October 2022

On Sunday, Oct. 30, Bishop Mark Hagemoen celebrated Sunday Eucharist at the Cathedral of the Holy Family: the congregation was joined by participants in the 2022 FacetoFace Ministries United conference.

By Maria Gursky, Face to Face Ministries

FacetoFace Ministries hosted its annual United Conference Oct. 29-30 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon, with keynote speaker Sr. Helena Burns of the Daughters of St. Paul breaking open the teachings of St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body in an engaging and practical way.

The United Conference hit record-breaking numbers of 394 individuals gathered for a weekend of growing in faith and experiencing community. Highlights included adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, praise and worship, the keynote talks by Sr. Burns, and time for fellowship.

FacetoFace Ministries desires that youth across Western Canada find fulfillment in a life in Christ, and strives to provide encounters with Jesus Christ that inspire the response to become saints.

This year’s United Conference drew youth from the Diocese of Prince George, BC, from Clearwater Academy in Calgary, AB, and from Humboldt Collegiate Institute in Humboldt, SK as well as many more local families from Saskatoon, Regina, Edmonton, Calgary and beyond.

United is a chance for youth to come together from across Canada to be united and supported in living out their faith in today’s world. One participant shared that “it was so reassuring seeing how many people are just like me, a young Catholic looking to find community and learn about the faith.”

Many youth look forward to this annual conference as a chance to reconnect with friends made through other FacetoFace programs such as Ignite summer camps and the online WORD Bible Studies.

For many, the weekend was an enriching faith experience. FacetoFace works to foster encounters with Jesus Christ through offering the Sacrament of Reconciliation as well as creating a moment of encounter through Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Worshipping God in a church with nearly 400 people sharing in Eucharistic Adoration is an incredibly inspiring and encouraging experience. Many participants shared that this time spent with Jesus was the highlight of the weekend.

“At adoration I really felt the love of God touch me and the atmosphere was amazing,” said one participant.

Sr. Helena Burns gave three keynote sessions about Theology of the Body: an introduction to the teaching, a reflection about how God is the only One who can truly satisfy our desires, and a third talk about the masculine and feminine genius.

Many participants commented that Sr. Helena’s words were encouraging, giving them a new perspective, and deepening their faith. One participant shared: “The talks given set a fire within my heart to live a better life through the teachings of the Catholic Church and Theology of the Body.”

FacetoFace was blessed to welcome in other local speakers for breakout session talks in the afternoon, including Ken and Janelle Yasinski, Arnel Vicente, Matthew Courchene and Fr. Warren Dungen. The wisdom, encouragement, and practical suggestions shared in the breakout sessions were well received by participants.

The annual United Conference is also an opportunity for collaboration with other youth and young adult programs in our province and beyond, including NET Ministries of Canada, Newman Theological College, and St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission. Having these organizations present at the Conference is beneficial for the youth attending – exposing them to different options available while providing a fantastic advertising opportunity for the organizations!

Bishop Mark Hagemoen presided over Sunday mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Family Oct. 30, addressing the United Conference participants who joined the parishioners and encouraging the youth to continue living out their faith.

All glory to God for a successful United Conference!

For more information about the mission and work of FacetoFace Ministries, visit the website at f2f.ca.

 

 

 

 

Live-stream video of Sunday Mass with Bishop Hagemoen during United:

 

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Some 120 alumni and former facilitators and leaders of the diocesan Lay Formation program gathered Oct. 27-28 for one last annual Alumni Fall Gathering at Queen’s House of Retreat and Renewal in Saskatoon — the facility that for so many years was the site of Lay Formation weekends of prayer, learning and community.

Find news article, photos and speaker reflections at: Catholic Saskatoon News

The final alumni gathering was a time for connection, grieving, and reflection, including perspectives by founders and former coordinators, volunteers and presenters about the history of the program, its vision and its impact.

Guest speaker at the Fall Gathering (in person and on Zoom) was Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OMI, who for many years was one of the celebrated presenters of sessions at the Lay Formation program. The weekend schedule also included a wine and cheese reception Oct. 28 and a closing Mass and banquet Oct. 29.

 

With prayers of thanksgiving and words of farewell, parishioners marked the closing of the Catholic church at Burstall Oct. 9, celebrating Mass with Bishop Mark Hagemoen and pastor Fr. Francis Appiah-Kubi. 

St. Michael parishioners were joined by others from the area at the final Mass, including representatives from Fox Valley, Liebenthal, Leader and Richmound Catholic parishes, as well as representatives of local Lutheran and Evangelical churches.

The closure of the parish comes after a long period of discernment by the community, said Bishop Hagemoen. It is a time of sadness, but also a moment to embrace the challenge of the change and the need to connect with a new community, he noted.

In his homily during the final Mass held on the Thanksgiving weekend, Bishop Hagemoen focussed on the fact that the people of God are the ultimate temple and that they would persist in the visible expression of Catholic life faith and mission in the region.

The bishop also shared expressions of prayers and blessings from the Ursuline sisters of Prelate, from the diocesan Council of Priests , and from neighbouring parish communities who had let him know that they were holding the Catholic community of St. Michael, Burstall in prayer.

After Mass, the congregation went to the cemetery shared between the Lutheran and Catholic community, where Bishop Hagemoen blessed the graves. A reception in the church basement followed.

St Michael was officially established as a mission parish of Liebenthal on May 17, 1970, in response to the request of the Catholic community, which had purchased a former Baptist church and adapted it for use in Catholic worship. In the early years, Burstall was served by Oblate priests coming from Liebenthal and Richmound.

In 1977-78, to accommodate the increased numbers of Catholics, the present St. Michael church was developed, under the direction of Fr. Joseph Blatz, OMI, with a basement built first, and then a former Lutheran church at Leader, SK, was moved to Burstall and placed over the waiting basement.

The newly refurbished St. Michael Church was blessed on June 26, 1979 by Bishop Noël Delaquis of Gravelbourg. (St. Michael, Burstall was one of the parishes added to the diocese of Saskatoon in 1998.)

– Information from “Building the Church, Living the Gospel” by Margaret Sanche and Daniel J. Classen, 2013

 

 

 

An hour of public witness calling for an end to abortion, Life Chain was again held on the first Sunday of October in communities across Saskatchewan, including in Humboldt, Unity and Saskatoon.

The Saskatoon event was held at the corner of Idylwyld Drie and 22nd Street on the afternoon of Oct. 2, with participants holding sign up as traffic passed by. Bishop Mark Hagemoen joined some 135 participants in peaceful witness.

Life Chain has been organized by Campaign Life Coalition and held simultaneously in communities across the country since 1990.