Lost & Found by Dr. Gerry Turcotte, President, St. Mary’s University "We had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found" ~ Luke 15:32 ~ Every Sunday at 4:30 p.m., St. Mary’s University hosts Mass celebrated by our own priest [...]
The Day of Small Things by Dr. Gerry Turcotte, President, St. Mary’s University “For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice.” ~ Zechariah 4:10 ~ One of the most unexpected joys of coming to St. Mary’s University in Calgary was the opportunity to write this column. While it is a most modest [...]
Ashes to Ashes by Dr. Gerry Turcotte, President, St. Mary’s University “I am but dust and ashes!” ~ Genesis 18:27 ~ On Fr. James Martin SJ’s Facebook page there appears a humorous graphic by Bill Donaghy entitled A Catholic Guide to Ashes. What follows is a series of examples of the signs priests place on [...]
The Least of My Brethren by Dr. Gerry Turcotte, President, St. Mary’s University “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."” ~ Matthew 25:40 ~ Of all the great sculptures I have seen, one of my [...]
Not Just Another Ivory Tower by Dr. Gerry Turcotte, President, St. Mary’s University “Thy neck is as a tower of ivory.” ~Song of Solomon 7:4~ When I first arrived at St. Mary’s University, almost a year to the day I am writing this, what struck me first was a peculiar water tower that dominated [...]
Rekindling Life Itself by Dr. Gerry Turcotte, President, St. Mary’s University “If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.” ~Romans 12:7~ On the 4th of September St. Mary’s University hosted what was our most widely attended orientation in our 26-year history. I don’t know how many of [...]
Prayer and Medication by Dr. Gerry Turcotte, President, St. Mary’s University, Calgary “That with an iron stylus and lead They were engraved in the rock forever!” ~ Job 19: 24 ~ Church bulletins are incredible documents and I am always so impressed by those who put them together, often in a volunteer capacity. They are [...]
Instant Gratification by Dr. Gerry Turcotte, President, St. Mary’s University, Calgary “But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” ~ Romans 8:25 ~ In 2004 I published a multi-genre book entitled Border Crossings: Words and Images that featured poems, essays, short stories and images. Virtually all of [...]
Our Days Are Numbered! by Dr. Gerry Turcotte, President, St. Mary’s University “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” ~ Psalm 90:12 ~ As a child I was always thrown when the priest announced that we were in ordinary time. Sometimes it seemed self-evident; but often it [...]
The Perfect Gift by Dr. Gerry Turcotte, President, St. Mary’s University “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” ~ James 1: 17 For the last three years now I have faced insistent questioning from my eleven-year-old daughter Sophie about whether or not there is a Santa. Her sense of hopeful wonder has been [...]
