Bishop Mark Hagemoen’s blog

Beginning and ending under the large crucifix set up a few days before on the grounds of the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon, some 90 runners took part in the 2026 Lenten40 relay run on March 28, the day before Palm Sunday.

Bishop Mark Hagemoen stresses that the Lenten40 is not a race or a competition or a marathon. Instead, he explains that the event is a pilgrimage — to be framed in prayer and tackled as a spiritual exercise, connected to Lenten sacrifice and grounded in meditation upon the saving passion of Jesus Christ.

“The hope is that the Lenten40 is a time of spiritual recollection for all the participants, a time when we think about what Jesus has done for on his journey – his pilgrimage – to the holy cross, by which he saved the world,” says Saskatoon’s bishop, who participated as a runner in the fourth annual event.

The bishop was also again on hand to lead Stations of the Cross the night before, and to celebrate Holy Eucharist on the morning of the pilgrimage run, as well as blessing the crosses that the runners carry in the relay from one leg to the next. In addition he leads both the opening and closing prayer on the event day.

Bishop Hagemoen has also laid out themes for each of the four legs of the 41.0 course, based on the mysteries of the rosary, which are posted on the event website at www.lenten40.com

Run becomes part of Lenten journey

“It has been really special to work with the bishop on this event each year,” says Lenten40 organizer Dominic Montpetit, describing how the relay has become an annual Lenten discipline for many of those who participate.

“Many of the participants will share different stories about the run and the impact – and every year a lot of people come back and are doing it again, or bringing other friends or family into it,” he says.

“I do think it’s a really good way to enter into Holy Week. It becomes part of people’s Lent every year, because it is not just the race, you have to prepare before, you have to do some training… and it is in their mind what they are training towards,” says Montpetit. “It is not just a run, but again it is a pilgrimage, a call to enter into the way of suffering. It is not an easy run, with the conditions and some of the distances.”

Participants appreciate the opportunities that the Lenten40 provides, he adds. “I just heard feedback from somebody who said what a blessing it is for him to be able to run the Lenten40 with his kids the last couple of years, and how he never thought he would be able to run this far in his life. It has been a cool experience for their family to do it together.”

Montpetit observes that as runners finish each leg there are moments of joy and satisfaction after the great effort — a concrete reflection of the Paschal Mystery, in which Good Friday is followed by the Easter resurrection.

“People really enjoy having the opportunity to do this as a community – to do this in our diocese together with family and friends, and to enter into that Lenten season together. “

Related: Easter message from Bishop Mark Hagemoen – LINK

Easter celebrations in parishes across the diocese – LINK

Montpetit also stresses the vital importance of the volunteers who provide support with all aspects of the event.

“We could not do this event without all the volunteers …there is lots of support from family members and friends,” says Montpetit. About 25 volunteers were on hand this year, stepping up as trail guides, marking the course, manning the check points on each of the four legs, working as shuttle divers, assisting with photography, social media, and managing website design, he notes.

Montpetit says that if anyone is interested in getting involved in any way, the next Lenten40 falls on Saturday, March 20, 2027. Those interested can contact lenten40km@gmail.com for information.

“We want to grow this as much as we can and impact as many people as we can. We really do this to bless others and have them experience this pilgrimage,” he says.

Photos

 

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On a cold and blustery spring day, a crucifix was again raised on the grounds of the Cathedral of the Holy Family in preparation for Holy Week in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. Bishop Mark Hagemoen joined the volunteer work crew to raise the outdoor cross at the Saskatoon cathedral on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

The crucifix was rebuilt this year on a more stable, taller tree trunk now serving as the cross. Preparing and raising the cross were Curtis Mann, Derek Boldt, and Jon and Finn Neufeld.

The crucifix was first raised on the cathedral grounds in 2020, when COVID-19 pandemic restrictions prevented many from venerating the cross during traditional Good Friday solemn liturgies. The tradition has continued each year since.

A Lenten 40 relay run will start and end at the foot of this cross on Saturday, March 28, when runners will tackle four legs of a 41.9 km pilgrimage course through Saskatoon’s river valley, before returning to the foot of the cross to conclude the event combining the physical and the spiritual.

Related: Parish Easter Triduum schedules – LINK

Photos

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The bright and busy new entrance of St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon was the site for a blessing liturgy on a recent Friday afternoon.

