Announcements for Sunday, April 12, 2026 – Divine Mercy Sunday

* Diocesan prayer – Lord Jesus, on this Divine Mercy Sunday, we humbly seek Your boundless compassion. May Your Divine Mercy wash over us, healing our hearts and souls. Help us to extend mercy to others, fostering love and forgiveness. Fill us with hope and grace, guiding us to trust in Your eternal kindness. Amen.

EARTHCARE Connections (Prayer intentions from Farmland Legacies)

1. As Jesus freed Lazarus from death, may we free the earth from death and destruction. We pray to the Lord.
2. May we treasure the soil that sustains life for all people. We pray to the Lord.

New Announcements:

* Priests’ Pension and Retirement Fund  (PP&R)– Our priests have faithfully led their parish communities, preaching God’s word and celebrating the sacraments. We have been blessed to have dedicated and holy priests, and the blessings continue to this day. Even in retirement, priests continue to celebrate Masses, preside at funerals, weddings, and baptisms, provide retreats, minister and counsel parishioners, and so much more. Whether still active in ministry or not, our retired priests make Christ, the Good Shepherd, present to us, not only in what they do but in who they are.  They give witness to the Lord’s presence not only by their words but by their lives. Retirement years can be difficult for our senior priests. No longer supported by their parish communities, they rely on retirement benefits and their pension from the Priests’ Pension and Retirement Fund for basic needs, such as food, housing, health costs, and transportation. Please, give generously in support of our retired priests. You can find donation materials in your local parish, or make your gift online at https://dscf.ca/priest-pension-fund/  or download the pledge form and mail it to the Diocese of Saskatoon Catholic Foundation: PP&R, 123 Nelson Road, Saskatoon, S7S 1H1.

NET Canada is seeking young missionaries: Many young people don’t know Christ! They are separated from God and his plan for them – afraid, alone, anxious, and lacking meaning. Catholics ages 16 to 30 are invited to join NET Canada in proclaiming Jesus to high school students and demonstrating how to respond and live for Him. To learn more, attend an upcoming online NET Mission Discernment Event Saturday, April 25 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. SK time. Get a glimpse into what a transformative year of mission could look like! Interested or know someone who would be? Sign up at netcanada.ca/apply. Have questions? E-mail recruit@netcanada.ca or call/text 1-613-292-9991.

* Employment Opportunity – Trinity Manor at Stonebridge in Saskatoon is seeking a part-time (20 hours per week) Spiritual Care Coordinator to support the emotional, spiritual, and pastoral well-being of. residents, families, and staff at Trinity Manor through ensuring the provision of emotional, spiritual and religious support as well as leading and coordinating the community’s spiritual programming and fostering a mission-centred environment rooted in Catholic values. Find more information in the job posting available at rcdos.ca/employment. To apply, submit resumé and a cover letter to: s.hr@trinitymanor.ca

* IPL course responds to TRC Calls to Action: The Indigenous Pastoral and Lay Leader Ministry Education Program (IPL) online course from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon presents the next session “Indigenous Settler Relationship” beginning April 14 for all those interested in deepening their understanding of the history of Indigenous Peoples and the Catholic Church as a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action. It is held online Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. until June 9; cost is $200 (bursaries may be available). No prerequisite required. This course will help participants grow in understanding about early Indigenous-settler alliances and relationships motivated by land access, trade, martial alliances, kinship, and religious conversations. Speakers for the online course include author Cort Dogneiz, a Métis man born and raised in Saskatoon who worked in the education field for 41 years as a classroom teacher and administrator; and Cristin Dorgan-Lee, who presently serves as principal of St. Volodymyr Catholic School in Saskatoon, continuing to pursue her vocation as a Catholic Metis woman. Find registration for the next online course, a video, and more info at: rcdos.ca/indigenous-ministry-education.

The Regional Assembly of Development and Peace-Caritas Canada provides a weekend of reflection and immersion into the world of social justice. The Regional Assembly will be held from 5 p.m. Friday, May 1 to Sunday May 3 at 1 p.m., exploring the theme “On Track for Justice: Pathways to Peace.” This event for DPCC members and supporters includes guest speakers Camilo Coral (DPCC Program Manager – Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ukraine) and Kathleen Cross, (DPCC Strategy and Organizational Development), as well as training, Palistinian land exercise, Sunday liturgy, simulations, and visioning for the future. Held in-person at the Salvation Army Beaver Creek Camp five minutes south of Saskatoon, with remote participation options available. Register online at https://forms.office.com/r/cYpPE2DQa1 or contact Michael LeBlanc at mleblanc@devp.org or (306) 205-2334 or visit https://devp.org/en/evenement/saskatchewan-klp-regional-assembly-2026/.

