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Bishop Mark Hagemoen and Pastor Fr. Augustine Osei-Bonsu with confirmands at St. Mary Parish, Lanigan. (Photos b y Traci Bell)

Bishop Mark Hagemoen joined St. Mary Parish at Lanigan, SK  on Sunday, May 25, 2025  to celebrate confirmation with youth of the parish.

Later in the day May 25, Bishop Hagemoen also confirmed youth at St. Mary Parish in Wynyard, SK.

The 2025 Confirmation schedule with the bishop continues throughout the Easter season at parishes across the diocese until early summer: check out the website calendar of events for other celebration dates and locations: rcdos.ca/events.

See other confirmation coverage posted at: LINK

(Photo by Traci Bell)

(Photo by Traci Bell)

(Photo by Traci Bell)

(Photo by Traci Bell)

(Photo by Traci Bell)

(Photo by Traci Bell)

(Photo by Traci Bell)

(Photo by Traci Bell)

(Photo by Traci Bell)

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A message released by the Catholic Bishops of Saskatchewan for Catholic Education Week May 25 to 31 reflects on the impact of Catholic education on students, families, communities, and the world.

“In joy and thanksgiving, we, the Catholic Bishops of Saskatchewan, invite you to join us in recognizing the gift and the impact of Catholic education as we mark World Catholic Education Day on May 29, 2025, and celebrate Catholic Education Week in our province,” says the message signed by Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon,  Bishop Michael Smolinksi of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon, Bishop Stephen Hero of Prince Albert, and Archbishop Donald Bolen of Regina.

“May Catholic education continue to model Christ: ‘… the Way, the Truth and the Life.’ (John 14:16)” states the bishops’ message, inviting the faithful to “pray in thanksgiving for the continuing existence and protection of publicly-funded Catholic education in Saskatchewan, and for hope and perseverance for educators, students and families.”

• Message from the Catholic Bishops of Saskatchewan for Catholic Education Week 2025 – PDF (English)
• Message des évêques catholiques de la Saskatchewan pour la semaine de l’éducation catholique 2025 – PDF (French)
• Discover more on the Saskatchewan Catholic School Boards Association (SCSBA) website – LINK

• By honouring human dignity / Honorent la dignité humaine
• By caring for creation / Prennent soin de la création
• By responding to the poverties in our world / Luttent contre les pauvretés
• By serving in solidarity / Servant en solidarité
• By living as peacemakers / Vivent en artisans de paix

“Hope – one of the three theological virtues – is grounded in our Easter faith in Jesus’ resurrection and renewal; this is what enables us to be builders, dreamers and leaders in Jesus’ name.” – Catholic Education Week resources

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Bishop Mark Hagemoen and other leaders with the confirmands from the Cathedral of the Holy Family, where Confirmation was celebrated on May 21. (Submitted photo)

On May 21, 2025, Bishop Mark Hagemoen joined the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon to celebrate the sacrament of confirmation with a large group of children and youth.

The 2025 Confirmation schedule with the bishop continues throughout the Easter season at parishes across the diocese until early summer: check out the website calendar of events for other celebration dates and locations: rcdos.ca/events.

See other confirmation coverage posted at: LINK

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“Reflecting on our Priesthood in the Jubilee Year of Hope” was the theme of the 2025 Clergy Retreat in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.

Held May 12 to 16 at St. Peter’s Abbey in Muenster, with sessions also broadcast via Zoom, the annual retreat was led this year by Most Rev. Emeritus Richard Joseph Gagnon, who recently retired as Archbishop of Winnipeg.

The retreat included daily morning and evening prayer with the Benedictine monks, as well as times of Adoration Eucharist with Bishop Mark Hagemoen presiding at the Eucharist.

Retreat Speaker:

Born in Lethbridge, Alberta on June 17, 1948, to parents Therese Demers Gagnon and George Gagnon, Bishop Richard Gagnon moved to British Columbia with his family while still a child and attended both Catholic and public schools.

He graduated from Saint Thomas Aquinas Regional Secondary School in North Vancouver before studying philosophy, history and English at Simon Fraser University, completing his Teaching Certification for British Columbia in 1976.

Bishop Gagnon’s seminary studies were at the Pontifical Beda College in Rome from 1978-1983. Vancouver Archbishop James Carney ordained him to the priesthood at Holy Rosary Cathedral on June 24, 1983, the Feast of St. John the Baptist. The following month he became assistant pastor at St. Mary Parish in Vancouver and directed the Religious Studies program at Notre Dame Regional Secondary School until 1991.

Service to the Church

In 1984 Gagnon was appointed Assistant Pastor at Corpus Christi Parish and, two years later, Pastor of St. Jude Parish in Vancouver. In 1987 he became the Chaplain of VANSPEC, which provides a religious education program for handicapped children. The following year he became a member of the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

On January 1, 1986, Msgr. Gagnon was appointed Archdiocesan Spiritual Advisor of the Catholic Women’s League and served until 1992, when he was appointed to the Provincial Council of the Catholic Women’s League.

In 1992 he became Director of the Office of Religious Education, and the next year was appointed founding pastor of St. James Parish in Abbotsford and Dean of the Fraser Valley East Deanery. He became the Archbishop’s representative to St. John Brebeuf Regional Secondary School in Abbotsford in 1995, and in 1999 he was appointed Administrator of the new St. Nicholas Parish in Langley.

