Enriching faith

After some two years of discernment, prayer and planning, a new Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office has been launched in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, with a renewed focus on discipleship and accompaniment.

Visit the website: rcdos.ca/youth

Read the news article: LINK

Bishop’s letter to the diocese: LINK

The June 8 launch included the introduction of “Project Timothy” a leadership development program led by diocesan Evangelization and Mission Leader John Hickey and Sr. Marta Piano of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity. The two leaders will recruit, mentor and accompany young adults who have a desire to share their faith and reach out to other youth and young adults.

Other priorities for diocesan Youth and Young Adult Ministry have also been established: providing support and trainingfor youth ministry in parishes across the diocese, and offering diocesan events “as a place of encounter” for youth and young adults.

“The focus is less on programming and more on discipleship and accompaniment,” describes Bishop Mark Hagemoen.

“The focus of Project Timothy is calling and supporting youth as ‘disciples’ through what Pope Francis calls ‘the art of accompaniment,’” the bishop writes in a June 8 letter to the diocese about the new direction for Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the diocese. “

“It has been a slow process, but we are excited to announce this shift in the way will be delivering Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the diocese of Saskatoon,” says Marilyn Jackson, diocesan Director of Pastoral Services. “We sure did not anticipate it would take two years.”

COVID-19 caused delays, she says, but adds that these delays “did not stop the Holy Spirit from moving gently through our time of discernment.… God revealed his plan, one piece at a time.”

The two-year discernment process started with the establishment of a task force to identify features and gaps in youth ministry. “It was a group of adults, young adults, single, married, teachers, ministry leaders and clergy. The data we collected was then shared with a consultant, who presented us with a model of making missionary disciples,” says Jackson.

“Our diocese has been ready to launch our youth ministry strategy for awhile,” notes Bishop Mark Hagemoen in a video released June 8 (above).

In partnership with St. Thomas More College, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon has launched a new program that combines academic and spiritual formation.

Sts. Benedict & Scholastica Formation Program has been established for candidates who have made a decision to pursue an academic and vocational pathway that seeks ordained ministry, religious life, or professional lay ecclesial ministry.

The program consists of two fundamental components:

1. The completion of a B.A. with a major in philosophy (either as a 3-year or a 4-year degree)  through the philosophy program offered by St. Thomas More College (STM) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
2. A program of personal and spiritual formation offered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: the Sts. Benedict & Scholastica Formation Program. 

Deadline to apply for the  Sts. Benedict & Scholastica Formation Program is July 2, 2021. For more information contact Sr. Malou Tibayan at mtibayan@rcdos.ca 

Letter from Bishop Mark Hagemoen: PDF

A recent video and mail-out is highlighting the important work of Catholic education in nurturing faith, and requesting support for the ongoing work of GSCS Foundation. The video features Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, Bishop Bryan Bayda of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon, Diane Boyko and Greg Chatlain of Greater Saskatoon Schools, and Laurie Karwacki of GSCS Foundation.

“Catholic education is built on our commitment to that right of parents and relationship with God, and that strives for excellence in all things – academics, virtuous living, extra-curricular activities, service to others. These are the hallmarks and foundation of Catholic education,” describe Bishop Hagemoen and Bishop Bayda in the recently-released materials.

A message from the Catholic Bishops of Saskatchewan for Catholic Education Week: Download the PDF.

Catholic Schools throughout Saskatchewan will celebrate Catholic Education Week and the significant contribution of Catholic Education in our province during Catholic Education Week May 9-16.

The theme for this year’s Catholic Education Week is “Catholic Education: Nurturing Hope/L’éducation catholique: Cultiver l’espérance”.

This is a special week in our schools as we celebrate the joy and hope of Catholic Education.

There are five sub-themes, one for each day of Catholic Education Week, aimed at helping staff and students to reflect more fully on what Nurturing Hope means to them. The five sub-themes are:

• Day 1: Preparing the Earth /  Préparer la terre
• Day 2: Sowing Seeds of Gratitude /  Semer la gratitude
• Day 3: Cultivating Relationships /  Cultiver nos relations
• Day 4: Harvesting New Fruit /  Récolter de nouveaux fruits
• Day 5: Marvelling in Wonder /  S’émerveiller

Catholic Education Week is marked by special activities such as prayer celebrations and service activities.

On Ascension Thursday, May 13, 2021, which is World Catholic Education Day, a live-stream liturgy with Bishop Mark Hagemoen will begin at 10:00 a.m. for all the faithful of Saskatchewan posted at https://saskatoonmass.com and on the diocesan YouTube channel: LINK

Easter Message from Bishop Mark Hagemoen (PDF)

A number of Easter celebrations have been live-streamed at https://saskatoonmass.com since attendance is restricted because of COVID-19 public health orders.