National Family and Life Week – “I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20) Christ’s words at the time of his Ascension serve as this year’s theme for National Family and Life Week 2026, May 10-17. Families, parishes and parish groups, ecclesial movements and associations, as well as Catholic schools, are encouraged to take time this week to celebrate their own families, express gratitude, offer forgiveness, or share meaningful moments with loved ones across generations. This week is an opportunity to uphold the value of life and to live out our calling to love one another within our homes, communities, and the world. Find information, including a video and resource toolkit for parishes, families, and groups at: www.cccb.ca/faith-moral-issues/family-and-life/national-family-and-life-week.

Previous Announcements:

A pancake breakfast will be held on Sunday, April 12 at St. Mary Parish Hall, 211 Avenue O South, Saskatoon, starting at 11 a.m. (after the 10 a.m. Mass). All are welcome.

* Divine Mercy Sunday: “Jesus I Trust in You” -A holy hour of special prayers, hymns, and reflections, including the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 12 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, 123 Nelson Road, Saskatoon. There will also be a Divine Mercy hour starting at 2:45 p.m. April 12 at St. Augustine Parish in Humboldt, SK. The Divine Mercy devotion is centred on the mercy of God and our trust in Jesus Christ, growing out of the revelations and writings of St. Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938). Divine Mercy Sunday was established 25 years ago by St. John Paul II, celebrated each year on the Sunday after Easter.

* ANCHOR: Chronic Illness Prayer Support Group is a ministry for people living with chronic illness and their caregivers. It is a prayer group that turns to God with gratitude and hope to carry us through the ripples and waves of daily life when journeying with chronic illness. Even if your illness is stabilized, there are always daily challenges. We meet once per month to support one another in our common struggle through faith, hope, and gratitude with the goal of creating and building supportive relationships. The next meeting is 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, April 13 at St. Anne’s Parish, 217 Lenore Drive, Saskatoon. For more information or to register, please contact Dietta Todos at durr2todos@gmail.com.

“Millions of Monicas” prayer group: When women gather to pray, hope is renewed. We pray for our children’s return to the Church. Women meet for one hour of guided prayer, which always includes a Rosary. Millions of Monicas prayer events are held at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of each month (May 4) at Saint Anne Parish, 217 Lenore Dr., Saskatoon; at 10 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month (April 21) at St. Philip Neri Parish, 1902 Munroe Ave. S. Saskatoon; and at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month (April 13 and April 27) at Holy Spirit, 114 Kingsmere Place, Saskatoon.

* Saskatoon Catholic School Trustee Byelection April 15: A byelection for a vacant Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools’ Board of Education trustee position in Saskatoon will be held April 15, 2026. Information about candidates, voter eligibility, and poll locations and times can be found at www.gscs.ca/elections. Election day is April 15, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. with polls at:

• Saskatoon City Hall (Committee Room E), 222 3rd Avenue North
• Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School, 886 Gordon Road
• Anne School, 102 Ravine Court
• awâsisak kâ-nîmîhtocik St. Francis School, 2010 7th Street East
• Nicholas Catholic School, 530 Manek Road
• Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic School, 1023 Hampton Circle
• St Dominic School, 3301 Dieppe Street

* St. Carlo Acutis Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit Tour – Join the diocesan Rural Catechesis Office and parishes across our diocese for an evening learning about the first Millennial Saint and his love of the Eucharist. Displays feature some of his work documenting Eucharistic miracles on a website that he created before he died in 2006 at the age of 15 years. Dates and locations for the exhibit are:

• April 15: Annaheim – St. Ann Parish
• April 16: Cudworth – St. Michael Parish
• April 17: Wadena – St. Mary Parish
• April 22: Humboldt – St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish
• April 23: Vonda – St-Philippe-de-Neri Parish
• April 26: Kindersley – St. Joseph Parish
• April 27: Leader – Little Flower Parish
• April 30: Unity – St. Peter Parish
• May 1: Viscount – Francis Xavier Parish
• May 2: Bruno – Bruno Parish

Watch for details at each parish or contact the diocesan Rural Catechesis Coordinator Quin Kleiboer at the Catholic Pastoral Centre: qkleiboer@rcdos.ca or (306) 659-5857. There are still some dates available if parishes are interested. (Rural Catechesis is supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal)

