Joy, thanksgiving and messages of “Welcome home, Bishop Ken!” were hallmarks of the Aug. 22 episcopal ordination of Bishop Kenneth Thorson, OMI, as the ninth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince Albert, surrounded by family, clergy, religious, and laity from across the diocese and beyond.

“It is like coming home,” agreed the newly-ordained bishop in his message of thanks at the conclusion of the celebration at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

“I have felt the welcome of friends and family, and I am making new friends,” Thorson said. “I’ve been deeply touched by not only the welcome, but even more by the ministry and the commitment that I’ve experienced in the men and women and young people of the diocese. “

He added: “I am blessed to be here as your bishop and I commit to walking with you as a brother, and I look forward to all that God will do in the years to come.”

Born in Saskatoon, Thorson spent his teen years in the Diocese of Prince Albert after his parents moved to Nipawin, SK.

“The communities that helped shape your faith and your life now receive you as their bishop. We see God’s providence in that, and we rejoice in it,” said Msgr. Maurice Fiolleau in his message at the conclusion of the celebration.

Fiolleau served as diocesan administrator after the appointment of former Prince Albert Bishop Stephen Hero as Archbishop of Edmonton in November 2025 until the installation of Thorson as the new bishop on the Solemnity of the Queenship of Mary 2026.

“Welcome home, Bishop Ken,” Fiolleau said. “We are grateful that God has sent you to us, and we look forward to many years of working together in the service of Christ and His Church.”

Prince Albert Diocese – PHOTOS and VIDEO of Mass (LINK)

The celebration opened with a Treaty 6 land acknowledgement, and included an Indigenous honour song. In his leadership roles with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Thorson was actively involved in truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, the release of historical records, and other ongoing work addressing the Oblates’ historical involvement in residential schools.

The Apostolic Letter of Pope Leo XIV appointing Thorson as bishop of Prince Albert was read and shown to those assembled for the “consent of the people,” before ordination was conferred by Archbishop Donald Bolen of Regina, along with Archbishop Susai Jesu, OMI, of Keewatin-Le Pas, and Archbishop Albert LeGatt of Saint Boniface, MB.

In his homily, LeGatt shared his prayers for the new bishop and the diocese, describing his friendship with Thorson, which began in 1982. LeGatt’s own episcopal ordination as Bishop of Saskatoon 25 years ago was celebrated at St. Patrick Church, when Thorson was serving there as pastor.

“I pray that your episcopacy will always be filled, before anything —  in all your words and actions and decisions and administering and counselling and helping – that it will always be about God’s love,” LeGatt said.

“You are going to be called to lead, and so you will establish and bring forth a vision for the diocese. You will set structures and projects. But in all of that, the goal is to unite in love, to truly unite in love.”

LeGatt expressed the hope that this new chapter in Thorson’s life and ministry – and by extension in the life and ministry of the entire diocese – would “be filled with abundant blessings.” He concluded by reading from the ritual of ordination, sharing what the Church teaches about the ministry of a bishop.

The ordination celebration continued with Archbishop Donald Bolen receiving the promises of Thorson to carry out the office entrusted to him, to “proclaim the gospel of Christ faithfully and unfailingly,” as well as to guard the deposit of faith, to build up the body of Christ, His Church, and to remain in unity with the order of bishops and the Holy Father. Thorson also promised “to encourage the holy people of God, and to guide them in the way of salvation,” and “as a good shepherd, to seek out the sheep who stray and gather them into the Lord’s fold,” as well as to pray without ceasing for God’s people.

Thorson lay prostrate before the altar during the litany of the saints before kneeling as the three archbishops conferred ordination through the laying on of hands, followed by all of the con-celebrating bishops.

The book of the gospels was held over the head of the new bishop, and his head was then anointed with sacred oil. Thorson was presented with the gospel, as well as signs of his new office — the ring, the mitre and the crozier — before taking his place in the cathedra chair as bishop, greeted with applause by all assembled.

 

In addition to Fiolleau and Thorson himself, speakers at the conclusion of Mass included Msgr. Paul Butnaru, representing the Apostolic Nunciature, and Fr. Andrew Stendzina, OMI, provincial of OMI Lacombe Canada.

“The history of this local church and the history of the Oblates have been intertwined from the beginning,” noted Stendzina, noting that a Oblate of Mary Immaculate Bishop Albert Pascal, OMI, was the first bishop of Prince Albert (1891-1920) and that Oblates have long been part of the diocese. “A mission entrusted to one generation is being entrusted anew to another,” he said.

“What we celebrate today is becoming somewhat familiar to the Oblate community,” he added. “Not long ago, we shared Archbishop Susai with the wider church. and now we are being asked to do it again. We could say that the Oblate community is losing you, but we prefer to say that we are sharing you — and something of our Oblate charism — with the wider church.”

“May you be a shepherd close to your people, with a particular heart for the poor and those most in need of the good of the gospel.”

In his closing remarks, the new bishop extended his thanks to many, including the consecrating bishops, his “brother bishops” from across the country (and Archbishop Charlie Inzon of Cotabato, Philipines), priests, deacons, religious, laity, and chancery staff of the Diocese of Prince Albert, and all those who assisted with the celebration and the social events, as well as to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the Oblate Associates.

Thorson also expressed his thanks to Archbishop Stephen Hero for his work as the previous bishop, including the synodal discernment of a strategic plan for the diocese, and to Msgr. Maurice Fiolleau for his leadership as Diocesan Administrator between bishops. He thanked Anglican and Lutheran bishops of the province for their prayers and presence at the ordination celebration.

“Finally, a word of thanks to my family,” Thorson said. “Everything good begins at home, and I’ve been blessed with — not a perfect — but with a loving family, a family who are there for each other, a family who trust in each other and are committed to walking together.”

Thanking his parents, Chester and Joanne Thorson, the new bishop said: “They gave me life, and they have continued to give me life through their prayers, and through their encouragement.”

 

BACKGROUND: Saskatchewan roots

Kenneth Thorson was born Sept. 19, 1966 in Saskatoon, one of five children of Chester and Joanne Thorson. The family moved to Nipawin, SK, in the Diocese of Prince Albert in 1979.

After a year of seminary formation with that diocese, Thorson entered the novitiate of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Arnprior, ON, on Aug. 26, 1992, studying philosophy and theology in Saskatoon, Edmonton, Rome, and Toronto.

He professed his first vows Aug. 14, 1993 and his perpetual vows on Aug. 19, 1997, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 21, 1999.

Assignments and service

After his ordination, Thorson served at St. Patrick Parish in Saskatoon from 1999 to 2003, as well as serving as chaplain at E.D. Feehan Catholic High School.

In 2003, he was assigned to the Anglo-Irish Province in Birmingham, England, as a member of a new community exploring Oblate mission in a secular, interfaith context.

In 2008, Thorson was assigned to OMI Lacombe’s St. Charles Formation Community in Ottawa and appointed Vocation Director. In 2013, he was appointed Vicar Provincial of the OMI Lacombe Canada Province.

On Jan. 24, 2019, Thorson was appointed Provincial Superior of OMI Lacombe for an initial three-year term, later completing a second term in June 2025. His service as provincial included participation in two Oblate General Chapters, providing direct experience of the Oblate Congregation and the Church at an international level.

On May 28, 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed him as ninth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince Albert, the oldest of the dioceses in Saskatchewan.

Description of symbols on Bishop Thorson’s Coat of Arms

Galero (Ecclesiastical Hat)

The green ecclesiastical hat, called a galero, was originally a pilgrim’s hat. A bishop’s galero is distinguished by six green tassels on each side.

Processional Cross
The cross displayed behind the shield signifies the office of a bishop. An ordinary bishop bears a processional cross with a single horizontal bar, commonly known as a Latin cross.

Shield
The shield is the central element of every coat of arms and bears the symbols that identify its owner.

Colours
The blue fields represent the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saskatchewan, the Land of Living Skies.

Canoe
Long before Canada came into being, the canoe was the primary means of travel for many Indigenous Peoples. Later, it became essential to explorers, settlers, and missionaries. Canoeing in northern Saskatchewan was also a formative part of Bishop Ken’s young adult years.

Eagle Feather
The Eagle Feather is sacred to First Nations and Métis Peoples. Because the eagle flies highest and sees farthest, the feather symbolizes wisdom and authority. On Bishop Ken’s coat of arms, it also expresses his ongoing commitment to truth, reconciliation, and right relationship with Indigenous Peoples.

Cross
Bishop Ken is a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, founded by St. Eugene de Mazenod. At perpetual profession, every Oblate receives a large missionary crucifix. In keeping with heraldic tradition, the cross is depicted without the corpus.

Trees and Wheat
Prince Albert is situated where the prairie meets the boreal forest. The wheat and pine trees represent the Diocese’s agricultural and forestry heritage. Arranged in groups of three, they also symbolize the Holy Trinity.

Rivers
Two rivers flow through the coat of arms, representing the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers. They meet at The Forks, just east of Prince Albert, to form the Saskatchewan River, which flows to Lake Winnipeg and ultimately Hudson Bay. These rivers sustain communities, agriculture, wildlife, wetlands, and the boreal forest. They also recall the waters of Baptism and the common priesthood shared by all the baptized.

Motto
Bishop Ken’s motto, Augendo in fide, spe et caritate, means Growing in faith, hope, and love. It is drawn from the Oblate Constitutions and Rules: “Growing in faith, hope, and love, we commit ourselves to be a leaven of the Beatitudes at the heart of the world.” (Constitution 11)

 

About Diocese of Prince Albert

Established in 1891 as a Vicarate, and in 1904 as a diocese, the Diocese of Prince Albert has 79 parishes and missions. Its Catholic population of 32,000 is served by 34 diocesan priests, 5 priests in consecrated life, 11 permanent deacons, and 23 women in consecrated life.

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This summer, Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen and a team of young adults visited the northern Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, where Hagemoen previously served as bishop, before his appointment to Saskatoon.

The diocesan summer mission team included seminarian Huy Le of Saskatoon, Ian Lam of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, and Jean-Paul Lefebvre of the Diocese of Whitehorse. Accompanying the group on part of the journey was Kevin Philip of the Archdiocese of Regina, sponsored by Renewal Ministries.

The purpose of the young adult mission trip was to provide practical support at the Trapper’s Lake retreat centre near Yellowknife, NWT, which also serves as a central meeting and training centre for clergy and lay leaders of the largely Indigenous diocese.

It was also to prepare for and assist with the Deline Spiritual Gathering held Aug. 13-18 in Deline on Great Bear Lake, added Hagemoen.

“We began the two- day drive from Saskatoon to Yellowknife on July 30, 2026. Mid-way we were hosted overnight by Fr. Nelson Esguerra and the Parish of Our Lady of Peace, Peace River, Alberta. Fr. Nel also hosted us on our return trip on Aug. 19,” said Hagemoen.

The Diocese of MacKenzie-Fort Smith is geographically massive, covering all of the Northwest Territories and the western part of Nunavut. It is considered a missionary diocese, and is is the home of Dene, Inuit, and Metis peoples.

Trapper’s Lake

Upon their arrival, Mackenzie-Fort Smith Bishop Jon Hansen, CSsR, led the way as the visitors carried out maintenance and renovation projects at the Trapper’s Lake Spirituality Centre, including restoring important walkways connecting retreat and residence buildings, and restoring a large cross on the hill overlooking the property.

The participants also visited St. Patrick Co-Cathedral parish in Yellowknife, providing testimonials regarding their mission trip experience.

Connections while at Yellowknife also include meeting up with Bishop Emeritus Denis Croteau, OMI; Fr. Mick Fleming, CSsR, who used to serve in Saskatoon; and Saskatoon CWL member Mary Kehrig, who was en route to Fort Simpson to assist the On Eagle’s Wings organization with children’s ministry.

Deline Spiritual Gathering

From the Yellowknife area, the group travelled to the Dene community of Deline on Great Bear Lake. “Deline is the only community on the largest northern Great Lake in North America, and is home to the Deline Sahtu Dene people,” explains Hagemoen.

The visitors prepared presentation topics and planned group discussions and strategies for sharing before their arrival by small aircraft.

“The Deline Spiritual Gathering has been celebrated for several decades, and is dedicated to recalling the teachings of the four Deline prophets – Ehsta Louise Ayah, Joseph Naedzo, Andre Andre, and Joseph Bayha.”

Learn more about the Deline prophets at: on the Catholic Missions in Canada website – LINK.

The Deline Spiritual Gathering was an immersion into a spiritual and cultural experience of the Sahtu Dene community of Deline, said the bishop.

“At the gathering, we were asked to help with a number of preparations activities, which included repairs on the Prophet’s House (where elders gather for presentations); preparing the grounds for the gathering; and finalizing preparation logistics,” said Hagemoen.

“A special request was given to Bishop Jon Hanson and myself for this year’s gathering: to celebrate Holy Mass on Great Bear Lake,” he noted.

“The people have a great love and appreciation for the lake as a great gift from Almighty God the Creator, which provides life, sustenance, and meaning to not only the people on and around Deline – but many other communities throughout the north.”

The desire of the community was that the lake be ‘blessed and dedicated’ to God by the celebration of the Mass on the lake — with the two bishops celebrating from a platform out on the water, and the people gathered on the shore.

“It was indeed a privilege and an awesome experience to do this.” said Hagemoen.

That celebration on the lake shore was preceded by the “Feeding of the Fire” ceremony, and the raising of the Spiritual Gathering Flag near the Prophets’ House, he said.

“In the days that followed, the teachings of the prophets were recalled and celebrated. Our young adult mission team was asked to gather and present to the young people who gathered a presentation that aimed to link the teachings of the four Deline Prophets with Catholic teaching.”

The title of the presentation was: The Deadly Sins and the Good Ways of the Virtues. “This was a challenging presentation to give, but was requested by the community to help the young people name real present challenges, and to highlight positive pathways forward,” the bishop explained.

Each day of the Sacred Gathering also featured large community meals, community games, and nightly drumming and dancing.

“The great hospitality of the people – along with their honesty, generosity, and warm-heartedness – had an impact on all of us,” said Hagemoen.

“So did the honest way in which the people shared their hopes along with their real and common struggles. The beauty of the peoples and the place continues to ‘bless’ all of our team, and will have an impact on us for a long time.”

RELATED: Reflection by participant Huy Le, seminarian for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon – ARTICLE

RELATED: Sts. Benedict and Scholastica summer mission experience includes both local and northern outreach – ARTICLE

Photos:

 

 

 

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Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen and diocesan Sts. Benedict and Scholastica summer mission participants Ian Lam (Archdiocese of Vancouver), John Paul Lefebvre (Diocese of Whitehorse), and Saskatoon diocesan seminarian Huy Le have been visiting the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith this summer – where Bishop Mark previously served as bishop, before his appointment to Saskatoon.

 

The visit to Yellowknife, NWT, July 30 to Aug. 19 has included connecting with Mackenzie-Fort Smith Bishop Jon Hansen, CSsR, and Fr. Mick Fleming, CSsR, both of whom served for a time in Saskatoon.

The young adult missionaries are assisting in the northern diocese with maintenance and support work at the diocesan retreat Trapper’s Lake retreat Centre and with summer youth activities in Yellowknife; as well as participating in the spiritual gathering at Deline, in the Sahtu area of Great Bear Lake (from Aug. 14-18).

While there, Bishop Hagemoen also happened to meet Saskatoon Catholic Women’s League member and Holy Family Cathedral volunteer Mary Kehrig, who travelled up north this summer to assist with On Eagle’s Wings children’s ministry programs.

 

 

More Photos:

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