The 2024 Bishop’s Dinner in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon included a focus on the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, updates on outreach to those in need, and an overview of the diocesan Pastoral Plan, as well as a gala dinner, entertainment and award presentations.
Hosted by the Diocese of Saskatoon Catholic Foundation at the Cathedral of the Holy Family May 2, the dinner’s featured guest speaker was Dr. Gordon Martell, PhD, who serves as chair of the Indigenous Discernment Circle and Granting Committee for the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. A member of Waterhen First Nation, Martell was an educator and administrator for Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools until his recent appointment to the University of Saskatchewan College of Education’s Department of Educational Administration. He described the Discernment Circle’s vision and goals for the fund and reported on a range of local initiatives that have been supported so far.
Other speakers on the Bishop’s Dinner program were Myron Rogal, coordinator of the diocesan Office of Justice and Peace, who spoke about parish and diocesan initiatives to respond to poverty and increasing homelessness in our communities; and Bishop Mark Hagemoen, who provided an overview of the diocesan Pastoral Plan and the mission “To Proclaim Christ and God’s Kingdom Today.”
Diocese of Saskatoon Catholic Foundation Executive Director Raissa Bugyi and Chair Ray Kolla were also part of the program, emceed by Steve Chisholm. Live music during the gala evening was provided by the Dean McNeill Quartet with special guest singer-songwriter Alexis Normand.
Stewardship awards (and artwork by Gisele Bauche) were presented during the evening to Dorothy Rollheiser of St. Theresa Parish in Rosetown for her years of service to her parish and as a Bishop’s Annual Appeal volunteer, and to Fr. Joseph Salihu of Holy Spirit Parish for nurturing and inspiring a generous and caring community (“Ministry to Parishioners Award.”) Three other award recipients who could not be present on the evening of the Bishop’s Dinner will be acknowledged by the Catholic Foundation at a later date.
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This year’s theme, “Love hopes all things,” is inspired by the words of Saint Paul, the Apostle: “[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”(1 Corinthians 13:7). This theme, linked to Amoris Laetitia, a discourse on love by Pope Francis, guides us towards hope, a theological virtue that renews our relationship with God and others.
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