Fr. Shibu Kallarakkal was born on March 31st, 1975 and entered the religious community of the Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Conception in 1991. He completed his studies in philosophy, sociology, economics and politics in India, his studies in theology in Rome, and he was ordained on December 29th, 2003. In May 2004 he was sent to Mérida-Yucatán, México, where he served as Associate Pastor of the San Francisco de Asís and San Ignacio chapels in the Pensiones subdivision. In 2005 he remodeled the local church in Chalmuch. From 2005 to 2006 he worked as a chaplain for the Agustín Oran Hospital. Then in 2006, with the help of the congregation and local parishioners, he built the Community of the Beato Luigi María Monti Community and, in 2007, he built a chapel that was later designated San Martín Caballero Parish, being its first parish priest, annexing 6 neighboring chapels. He then completed a Diploma in Thanatology in 2010 at the Autonomous University of Yucatan and, in 2011, he became a member of the North American Council of the Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Conception.
Working as Pastor in San Martin Caballero expanded the full potential of the charisms of the Congregation such as helping the neediest, educating the youth and feeding the spiritual needs of the parishioners in general through the Marian virtues of love and charity, and became dedicated to youth as the spiritual leader of a Youth Ministry in the Archdiocese of Yucatan, leading large numbers of young people to World Youth Day in 2012. In the same year in September he founded a temporary shelter home called “Nuestro Señor de la Divina Misericordia” in order to serve family members who could not afford accommodations when accompanying loved ones at the local hospital.
In 2013 he arrived in Calgary-Canada to the community of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer; and in 2014 capitalizing on his language skills he took on the challenge of taking charge of the Parish as Pastor, with its three communities: Canadian, Italian and Hispanic. A few years later, he assumed the position of Superior of the community. From 2017 to the present he assumes the position of Vicar of the delegation of the North American Council of the Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Conception, as well as the Chaplaincy of Jesus Youth in Calgary and Canada, and Dean of Father Naphin deanery in the Diocese of Calgary.
At Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish, he has managed to develop all his charisms, especially in the achievement of uniting three communities challenged by a broad cultural and age diversity; as well as the development and creation of new pastoral groups that cover all ages from the youngest to seniors.
Hispanics around the world can now nurture their faith with Fr. Shibu's talks, prayers and spiritual guidance through EWTN weekly radio program called Hoy es un gran dia, where he is a guest speaker. At a local level, Fr. Shibu hosts the weekly program Es tiempo de vivir on 94.7 Childfair Radio from Calgary, AB.
His hands-on and compassionate approach has generated an on-going flow of positive energy and commitment within the community, which facilitates the use of spiritual and cultural instruments like retreats, Bible studies, multi-cultural events, among others, to achieve the integration of all the individuals and families who belong to Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish.
Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.