The Saint Thomas More Lawyers’ Guild of Calgary is pleased to invite all members of the legal profession and related professions, as well as family and friends, to Calgary’s annual Red Mass. The event will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, where Bishop William McGrattan will preside, with a reception to follow.

The featured guest speaker for the reception will be Justice David Brown of the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Justice Brown was appointed to the Court of Appeal for Ontario in December 2014, after sitting as a judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in the Toronto Region since September 2006. Justice Brown will be speaking about the topic of freedom of conscience.

Evening Schedule:

• 4:30 p.m. – Gowning of judges and lawyers (note: gowning is not necessary to attend or join the procession)
• 5 p.m. – Mass (open to all)
• 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Catered reception featuring Justice David Brown

The Red Mass is celebrated in honour of the legal profession as a vocation in the service of justice and the common good. It is an occasion for people employed in the administration of justice as judges, lawyers, paralegals, assistants, civic leaders and law students of all faiths to celebrate the beginning of the new judicial term and ask for blessing, strength and enlightenment in the pursuit of justice for all.

The tradition of the Red Mass began in the Cathedral of Paris in 1245. The Red Mass was first celebrated in England around 1310, where it is still celebrated annually at Westminster Cathedral. The Red Mass was first celebrated in Canada in 1896 and was re-instituted in Calgary in 2015.

The Mass is free for everyone to attend, including the general public. However, please note that members and invited guests must purchase a ticket to attend the catered reception following the Mass.

If you have any questions about the event or require financial assistance to purchase a ticket to the reception, please contact the Saint Thomas More Lawyers’ Guild of Calgary through the event registration page or by sending an email to calgary.stmlg@gmail.com.

Register to attend.