RELATED: Summer pilgrimages – LINK
By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News
Pilgrims from throughout the area – and beyond – gathered at the Holy Rosary Shrine site at Reward, SK, July 14, 2024 for an annual pilgrimage established 92 years ago in the historic St. Joseph’s Colony in the western part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.
As the bells of the historic Holy Rosary Church tolled out across the prairies under unsettled skies, parish banners were carried down the hillside toward the grotto and outdoor altar for celebration of Sunday Eucharist with Bishop Mark Hagemoen , who was joined by five priests serving in parishes from throughout the region.
Children scattered flower petals during the entrance procession, with altar servers from St. Michael Parish, Tramping Lake, and music ministry provided by St. Peter Parish, Unity.
Parishes and missions of St. Joseph Colony (many of which are now closed) and the dates they were established include: St. Pascal, Leipzig (1905); St. Charles, Revenue (1905); Our Lady of Assumption, Kerrobert (1906); St. Henry, Salvador (1906); Assumption of the Blessed Virgin St. Mary, Handel (1906); St. Michael, Tramping Lake (1906); St. Anthony, Grosswerder (1907); St. James, Wilkie (1909); Sacred Heart, Denzil (1909); St. Joseph, Scott (1909); Our Lady of Holy Rosary, Reward (1910); St. Francis/Sacred Heart, Broadacres (1910); St. John Nepomecene, Salt Lake (1910); St. Mary, Macklin (1910); Holy Family, Ermine (1910); Our Lady of Fatima, Landis (1910); St. Peter, Cosine (1914); St. Donatus, Cactus Lake (1914); St. Peter, Unity (1914); Immaculate Conception, Major (1914); St. Eugene de Mazenod, Luseland (1915) and St. Elizabeth, Primate (1916).
Mission to proclaim Christ
In his homily, Bishop Hagemoen emphasized the importance of mission in the life of the Church and for each of the baptized.
Quoting the recently-released Synod on Synodality document Instrumentum Laboris Bishop Hagemoen said: “Growing as missionary disciples, we always answer Jesus’ call to follow him, responding to the gift that we received when we were baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. It means learning to accompany each other as a pilgrim people journeying through history towards a common destination, the heavenly city.”
The bishop reflected on the missionary zeal of those who settled the area, and the zeal of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate who served the area for generations, establishing parish churches. “Their whole reason for being was the mission of Jesus Christ and that mission was to proclaim Christ, and to provide the concrete places by which that mission would be professed and carried out. That’s why we have this beautiful Church here in Reward,” Hagemoen said.
The late Cardinal Francis George of Chicago once reminded priests that the mission of the early Church did not arise from institutions, but from the “passion and the commitment to know Christ and to bring him to others – full stop,” said Hagemoen. “That is something that needs to be renewed all the time.”
“He was challenging his priests in one of the most affluent dioceses in the world that it is not our institutions that make Christ present. It is the People of God. It is our clergy who serve that People of God, through their Sacraments and their preaching, and it is you,” urged the bishop. “It is you – you who go forward in your lives and proclaim Him. We will be effective as a diocese by our zeal for continuing to proclaim Christ.”
Pilgrimage program
The 92nd annual pilgrimage also included opportunities for confession, Eucharistic Adoration and praying the Rosary, as well as a barbecue supper, children’s activities and some time for soccer organized by volunteer Matthew Witzaney, before inclement weather ended the day.
Graves at the Holy Rosary cemetery were decorated with roses for the day, purchased by families and parishioners in support of the shrine site.
Pilgrimage committee member Leanne Clarke also provided an update about other fund-raising and ongoing volunteer efforts that help to maintain the church building and shrine site.
“Each and every one of us has been drawn to come back here in prayer, to celebrate our faith, which our ancestors bestowed upon us,” she said. “With the help of your donations, we are able to begin work on the church again, and very excited to share that we can complete the outside,” said Clarke.
Clarke acknowledged donations from area businesses, and support from both the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Women’s League, who have organized barbecues at the Unity Co-op, with proceeds going to Holy Rosary Shrine.
Donations to assist with the maintenance of the historic church and shrine site can be sent to: Holy Rosary Shrine, Box 1536, Unity, SK, SOK 4L0.
“There are so many kind deeds and gestures provided here at the shrine. All those acts of kindness are never ever taken for granted,” she said. “It takes many hearts and hands to keep us functioning at Holy Rosary Shrine.”
Acknowledging the contributions of volunteers and shrine committee members, Clarke also thanked all those in attendance. “Without all of you there wouldn’t be a pilgrimage. And after all this is our gem in rural Saskatchewan that we have been blessed with, let us give thanks for this beautiful place. We truly are ordinary people living in very extraordinary times.”
Farewell to local pastor
At the conclusion of Mass, Clarke and the shrine committee also acknowledged the support of Fr. Greg Roth, pastor of St. Peter Parish, Unity, and St. Michael Parish, Tramping Lake, who will be leaving to take up a new assignment as pastor of Saint Anne Parish in Saskatoon. Fr. Matthew Ramsay has been appointed pastor at Unity and Tramping Lake as of July 31. Roth will also serve as pastor of Saints-Martyrs-Canadiens Parish in Saskatoon, after the departure of Fr. Daniel Louh.
The shrine committee presented Roth with artwork depicting the shrine, as well as a tree to plant on the site in his honour.
Video highlights of Reward Pilgrimage 2024:
Photo gallery:
Next pilgrimage opportunity in the diocese of Saskatoon – Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel July 21, 2024 – LINK
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Kiply Lukan Yaworski is the coordinator of communications for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: rcdos.ca.