The 90th Saskatoon Diocesan CWL convention will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, May 4 at St. Theresa Parish, Rosetown, SK. The program for the diocesan Catholic Women’s League convention, includes a business meeting, reports, speakers, Mass, and a special luncheon celebrating St. Theresa CWL council’s 100^th anniversary. Registration deadline is April 15. Please contact Dorothy Rollheiser at dlmrolleiser@gmail.com to register; cost is $20, plus $25 for lunch. Bus transportation will be provided from Saskatoon for $35 per person. Contact Cathy Lafleche at rceva314@gmail.com or call 306-717-5383 to reserve your spot on the bus.

* Alpha Marriage Course is for all couples seeking to invest in and strengthen their relationship! If you have not had an opportunity to experience The Marriage Course, now is your chance! Join us on Thursday evenings for seven sessions between April 16  and May 28  from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Fr. Donlevy Hall of Saint Anne Catholic Church, 217 Lenore Drive, Saskatoon, for video presentations, private discussion with just your spouse, and delicious desserts! Register online at https://saintannes.ca/the-marriage-course/ or contact Erin Hickey at ehickey@rcdos.ca for more information.

* “Mother Mary in the Life of the Church and in the Life of Her Children” Day Retreat will be held Saturday, April 18 at St. Bruno Parish, 700 Kirby Street, Bruno, SK. with speaker Heiromonk Gregory Hrynkiw of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon, beginning at 10:30 a.m. with Mass, followed by Lectio Divina prayer, an optional lunch ($10 each), talks, adoration and the rosary. There will also be an optional supper ($15 each) after the final talk. Drawing from the sacred philosophy of the west and the mystical beauty of the east, Fr. Gregory will offer a heartfelt exploration of Mother Mary in both the life of the Church and as a tender mother to us, her children. There is no cost for the retreat. Register before Thursday, April 16 by contacting Carolyn LeBlanc at (306) 612-2046 or carolyn.leblanc659@gmail.com

* Spring Congress: “Speak Lord! Your Servant is Listening” – This year the diocesan Spring Congress Day will be offered in two more locations, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.:

• Saturday, April 18 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Watson
• Saturday, April 25 at St. Joseph Parish, Kindersley

Spring Congress is an opportunity for clergy and all the faithful to find renewed ways to come together to pray, learn, and listen to the Holy Spirit and one another. Find registration at https://rcdos.ca/spring-congress-2026. (Evangelization and Catechesis and Adult Faith Formation are supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal.)

* CWL Clothing Depot AGM – The CWL Clothing Depot Annual General Meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday April 20 at St. Augustine Parish (in music hall) located at 602 Boychuk Drive, Saskatoon. All CWL members are welcome to attend.

The CWL Clothing Depot in Saskatoon is requesting donations of much-needed items in order to provide affordable good quality household items and clothing to community members with limited funds. Items needed include summer clothing (any age), jeans, kitchenware, cutlery, working toasters, working kettles, working coffee makers, pots and pans, Rubbermaid containers, clocks, sheets, comforters, and towels. Drop off donations at the CWL Clothing Depot, 619 20th Street West, Saskatoon (located on lower level of Friendship Inn) — please ring the bell at the back door in the alley of the depot; drop off times are 10:30 a.m. to 3: p.m. Monday-Friday. Thank you for your kindness in making a difference for someone in need. For donation inquiries please contact Bea at (306) 242-5042.

* Joe Kammermayer Memorial Dinner – Columbus Bosco Saskatoon is holding our annual fund-raiser, the Joe Kammermayer Memorial Dinner, on Thursday, April 23, starting at 5:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Parish Hall, 3339 Centennial Drive, Saskatoon. Tickets for the fundraiser are $50 each and are available from Ed Frank (306) 371-0506, Chris Sarich (306) 221-4686, Rick Rowley (306) 371-206 or any Saskatoon Knights of Columbus Council. Proceeds from the dinner go to Columbus Bosco Saskatoon’s major programs: the Farm School and the Family Learning Centres.