During the March 20 gathering in the entrance lobby near the patient registration desk, Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen led the liturgy, joined by Deacon Harry Lafond of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation; Hospital Chaplain Fr. Benedict Arakkal; and diocesan Vicar General Fr. Kevin McGee, pastor of nearby St. Mary Parish.

A number of Catholic health leaders and members of hospital administration and staff gathered for the liturgy near the patient registration desk in the entrance lobby. The short service included scripture, reflections, and prayers for all those who walk through the doors, both patients and staff,  including a prayer of praise to God in the six directions led by Lafond.

Reflections by Hagemoen and Lafond acknowledged the vital and ongoing importance of the hospital — which was founded by the Grey Nuns more than a century ago — to the surrounding neighbourhood and to the wider community. An entrance is significant in offering welcome and belonging, noted Hagemoen, stressing that the work undertaken by hospital staff is not simply medical and technical, but sacred.

Official opening Jan. 28

A message from the diocesan bishop was part of an official ribbon-cutting opening celebration Jan. 28, however Hagemoen was unable to attend that earlier event in person.

The Catholic hospital’s main entrance renovation includes a new accessible main entrance with a covered drive and drop-off area for patients, a bright and welcoming foyer, and a new Kikâwînaw wîki Healing Centre – Cree for “Our Mother’s Home,” the new healing centre adjacent to the main entrance provides space for reflection and Indigenous cultural ceremonies.

The expanded entrance area also includes additional washrooms, a spacious gift shop, and relocated patient registration, visitor information and protective services areas.

Photos from March 20 blessing

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Kiply Lukan Yaworski is the communications coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: rcdos.ca.

Communications and Catholic Saskatoon News are supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal: dscf.ca/baa.

Bishop Mark Hagemoen celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation with youth from several parishes March 10-17, 2026, including:

• March 10 at St. Patrick Parish, Saskatoon;
• March 14 at St. Mary Parish, Macklin, SK;
• March 15 at St. James Parish, Wilkie, SK;
• March 15 at St. Peter Parish, Unity, SK; 
• March 17 and 18 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, Saskatoon;
• March 21 at St. Theresa Parish, Lintlaw.

These follow earlier confirmations at St. Philip Neri and St. Joseph Parishes in Saskatoon.

After Easter, the schedule will continue, beginning with Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Saskatoon on April 17, and Saint Anne Parish, Saskatoon on April 18.

An earlier start to the bishop’s confirmation schedule was necessary in order to fit in the 37 celebrations across the diocese this year, which will conclude at the end of June.

St. Mary Parish, Macklin – March 14:

Photos from St. Patrick Parish, Saskatoon March 10, 2026:

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Spring Congress 2026 focuses on listening to God and to others

“Speak Lord, Your Servant is Listening” – Congress Day theme resonates with implementation of synodality in the diocese

Bishop Mark Hagemoen and ministry leaders from the Catholic Pastoral Centre gathered with parish representatives at Holy Spirit Parish in Saskatoon March 11 for Spring Congress, reflecting on the call to synodality and exploring how listening and walking together is lived out in prayer, evangelization, ministry, and outreach.

The Spring Congress day will be repeated at two other locations in the diocese of Saskatoon — Saturday, April 18 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Watson, SK, and April 25 at St. Joseph Parish in Kindersley, SK (find registration at: rcdos.ca/spring-congress-2026).

 

Holy Spirit pastor and chair of the Diocesan Synod Committee Fr. Joseph Salihu welcomed some 85 participants — including laity, religious and clergy — to the Congress Day.

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Elder Diane Anderson, who coordinates Restorative Ministry in the diocese, led the opening prayer in the six directions.

Diocesan Director of Ministry Services Marilyn Jackson led an introduction to the day, inviting those present to engage in a listening exercise.

Bishop Mark Hagemoen offered a reflection on the importance of synodality in the life of the Church, pointing to the need for collaboration among ordained and non-ordained, with all the baptized having a role in the gospel mission to proclaim Jesus Christ and God’s Kingdom.

