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
Indigenous Lay Formation Program alumni from Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Saskatoon. (Photo by Lynne Gillies)
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.
Celebrants at Mass: Fr Ivan Nahachewsky, Chancellor of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon, Archbishop Murray Chatlain of the Archdiocese of Keewatin-LePas, and Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OMI. (Photo by Teresa Bodnar-Hiebert)
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.
Lay Formation leaders through the years were honoured at the 2022 Alumni gathering (l-r) Gisele Bauche, Mona Goodman, Sister Bonnie Komarnicki, SSMI, Debbie Ledoux, Louise Gantefoer and Kathy Hitchings. (Photo by Blake Sittler)
