Category

News

Covenant of Care – Safeguarding and Healing from Abuse UPDATES

By News

VIDEO UPDATE Covenant of Care: Responding to the Sexual Abuse Crisis:

“The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon is committed to providing safe and respectful church communities and to protecting people from abuse and harm that results from abuse.” – Brenda FitzGerald, Chair, Diocesan Committee for the Covenant of Care and Serious Misconduct Protocol.

Transcript – Brenda FitzGerald: CLICK for PDF

 

VIDEO UPDATE from Bishop Mark Hagemoen:

“We need to listen to and support victims and survivors. This is the perspective from which all our efforts begin.” Bishop Mark Hagemoen, Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.

Transcript of Update from Bishop Mark Hagemoen: CLICK for PDF

Other Updates:

Message from Bishop Mark Hagemoen about an episode of The Fifth Estate that aired on Nov. 17, 2019: UPDATE re: Covenant of Care and CBC program

Nov. 8, 2019 survey response from the Diocese of Saskatoon to The Fifth Estate television program about historical review of cases, and publication of names of persons who are “credibly accused” of sexual abuse: Diocesan RESPONSE

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has also posted an update on how the bishops are implementing guidelines on protecting minors from sexual abuse. The statement also addresses the question of publishing names of persons who have been “credibly accused” of sexual abuse, but not criminally charged and/or convicted: PDF of the CCCB Statement

PDF – Protecting Minors From Sexual Abuse – CCCB National Guidelines

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon is committed to providing safe and respectful church communities and creating healthy ministerial relationships, and to protecting people from abuse and the harm that results.

Training sessions

Training sessions related to diocesan Covenant of Care and safeguarding policies, abuse prevention and response were held at two locations: Tuesday, Nov. 26 at St. Augustine Parish in Humboldt and Tuesday, Dec. 3 at Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon.

Clergy, parish staff, Catholic Pastoral Centre staff, Parish Coordinators of Care, and volunteers working with children, youth or vulnerable adults were invited to attend one of the workshops, either in person, or via webinar conferencing. Other volunteers were also welcome to attend. There was no cost. The workshops were conducted by Theresa Campbell, Director of Operations at the Catholic Pastoral Centre and Lorie Harrison, Registered Professional Counsellor at Legacy Ridge – Trauma Recovery & Resource Centre.

 

“Proclaim Christ and God’s Kingdom Today” – Pastoral Plan launched for diocese

By Bishop Mark Hagemoen's blog, News

Bishop Mark Hagemoen recently launched a Pastoral Plan for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon focused on the mission of proclaiming Jesus Christ.

“Evangelization must permeate everything we do — everything we do proclaims Christ and God’s Kingdom,” said Bishop Hagemoen, announcing the promulgation and rolling out of the new Pastoral Plan at an annual Administration Day for the diocese.

The bishop challenged Pastors, Parish Life Directors, ministry leaders and parish representatives from across the diocese of Saskatoon to use the proposed three-year plan as a way to reflect upon strengths, gaps, and new directions.

The mission statement “Proclaim Christ and God’s Kingdom Today” is identified in the Pastoral Plan, along with six priorities — beginning first and foremost with: “Draw People into a Deepening Intimacy with the Lord.

“Whether it is a parish of five families, or 15,000, the task and the mission of Christ is fundamentally the same,” he said. “Ultimately, everything must involve  the call to evangelization.”

 

 

Greg Chatlain, Director of Education for Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, was one of the facilitators for the eight-month planning process undertaken by the Diocesan Pastoral Council (which includes representatives from parishes of all sizes from across the diocese, as well as pastors, religious, and other leaders). “What you are seeing today is the result of many hours of wrestling and discussion, and of challenging each other to come up with those things that we all need to work on together,” Chatlain said at the Administration Day launch.

Reason for developing a Pastoral Plan

Bishop Hagemoen described why the first task that he gave to the newly-formed Diocesan Pastoral Council was to discern the needs and challenges facing the Church, and to produce a Pastoral Plan for the diocese and its parishes.

“As I travelled the diocese I was hearing different expressions from the parishes that we have in the diocese of Saskatoon — dreams, hopes, concerns — as you can probably guess, some of the concerns especially in the rural area were around issues of viability,” explained the bishop. “At the same time, Saskatoon has had the highest growth rate of any city in Canada, which has an impact on our parishes and communities, so there is need for planning for growth.”

In both cases, one cannot just plan for improving viability or for growth, without a vision, goals and priorities, he said. “Especially in the Church, especially in ministry, if it doesn’t come from the mission of Christ and the Church, then all we would be doing is enlarging our maintenance.”

