Monthly Archives

March 2020

Mar 31
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Faith resources in a time of COVID-19 restrictions

By Enriching faith

Conversations about life and faith in a time of pandemic: Link to video conversations led by Bishop Mark Hagemoen

Bishop Mark Hagemoen calls for prayer and fasting on Fridays to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, praying for an end to COVID-19 pandemic: LINK to Heart of Jesus prayer resources

COVID-19 Updates in the Diocese of Saskatoon – LINK

Local Masses Live-Streamed  – saskatoonmass.com

A central website has been established for those who wish to access live-streaming of Masses and other online resources created by priests in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: saskatoonmass.com

Several Masses are streamed and archived there daily, including live-stream broadcast at 9:00 a.m. Sunday mornings with Bishop Mark Hagemoen celebrating Eucharist at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, Saskatoon except on Easter Sunday, when Mass will be livestreamed at 10 a.m.  from St. Paul Co-Cathedral. The live-stream Mass can also be viewed on the diocesan website home page rcdos.ca

Mass on Television – Depending on particular cable and satellite plans:

Scheduling information about the broadcast of Mass in Canada can be found at DailyTVmass.com, (including on the Salt+Light Catholic Network at saltandlighttv.org/mass/ and Vision TV at www.visiontv.ca/shows/daily-mass/. )The “Eternal Word Television Network – EWTN” American Catholic channel  www.ewtn.com also broadcasts daily Mass.

Regarding watching Catholic Mass on television, as opposed to watching livestream on the Internet, here – with thanks – is a message from a parishioner who researched this for an elderly parent: “For those residents who are still most comfortable with the TV as their main ‘appliance’ for receiving information and entertainment from their suites as opposed to using computers, smart phones, IPads or tablets, your TV service providers have some alternatives that may help during Easter and during COVID-19 in the future.  – SaskTel Max offers: Eternal Word TV Network. This is a Catholic faith-based channel that can be purchased as an individual channel add-on;…. SaskTel had the channel activated within about 20 minutes of my call with them; see: www.ewtn.com or Call 1-800-SASKTEL(1-800-727-5835). – Access Communications offers: Eternal Word TV Network Call: (1-866-363-2225). – Shaw Communications (Shaw Direct satellite has this too?) offers: ‘Salt and Light Television’ a quality Catholic faith-based channel that is sold as a stand-alone channel or as part of a channel package; see: www.saltandlighttv.org / Call 1-888-472-2222. – Bell TV Satellite offers: Salt and Light Television, Call 1-866-310-2355. Note- the TV service providers also have a variety of interdenominational Christian channels — such as Vision TV (which broadcasts daily Catholic Mass) among their channel and/or packages, so when a resident or their support person calls the TV service provider they just need to ask the Telephone agent what’s available for Catholic or other faith-based programming.”

 

Act of Spiritual Communion to unite oneself in prayer to Jesus Christ when one is unable to receive the Eucharist sacramentally:

My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

– St. Alphonsus of Liguori

Prière de communion spirituelle:

Mon Jesus, Je crois que tu es reellement present dans le Tres Saint Sacrement de l’autel. Je t’aime plus que toutet je te desire dans mon âme. Puisque je ne peux pas te recevoir Sacramentellement maintenant, viens au moins spirituellement dans mon cœur. Et comme tu es deja venu, je t’embrasse et je m’unis tout entier a toi. Ne permets pas que je sois jamais separe de Toi.

CCCB National Liturgy Office – Copyright information on streaming and video-recording liturgical celebrations

UNITING TOGETHER IN PRAYER:

Bishop Mark Hagemoen is calling for a special time of prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Fridays in the Easter season and beyond, praying for healing and protection during the COVID-19 Pandemic. More information and Resources, can be found at: rcdos.ca/heart-of-jesus

Justice and Peace Way of the Cross:  in lieu of the annual outdoor Way of the Cross held in downtown Saskatoon for many years, during the COVID-19 shutdown of 2020, a virtual version was created by various individuals and groups filming their individual reflections and prayers. Share in this virtual walk with Jesus Christ and the suffering of our world, organized by the diocesan Office of Justice and Peace:

NOTE: The list of lyrics and the Stations of the Cross (scriptural version introduced by Saint Pope John Paul II in 1991), along with a list of themes and presenters can be found at: LINK to 2020 Way of the Cross Lyrics-Station Info Sheet

Online faith resources:

In addition to live-streaming of Mass and other devotions by parishes in our diocese posted at saskatoonmass.com, there are a number of other online faith resources available during these times of physical distancing and isolation measures. These include:

Divine Renovation free resource for parishes: This free resource kit has insight on leading well, advice on what tools to use, and lots of practical examples from Catholic parishes innovating brilliantly around the world: Divine Renovation website.

 Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools has also shared its link to the Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ religious education program. The Student Home portal grants at-home access to videos, stories, interactive activities, and songs – all grounded in the celebration of our Catholic faith, aligned with the Church’s liturgical year. Log in online at: www.pearsoncanada.ca  The username is: GIFGIC_student99 and the password is: Student99

 

Reflections on the Sunday Readings – The diocese of Saskatoon has posted reflections on the Sunday readings for family sharing and discussion, available at: Scripture Resources on the website

 

*Support your Parish through online Sunday Offering: Since offering envelopes are not possible at this time of no public celebrations of Mass, we ask you to support your parish community through online giving. The Diocese of Saskatoon Catholic Foundation has set up a webpage at dscf.ca/parish-offertory that allows you to direct your donation to any parish in the diocese as a one-time or recurring monthly gift. Thank you for remembering the needs of your parish at this challenging time of the COVID-19 crisis.

 

 

 

Mar 14
Love1

Safeguarding Action Plan announced

By News

As part of an ongoing commitment to safeguarding children, youth and the vulnerable in its churches, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon has published a Safer Church, Stronger Communities safeguarding action plan featuring 20 commitments aimed at preventing and responding to abuse by clergy or others in the church. Copies of the plan will be distributed to parishes beginning at the Cathedral of the Holy Family March 14-15 and will be handed out in parish bulletins at other parishes across the diocese in the weeks ahead.

Download the Safer Churches, Stronger Communities safeguarding action plan: PDF (updated in July 2021)

Reporting abuse: Contact information

The four-page Safer Churches, Stronger Communities action plan reflects the recent work of a diocesan Safeguarding Committee (consisting of eight lay Catholics and one diocesan priest), chaired by Brenda FitzGerald.

The Safeguarding Committee was established by Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen two years ago, to review and update the diocese’s long-standing policies related to safeguarding and abuse.

“We have all seen the news articles about cases and allegations from around the world about sexual abuse by clergy, past and present — with this report we wanted to explain how our own local Catholic community is responding to this important issue,” says Safeguarding Committee Chair Brenda FitzGerald. “The bottom line is that we are committed to do all we can to make our churches safe for all, and to heal the hurt caused by the crime of sexual abuse.”

She adds: ““Our diocesan Safeguarding Committee is made up of members of our church community from all walks of life. Each and every one of us are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable persons in our church environments, and to responding with compassion and sensitivity to anyone who comes forward with allegations of serious misconduct, including sexual abuse.”

In the new four-page action plan, as well as in video updates and elsewhere, Bishop Mark Hagemoen has invited anyone who has experienced abuse in the church to come forward, and has apologized for the hurt and trauma that survivors have experienced.

“The violation and victimization by any members of the church, and most specifically any of its clergy, of the young and vulnerable by leaders and pastors of the faithful whose priority is to embody by their lives the truth and way of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a tragedy,” says Hagemoen. “We must bring all of this to the light, and find our way forward finding the same mind, heart, and way as Christ Jesus.”

As part of its work, the diocesan Safeguarding Committee has reviewed and updated diocesan policies for ensuring safe church environments, focused on increasing awareness about the impact of sexual abuse on survivors, and clearly outlined steps for handling allegations of serious misconduct — including sexual abuse – by clergy or others working in the church.

Training and updates on the issue and on diocesan policies are being provided to leaders and parishioners across the diocese, and have included in-service sessions for clergy and parish leaders, video updates to the faithful about the policies by Bishop Hagemoen and Brenda FitzGerald, and training sessions open to all interested in November/December 2019. The 20-point safeguarding action plan  is the latest step in the diocesan effort to clearly inform the faithful and the community at large about  commitments to safeguarding children and vulnerable persons from abuse.

In addition, Bishop Hagemoen has recently launched an Historic Case Review Committee, chaired by Bob Loran, working independently of the bishop’s office. This committee will review historical cases involving the abuse of children and vulnerable adults by clergy in the dioceese, including those who have died, to determine whether such cases were handled appropriately. “I look forward to receiving the results of this new committee’s work, and to communicating their recommendations and our response in the near future,” said Hagemoen.

“It is my goal to hold the bar very high in assuring that all our churches are safe and respectful communities,” says the bishop. “We are taking this issue seriously.”

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