Background: Located approximately 20 kilometers from Saskatoon, the Farm School is a referral-based high school program designed to meet the individual needs of “at-risk” students.  It serves mainly Grades 9 to 11 students and offers regular credits.  Among other things, the Farm School offers a calm, structured school day, smaller class sizes with a 10 to 1 student-teacher ratio, a home setting in a rural location that offers a peaceful, positive learning environment, and the opportunity to learn life skills such as landscaping, gardening, caring for animals, photography, cooking and fine arts skills. The Family Learning Centres Program is a free program for parents and their children from birth to six years of age that encourages and supports parents as their child’s first and most important teacher, emphasizes learning through family literacy and play, and provides an opportunity for parents to learn new parenting skills. Through these programs, Columbus Bosco Saskatoon works to enhance the lives of children, adolescents and families by providing hope, education, skills and support.

* Billings Ovulation Method of NFP – A free information night about the Billings Ovulation Method will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 23 at Holy Spirit Parish, 114 Kingsmere Place, Saskatoon. This method of Natural Family Planning (NFP) teaches natural signs of fertility and infertility throughout a woman’s reproductive life and assists couples to morally achieve or postpone pregnancy, as well as building harmony in marriage. For more information contact nfpsask@gmail.com or call (306) 682-7771. “This is knowledge of her body that every woman ought to have.” – Dr. Evelyn Billings.

Catechist Connection is a one-hour digital gathering designed to build community and foster connections among catechists throughout the diocese. Each monthly session includes a brief teaching on a relevant topic to enhance the ministry of catechist, followed by open discussion, and the sharing of best practices to be held at noon and again at 7 p.m. on April 23, May 13, and June 11. For more information – including the link for the next online meeting, please contact diocesan Rural Catechesis Coordinator Quin Kleiboer at (306) 659-5857 or qkleiboer@rcdos.ca. (Rural Catechesis supported by gifts to the BAA).

* Are you hurting because of an abortion? Rachel’s Vineyard is a safe place to renew, rebuild and redeem hearts broken by abortion. Weekend retreats offer a supportive, confidential and non-judgmental environment where women and men can express, release and reconcile painful post-abortive emotions to begin the process of restoration, renewal and healing. The next retreat in Saskatoon will be held April 24-26. To register, please contact Elaine at 1-306-480-8911 or email r.vineyardsk@sasktel.net

* Help Not Harm: No Euthanasia for Mental Illness – Visit the website www.helpnotharmcanada.ca to e-mail your Member of Parliament (MP), asking for their support of Bill C-218 (The Right to Recover Act), which would amend the Criminal Code to prevent assisted suicide/ euthanasia – known as Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) — from being provided when mental illness is the sole underlying condition. Without this change, medically-provided euthanasia will be available for those suffering from mental illness alone beginning in March 2027. We are called to offer care, hope, and protection — not death — to those who are suffering and those who are most vulnerable. For more information and/or to send a message to your MP, visit the “Help Not Harm” website at: www.helpnotharmcanada.ca.

* Horizons of Hope workshop about Palliative Care and End-of-Life –will be held over two evenings Monday April 27 and Tuesday April 28 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Saint Anne Catholic Church, 217 Lenore Drive, Saskatoon. To register or for more information, contact Jacqueline Saretsky, diocesan coordinator of Hospital Chaplaincy at (306) 659-5839. When confronted with a life-limiting diagnosis, we can find ourselves in an unfamiliar and even frightening situation. As Catholics, we believe in the dignity and sacredness of human life at all stages, from conception to natural death. At the same time, our faith does not demand that life is to be sustained at all costs. Our faith in Jesus Christ has much to teach us about living and dying well. Created by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), the Horizons of Hope Toolkit for Catholic Parishes on Palliative Care is designed to help each of us – caregivers, the sick and dying and family members – to find support and concrete assistance. For more information see: https://rcdos.ca/horizons-of-hope.

Pews For Sale: St. Michael Parish in Cudworth, SK has three solid oak pews for sale, $500 each. Each pew is 13 feet long. Contact St. Michael Parish at (306) 256-3218 or email smcudworth@rcdos.ca.

Sarah Kroger Concert on its own or in conjunction with the 2026 Bishop’s Dinner: Catholic singer-songwriter Sarah Kroger will perform at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon at 7:45 p.m. to 8:45 pm Thursday April 30 with concert-only tickets available for $50, and a “buy one, get one free” price available for GSCS students. The extended public concert is also part of this year’s fund-raising Bishop’s Dinner presented by the Diocese of Saskatoon Catholic Foundation. Tickets for the meal and concert together are $225, with a partial tax receipt. Find more information and/or purchase tickets at https://dscf.ca/events  (select “Bishop’s Dinner 2026”) or call (306) 659-5837.