Bishop Hagemoen cited the insight he heard from a Parish Pastoral Council chair at a small rural parish: “Bishop Mark, we love our church, we put a lot of work into our church and we will continue to do that, but we are exceedingly concerned that we are putting 95 per cent of our effort into maintaining our building and very little into the mission,. We know that if we keep doing that, we won’t last, we will die… we want to, and we need to, engage in mission.”

The six priorities/ goals

Click on each goal for more detail

  1. Draw People into a Deepening Intimacy with the Lord!  –  Supporting a deepening friendship and intimacy with Jesus Christ
  2. Make Every Sunday Matter  – Focusing on our Sunday celebrations
  3. “Embrace Your Priesthood”  –  Discerning God’s call to each person to share in the mission and life of the Lord
  4. Build and Support Family and Community  – Strengthening and supporting families and marriages, vocations support
  5. Promote the Healing Journey in the Lord – Healing, growth, serving, ongoing conversion
  6. Move from Maintenance to Mission. – Helping parishes proclaim Christ in everything

 

“We are only beginning — the coming months will see the rolling out of this,” Bishop Hagemoen said of the Pastoral Plan. “This is not meant to be a quick fix or a quick experience, check off a couple of things — that is not what it is meant to be.”

He added that he takes his responsibility as bishop seriously, and that he sees the plan as a way to move forward and deepen engagement with the mission of proclaiming Christ and the Kingdom of God, “I am building on the faith life of a great diocese,” he said.

Next steps:

At the diocesan level, the Pastoral Plan will assist in moving forward in ministries and programs to assist parishes and provide resources. As next steps for parishes, the bishop proposed the following:

  • Personally and prayerfully review and consider the Pastoral Plan, the mission and goals
  • Review and discussion at parish level
  • Review by parish and finance councils; parish ministry people; general parishioners
  • Possible discussion at deanery level
  • Determine parish priorities/tasks given strengths and gaps
  • Seek supports and resources

Working poster outlining the Pastoral Plan’s mission and goals: PDF of poster

 

Bishop Mark Hagemoen Blog – Summer 2019 Trip to the West Coast

By Bishop Mark Hagemoen's blog, News

Trip to Garibaldi Highlands and Black Tusk with graduates from St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission Apostolic Year

By Bishop Mark Hagemoen, Bishop of Saskatoon

Six graduates from St. Therese, Brunojoined myself and several others from the Archdiocese of Vancouveron a spectacular one-day 27-kilometre hike through Garibaldi Park and Black Tusk mountain this summer. The area is utterly spectacular and beautiful. It is also a great introduction to prairie people of the mountainous playground of British Columbia and specifically, the southwest coast mountains.

The six graduates from St. Therese were: Rheal Chartier (St. Boniface Archdiocese, Manitoba); Veronica and Dominique Skuban (St. Paul Diocese, Alberta); Alison Fox (Calgary Diocese, Alberta); Kaitlyn Deck (Saskatoon Diocese, Saskatchewan); Peter Van Leeuwen (Archdiocese of Vancouver, British Columbia). Joining us were: Douglas Pham and his fiancé, Julia Rumpel and Beverly Ng of Vancouver; Josh Dupuis (just moved from Saskatoon to Vancouver); and Rev. Gary Franken of the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

The area features vast and majestic topography of meadow highlands, as well as spectacular ridges and peaks – many which fall off into seemingly empty abysses.

Josh Dupuis, Fr. Gary Franken, Rheal Chartier, Alison Fox, and +Mark Hagemoen on ascent toward Black Tusk Peak, in the distance.

Peter Van Leeuwen, Rheal Chartier, and Fr. Gary Franken take a needed break in the scree as they ascend the ridge.

Rheal Chartier is thinking: “Gee, there’s nothing this high in Manitoba! What am I doing up here?!!

A quick selfie looking backwards on the ridge approaching the Black Tusk.

The views get increasingly spectacular of the glacial meadows and highlands around Garibaldi Lake as we ascend the ridge.

Peter Van Leauwan carefully watches his next step!! Black Tusk Peak, in the distance.

The group celebrates at the top of the Tusk!

Working our way back down the chimneys.

Josh Dupuis, Fr. Gary Franken, Peter Van Leeuwen, and myself climbing up and down the final ‘chimney accesses’ up the cinder cone of Black Tusk.

The Tusk is both alluring and daunting as its viewed against the sky.

Getting ready to celebrate the Holy Eucharist in the upper meadows following the descent.

