St. Mary Parish in Saskatoon recognized at Rotary Badge Shield Star Dinner for opening hall as an overnight warm-up location

During the annual Rotary Badge Shield Star Dinner in Saskatoon, Myron Rogal (left), Fr. Kevin McGee and two young St. Mary parishioners, Alex and Nicholas Nunes, accepted an award from Pamela Goulden-McLeod, Director of Emergency Management and Deputy Fire Chief Rob Hogan, recognizing the parish's contributions in opening their hall for a much-needed overnight warm-up location for those without shelter this winter. (Photo by S. Taylor)

By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News

An annual Rotary Badge Shield Star Dinner paying tribute to the community’s first responders this year included an award presented to St. Mary Catholic Church in Saskatoon for opening their hall as an overnight warm-up location in partnership with the Salvation Army.

The fund-raising event to highlight and honour the efforts of emergency service workers of the Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatoon Fire Department, and Medavie Services West (ambulance) was held April 24 at Prairieland Park. All proceeds from the evening go to RAP (Restorative Action Program) Saskatoon, a community-based organization supporting students.

Every year, the police, fire department and ambulance services each present an award to an individual or organization that has had a significant community impact. The Saskatoon Deputy Fire Chief and the Director of Emergency Services presented the award to St. Mary Parish for partnering with the Salvation Army to open Saskatoon’s only overnight warm-up centre from Dec. 4, 2023 to April 21, 2024. An honourable mention was given to the Salvation Army.

Fr. Kevin McGee, pastor of St. Mary Parish, and Myron Rogal, coordinator of the Office of Justice and Peace for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, accepted the award on behalf of the parish.

St. Mary staff, volunteers and parishioners were in attendance at the celebration, as was the Director of the Diocese of Saskatoon Catholic Foundation.

In the award introduction, it was noted that “for nearly 100 years, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church has served the spiritual needs of the of people living in the Pleasant Hill community and beyond,” and that in partnership with the Salvation Army opened the doors of its hall to provide an overnight warming location for those experiencing homelessness who do not have emergency shelter options: “a place for protection from the cold for individuals who have no other options during the extreme cold winter nights.”

Between 100 and 150 individuals accessed the overnight warming location nightly. During the extreme cold weather emergency activation in January there were nights with up to 200 people using the warm-up location at the parish hall.

Katelyn Roberts, the Executive Director of Sanctum Care Group received a similar award the same evening – the Badge Award was presented to Roberts by Saskatoon Police Services (SPS) for her ingenuity in solving community challenges, and her support in assisting SPS. Sanctum opened an HIV hospice and transitional care home in 2015 in Saskatoon.

The event program included an honour guard, a blessing by an Elder, a dinner, an awards ceremony, and a keynote address by Kyla Thomson, mother of “Bella Brave” who has been featured on Kinsmen TeleMiracle and shares her family’s story with over seven million social media followers.

RELATED: Overnight warm-up location opens in St. Mary Church Hall (LINK)

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Kiply Lukan Yaworski is the communications coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: rcdos.ca