By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News
Parishes across the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon joined churches around the world in celebrating the Easter Triduum without crowds in 2020 — praying together online, celebrating liturgies virtually via live-stream, and striving to stay connected in spite of restrictions that require “physical distancing” and the suspension of public gatherings.
In the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, Bishop Mark Hagemoen celebrated Liturgy of the Hours mid-morning prayer with clergy on Holy Thursday, April 9, in lieu of the annual Chrism Mass, which has been postponed until a time when the diocesan faith community can again gather.
The Mass of the Lord’s Supper was live-streamed from the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon with Bishop Mark Hagemoen, and by a number of other parishes engaged in live-streaming of Masses — which are being posted online at saskatoonmass.com. The traditional washing of the feet was not held in the absence of congregations, however.
An annual justice and peace Way of the Cross through the streets of Saskatoon was also cancelled because of COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings, but a video version was created with a number of individuals and groups recording their prayers and reflections, which were edited together and shared online.
The Good Friday solemn liturgy was live-streamed by a number of parishes — with some setting up crosses for prayer and veneration in windows and at church entrances that are locked because of COVID-19 health directives. At the Cathedral of the Holy Family, an outdoor crucifix was raised on the grounds, with many driving slowly through the parking lot to venerate from their cars.
Bishop Mark Hagemoen presided at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday evening from the Cathedral of the Holy Family — with a small choir doing the nine readings and psalms, but without the reception of catechumens or candidates, who must wait until a later date to be received into the church through the initiation sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
Technical challenges continue, and caused an interruption Easter morning, as the bishop celebrated Eucharist from St. Paul Co-Cathedral. In spite of the interruption, the Mass continued, with video archives shared later.
Through it all was a message of Easter hope — that in spite of all the loss and disruption, the saving work of Jesus Christ continues, and Easter happens, with all the joy of the Resurrection, as Bishop Hagemoen noted in all of his homilies over the great three days.
Information and directives in the diocese related to COVID-19 (LINK)
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Pictured are a few of the priests from across the diocese who are live-streaming liturgies. Find these and more at saskatoonmass.com
Easter video message from Bishop Mark Hagemoen:
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