By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News

At a recent diocesan Administration Day for parish leaders from across the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, diocesan Coordinator of Justice and Peace Myron Rogal announced that the targeted focus of his office this year will be on poverty and the option for the poor and the vulnerable.

“There is a gap there – that gap extends into some areas of mental health, and what I would call reconciliation on the margins: those who have not yet begun their healing journeys, having experienced the inter-generational traumas and harms of residential schools.”

Rogal offered the diocesan Administration Day gathering a “reality check,” noting that the situation in Saskatchewan has worsened, with poverty in the diocese of Saskatoon at unprecedented levels and rising.

“Right now, one-in-five individuals is at risk of some type of homelessness in the next five years,” he said. “This is really causing a risk to the peace of our nation as well, with a greater divide between the rich and the poor.”

Historically the Catholic Church has always placed significant attention on the care for poor and vulnerable, he said. Church involvement becomes more direct and central when societies become impoverished or the need has risen, as it has in Saskatchewan today.

Responding to poverty is also an opportunity for evangelization, he noted, as both active and fallen-away Catholics step forward with a strong desire to contribute time talent and treasure to care for the poor and vulnerable.

“We are also hearing more and more directly from parishes about the need for support” in responding to poverty in both urban and rural communities, Rogal added, thanking parishes that responded to a recent survey about emergency needs response in their communities.

The discernment and momentum means that some ideas – such as the warm-up location that operated at St. Mary Parish hall in Saskatoon last winter – would have been “almost non-negotiable five years ago,” but are now more widely embraced and supported because of the increasing needs, he said, noting this is also true in dioceses across the country facing similar crises.

“The wider community really does have a desire and thirst when entering into partnerships – with dialogue and with respect – there is a desire to come to know the Church and to work alongside the Church.”

Rogal suggested a three-prong approach in moving forward with the new focus, including continued support for parishes wanting to put immediate charity and emergency need responses in place, work on plans for setting up a diocesan St. Vincent de Paul Council (with a possibility for the eventual estbalishment of a Catholic Mission Centre) as a place of faith to come at the issue of poverty as Catholics, and continuing to work for long-term justice advocacy around poverty, housing, and other issues.

The new theme was discussed in more detail at a gathering of parish justice and peace representatives and interested parishioners at a supper meeting held Sept. 19 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family.

Although the theme sets a particular focus, the diocesan office will continue to work on advocacy and action in other areas related to Catholic Social Teaching as well.

Truth and Reconciliation

There is a continuing emphasis on the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and justice for Indigenous Peoples on many fronts.

Further to that priority, the Diocesan Council for Truth and Reconciliation will host a gathering for all parish Truth and Reconciliation committees as well as any interested pastors or parishioners.

The event on Thursday, Oct. 17 will include a meal, updates from the diocese and opportunity for sharing on strategies to increase collaboration and ore effectively share resources.

Voting resource

Rogal also noted that the non-partisan, non-profit organization Catholic Conscience has again created an online election guide for the upcoming provincial election in Saskatchewan, showing official party policies alongside Catholic Social Teaching on a range of issues. The resource will hopefully assist Catholics in praying and discerning about how to cast their vote, he said.

The diocesan Office for Justice and Peace is supported by the Bishop’s Annual Appeal – LINK

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Kiply Lukan Yaworski is coordinator of communications for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: rcdos.ca. This news site is made possible thanks to donations to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal.