September 2026

Remembering and honouring Residential School Survivors, their families, and communities:

“I again renew my pledge that our diocese will continue to walk a path of reconciliation and healing. This is part of our Gospel call to reconciliation and solidarity. We strive to walk in empathy and friendship as sisters and brothers, always working for justice, hope and healing. Let us all continue to take concrete steps on this journey….” – Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen

Message from Bishop Mark Hagemoen – (Click here for PDF)

Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon is one of the Catholic bishops from across Canada gathering in Montreal Sept. 20-25 for an annual CCCB Pleanary Assembly

Media release from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB)

The annual meeting of the Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) began Sept. 21, 2026 in Montreal, with the celebration of the Eucharist, at which CCCB President, Bishop Pierre Goudreault of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, presided.

During the opening proceedings, Bishop Goudreault presented the President’s Annual Report, reviewing the principal activities and achievements of the Episcopal Conference since the 2025 plenary meeting.

Among the developments highlighted were:

• Pope Leo XIV’s gift of 62 cultural artifacts from the Vatican Museums to the CCCB and their subsequent transfer to the National Indigenous Organizations and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, as part of the ongoing journey of healing, reconciliation, and relationship-building between the Catholic Church and Indigenous Peoples;
• the continued implementation of synodality in the Church in Canada;
• the establishment of a national Service for Migrant and Refugee Ministry (Human Mobility); and
• initiatives to strengthen the CCCB’s engagement with the federal government.

The Plenary Assembly also approved a letter to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, signed by Goudreault on behalf of the Bishops present. In the letter, the bishops ask for the Holy Father’s prayers as they undertake their common discernment and consider the pastoral priorities that will guide the work of the Conference in the coming year.

The letter also reflects on a number of matters facing the Church and Canadian society, including synodality, human dignity, artificial intelligence, migration, the sacred liturgy, and the Church’s responsibility toward victims and survivors of sexual abuse.

CCCB President’s Annual Report – LINK
Letter to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV – LINK

The CCCB Plenary Assembly continues its annual meeting in Montreal through Friday, Sept. 25.

Parish and ministry leaders gathered with Bishop Mark Hagemoen at the Cathedral of the Holy Family for an annual diocesan Administration Day Sept. 17, sharing information on stewardship, evangelization, faith formation, hospital chaplaincy, justice and peace, vocations, administration and finance.

A diocesan Synod Implementation Committee also highlighted next steps for synodality in the diocese, including the upcoming launch of an online Parish Reflection Tool focused on the Diocesan Pastoral Plan priorities (see related article about synod implementation LINK).

Objectives for the annual Administration Day include building connections and relationships across the diocese, welcoming and supporting new clergy and staff, and distributing materials and resources for various initiatives in the weeks and months ahead.

The day opened with a number of parish representatives, pastors and volunteers gathering for a breakfast meeting held to introduce the 2026 Bishop’s Annual Appeal (BAA), organized by the Diocese of Saskatoon Catholic Foundation.

The theme for this year’s Appeal in support of a wide range of ministries, evangelization, and outreach is “Called to Respond: Living the Father’s Will” described Foundation Executive Director Raissa Bugyi and Development Manager Andrea Alas.

In addition to plans and logistics for the upcoming six-week Appeal held in parishes across the diocese starting Sept. 27, the BAA breakfast included viewing of this year’s BAA video, which was also shown later in the day to the entire Administration Day gathering.

Following the BAA breakfast, representatives from across the diocese gathered in Bishop LeGatt Hall at the cathedral, re-connecting and picking up resources for the weeks ahead.

In response to Pope Leo XIV’s call for all dioceses across the world to implement the Synod on Synodality’s Final Document “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission,” the diocesan Synod Implementation Committee established by Bishop Hagemoen presented information about a discernment tool for parishes to help move forward with synodality as it relates to priorities in the diocesan Pastoral Plan.

Welcome and introductions

During Administration Day, the bishop introduced special guest Archbishop Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye of the Archdiocese of Kumasi, Ghana, who was on a pastoral visit to priests from his diocese who are serving here: Fr. Prince Osuwu Sarpong, pastor at Leader, Fox Valley, Leibenthal, and Richmound, and Fr. Francis Appiah-Kubi, pastor at Kindersley, Marengo, Eston, and Eatonia.

Bishop Hagemoen also welcomed recently-arrived priest Fr. Jacques Kouadio Kouassi of the Diocese of Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, who is serving as parochial vicar (associate pastor) at Saint Anne Parish and Saints-Martyrs-Canadiens Francophone Catholic Parish in Saskatoon with pastor Fr. Gregory Roth.

The bishop introduced diocesan seminarians Matthew Witzaney, who is serving a pastoral year at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, and Huy Le, who is serving at Unity, Wilkie, and Tramping Lake, SK.

New staff members were also introduced at Administration Day, including Alexia George, coordinator of children’s ministry at Saint Anne, Saskatoon; Krista Banadyga, office manager at Holy Spirit Parish, Saskatoon; Patrick Emordi, facilities manager at Holy Spirit Parish, Saskatoon; Melissa Stockbrugger-Knaus, pastoral associate at St. Augustine Parish, Humboldt; Elana Hudec, pastoral administrative associate at St. Mary Parish, Fox Valley; Shaun Wonsiak, maintenance coordinator at St. Augustine, Saskatoon; Hannah Sevilla youth minister at St. Augustine, Saskatoon; and Nonye Emeana, executive assistant to the curia at the diocesan Catholic Pastoral Centre.

Bishop’s message

In his report, Hagemoen began by noting his upcoming attendance at the national Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in Montreal Sept. 21 to 25, and some of the topics that will be up for discussion – including synodality at the national level.

The bishop also summarized events in the wider Church, such as the Year of St. Francis of Assisi marking the 800th anniversary of the beloved saint’s death, and the recent encyclical from Pope Leo XIV Maginfica Humanitas, which deals with the challenges the world faces with technology and artificial intelligence.

Hagemoen reviewed highlights of the diocesan ministry year calendar, which starts with Administration Day and continues with the Fall Congress Oct. 14, and later, the Spring Congress – which last year was repeated in three locations to enable more rural participation. He also noted that there are regular renewal and formation events for clergy, as well as large diocesan events, such as the annual Rite of Election and Chrism Mass, and a diocesan Volunteer Appreciation Event now held in June. And he acknowledged the contributions of partners in Catholic education and Catholic health.

The launch of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal is an important element of Administration Day, he said, pointing to the role of the annual appeal in providing ongoing support to parishes, and to a range of vital ministries, outreach and formation across the diocese and beyond. “It is not my appeal, it is our appeal,” said Hagemoen. “It is how the diocese supports our mission.”

“And our identity and mission, as summed up in our Diocesan Pastoral Plan, is to proclaim Christ and God’s kingdom, and having the same mind and heart as Christ Jesus,” the bishop stressed.

Read more about Administration Day ministry year updates: LINK to Catholic Saskatoon News item

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Left to right: Fr. Prince Osuwu Sarpong, BIshop Mark Hagemoen, Archbishop Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye, and Fr. Francis Appiah-Kubi. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

The visit of Archbishop Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye of the Archdiocese of Kumasi, Ghana to Saskatoon this fall, coincided with the annual Administration Day in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.

During Administration Day at the Cathedral of the Holy Famliy in Saskatoon Sept. 17, 2026, Bishop Mark Hagemoen introduced special guest Archbishop Anokye, who also concelebrated Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, preaching the homily in both English and French.

Archbishop Anokye was on a pastoral visit to priests from his diocese serving in the diocese of Saskatoon: Fr. Prince Osuwu Sarpong, pastor at Leader, Fox Valley, Leibenthal, and Richmound, and Fr. Francis Appiah-Kubi, pastor at Kindersley, Marengo, Eston, and Eatonia.