* CWL Social Justice Award – The Saskatchewan Provincial Council of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada has established a Social Justice Award for young women between the ages of 18-35 years. The $1,000 award may be given to one candidate or divided among qualified applicants to finance participation in a reputable social justice activity, either at home or abroad. Application deadline is April 30. Contact Mary Nordick: m.nordick@sasktel.net  or (306) 374-5612 for more information.

Contemplative Mass with Fr. Kevin McGee: The next Contemplative Mass will be held at 5 p.m. on First Friday, May 1 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Saskatoon.

March for Life May 7 in Regina: The Saskatchewan Pro-Life Association is organizing a provincial March for Life to the Saskatchewan Legislature Building on Thursday, May 7, 2026, with the theme “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19). The day begins at 9:00 a.m. with celebration of Mass at Holy Rosary Cathedral, Regina; continuing with an ecumenical service at 11:15 a.m., followed by a march from the cathedral to the legislature at 12:15 p.m. for a 1:15 p.m. program. For more information, contact (306) 352-3480 or info@saskprolife.com or see the website at www.saskprolife.com

Bibles, holy cards, rosaries, crosses – The diocesan Hospital Chaplaincy Office is seeking donations of materials to assist with spiritual care outreach to patients at hospitals in Saskatoon. If you have Bibles, holy cards, rosaries, crosses or other small sacred items that would be appropriate to share with those facing illness, please consider donating them “Attention to Jackie Saretsky, Hospital Chaplaincy” at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, 2^nd floor of the Cathedral of the Holy Family, 123 Nelson Road, Saskatoon, or call (306) 659-5839 for information.

Pro-life petition – The advocacy group “RightNow” has launched a petition calling on the Prime Minister and Parliament of Canada to pass legislation to protect pre-born children by restricting late-term abortions after 20 weeks (five months) of pregnancy; find the petition online at: https://www.itstartsrightnow.ca/undercover

Mark your Calendar for Our Lady of Fatima celebration – St. Mary Parish, Saskatoon will again host an annual Our Lady of Fatima feast day celebration at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 9, beginning with Mass at St. Mary Church, 211 Avenue O South, Saskatoon, followed by an outdoor procession and potluck meal. Everyone is welcome to attend this celebration on the Saturday before the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima on May 13, marking the 1917 appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three shepherd children in Portugal – the now-Venerable Sr. Lucia dos Santos (1907-2005) and her cousins, siblings St. Francisco (1908-1919) and St. Jacinta Marto (1910-1920).

CCO Activate Conference in Vancouver for parish and ministry leaders – Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO) is launching its first-ever international gathering of missionary disciples: the Activate Conference. This conference is designed to form and activate leaders for mission within the unique contexts God has entrusted to them—particularly within dioceses and parishes, beyond a campus context. The conference will bring together clergy, diocesan staff, parish leaders, and lay people to be empowered to live the Great Commission, evangelizing the world, one person at a time, held in Vancouver, BC, from May 29 to June 1. Registration is $455. More information and registration can be found at: https://activate26.cco.ca/

New Resource from CHAS – A Guide to Compassionate Conversation:  When members of our faith community face life-threatening illness, knowing how to respond can be difficult. To help you offer meaningful support, the Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan (CHAS) has released a new brochure: “Accompaniment Through Serious Illness: A Guide to Conversations on Death and Dying.” This guide provides practical tools for navigating these sacred conversations with grace. Download the guide https://chassk.ca/conversation-guide-death-and-dying/.

Impact Report – A 2025 diocesan Impact Report providing an overview of ministries, programs, and annual finances in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon is available online at: https://rcdos.ca/annual-report/

Hospital Volunteer Opportunity: St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon is seeking volunteers to help nurture a welcoming experience by assisting patients, families, and visitors in navigating the hospital and understanding parking procedures.  Responsibilities include initiating contact with members of the public, including at-risk individuals, helping to navigate the building and pointing out resources.  In-depth orientation and on-going support will be provided. Contact volunteers@saskhealthauthority.ca for info.

Scam Alert – Fraudulent messages continue to circulate via e-mail, as well as via text and message apps, allegedly coming from our priests, bishop, or others in the Catholic community, asking for money, gift cards, or other gifts. DISREGARD all such messages! Do NOT reply or engage with the individuals sending these messages. Do NOT send gift cards, money, or cash transfers if requested to do so over e-mail or via text message.

– 30 –