Calgary Anglican church holds first mass under Catholic faith

The congregation at St. John the Evangelist in Calgary, an Anglican church, voted in November 2010 to join the Roman Catholic Church. (Google Street View)

The congregation of one of the oldest churches in Calgary will celebrate its first mass as part of the Catholic faith Saturday.

St. John the Evangelist in Inglewood is Canada’s first Anglican-use parish of the Catholic Church after the congregation voted to join in November 2010.

Administrator Lee Kenyon says it will be a historic moment.

“Wider Anglicism has always seen as its goal reunion with the holy C, reunion with St. Peter, and finally we’ve been allowed to do that now as a group of people, as a corporate body, with our building, with our priests, with very little disruption to the life we have led for many, many years,” he said.

Kenyon says Anglicans who become Catholic no longer lose their Anglican heritage and traditions.

“Finally we are being allowed to retain it … and share it with the wider Catholic community,” he said.

Kenyon’s hoping it will be standing room only at the first ceremony.