Sr. Malou Tibayan of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity and a member of the Diocesan Synod Committee, gave an overview of the Synod on Synodality, introduced by Pope Francis in 2021 and now continuing under Pope Leo. She introduced a number of significant themes in the Synod of Bishops’ Final Document, which dioceses around the world have been asked by the pope to implement.

 

Sr. Marta Piano of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity introduced the Synod’s “Spiritual Conversation Model” as a method for Spirit-led conversations grounded in prayer and active listening – a process which has been used throughout the Synod.

 

 

In his presentation, Evangelization and Mission Leader John Hickey emphasized the importance of listening and building relationships as the foundation of sharing faith with others.

Listening to God and to others was emphasized by Quin Kleiboer, diocesan coordinator of Rural Catechesis, in a presentation on discernment and mission in parish catechesis: “Listening to Heaven, Listening to the Room.”

 

 

Diocesan Coordinator of Adult Faith, Astrid Alas, reflected on art and beauty as a bridge to encountering Christ.

 

Myron Rogal of the diocesan Justice and Peace Office reflected on encountering God amongst the poor, drawing from teachings of the gospel, writings of the saints, and Delexi Te, the recent papal exhortation from Pope Leo on love for the poor.

Jackie Saretsky, coordinator of Hospital Chaplaincy, spoke about the crucial role of listening in accompanying those who are sick or dying. She also introduced practical resources — a pamphlet from the Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan (CHAS) on Accompaniment Through Illness: A guide to conversations about death and dying (LINK) and a brochure that has been developed to explain the Sacrament of the Sick (LINK).

Time for discussion as well as a question-and-answer session were also part of the Congress Day, with a closing prayer by Bishop Mark Hagemoen.

Photos from the Congress Day in Saskatoon:

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Bishop Hagemoen – Share Lent message – PDF

Share Lent 2026

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

The theme of this year’s Share Lent campaign is On Track for Justice.

The Gospel for the 5th Sunday of Lent is from St. John the Evangelist. Jesus raises from the dead His friend Lazarus.  In responding to the ultimate obstacle to all human life – death itself, Jesus dramatically establishes his power over death, leading to a realization about what life and death are really about.

The First Reading from the Prophet Ezekiel is also incredible. Ezekiel’s dramatic vision of a whole people being reborn, brought out of graves, gathered and placed on their own soil corresponds vividly to the Easter hope that God’s people will not only be raised from the dead, but will be restored to the fullness of abundant life that Jesus promises all people. (see John 10:10)

In Dilexi Te – the first apostolic exhortation from Pope Leo XIV- the Holy Father calls our attention to the preferential option for the poor, a core component of Catholic Social Teaching that highlights how all people of good will work together to bring restoration and renewal to those facing poverty and other forms of disadvantage. To say that God has a preference for the poor does not mean he excludes people. Rather, Pope Leo XIV explains,

“…wanting to inaugurate a kingdom of justice, fraternity and solidarity, God has a special place in His heart for those who are discriminated against and oppressed, and He asks us, His Church, to make a decisive and radical choice in favor of the weakest.” (§16)

I also recall Pope Francis’s reminder to us about the pathway to peace: “If we really wish to prepare a path to peace in our world, let us commit ourselves to remedying the remote causes of injustice, settling unjust and unpayable debts, and feeding the hungry.”

Let us support the On Track for Justice appeal by a renewed commitment to have the same mind and heart as Christ Jesus in all things – He who holds in His Sacred Heart all our peoples of our world.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops again designates the 5^th Sunday of Lent as Solidarity Sunday when our annual Share Lent collection will be taken up. On Sunday, March 22, 2026 I ask you to please be generous in donating to Development and Peace / Caritas Canada.

Sincerely in Christ,

Bishop Mark Hagemoen

Bishop Mark Hagemoen confirmed youth from St. Philip Neri Parish, Saskatoon on a Friday in Lent, March 6 2026, as well as at St. Joseph Parish, Saskatoon on the Third Sunday of Lent, March 8.

Other confirmations will also be held in the days before Holy Week, namely:

• March 10 at St. Patrick Parish, Saskatoon;
• March 14 at St. Mary Parish, Macklin, SK;
• March 15 at St. James Parish, Wilkie, SK;
• March 15 at St. Peter Parish, Unity, SK; and
• March 17 and 18 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, Saskatoon.

After a brief pause, confirmations across the diocese will then continue after Easter.