A truly epic day with a great group!

Visit to Our Lady Queen of Peace Dominican Monastery in Upper Squamish Valley

The following day we had the opportunity to visit the Dominican religious community of cloister religions women at Our Lady Queen of Peace. The community was formerly established at their home in Upper Squamish Valley in August 2012, having arrived 12 years earlier and working to establish their new community in the Archdiocese of Vancouver in 1999.

The current Dominican community of religious women at Our Lady Queen of Peace.

The spectacular view of the Tantalus Range from the Chapel at the Monastery.

For further information about the community, please visit: www.dominicannunsbc.ca

Other hiking in the area during the trip to the West Coast

It was great to continue to experience other wilderness hiking during the visit to the West Coast. All of these places I have spent much time at during my previous years living in the region, both during my youth and my 23 years as a priest in the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

View of the Howe Sound Crest Ridge as viewed looking east from Gambier Island.

Gambier Lake, Gambier Island

Views approaching Brunswick Mountain, Cypress Provincial Park overlooking Howe Sound.

The approach and climb,  and the views from Brunswick Mountain are spectacular. Amazing to still see snow on the back slopes in late August – indicating that the west coast had a more moderate summer than previous years.

The meadow slopes in the upper ridge between Brunswick and Harvey Mountains.

Peaks to the south include Mount Harveyand The Lions– the most famous mountains viewed from Vancouver overlooking the North Shore Mountains.

View towards Mount Harvey – the next destination to the south of Brunswick Mountain.

View from Mount Harvey to The Lions.

Looking up from the base of Mount Harvey at the end of the hike.

Eagle Ridgeover Buntzen and Coquitlam Lakes.

Another opportunity to enjoy a great – although hot – day with my nephew, Matthew Hagemoen. Here we have just had a feed of mountain blueberries. They are quite abundant this time of year.

Views from Mount Beautifullooking along Eagle Ridge.

View from “The Pulpit” overlooking Coquitlam Lake.

View up Swan Falls Creekalong the trail descending the ridge.

Dinner with my father, Eric Hagemoenat his cabin at Shuswap Lake.

Rainbow over the Shuswap– a great sign during a wonderful respite.

 

 

 

I have been very blessed to have this time in the mountains in the south-west region of British Columbia, my home for many years. I return refreshed and renewed to the Diocese of Saskatoon, ready to receive further the blessings of the great Prairies and its peoples!

                                                            In Christ,      

+Mark HagemoenBishop Mark Hagemoen Blog – Summer 2019 Trip to the West Coast

NEWS: Call for Conscience Protection

By News

Protecting conscience rights in Saskatchewan

An advocacy campaign is underway in our province, asking supporters to  call upon the provincial Minister of Health and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to provide robust conscience protection for healthcare professionals in Saskatchewan.

With the passing of euthanasia/assisted suicide legislation in Canada, provinces are now implementing local protocols. We are encouraging all those concerned about this issue to respectfully contact the Minister of Health and MLAs.

Parishes across the province will be offering opportunities to sign letters to provincial politicians on the Feb 23-24 weekend, or submit letters electronically, via https://www.canadiansforconscience.ca/saskatchewan

This protection is in place in every other country worldwide that allows euthanasia. 

View a video about the issue:

More information: Coalition for Conscience information sheet

Conscientious objection must be legally protected! Please contact your elected officials in Saskatchewan.

 

 

Catholic bishops commit to new national guidelines for protecting minors

By News

Bishop Hagemoen welcomes new CCCB document about the protection of minors and vulnerable persons

Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon is welcoming the updated and expanded national guidelines for the protection of minors and vulnerable persons, which were unanimously adopted by the Canadian Catholic Conference of Bishops (CCCB) Sept. 27 during their 2018 annual Plenary Assembly in Cornwall, ON.

Entitled Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse: A Call to the Catholic Faithful in Canada for Healing, Reconciliation, and Transformationthe document was publicly released Oct. 4. It is an update of the previous document From Pain to Hopeadopted by Canada’s bishops in 1992, as well as a 2007 follow-up document.

“The purpose of this new document, as with the previous ones, is to inform the various policies and protocols of each individual diocese. This is a reference document that helps us do the policy work at a local diocesan level,” said Bishop Hagemoen. “So, this is very important and helpful.”

Large in scope, the new national document is purposefully focused on the protection of minors, noted the bishop. “Of course, there are other implications of this, which relate not just to sexual abuse but all forms of abuse, and with a view to making our environments safe for everyone – yes, with a particular focus on minors, but also for all people who are part of the life of our church communities.”

The document benefits from a number of learned best practices since From Pain to Hopewas released more than 25 years ago, he added. For instance, the new document clearly emphasizes the need to put victims first, and to deal pastorally with those who have been hurt by abuse.

“We must be very victim-focused in our pastoral approach. The document definitely addresses that, as well as naming how our parish communities must be healing communities.”

In the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, a review and update of the existing Covenant of Care safe environment policies and protocol has been underway since early 2018. Pastors and other parish leaders from across the diocese of Saskatoon heard more about the update at a diocesan Administration Day Sept. 12.

Once the new national guidelines are taken into consideration, the updated diocesan Covenant of Care will be finalized and promulgated in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, said Bishop Hagemoen.

“This is an updating of our protocols, taking into account the experience of implementing our safe environment policies, and of giving great care and attention to how we oversee and supervise our people who work with high-risk age groups within our churches.”

The bishop added that the policy is also a way to help clergy and laity continue to do their good work of ministry with support and confidence –“because our ministry needs to continue, in fact it needs to expand. Our ministry needs to grow, especially for those who need it the most, including the most vulnerable.”

In addition to a clear delineation of procedures in cases of sexual abuse, the national document puts forward over 60 recommendations inspired by nine lessons which Bishops have learned through their collective experiences over the past quarter century.

“The document seeks not only to provide guidance for diocesan/eparchial protocols and policies as well as those for religious communities, but to stimulate a cultural transformation in attitudes about sexual abuse,” states a media release from the CCCB.

The new guidelines apply to all Catholic clergy (bishops, priests and deacons), as well as members of religious communities and lay personnel who are working in Catholic parishes or Church organizations.

In developing the policy, the bishops of Canada obtained input from a broad spectrum of people, including survivors, lay women and men, as well as professional consultants with experience and expertise in psychology, social work, child protection, and Church and civil law, stated the CCCB release, noting that the majority of experts consulted also have specific experience in protecting minors and vulnerable adults from sexual abuse.

“With this document, Canada’s bishops reaffirm their commitment to continue improving practices in their dioceses/eparchies with an emphasis on long-term prevention and pre-emptive action,” said the CCCB statement.

– 30 –

Additional Information

Video: Introduction to Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse: A Call to the Catholic Faithful in Canada for Healing, Reconciliation, and Transformation:

Document: Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse: A Call to the Catholic Faithful in Canada for Healing, Reconciliation, and Transformation(PDF) is available from the CCCB website at https://www.cccb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Protecting_Minors_2018.pdf   (permission must be obtained to reproduce the resource: permissions@cccb.ca). The document is also available for purchase from CCCB Publications: www.cccb.ca

Email Scam Alert from the Diocese of Saskatoon

By News No Comments

Unfortunately, we live in an age when personal data can be misused by scam artists.  Several persons in the Diocese of Saskatoon have recently received fraudulent emails purporting to be from our bishop or pastors.  The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, clergy, and entities such as parishes or ministries will never solicit personal or business information in such a way.  Should you receive an unsolicited request for such information or for “emergency funds”, exercise extreme caution. Contact the person or office by using official contact information only.  Do not use contact information provided in the potential fraudulent request.

UPDATE: “Letter to the Faithful” – Our bishop’s response to recent news of sexual abuse by clergy in USA

By News No Comments

“I urge you to join me in prayer for the victims of sexual abuse, and to recommit ourselves to the protection of all vulnerable people in every situation…..” – Bishop Mark Hagemoen

Our Bishop’s response to recent news of sexual abuse by clergy in the USA – Letter to the Faithful – Sept. 7, 2018

(PDF version can be downloaded at: Bishop’s Letter PDF / Find diocesan safeguarding policies and updates at: LINK)

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

It has now been several weeks since the releaseof the recent report from the Grand Jury of Pennsylvania. Read More

Response to sexual abuse and misconduct – our Covenant of Care

By News No Comments

Our diocese has procedures in place for reporting and dealing with sexual abuse or misconduct affecting people of all ages.

The Covenant of Care is a code of conduct in the diocese of Saskatoon, designed to create safe and respectful church communities and healthy ministerial relationships, and to protect people of all ages from abuse and the harm that results.

The Covenant of Care protocol strives to provide proactive protection for:

  • children, youth and vulnerable adults, and
  • those who minister, including clergy, employees and church volunteers.

Click on this link to view the policy documents:

Covenant of Care & Sexual Abuse and Misconduct Protocol.

Read More

Rooted in Christ