Holy Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Greetings Clergy, Religious, and Lay Faithful of the Diocese of Saskatoon:

I wish you all a blessed Holy Week and Easter Season! We enter into a profoundly meaningful time in the life of our faith, as we recall our Lord Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem in which He personally meets the tragedy and seeming finality of the human propensity towards ‘fatal attractions.’  The Saviour’s response is one of complete self-giving and the literal outpouring of His life. Indeed, the greatest love the world has ever known is that which we witness on that terrible day we know as ‘Good Friday.’

Then, Easter Sunday comes! Jesus, after having faced the totality of human death …rises! Indeed, Our Lord has confronted and taken on absolutely anything that can come between us and the saving love of God, the Creator of the world who did not will that death be the final experience for humanity. As Our Lord states, “I have come that you may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Let us recall with devotion and gratitude the journey that Jesus takes from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. May His journey inspire and embolden us regarding what is possible in terms of healing and new hope. Our world faces many challenges. We too face obstacles that at times seem insurmountable. Through all of this, Jesus continues to lovingly and faithfully look at us, saying “…for God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

As Pope Francis recently stated, “Christians cannot fight the devil by becoming ‘superstars.’” The Lord responds to the evil one by holding fast to His own way, the way of humility and trust in God’s unrelenting faithfulness to us. May this Easter season be a time of hope and renewal for us all. Not because we are heroic with our goals and affirmations, but because we recommit to walking always with the Lord. He has risen from the dead, and has shown us the way from enslavement to freedom; from destructive anger or despair to healing; from death to life.

May the Easter season be a time of healing and renewal for us all.

Sincerely in Christ,

+ Bishop Mark Hagemoen

PDF of Bishop Mark Hagemoen’s letter to the Clergy, Religious and Lay Faithful, Easter 2019: Message

Visit to Black Lake First Nation, SK with FacetoFace Ministries

By Bishop Mark Hagemoen, Bishop of Saskatoon

At the invitation of Archbishop Murray Chatlain of Keewatin-Le Pas, several young adults led by FacetoFace Ministries travelled to Black Lake, SK in the Athabasca region of northern Saskatchewan, from February 16 to 22, 2019. The purpose of the trip was to learn about the Dene community, and to assist the local parish in helping prepare several candidates for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation. (The candidates were not able to participate in the summer celebration of Confirmation earlier in the summer at the Pine Channel Spiritual Pilgrimage.)

Chief Coreen Sayazie and Father Cornelius Ngurukwem, SMMM, graciously received us to the parish and the Black Lake community.

 

Jon Courchene led the Face-to-Face Ministry team (below, left), with the capable assistance of Daniel Pashula (below, right):

The week began with getting involved in the communities activities. As it was the spring break and the Winter Carnival, school was closed, and thus the young people of the community played various sports in the school gym. Men of the community also provided for the group an opportunity to enjoy “ice-fishing” on Black Lake, and experience the ‘chill’ of high speed ski-doo travel.

 

 

Jerome Montpetit (top, left), Paul Bentler (top, right), and Benjamin Gerwing (bottom, centre) get dressed for the ski-doo and ice fishing excursion on Black Lake.

 

 

 

.

Celebration of BAPTISMS

Unexpectedly, there was a request to celebrate several Baptisms. Along with the Pastor, Fr. Cornelius, these were celebrated on Tuesday evening, February 19. The candidates included several new-borns and children. Confirmation celebrations continued into the early summer. One of the families came in from nearby Fond-du-Lac, about two hours away by winter road.

Celebration of RECONCILIATION & CONFIRMATION

Daniel Pashula seems to have the greatest difficulty with this“Oreo Cookie” ice-breaker activity with the youth (above). Paul Bentler is quite capable at the game – not surprising given his cookie consumption during the week!

The team provides testimonial, skits, and other presentations to prepare the candidates for the Sacrament of Reconciliation before their Confirmation celebration.

Opening Ceremonies, Black Lake Winter Carnival 2019

Following the Confirmation ceremony, the Black Lake Winter Carnival opening ceremonies were held at the band hall. The carnival is held annually during the school winter break, and features programs for both children and adults. It is an opportunity during the harsh and long winter season for the communities in the area to gather for games, cultural festivities, indoor and outdoor activities, and other community events.

 

 

 

  

 

 

The FacetoFace E3 Team for Black Lake were a real blessing. However, all team members said that they received far more than they gave from the generousity, hospitality, and kindness of the Dene community. It will be an experience that will provide much ‘food for thought and soul’ for a long time, including for the FacetoFace leadership and the Bishop of Saskatoon!

In Christ,       

+Mark Hagemoen