-Ayeh, Ryan Feehan and Gary Strother of CCSSA, whose partnership carried the Summit from its first conversations, and to Dawn Miller of ACSTA, who generously gave her own time to be with us on the day.

Thank you to our hosts, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and Elk Island Catholic Schools (EICS); to Paul Corrigan, Stefan Johnson and the EICS staff; and to Natalie Lavigne and Andrea Haston, who looked after the site and the lunch.

Thank you to the Religious Education Network, and to Susanna Kaup, Grant Gay, Kathleen Nguyen, Vernon Brady and Sandra Talarico of Edmonton Catholic Schools, who gave their time to supervision and support through the day.

A special thank you to the EICS Local GrACE Committee, led by Parent Co-Chairs Amanda and Arynn. They built the volunteer roster, welcomed students at registration, kept watch so the Blessed Sacrament was never left alone, and arranged the altar servers for Mass.

Thank you also to the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Women’s League, who served lunch to every student, and to Calgary Catholic for the St. Carlo Acutis keepsakes.

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The Society of Grateful Advocates for Catholic Education is an incorporated Alberta society serving Catholic education across Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Yukon. Its six-Director Board is drawn from its three Member Associations: the Dioceses, ACSTA and CCSSA.