Hundreds of Greater Saskatoon Catholic School students from across the division gathered Oct. 22 for a day of inspiration, training, learning and prayer at an annual leadership conference.
The student leaders were welcomed by Bishop Mark Hagemoen, who presided at Mass during the conference held at the Cathedral of the Holy Family.
Held on the memorial of St. John Paul II, the conference theme was “Called and Chosen.” The junior high delegates from many schools were assured that God has called each of them in a unique way: “With fire in our hearts let us welcome the Holy Spirit!” said the MC introducing celebration of the Eucharist.
“I hope today will be an occasion for you to celebrate God’s call to you and the meaning of being chosen,” said Bishop Hagemeoen, reflecting on the meaning of leadership.
He pointed to the example of the faithful leadership of Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd, who dwells with those he serves, and lays down his life in love. “He does not stay apart from us. He comes right into our human condition, he enters into our life fully, and he walks with us,” said the bishop.
The bishop assured the students that he needs their leadership: “we hold each other up.” Leadership is not just about the individual, but it is about the community, and calls forth involvement and engagement grounded in loving concern and care for others and not indifference. He added that “the little things matter …leadership starts in the little things.”
“Each of you has been uniquely called by God,” Hagemoen assured the students. “You are the beloved of God and God has a plan for you. What a starting point!”
“I pray for blessings on this day as you reflect on the call to leadership, and I challenge you — and I challenge myself — to make sure that we define leadership and we know what that means, because leadership has a special meaning in our faith,” he said. “May God bless you as you discover the fullness of what it means to be a leader in the mind and heart of Christ Jesus, the Saviour of the World.”
