Last Updated: Friday - 09/24/2010

Fr. Parenteau helped us through daughter's surgeries

Fr. Arlan Parenteau has prayed with us and blessed our family.

Father Arlan Parenteau came to Christ King Parish, Stettler and Our Lady of Grace, Castor the fall of 2005. Although he has just celebrated his sixth anniversary of ordination, we consider him a great spiritual leader.

Coming from a non-Catholic background, he grew up not knowing the true meaning of Jesus. He was an ordinary man who built a successful moving company prior to becoming Catholic. I think that is why he can relate to a person so well, because he knows what it is like to deal with the problems of everyday life.

Father Arlan became a friend of the family when my daughter developed a serious health problem four years ago. When I first called Father to come and pray over my daughter he was at our house within a couple of days.

Priests are extremely busy, but he took time out to come and pray with our family. From that day on he has been a real blessing, not only to our family, but to both parish communities.

ALL AGES

He seems to be able to relate to all ages of our parish. From the babies he baptizes, to the children he sends off to children's liturgy to the teenagers he jokes with to the elderly he calls to the front when it is their birthday, giving them a hug making them feel very special.

In the last few years Father, too, has had to battle serious health problems himself. While going through his own tribulations we witnessed first hand the power of God's healing touch. Throughout his recovery, he continued to talk about trusting in God to heal you, whether it is physical, emotional or spiritual.

What really convinced me of how powerful of a man Father Arlan is came this past year. My daughter, who is 12, had to undergo five surgeries at the Calgary Children's Hospital. Throughout our stay at the hospital Father kept in close contact with us.

Before every surgery, when I was about to lose it, he kept reassuring us Jesus is with us, and not only would he say a Mass for my daughter, he would contact some of his fellow priest friends and ask them to pray for her also.

HOME VISITS

Father has been to our house on several occasions and has anointed my daughter. Our last visit to the neurosurgeon was the end of August, when my daughter was yet to have another operation. After taking an MRI it was discovered she did not need one after all.

The neurosurgeon could not give an explanation as to why everything looked fine. But I know Jesus healed Jocelyn through Father. To me that was a miracle. My daughter is doing amazingly well now and she thinks the world of Father Arlan. And she is not afraid to say "I love you" to him.

Whenever we have friends or relatives stay with us and we take them to Mass and listen to Father's homily, they always say what a wonderful priest we have and how lucky we are to have such a holy man leading our people. I say "I know." God bless you Father Arlan.

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