Bishop Mark Hagemoen’s blog

On Good Friday evening, Bishop Mark Hagemoen and a team of young adults prayed the Stations of the Cross at the foot of the crucifix set up outdoors at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon:

“With God’s help, strength, and light, we can face and engage our current circumstances; bring hope to bear on futility; courage to bear on human weakness and failing; and light to bear on all darkness.” – Bishop Mark Hagemoen, Easter 2023

• Find a PDF of Bishop Hagemoen’s Easter message: LINK

• Parish Easter weekend schedules: LINK

• Livestream of celebrations in our diocese: LINK

Easter message 2023 – VIDEO

By Bishop Mark Hagemoen, Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon

Greetings Clergy, Religious, & People of God of the Diocese of Saskatoon:

Greetings to you all as we approach another Holy Week and Easter Season!

The long days of winter are finally giving way to somewhat warmer and certainly brighter days of Spring – a metaphor for the passage from Holy Week to the Easter event.

This last year has brought to our minds and hearts the awareness of the urgent need for shalom – restoration of right relationship – with God, with one another, with all creation, and within ourselves. As we all know, ultimately only God can give us this. In the words of our Saviour: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled.” [John 14:27]

Our Lenten journey in the wilderness with Jesus always features a renewed sense of vulnerability and brokenness. However, it brings the experience of blessings, much human kindness, and renewal.

In this year’s Lenten message from Pope Francis, he reflects on the Transfiguration passage in the Gospel of Matthew. He describes this event as a unique and profound experience of an extraordinary spiritual encounter with God the Father and His son Jesus Christ on the mountain top. Lent is a time of extraordinary spiritual events and experiences given our spiritual pilgrimage of prayer, sacrifice, and service during the Lenten season. However, the Pope also invites us to go beyond the isolated spiritual experience to everyday life. As he states:

“On hearing the Father’s voice, the disciples “fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Rise, and do not be afraid.’ And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone” (Mt 17:6-8). Here is [another] proposal for this Lent: do not take refuge in a religiosity made up of extraordinary events and dramatic experiences, out of fear of facing reality and its daily struggles, its hardships and contradictions. The light that Jesus shows the disciples is an anticipation of Easter glory, and that must be the goal of our own journey, as we follow ‘Him alone.'”

Holy Week and the Easter season renew our awareness that nothing can come between us and the great love of God in Jesus Christ. The combination of desolation and strengthening that we experience in our Lenten journey assists us to live life well by not disengaging or withdrawing from the difficulties and challenges of current affairs.

With God’s help, strength, and light, we can face and engage our current circumstances; bring hope to bear on futility; courage to bear on human weakness and failing; and light to bear on all darkness.

I take this opportunity to thank you all so very much for your support to me, showing what it means to strive to have the same mind and heart as that of Christ Jesus.

May this season of celebrating Good Friday – followed by Easter Sunday – strengthen our resolution and solidarity to live the Paschal Mystery well together … in Our Saviour!

We adore you O Christ and we praise You, for by Your Holy Cross you redeemed and saved the world! In the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News

Representatives from across the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon gathered on the Tuesday of Holy Week April 4 to celebrate an annual Chrism Mass with Bishop Mark Hagemoen at the Cathedral of the Holy Family.

The Holy Week celebration features the blessing of the sacred oils by the bishop – the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens, and the Sacred Chrism – for use in sacraments in the year ahead. The Chrism Mass is also a celebration marking the anniversary of the establishment of the ministerial priesthood, which includes a re-commitment to priestly service by priests.

Milestone Anniversaries

At a banquet preceding the Chrism Mass, a number of milestone anniversaries of priestly ordination were highlighted by Bishop Hagemoen, including:

• 10 years – Fr. Colin Roy and Fr. Daniel Yasinski,
• 15 years – Fr. Francis Appiah-Kubi
• 20 years – Fr. Pius Schroh
• 25 years – Fr. Gerard Cooper, Fr. Andrew Wychucki and Fr. Murray Kuemper
• 35 years – Fr. Gerard Dewan
• 60 years – Fr. Lawrence DeMong, OSB; Fr. Ralph Kleiter; and Bishop Emeritus Gerald Wiesner, OMI
• 65 years – Fr. Albert Ulrich, OMI; and Fr. Bernard de Margerie

 

Bishop Hagemoen’s homily (video):

Chrism Mass 2023 – photo gallery (LINK)

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At the diocesan Rite of Election Feb. 26, 2023, Bishop Mark Hagemoen welcomed and blessed catechumens from across the diocese who are journeying toward the initiation sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist.

