National CWL President Shari Guinta, CWL member Magdelina Bernier, and Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen (l-r) at the closing banquet of the National Convention of the CWL in Saskatoon: The national president presented a 70-year membership pin to Magdelina, who joined the Catholic Women’s League in 1955, as a member of the St. Louis, SK, council, and later was a member of Sacred Heart Parish CWL council in Prince Albert. Now living in Saskatoon, she attended the banquet with her daughter Janice Bernier, who joined the CWL 50 years ago, and also received a membership pin from Guinta. Magdelina’s mother Caroline Yungwirth, and her grandmother Katherine Reding were also CWL members. The banquet included a reunion with Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen, whose late mother, Almyra (nee Longworth) Hagemoen of Crystal Springs, SK, attended school with Magdelina and was the maid of honour at her wedding. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
The opening celebration for the 104th annual National Convention of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada was held Aug. 11 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, ahead of celebration of Sunday evening Mass with Bishop Mark Hagemoen.
The official opening ceremony for the 104th National Convention Aug. 11, 2024, began with a flag processional featuring members of the national executive bringing up the Canadian, provincial, and CWL flags to place behind the altar at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon.
Helen Kayfish, Saskatchewan CWL Provincial President, welcomed delegates to Saskatoon during the opening ceremony for the 104th National Convention of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Delegates were welcomed by Saskatchewan Provincial CWL President Helen Kayfish on behalf of the 98 CWL councils across the province.
Saskatchewan Provincial CWL Spiritual Advisor, Fr. Francis Hengen and National Spiritual Advisor Bishop Wayne Lobsinger, also brought greetings at the opening celebration.
Describing himself as “blessed among women,” Lobsinger said that serving as a bridge between the League and the bishops of Canada is an honoured role.
“Today more than ever, we as Catholics need to be on the same page; we need to be working together,” Lobsinger said. “Part of my role is to bring together the women of the League and the bishops of Canada in this amazing task of proclaiming this wonderful gift we have of our Catholic faith.”
An opening celebration for the convention was held Aug. 11 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
MLA Lisa Lambert, Saskatoon City Councillor Bev Dubois, Saskatchewan Knights of Columbus State Deputy Marte Nogot, and National CWL President Shari Guinta also spoke, welcoming delegates and affirming the work of the League.
Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen presided at the opening Mass, celebrating with several other bishops, including Bishop Stephen Hero of Prince Albert, Archbishop Donald Bolen of Regina, Archbishop of Montreal, as well as Spiritual Advisors Lobsinger (Auxiliary Bishop of Hamilton) and Hengen, and a number of other priests and spiritual advisors, including cathedral Rector Fr. Gerard Cooper and Associate Pastor Fr. Joe-Nelo Penino.
A number of bishops and priests concelebrated the opening Mass with Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen Aug. 11, including (front row l-r): Bishop Stephen Hero of Prince Albert, Archbishop Donald Bolen of Regina, National CWL Spiritual Advisor Bishop Wayne Lobsinger of Hamilton, Archbishop Christian Lépine of Montreal, and Provincial CWL Spiritual Advisor Fr. Frances Hengen. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
In his homily, Hagemoen pointed to scriptural and personal journeys — including his own recent participation in the gruelling Canadian Death Race — that serve as a metaphor of Christian life, with mountain-top experiences as well as an a relentless up and down grind, when at times there seems to be no energy left to go on.
“But God is with us,” Hagemoen said, pointing to the exhausted prophet Elijah’s meal in the desert in the reading from 1 Kings as a foreshadowing of how we are fed in the celebration of the Eucharist, where “we come to hear the Word of God and feed on the Bread of Life, so that we meet the Lord and, furthermore, that we can be imitators of God.”
He noted that the CWL, with all the Church, is “called to serve the reality of unity and human fraternity,” starting with the basics of kindness and tenderheartedness, and of caring for others.
“Catholic Women’s League — thank you, thank you, thank you for the mission and the apostolate that you fulfill. You are imitators of God. Your faithful and tremendous support of the Holy Father and the Church nationally and locally is greatly needed and appreciated,” Hagemoen said.
“Thank you for the way you relate faith to service in so many ways, bringing your voice to bear on difficult issues for our culture and country: caring for our common home, speaking our faith to family values and priorities, bringing awareness regarding issues of the day that are a struggle for people — such as mental illness or human trafficking… and other key issues that impact health, economics and social issues.”
He concluded: “Thank you for being women who call us to right relationship. I and my brother bishops rely and depend on you , as do our clergy and frankly all our Church.”
CWL life members bring forward the gifts during the opening Mass, presenting them to Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen at the Cathedral of the Holy Family. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Archbishop Donald Bolen of Regina and CWL National President Shari Guinta meet after the opening Mass Aug. 11. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Development and Peace – Caritas Canada representatives with several bishops after the opening Mass for the CWL national convention (l-r): Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen, Brenda Arakaza, Regina Archbishop Donald Bolen, Hamilton Auxiliary Bishop Wayne Lobsinger (National CWL Spiritual Advisor), Taisha Toupin, Prince Albert Bishop Stephen Hero, Montreal Archbishop Christian Lépine, and Joan Gauthier. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Bishop Hagemoen also con-celebrated the closing Mass at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Saskatoon, with presider Bishop Wayne Lobsinger, as well as Archbishop Albert LeGatt, Fr. Frances Hengen, and Holy Spirit pastor Fr. Joseph Salihu on the final day of the convention Aug. 14.
Fr. Joseph Salihu, Bishop Mark Hagmeon, and Archbishop Albert leGatt at the CWL national convention closing Mass Aug. 14 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Saskatoon. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
News article about CWL convention:
CWL 2024 – Catholic Women’s League of Canada 104th National Convention held in Saskatoon