During this year of St. Joseph, declared by Pope Francis to mark the 150th Anniversary of the declaration of St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church, Bishop Mark Hagemoen has re-consecrated the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon to St. Joseph during a special Mass Tuesday, Feb. 2 on the Feast of the Presentation / World Day of Consecrated Life.

Letter from Bishop Mark Hagemoen: Consecration to St. Joseph

CCCB Page of Resources: LINK – Prayers, devotions, video reflections, catechetical resources for children and youth, Church documents, etc.

Statue of St. Joseph and the Child Jesus at St. Paul Co-Cathedral, Saskatoon.

In a letter to the faithful on the Memorial of St. André Bessette (who had a great devotion to St. Joseph), Bishop Mark Hagemoen  said: “Our diocese will join with other dioceses across Canada and in the church throughout the world to re-consecrate the Diocese of Saskatoon to St. Joseph.”

The video of the celebration can be found on the YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/saskatoondiocese (also posted below)

Prayer resources prepared by the Diocesan Liturgical Commission – PDF

CCCB Prayer Card (Click here for PDF)

Mass Feb. 2, 2021: Re-consecraton of diocese to St. Joseph:

Vespers and Mass on the Solemnity of St. Joseph March 19, 2021:

Bishop Mark Hagemoen has been speaking to various groups and individuals about the challenges and blessings we are facing this year during the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

Bishop in conversation with Catholic youth

Videographer and host Jerome Montpetit of CatChat Ministries presents a videotaped Zoom conversation with Bishop Mark Hagemoen and four Catholic high school students from Saskatoon reflecting on the experience of COVID-19 and the impact of the pandemic on life, especially during this Christmas season.

Diocesan leaders

Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon speaks about this unusual year with Elder Dianne Anderson of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, coordinator of prison ministry in the diocese; Donna Rogal, who works in the Marriage Tribunal at the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Saskatoon; Garth McCutcheon, chair of the Parish Pastoral Council for Christ the King Parish in Foam Lake; and retired diocesan priest Fr. Ken Beck of Saskatoon.

Ways in which restrictions are affecting individuals, communities, the elderly, families, the bereaved, prisoners, and ministries in our diocese are explored in this hope-filled conversation.

NET Team – Keewatin-Le Pas

In a recent Zoom conversation, Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the Advent of four NET Ministries (www.netcanada.ca) missionaries presently serving in the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas, in Northern Saskatchewan/Northern Manitoba.

The NET team members speaking with Bishop Mark are: Maria Altamirano of Vancouver; Matthew Bentler of Saskatoon; Jacob Brown of Halifax, and Fernanda Cano of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.

The team talks about how the pandemic has affected them personally, as well as how the restrictions on gathering have impacted their ministry this year, and what challenges and blessings they are experiencing in this Advent season.

In a recent Zoom conversation, Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the Advent of four NET Ministries (www.netcanada.ca) missionaries presently serving in the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas, in Northern Saskatchewan/Northern Manitoba.

The NET team members speaking with Bishop Mark are: Maria Altamirano of Vancouver; Matthew Bentler of Saskatoon; Jacob Brown of Halifax, and Fernanda Cano of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.

The team talks about how the pandemic has affected them personally, as well as how the restrictions on gathering have impacted their ministry this year, and what challenges and blessings they are experiencing in this Advent season.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon has launched a video series to assist in reflection about Pope Francis’ latest papal encyclical Fratelli Tutti on human fraternity and social friendship.

The second in this video series features a panel discussion led by Bishop Mark Hagemoen, in conversation with Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools teacher Celine Cyrenne, Sr. Marta Piano of the Verbum Dei missionary society, and Fr. Stefano Penna, rector of St. Paul Co-Cathedral in Saskatoon.

Find more information and resources about Fratelli Tutti on the diocesan website at: rcdos.ca/fratelli-tutti

Complete letter: FRATELLI TUTTI – The Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis on Fraternity and Social Friendship

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon has launched a video series to assist in reflection about Pope Francis’ latest papal encyclical Fratelli Tutti on human fraternity and social friendship.

The first in this video series is a timely conversation about Chapter 5 of Fratelli Tutti “A better kind of politics,” which calls for a social and political order based on “social charity” and “political love.”

In conversation are: Myron Rogal, coordinator of Justice and Peace for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon; Dr. Brett Salkeld, Theologian for the Archdiocese of Regina; Matthew Marquardt, President and Founder of Catholic Conscience; and Brendan Steven, Executive Director of Catholic Conscience.

With Saskatchewan in the midst of a campaign for an Oct. 26 provincial election as well as for Nov. 9 civic/ municipal elections, the discussion is particularly timely.

Complete letter: FRATELLI TUTTI – The Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis on Fraternity and Social Friendship