Affirmed by their parishes and by their sponsors, the catechumens wrote their names in the Book of the Elect, and entered another stage of the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). The newly-elect now begin a “season of purification and enlighten during Lent,” before celebrating the sacraments at Easter.

During the afternooon celebration at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon, Bishop Hagemoen also welcomed and blessed candidates — already baptized Christians who are preparing to be received into the Catholic Church.

The Rite of Election included celebration of Sunday Eucharist for the First Sunday of Lent. In attendance were a number of priests from parishes that are preparing catechumens and candidates to receive sacraments at Easter, as well as sponsors, family members and parishioners from the 13 parishes participating in this year’s celebration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News

A candlelight prayer service was held on the First Friday of Lent in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon to pray for all victims and survivors of abuse, establishing what will become an annual event.

The candlelight prayer service at the Cathedral of the Holy Family included the Stations of the Cross, with reflections from the perspective of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and prayers at each of the 14 stations by Bishop Mark Hagemoen that included praying for all victims and survivors of abuse.

A time of Eucharistic Adoration followed, with those in attendance invited to bring up candles an to offer prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. As well, the bishop anointed all who came forward to receive the sacrament of healing during the time of Adoration.

“Praise to you Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, source of all consolation and hope. By Your Son’s dying and rising, He remains our light in every darkness, our strength in every weakness. Be the refuge and guardian of all who suffer from abuse and violence. Comfort them and send healing for their wounds of body, soul and spirit. Rescue them from bitterness and shame and refresh them with Your love. Heal the brokenness in all victims of abuse and revive the spirits of all who lament this sin. Help us to follow Jesus in drawing good from evil, life from death. Make us one with you in your love for justice as we deepen our respect for the dignity of every human life. Giver of Peace, make us one in celebrating Your praise both now and forever, Amen.” – Prayer by Bishop John F. Kinney, Bishop of Saint Cloud, MN ©2002, Diocese of St. Cloud, which was offered at the start of the Stations of the Cross Feb. 24 in Saskatoon.

“We dedicate these prayers for any victims or survivors of abuse anywhere in the world and those who have dealt with this, and those who are continuing to deal with this,” said the bishop at the start of the service.

“We pray that the church and our world will be healed of any threat to human dignity, and that this Lenten season will be a time when we can walk with the Lord to realize that dignity more fully.”

“We are doing this in solidarity with other dioceses throughout the world,” noted Bishop Hagemoen. “This was a commitment form our Safeguarding Committee and our College of Consultors here in the diocese.”

Prayer for Healing for Victims / Survivors of Abuse concluding the Saskatoon prayer service:

“God of endless love, ever caring, ever strong, always present, always just:  You gave Your only Son to save us by the blood of His cross. Gentle Jesus, Shepherd of Peace, join to your own suffering the pain of all who have been hurt in body, mind and spirit by those who betrayed the trust placed in them. Hear the cries of our brothers and sisters who have been gravely harmed, and the cries of those who love them. Soothe their restless hearts with ope, steady their shaken spirits with faith. Grant them justice for their cuase, enlightened by your truth. Holy Spirit, Comforter of hearts, heal Your people’s wounds and transform brokenness into wholeness. Grant us the courage and wisdom humility and grace, to act with justice. Breathe wisdom into our prayers and labours. Grant that all harmed by abuse may find peace in justice. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.” – www.USCCB.org

“We dedicate these prayers for any victims or survivors of abuse anywhere in the world and those who have dealt with this, and those who are continuing to deal with this,” said the bishop at the start of the service.

“We pray that the church and our world will be healed of any threat to human dignity, and that this Lenten season will be a time when we can walk with the Lord to realize that dignity more fully,” said Bishop Hagemoen.

“We are doing this in solidarity with other dioceses throughout the world,” noted Bishop Hagemoen. “This was a commitment form our Safeguarding Committee and our College of Consultors here in the diocese.”

Find the diocese’s safeguarding commitments and policies online at: Safer Church, Stronger Communities

 

 

 

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Members of the Catholic Women’s League from Saint Anne Parish in Saskatoon raise a flag at Saskatoon CIty Hall Feb. 22 for “Human Trafficking Awareness Day.” (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

During a sunny, cold noon-hour ceremony Feb. 22, 2023, members of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada (CWL) raised a flag at Saskatoon City Hall as part of also raising awareness about human trafficking. Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemeon provided the opening prayer during the short program.

Saskatoon city council had earlier declared Feb. 22 as “Human Trafficking Awareness Day” in the commnity and approved the flag-raising ceremony, prompted by a request from the CWL Council at Saint Anne Parish in Saskatoon to highlight the scourge of modern day slavery that exists both in local communities and around the world, including the sexual exploitation of women and vulnerable youth.

Co-chairs of Saint Anne CWL’s Human Trafficking Awareness Project – Anne Ashcroft and Donna Aldous – were among the speakers during the outdoor program, with Ashcroft serving as M.C. and Aldous offering closing remarks.

“Thank you for coming out this afternoon to bring awareness to this horrific social injustice,” said Ashcroft. “It is our belief that awareness of this terrible crime will lead to action. It is our hope that this action will be to stop human trafficking, or at least to improve the lives of people affected by this horrible crime.”

“The goal is for every enslaved person to return to being a free agent of his or her own life,” stated an information pamphlet distributed by CWL members to those gathered in Saskatoon City Square outside city hall, with the pamphlets also carrying blue lapel ribbons to wear in honour and memory of survivors and victims of human trafficking.

“The blue ribbon represents the sadness of those who are trafficked while reminding us of the cold-heartedness of those who buy and sell human beings,” explained Ashcroft, urging those present to share pamphlets and information about modern forms of slavery with others.

“Even here in Saskatoon we have young women and girls, young men and boys who are at risk of being trafficked,” she said, sharing examples of heart-breaking situations of trafficking and exploitation. “As a concerned mother and grandmother, I recognize that action needs to be taken, sooner rather than later. Awareness is the first step.”

Before the flag was raised to officially mark the awareness day, CWL member Pamela Yaremko led singing of the national anthem, and Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon offered a prayer to open a short program of guest speakers.

“These are difficult issues and we must confront them,” said Bishop Hagemoen, thanking CWL members and the many other Christian and not-for-profit, community-based organizations who are working to raise awareness and provide help to victims and survivors of modern forms of slavery.

In his prayer, Hagemoen asked God to protect victims and restore their dignity and freedom. “We beseech You to release them from their chains. Grant them protection and safety. Enable them to find their voice in life, with the help of others: all who care.”

He continued: “Show us how we might end exploitation by addressing its causes. May we be brave and bold in facing these causes, whatever and wherever they may be… Help us to reach out to support victims and survivors of human trafficking. Make us instruments of your Spirit for their liberation.”

Ashley Peter, Program Coordinator of Hope Restored Canada’s Saskatoon house, described how the eight-bed safe house – the only one of its kind in Western Canada — provides help to survivors of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

“I am a Cree Métis woman from northern Saskatchewan, and from the time I was conceived, from the time my daughters and nieces were conceived, we had a statistic placed on our heads,” Peter said. “As an Indigenous woman, I know my sisters make up four per cent of Canada’s population and we are 20 times more likely to be murdered and to go missing; we are 40 times more likely to experience intimate partner violence; and we are ten times more likely to commit suicide than any other race in Canada.”

She stressed that human trafficking and sexual exploitation “is not an Indigenous issue; it is a people issue – and something that happens right here in Saskatoon, in every part of the city.”

Peter noted that the estimated annual profit from a single trafficked person is around $300,000 a year – and that most traffickers have multiple victims.

“At Hope Restored, our vision is to transform and support the lives of sexually exploited and trafficked individuals and youth in Saskatchewan,” she said. “We are also passionate about providing awareness and education to the community,” she said.

“As an agency we see first-hand the devastation this issue causes in people’s lives.”

Since November 2019, Hope Restored’s program has been able to support “50-plus people” through the safe house as well as through day programming and outreach, both for those escaping enslavement, and for those still being exploited.

Peter thanked the CWL for raising awareness and for their projects to provide curated backpacks of necessities that “make a huge difference when an individual is fleeing for their life with nothing but the clothes on their back.”

City Councillor Randy Donauer brought greetings from Mayor Charlie Clark and Saskatoon City Council, officially declaring Feb. 22 as “Human Trafficking Awareness Day” in Saskatoon.

“Our goal today is to bring awareness to human trafficking and to condemn this. It is a shame that in a city like Saskatoon in the nation of Canada that we’re still dealing with this, but it is something that many people are completely unaware of, something which is happening every day in our community,” Donauer said.

Deputy Police Chief Mitch Yuzdepski spoke on behalf of Saskatoon Police Service, confirming statistics that show Saskatchewan had the fifth highest rate of human trafficking in the country in 2020, and that 93 per cent of human trafficking victims in Canada are Canadian.

“I think for a lot of the public, (there is a perception that) this is an international problem, and it is – but it is also a local problem, a Canadian problem,” said Yuzdepski. He thanked the provincial government, which has increased capacity to investigate human trafficking in Saskatchewan, through a dedicated response team.

