By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News

Sixty-seven runners on 21 teams gathered on a cold sunny morning in Saskatoon on March 23, 2024 to participate in the second annual Lenten40 relay run, encouraged to connect their physical exertion and sufferings to a reflection on the cross of Jesus Christ.

In teams of two, three, or four runners, Lenten40 participants set out on the last day of Lent, a day before the start of Holy Week on Passion Sunday/Palm Sunday. The run started and ended under the cross raised on the grounds of the Cathedral of the Holy Family in the days before Holy Week — and was preceded and followed by prayer, including of Stations of the Cross and Eucharistic adoration the night before.

Bishop Mark Hagemoen blessed the runners before the start of the first leg of the relay on the frosty Saturday morning, reminding them that Lenten40 is a pilgrimage and not a race, cautioning them about cold temperatures and the icy patches on the route, while noting the importance of undertaking a spiritual pilgrimage together as a community and not just as individuals.

“Sure, the full 41.9 kilometres could be done by a solo runner – and quite a feat this would be. But given the theme of Christian community as the context for Lenten pilgrimage – better to run in a team,” Bishop Hagemoen has noted when describing the Lenten40 event.  The route is deliberately shy of a full marathon distance of 42 kilometres, to “allay any pride,” and reinforce the event as a pilgrimage, rather than a personal accomplishment, he says.

Jerome Montpetit, a member of the organizing committee, spoke about the cross that each team of runners would carry and pass on to teammates during the 40+ km run. “We need to learn to love the cross…this is an instrument of our salvation, and a sign of love ultimately. So hopefully while you are running with the cross you can reflect on the great love that God has for you, for us, and for the world that He gave up His only Son for, so that whoever would believe in him would have everlasting life,” he said.

His brother Dominic Montpetit, an organizer of the Lenten40 run, says that the focus of Lenten40 is really to walk with Jesus on his pilgrimage journey from Jerusalem to Golgotha – recalling the Via Delarosa or “sorrowful way” of Christ carrying the cross to his crucifixion on Good Friday.

“I am happy that we have been able to do this now two years in a row, and that people are able to come together as a community around the event,” says Dominic. He notes the contributions of dedicated volunteers who assist with the event by serving as shuttle drivers, volunteering at checkpoints along the route, or acting as trail guides.

He adds: “I have been blessed to see the amount of people who were there, people on their own journey and willing to tough it out in the cold weather, to build community, and to make it a spiritual event.”

Plans are in the works to again hold the event on the Saturday before Palm Sunday/ Passion Sunday in 2025, which will fall on Saturday, April 13 — watch for details at www.lenten40.com.

 

 

 

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Kiply Lukan Yaworski is Communications Coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: rcdos.ca