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Cross raised on Cathedral grounds on eve of Lenten 40 relay run

The annual crucifix-raising work crew once again joined Bishop Mark Hagemoen on the grounds of the Cathedral of the Holy Family to set up the outdoor cross. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Once again a crucifix was raised on the grounds of the Cathedral of the Holy Family in preparation for Holy Week in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.

Bishop Mark Hagemoen joined the annual work crew to raise the cross on Friday, April 11.

A Lenten 40 relay run will start and end at the foot of this cross on Saturday, April 12 after runners travel four legs of a 41.9 km pilgrimage course through Saskatoon’s river valley, going past St. Paul Co-Cathedral downtown before returning to the foot of the cross to conclude the event combining the physical and the spiritual.

Participants gather for prayer with Bishop Mark Hagemoen before the event – for Stations of the Cross and a time of Eucharistic Adoration at the Cathedral of the Holy Family starting at 7 p.m. Friday, April 11 and for Holy Mass before the run itself at 7:45 a.m. Saturday, April 12. All are welcome to both of these pre-run prayer events.

Slide show:

History of outdoor cross on cathedral grounds

The outdoor crucifix was first raised on the cathedral grounds during the pandemic, giving the faithful a way to venerate the cross on Good Friday 2020, when churches were closed. Since then it has become an annual tradition to raise the cross on the grounds for Holy Week and the Easter Triduum.

Bishop Mark Hagemoen will also lead Stations of the Cross at the foot of the outdoor crucifix on Good Friday evening 7 p.m. April 18, with a group of youth enacting the stations.

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