“We know that there are many victims in this thriving industry, many survivors,” he said, giving a “shout out” of thanks to community partners such as Hope Restored Canada and Egadz , who work with victims and survivors in the community, as well as commending the Saint Anne CWL council for drawing attention to the issue.

After members of the council raised the “Stop Human Trafficking” flag, CWL member Pamela Yaremko offered a prayer asking for the intercession of St. Josephine Bakhita, patron saint of human trafficking victims and survivors. The saint is a “shining ray of hope and an inspirational demonstration of how a victim can recover from her trauma and be whole again,” said Yaremko.

CWL member Donna Aldous concluded the program with a call to action, urging those present to continue to raise awareanss and find ways to end human trafficking. “Knowing about this will create passion and the will to do something about it… we have to, we absolutely have to.”

Related resources:

The Canadian Centre to end Human Trafficking – LINK

Public Safety Canada – LINK

Government of Saskatchewan Protection from Human Trafficking Act  – LINK

“Working Towards Freedom” study guide– LINK  (The diocese of Saskatoon has joined with the dioceses of Victoria and Vancouver to produce a new resource about the scourge of human trafficking: rcdos.ca/human-trafficking)

 

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Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Saskatoon welcomed Bishop Mark Hagemoen for a joyful celebration Feb. 12 to mark the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the dedication of a new altar in the recently-renovated sanctuary of the church adjacent to Bishop Murray High School on 12th Street East in Saskatoon.

“This is a beautiful, sacred kind of oasis,” Bishop Mark Hagemoen said of the new sanctuary. “This extraordinary effort at beautifying it — I am very grateful for the gifts that have been brought to bear, many gifts in the community, and also the support. It is a beautiful, sacred, holy place.”

Homily by Bishop Hagemeon:

The celebration coincided with the 165th anniversary of the first appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary to 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous at at Massabielle in Lourdes, France on Feb. 11, 1858. This year is also the 60th anniversary of the original blessing of Our Lady of Lourdes in 1963 by Saskatoon Bishop Francis Klein, first designated as a chapel, before officially becoming a parish in 1965.

The new altar was anointed with Sacred Chrism oil and blessed by Bishop Mark Hagemoen during the celebration of Mass Feb. 12 — part of an extensive four-year redesign and renovation of the parish sanctuary, that included the work of local artists working in stone and wood.

At the conclusion of the celebration, Our Lady of Lourdes pastor Fr. Geoffrey Young thanked parishioners for their “support and love” over the past four years since planning and discussions for the beautification project first started.

“In a special way we thank our chief mason, Derek Boldt,” he said. Young noted that some of the stone in the new altar came from St. Peter Cathedral in Muenster, which was then re-worked and integrated into an entirely new creation through the grace of Boldt’s gifts, with the help of stoneworker Brian Cey. The team created all the extensive stonework in the new sanctuary.

Young also thanked Darren Molnar who carved the wooden ambo, tabernacle and crucifix for the sanctuary, and all others who brought gifts and talents to the project: “You’ve done something beautiful for God.”

The pastor of the parish noted that during the last apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes to St. Bernadette, Our Lady told her to “go to the priest and tell him to build a chapel worthy of my honour.” “…. And that is what we have done,” said Fr. Geoffrey Young.

A community breakfast followed the celebration of Eucharist.

Photo Gallery – LINK

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The World Day of Consecrated Life was marked Feb. 2, 2023 in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon with a celebration at the Cathedral of the Holy Family.

Beginning with an hour of adoration to pray for women and men in consecrated life and for vocations, the event included Mass with Bishop Mark Hagemoen.

Photo Gallery – LINK

Saint John Paul II instituted the day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life in 1997, setting the celebration on The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. The Feb. 2 celebration is also known as Candlemas; a day on which candles are traditionally blessed, symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world – so too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ in our world.

During the Feb. 2 celebration, those assembled held lit candles blessed by Bishop Hagemoen. As well, the religious and consecrated women present at the Mass stood to renew their commitment, affirming their resolution to persevere in consecrated life, to follow Christ in th spirit of the Gospel, and to be “a faithful witness to God’s love and a convincing sign of the Kingdom of Heaven.”

In his homily Bishop Hagemoen reflected on how consecrated women and men are called to be “transfigured” as a “concrete example and experience of what it means to follow Christ” and of “God’s consistent and unwavering love for all people.”

Addressing all those consecrated religious women and men that have served in the diocese and beyond, he expressed his gratitude for their call and their witness: “Thank you, thank you, thankyou.”

The celebration of Mass was also live-streamed, and was followed by a lunch in the cathedral hall.

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Message from Bishop Mark Hagemoen – PDF