“The best way to deepen any relationship is through personal encounter, and that’s what (the Al-Rashid Mosque leadership) have made possible here by inviting us to the mosque,” said Smith. “Harmony, mutual respect, and working together is not only possible, it’s also happening, and it’s happening here.”

Alberta saw the largest increase in hate crimes, up 39 per cent to 193 from 2014 to 2015, and Edmonton had the biggest increase of a major city in Canada – 45 more incidents in 2015 compared to the previous year.

Over $3.5 million has been raised by the Catholic community in just the past six weeks to address hunger in Africa through a national ecumenical and interfaith appeal. The United Nations says that 20 million people, including 1.4 million children, are at risk of death over the coming months due to ongoing armed conflicts and severe droughts.

Rev. Romano Venturelli’s love for young people and dedication to his religious congregation — the Salesians of Don Bosco — is the legacy he has left in the hearts of his parishioners in Edmonton.

“Many other nations may feel that we would be a burden to their country, to their community, but Father Gauthier and our other sponsors specifically wanted us because they knew that we would have not had a chance at a better life otherwise."

“He was from the West. He grew up on a farm, liked to fix things, so they started calling him that and he liked it a lot,” Rev. Mark Miller, the provincial of Keindel’s religious order, said. “I called him ‘Gerald’ in public, and he corrected me. He said ‘It’s Tex!’.”

“I was surprised by how many people we saw just everywhere and I thought, ‘That’s a real testament to the faith for all these people to drive so far to come out to this.’”

“The culture is better, sales are better, and customer satisfaction is higher. It’s been interesting because we’re busier with the day closed. The Lord moves in mysterious ways.”

“The idea is to go to meet the partners and learn about the work that they are doing and understand the situation,” said Monica Nino, the Alberta and Northwest Territories animator for Development and Peace. “When you go on these trips you come across a different reality. It’s something not everyone has the opportunity to do.”

The Archdiocese has posted its Annual Report for 2016. In his introductory letter to the report, Archbishop Richard Smith reflects on the Jubilee Year of Mercy, reviews the pastoral highlights of 2016 in the Archdiocese, and expresses gratitude for the continuing generosity of parishioners.