Visit to Yellowknife for Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council gathering in June 2019
By Bishop Mark Hagemoen, Bishop of Saskatoon
In early June 2019 I joined the members of the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council in Yellowknife for our annual meeting.
The Council was established in 1998 by the Catholic Bishops of Canada. It encourages Aboriginal leadership in Catholic Christian communities, supports healing and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous, and advises the Canadian Bishops on a variety of indigenous issues.
Flying into Yellowknife – still ice on Great Slave Lake on June 13!
This distinctive Cross sits above the “Trapper’s Lake Retreat Center” of the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith. The center was the site for our meetings.
Chief Ernest Betsina welcomed and greeted the members of the Council to Chief Drygeese territory of the Yellowknife Dene Nation.
View from “Trapper’s Lake Retreat Center”: the reteat house of the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, located 10 kilometers outside Yellowknife, NWT.
Members of the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council are:
- Fibbie Tatti, Yellowknife and Dettah, NWT (co-chair);
- Bishop Mark Hagemoen, Diocese of Saskatoon (co-chair);
- William Angalik, Arviat, Nunavut;
- Bishop Jean-Pierre Blais, Diocese of Baie-Comeau, Quebec;
- Bishop Marcel Damphousse, Diocese of Sault Ste.Marie, Ontario;
- Gary Gagnon, Edmonton, Alberta;
- Archbishop Peter Hundt, Archdiocese of St. John’s, Newfoundland;
- Deacon Rennie Nahanee, Vancouver, BC;
- Melanie O’Neil, Toronto, Ontario;
- Paul Soucie, Ottawa, Ontario;
- Dennis Whitford, Grand Prairie, Alberta.
Members of the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council in session.
Staff from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops also attend the meeting: Kyle Ferguson and Tracy Blain.
Council members prepare to celebrate Holy Eucharist at St Kateri Tekawitha Church in Dettah, about 40 minutes from Yellowknife.
Deacon Rennie Nahanee of Squamish First Nation near Vancouver, BC., proclaims the Word of God.
Committee members had the opportunity to participate in “Aboriginal Days” celebrations, which began with Sunday Eucharist and a community meal at the Yellowknife River traditional site.
Pausing for a photo after Mass at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church, in Dettah – about 40 minutes from Yellowknife on Great Slave Lake.
Several of the bishops were available for Confessions before Mass.
This year’s Aboriginal Days was dedicated to the conclusion of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Women and Children, and its “Calls to Action” that were features of its concluding report.
Drummers from the Dettah community with Chief Edward Sangrese.
Members of the Dene community proclaimed the Word of God. Bishop Marcelle Damphousse looks on as Cecilia Rabesca proclaims the 2nd Reading.
William Angalik is the first Inuit representative on the Council. He lives in Arviat, Nunavut.
The bishop celebrants are joined by Jim Lynn of Dettah. Jim works for the Diocese of Mackenzie – Fort Smith in its Chancery Office and Archives.
Anglophone Safeguarding Conference Irish Pontifical Institute, Vatican, July 1-5, 2019
By Bishop Mark Hagemoen, Diocese of Saskatoon
Bishop Robert Bourgoin (Diocese of Hearst-Mosonee) and I represented the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops at this year’s conference, which aims to develop awareness and best practices for Catholic dioceses and organizations regarding ‘safeguaurding’ in relation to all ministries and activities run by Catholic organizations.
The aim of the conference is to improve all protocols in ensure the safety of young people of vulnerable adults, and to also facilitate dialogues amoungst dioceses and Bishops assemblies in anglophone dioceses about developing safegaudring ‘best practices.’
Some of the insights and learnings included the following:
- Safeguarding of Children is becoming an increasingly complex and urgent issue, especially due to the expansion of technology;
- Awareness of the need of initial on ongoing for clergy and religion on the topic of safeguarding. Formation and education is an ongoing feature in our education support, and will address the following themes
- Developing best practices re: safeguarding;
- Contextual challenges: living in a culture where abuse of women, children, and vulnerable adults continues to expand;
- Developing expertise regarding: a) dealing with the trauma of victims; and b) responding appropriately to those who are guilty of abuse.
- The challenge of implementing and overseeing consistent ‘best practices’ amoung various diocesan and religious entities;
- Being ‘victim-focussed’ when complainants come forward;
- Review of “Vos Estis Lux Mundi” by Pope Francis.
Gathering for the celebration of Eucharist during the Conference at the chapel of the Irish Pontifical Institute.
Rock Your Roots: National Indigenous Day Walk for Reconciliation June 21, 2019
By Bishop Mark Hagemoen, Diocese of Saskatoon
On Friday June 21 organizations from across Saskatoon joined in the annual ‘Rock Your Roots’ walk in support of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.
The event was very well attended. Thousands of people walked through downtown Saskatoon. The atmosphere was festive, while respectful.
I was very pleased to see so many of our Catholic schools well represented. Many church groups were also present.
Stopping for a picture at the gathering with Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark.
Celebrating Confirmation and First Eucharist across our diocese
June saw the conclusion of the celebrations of the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion across the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.
These celebrations are truly an occasion of important celebration with the faith communities and parishes of our diocese.
The celebrations are also great opportunities for me in my role as bishop to share dreams and hopes for our diocese, as well as communicate to our young people how God calls them – and how our bishop and diocese needs them – to discover and share their God-given charisms and gifts in service of the life and mission of Jesus Christ.
Confirmation and First Holy Communion celebration at St. Patrick Parish in Saskatoon.
Confirmation and First Holy Communion celebrated at St. Mary Paish in Wynyard.
Other photos from Confirmation/ First Eucharist celebrations in the diocese:
