Monique Achtman proclaimed that her dear friend Denis Grady was “the great connector” during his 72 years.

Achtman would receive calls from Mr. Grady asking her to lunch. Oftentimes, upon arriving at the restaurant, he would introduce the long-time member of the Calgary Pro-Life Association to people she had never met before.

At some point during the meal, Mr. Grady would disappear and leave Achtman at a table with his other guests whom she had just met. She would remain to listen to their stories, whether they were Indigenous peoples from Siksika Nation, people with special needs or individuals connected to his Franciscan and Friends Music Mission.

“Most times it wasn’t until after I left that I learned why I was there,” said Achtman. “I started to understand that I was given an opportunity to listen and to get to know the other guests who had stories to tell someone other than Denis. And in the end, and to this day, I'm profoundly touched and honoured to have been invited to those sacred moments.”

Actman's long-time friend and pro-life champion passed away Jan. 24.

Mr. Grady, a Third Order Franciscan, sought to emulate St. Francis of Assisi’s lifelong fidelity to the Gospel by living simply and being a channel of the Lord’s peace through engaging in good work and initiating bridge-building dialogue.

Franciscan and Friends Music Mission was founded in 2002 at World Youth Day in Toronto. Mr. Grady, a celebrated musician who recorded two original gospel music albums (Running Too Long in 1998 and Grace in the Strangest Places in 2003), was invited by the Toronto Franciscans to assemble a group of musicians from around the world to participate in the festivities.

WYD 2002 was a springboard for Mr. Grady and his musical mates. Franciscan and Friends Music Mission would minister in Haiti, Mexico, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Grenada, Guatemala, Belize and the Dominican Republic many times over the next 22 years.

Starting in 2017, Franciscan and Friends began focusing on serving Indigenous communities in Canada and the United States. The Mission organized monthly visits to the Piikani, Tsuu Tina, Blood and Blackfoot First Nations of southern Alberta. This team acutely focused on fulfilling action #83 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: “A strategy for Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to undertake collaborative projects and produce works that contribute to the reconciliation process.”

Mr. Grady answered this call by launching an event called Bishop’s Breakfast. This fellowship and food gala brought together the Bishop of Calgary and the Indigenous people of southern Alberta.

Bishop William McGrattan pledged at the 2025 event on Jan. 18 — Mr. Grady was in the hospital — to continue ongoing dialogue with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people (FNIM), enrich pastoral services for FNIM and endorse greater leadership in the Church from FNIM communities, among other promises.

In an email statement, McGrattan wrote that Mr. Grady “was ‘sui generis,’ one of a kind, a living example of St. Francis of Assisi.”

Regarding Mr. Grady’s legacy with Canada’s First Nations, the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops stated that it “was our Indigenous brothers and sisters who received from Denis a generosity of heart which often knew no limits. His witness to walking the path of truth and reconciliation was in developing one-on-one relationships through music and art. These were the instruments of his ministry, the tools of his trade, in which he revealed to others the love of Christ.”

McGrattan also lauded Mr. Grady’s “presence and accompaniment to those struggling with addiction.” His efforts “allowed many to come to know and experience the love and mercy of God, which brought hope to their lives.”

This past December marked 40 years since Mr. Grady himself achieved sobriety.

His daughter Sara dela Torre wrote in Mr. Grady's obituary that “the spirit of Denis teaches us a lesson of radical acceptance — guiding us to be better, to love deeper and to serve selflessly.”

Mr. Grady’s work with people struggling with addiction was an exemplification of this essence. Another example was how he allowed the Holy Spirit to guide where he ministered in the world. After learning about Mexican Indigenous living in the state of Oaxaca from Achtman, he felt in his heart that he had to visit, which he did in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Achtman had learned over the years that there are 21 tribes in the region and within that, they speak 16 unique dialects.

“Denis wanted to connect with them,” said Achtman. “Through music and gifts, he did.”

Mr. Grady’s life was celebrated with a funeral on Feb. 1 at Holy Spirit Parish in Calgary. He enjoyed great relationships with Fr. David Meadows and Fr. Joe Tom Kalathil Parambil.

Parambil expressed admiration about how Mr. Grady and his Franciscan and Friends Music Mission would always commit to performing at the annual Hike for Life at Prince’s Island Park. But the priest particularly commended his “down to earth” friend for his bond with “special needs people who often feel abandoned.” Mr. Grady would open up his home and serve as a foster parent, which Parambil said required “a lot of courage, patience and commitment.”

After experiencing such a full life, Achtman said she had heard Mr. Grady told someone that “death is not coming to get me, Jesus is.”

“He was unbelievable in his (hospital) room,” said Achtman. “The last week-and-a-half before his death. So many people came to see him, and he was so at peace. He was so open to going home. 'If this is it, this is it. I'm going to see Jesus.’ ”