By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News
Recently-arrived priests were welcomed at a Culture Night dinner presented Feb. 7, with food and entertainment provided by members of the Saskatoon Catholic Filipino community at the Cathedral of the Holy Family as part of a week of orientation, training, and sharing of information for new priests in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.
The priests honoured and welcomed at the dinner were:
- Fr. Rinesh Menambadath Chacko, VC, who arrived in July 2023, serving as pastor of parishes at Wilkie, Handel, and Leipzig, SK;
- Fr. Benedict Arakkal who arrived in October 2022, serving as hospital chaplain in Saskatoon;
- Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando, who arrived in September 2022, serving as associate pastor at St. Patrick Parish, Saskatoon and as pastor at St. Theresa Parish, Asquith;
- Fr. Arnold Bolima, who arrived Feb. 1, 2024, serving as associate pastor at Saint Anne Parihs, Saskatoon;
- Fr. Joe-Nelo Penino who arrived Feb. 1, 2024, serving as associate pastor at Holy Spirit Parish and the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon.
MC for the evening was Raissa Bugyi of the Diocese of Saskatoon Catholic Foundation, with members of the Catholic Women’s League and the Knights of Columbus also among the many volunteers assisting with the evening.
Entertainment was provided by the award-winning St. Cecilia Choir.
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Left to Right: Fr. Joe-Nelo Penino, Fr. Arnold Bolima, and Msgr Don Vito Pavilando of the Philippines are now serving in the diocese of Saskatoon. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Fr. Peter Ebidero – the Bishop’s Delegate for Fidei Donum (International) Priests – said grace. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Cahtolic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
MC Raissa Bugyi of the Diocese of Saskatoon Catholic Foundation (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Fr. Joe-Nelo Penino expressed appreciation and reflected on some of the challenges of answering the missionary call to come to a new land, far from home and all that is familiar. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
The Culture Night included traditional Filipino cuisine and a program of entertainment. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
St. Cecilia Choir (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photos by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Enculturation week
The committee organizing the week of orientation and enculturation for new clergy Feb. 5-9, included Fr. Peter Ebidero, the Bishop’s Delegate for Fidei Donum (International) Priests and pastor of parishes at Martensville and Langham; Fr. Augustine Osei-Bonsu, pastor of parishes at Wynyard, Wishart, Foam Lake and Lanigan; Fr. Benjamin Ezekwudo, pastor of parishes at Cudworth, St. Benedict and Middle Lake; community members Obiora Agu, Anthony Olusola, and Keith Schwark, along with Catholic Pastoral Centre administration team members Catherine Couture and Rita Flaman Jarrett.
Bishop Mark Hagemoen opened the first day of an orientation and enculturation week for new priests Feb. 5 at the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Saskatoon. Gathered for the start of the week-long program were (l-r): Catherine Couture of the Bishop’s Office, mentoring priest Fr. Habila Musa of Rosetown, recently-arrived priest Fr. Joe-Nelo Penino, Bishop Mark Hagemoen, recently-arrived priest Fr. Arnold Bolima, Delegate for Fidei Donum (International) Priests Fr. Peter Ebidero of Martensville, mentoring priest Fr. Benjamin Ezekwudo of Cudworth, and Rita Flaman Jarrett of the Catholic Pastoral Centre’s administration team. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
In addition to the Culture Night dinner, the week included full days of presentations and information, beginning with a welcome from Bishop Mark Hagemoen Feb. 5, and continuing with sessions on everything from winter driving to liturgies and sacramental preparation, from the diocesan pastoral plan’s focus on evangelization to email and internet security, from administration and finance to truth and reconciliation.
Sessions on self care, heath and wellness, and ethical issues, including the diocesan Covenant of Care, were also on the agenda. Tours of a Catholic high school, Wanuskewin and the Western Development museum, and meals with local families were other highlights of the week-long orientation to the diocese, to Saskatoon, and to Canada.
The week concluded with celebration of Mass Feb. 9 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, with Bishop Mark Hagemoen presiding, livestreamed at: Diocesan YouTube Channel – Livestream
The priests heard a bit about Saskatchewan history during a tour of the Western Development Museum. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Recently-arrived priests and their mentors pose before some vintage vehicles at the Western Development Museum Feb. 8. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski)
Preparing to celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Family Feb. 9. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
A closing Mass wound up the week Feb. 9. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
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Kiply Lukan Yaworski is the communications coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: rcdos.ca