Deacon Ron Nowell was born in Toronto, Ontario on July 11, 1947.
He attended the University of Toronto and Ryerson University, graduating in journalism in June 1971.
After graduation, he moved to Calgary, where he was employed as a reporter and editor at the Calgary Herald until retiring as executive editor in 2008.
Raised as a Protestant in the Salvation Army, he was baptized into the Catholic Church, was confirmed and made his first Holy Communion on June 29, 1980 at the small parish church of St. Clement, which was located on the property on which Mary, Mother of the Redeemer now stands.
After three years of study, Deacon Ron was ordained a permanent deacon by Bishop Frederick Henry at St. Mary’s Cathedral on June 14, 2004.
After ordination, he was assigned to Our Lady of Grace parish, the forerunner of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer. After four years, he was assigned to St. James in southwest Calgary in 2008 and then to the new parish of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer in 2013. Five years later in 2018 he was transferred to St. Anthony’s parish where he remained until he was again assigned to Mary, Mother of the Redeemer by Bishop William McGrattan in August 2021.
Deacon Ron serves as a member of the Diocesan Diaconal Council, which oversees the ministry of permanent deacons in the Calgary Diocese. He is also a Benedictine oblate associated with Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon.
He and Bernadette were married at Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish on Edmonton Trail on March 3, 1973. They have three children and nine grandchildren, six of whom Deacon Ron baptized at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer.
Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.