An Invitation to Slow Down, Go Outside, and Be Together
Dear brothers and sisters,
This coming Family Day long weekend (February 14–16) gives us a small but precious gift: three winter days to step outside, breathe Alberta air, and simply be together as families.
Alberta offers a beautiful opportunity during this weekend through Family Fishing Weekend, when parents and children can try fishing together without needing a sportfishing licence (on open waterbodies and following regulations). It’s not about how many fish you catch — it’s about time shared, stories told, laughter on the ice or shoreline, and memories that stay longer than winter.
Fishing has a quiet wisdom to it. It teaches patience, care for creation, and respect for life. It invites us to slow our pace — something our families deeply need. A mother, a father, children standing together at the edge of a pond or lake… that image itself is already a blessing.
Whether you fish or simply walk, sled, skate, or warm up with hot chocolate afterward, be present to one another. Leave the screens behind for a few hours. Let the cold air wake you up. Let silence and conversation find room again.
As always, we are called to be responsible stewards of God’s creation — following fishing regulations, handling fish gently, keeping our waters clean, and respecting the gift entrusted to us for future generations.
Winter in Alberta can be demanding — but it can also be beautiful, honest, and deeply human when shared.
May this weekend be a time of rest, reconnection, and gratitude — with God, with nature, and with one another.
Enjoy the outdoors. Enjoy your family. And give thanks for the simple gifts. 🎣❄️
— о. Славко