Gagnon was appointed Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Vancouver in 2002 by Archbishop Adam Exner, OMI, after the departure of Msgr. David Monroe, who was appointed Bishop of Kamloops. He also sat on the Boards of the St. Joseph’s Society and St. Mark’s College and served on the Advisory Board for Redeemer Pacific College.

In February 2003, Pope John Paul II named him a Prelate of Honour in recognition of his faithful service to the Church and exemplary performance of his duties. At his investiture ceremony, Archbishop Exner recognized that Msgr. Gagnon had “rendered outstanding distinguished service in the Church in Vancouver as a loving, effective, and dedicated pastor, a man who is ever ready to meet new challenges – a servant ready to go wherever called.”

On May 14, 2004, Pope John Paul II appointed Richard Joseph Gagnon as the 16th Bishop of the Diocese of Victoria on Vancouver Island, BC. Bishop Gagnon was formally Consecrated and Installed at St. Andrew Cathedral, Victoria, on July 20, 2004. Bishop Richard Gagnon chose as the motto for his Coat of Arms, “To obey is to serve in love.”

Archbishop Richard Joseph Gagnon was appointed Archbishop-elect of Winnipeg by Pope Francis on Oct. 28,
2013 and installed as bishop Jan. 3, 2014.

In December 2024, Pope Francis accepted his resignation as archbishop of Winnipeg, and appointed the Archbishop Murray Chatlain as his successor.

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Bishop Mark Hagemoen and Pastor Fr. Charles Nweze with confirmands at Immaculate Conception Parish, Major, SK. (Submitted photo)

Bishop Mark Hagemoen joined Immaculate Conception Parish at Major, SK  on Sunday, May 18, 2025  to celebrate confirmation with youth of the parish.

Earlier in the day May 18, Bishop Hagemoen also confirmed youth at St. Mary Parish in Macklin, SK.

The 2025 Confirmation schedule with the bishop continues throughout the Easter season at parishes across the diocese until early summer: check out the website calendar of events for other celebration dates and locations: rcdos.ca/events.

See other confirmation coverage posted at: LINK

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(Photo by Aleah Anseth – www.altestudios.ca)

Bishop Mark Hagemoen celebrated confirmation with youth from both St. Michael Parish, Tramping Lake, and St. Peter Parish, Unity, during a Mass May 17 in Unity, SK.

The 2025 Confirmation schedule with the bishop continues throughout the Easter season at parishes across the diocese until early summer: check out the website calendar of events for other celebration dates and locations: rcdos.ca/events.

See other confirmation coverage posted at: LINK

(Photo by Aleah Anseth -www.altestudios.ca)

(Photo by Aleah Anseth – www.altestudios.ca)

(Photo by Aleah Anseth – www.altestudios.ca)

(Photo by Aleah Anseth – www.altestudios.ca)

(Photo by Aleah Anseth – www.altestudios.ca)

(Photo by Aleah Anseth – www.altestudios.ca)

Bishop Mark Hagemoen and Pastor Fr. Matthew Ramsay with confirmands from St. Michael Parish, Tramping Lake, and St. Peter Parish, Unity, on May 17, 2025) (Photo by Aleah Anseth – www.altestudios.ca)

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Bishop Mark Hagemoen and Pastor Fr. John Abban-Bonsu with confirmands at St. Anthony Parish, Lake Lenore, SK. (Submitted photo)

Bishop Mark Hagemoen joined St. Anthony Parish at Lake Lenore, SK,  on Sunday, May 11, 2025  to celebrate confirmation with youth of the parish.

Earlier in the day May 11, Bishop Hagemoen also confirmed youth at St. Augustine Parish in Humboldt, and the evening before on May 10, the bishop celebrated confirmation at St. Bruno Parish in Bruno, SK.

The 2025 Confirmation schedule with the bishop continues throughout the Easter season at parishes across the diocese until early summer: check out the website calendar of events for other celebration dates and locations: rcdos.ca/events.

See other confirmation coverage posted at: LINK

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Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen’s message – Download PDF

 

By Bishop Mark Hagemoen, Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon

To the Clergy, Religious, & Lay Faithful of the Diocese of Saskatoon:

On the Occasion of the Election of Pope Leo XIV

“It is with joy and hope that I acknowledge with you the election of Pope Leo XIV. This of course follows the passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday – just a few weeks ago.

“There is already much commentary about the man previously known as Cardinal Robert Prevost – and especially on why he may have chosen the name “Leo”. I am sure he will give much explanation for this in the near future.

“However, at this time we celebrate his leadership as a missionary servant to God’s people; his work of dialogue and building bridges; his work to bring ongoing growth, organisation, and reform to the governance structures of the Church.

“I join with all of you as we unite in prayer and hope for the papal leadership of Pope Leo XIV, and the future of our Church in this Jubilee Year of Hope. May the same hope that so inspired Pope Francis also inspire and bless Pope Leo XIV, and of course all our diocese as we thank God at this time of the election of the Holy Father.

​”In the words of Pope Leo XIV in his opening address, ‘Peace be with all of you!’”

RELATED: Canadian Catholic Bishops welcome Pope Leo XIV with Rejoicing and Prayers – LINK

RELATED: Video of Press Conference with CCCB President Bishop William McGrattan of Calgary – LINK

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