The early start to the bishop’s confirmation schedule was necessary in order to fit in all the celebrations this year.

Photos from St. Joseph Parish, Saskatoon

 

St. Joseph Parish, Saskatoon – March 8, 2026 Confirmation. (Photo by Armand Ian Vocalan)

St. Joseph Parish, Saskatoon – March 8, 2026 Confirmation. (Photo by Armand Ian Vocalan)

St. Joseph Parish, Saskatoon – March 8, 2026 Confirmation. (Photo by Armand Ian Vocalan)

St. Joseph Parish, Saskatoon – March 8, 2026 Confirmation. (Photo by Armand Ian Vocalan)

St. Joseph Parish, Saskatoon – March 8, 2026 Confirmation. (Photo by Armand Ian Vocalan)

St. Joseph Parish, Saskatoon – March 8, 2026 Confirmation. (Photo by Armand Ian Vocalan)

St. Joseph Parish, Saskatoon – March 8, 2026 Confirmation. (Photo by Armand Ian Vocalan)

St. Joseph Parish, Saskatoon – March 8, 2026 Confirmation. (Photo by Armand Ian Vocalan)

St. Joseph Parish, Saskatoon – March 8, 2026 Confirmation. (Photo by Armand Ian Vocalan)

St. Joseph Parish, Saskatoon – March 8, 2026 Confirmation. (Photo by Armand Ian Vocalan)

Development and Peace-Caritas Canada (DPCC) solidarity visitor Fr. (Padre) Dário Bossi (left) stopped by the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Saskatoon as part of a Saskatchewan visit, meeting with Bishop Mark Hagemoen and members of the Catholic Pastoral Centre staff.

Padre Dario has worked in Brazil for over 20 years and has accompanied many communities displaced by mining interests.

His visit to Saskatchewan included visits to Saskatoon, including St. Thomas More College; Regina, including Campion College; Bruno, including St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission; St. Peter’s Abbey at Muenster; and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation.

RELATED:  “A Padre on the Prairies” – Article

RELATED:  Share Lent theme “On Track for Justice” – Article

At the diocesan Rite of Election Feb. 22, 2026, Bishop Mark Hagemoen welcomed and blessed 75 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 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 during the Easter season. The diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis reports that some 45 candidates are journeying to full communion with the Catholic Church this year.

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 parishes across the diocese.

Called to be missionary disciples

The Rite of Election “is an outward celebration of a choice already made by God,” the bishop said in his homily “These catechumens are proclaimed fit to be God’s chosen.”

Through the celebration, all members of the Church are also reminded and renewed in this blessing, responsibility, and privilege, he said.

“These chosen are expected to be initiated into the life of Jesus Christ, which necessarily means a life of mission, God’s mission for the world,” he said. “Ready or not, here comes the Holy Spirit!”

The bishop acknowledged that even if we do not feel equipped, we step forward to be his disciples in response to God’s call. “It is because of that deepening intimate relationship with the Lord that we can receive from him in order to give of him to others.”

He added: “The genius of a disciple is he or she always points beyond themselves. The light doesn’t end with them. They know they are not the light. He is the light.”

Video of homily:

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An annual diocesan Stations of the Cross and candlelight prayer service for all victims and survivors of abuse was held Feb. 20, 2026, at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, led by Bishop Mark Hagemoen and members of the Diocesan Safeguarding Committee.

The Vigil of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse on the first Friday in Lent again included the Stations of the Cross, with reflections from the perspective of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Prayers for healing, justice, conversion, and outreach were part of the traditional Lenten prayer.

A time of Eucharistic adoration followed the Stations of the Cross, with those in attendance invited to bring up candles and offer prayers before the Blessed Sacrament. As well, the bishop was available to pray with anyone who came forward.

Establishing the annual diocesan day of prayer for all victims and survivors of abuse was a recommendation of the Diocesan Safeguarding Committee and the College of Consultors.

 

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

Prayer for Healing for Victims / Survivors of Abuse shared at the 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 hope, steady their shaken spirits with faith. Grant them justice for their cause, 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

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Kiply Lukan Yaworski is the communications coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: rcdos.ca.

Communications and Catholic Saskatoon News are supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal: dscf.ca/baa.