By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News
Hundreds travelled to the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon on a blustery Friday night Jan. 24 to venerate relics of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks, and of Canadian Martyrs St. Jean de Brebeuf, St. Charles Garnier and St. Gabriel Lalemant.

Pilgrims from across the diocese visited the Cathedral of the Holy Family Jan. 24 to pray with the sacred relics of the saints. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
The event began with lines of the faithful journeying up the main aisle to venerate the relics in front of the altar, with many touching holy cards, medals and rosaries to the glass reliquaries, or placing written prayers into the chest near the relic display in front of the altar.
The relics of the Canadian martyrs included the skull of St. Jean de Brebeuf and bones of St. Charles Garnier and St. Gabriel Lalemant. Also included in the tour visit was a first-class relic of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Indigenous North American saint and patron of First Nations peoples.

Music ministry for the Mass was provided by the choir from Our Lady of Guadalupe Indigenous Parish in Saskatoon. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
MC John Hickey, Evangelization and Mission Leader for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon welcomed the visitors and pilgrims who filled the cathedral. The Rosary was then prayed in French by Réjean Violette of Saints-Martyrs-Canadiens Parish in Saskatoon.
Sandra Harper of Our Lady of Guadalupe Indigenous Parish in Saskatoon spoke about the ministry of welcome and healing at the parish, which lives out the Catholic faith within the Indigenous culture. Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Life Director Ferdinand Gemoh also spoke, noting the importance of respect and cultural diversity in celebration of faith — something that missionaries like St. Jean de Brebeuf demonstrated in their lives and ministry.
Celebration of the Eucharist followed, with Bishop Mark Hagemoen presiding. Concelebrants included Jesuit Fr. John O’Brien, who is travelling with the relics across the country, diocesan Vicar-General Fr. Kevin McGee, Holy Family Cathedral rector Fr. Gerard Cooper, St. Paul Co-Cathedral rector Fr. Stafano Penna, and other priests from around the diocese. Music ministry was provided by the choir from Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.
Victor Granger and Deacon Nick Blom proclaimed the readings, and Sr. Marta Piano of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity led the prayers of intercession.

Celebration of the Eucharist was part of the Saskatoon event welcoming the sacred relics. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
In his homily, Bishop Hagemoen reflected on the commitment and sacrifices of the missionaries, who lived and worked among the Indigenous peoples, and the response of Indigenous missionaries like Joseph Chiwatenhwa, a powerful preacher of the gospel to the Huron people. He also reflected on the hidden life of the “Lily of the Mohawks” St. Kateri Tekakwitha, whose “little way” of love and trust in Jesus reflects the path of the “Little Flower” St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
The bishop noted that the visit of the sacred relics is timely, in the midst of many challenges and initiatives, coming as it does at the start of the Jubilee Year of Hope, and as dioceses around the world reflect on how to move forward in responding to the call of the Synod “bringing to bear the way and the method of Jesus and the Gospel in our parishes and in our world.”
“The life of St. Jean de Brebeuf and companions, and St. Kateri show us that light not only shines in the darkness, but it lifts up: darkness will not prevail,” Hagemoen said.

The reliquaries were placed in front of the altar at the Cathedral of the Holy Family Jan. 24. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
At the conclusion of Mass, Fr. John O’Brien of the National Shrine to the Canadian Martyrs in Midland, Ontario, spoke about the tour and the lives of the martyrs. He reflected on why the missionaries would leave their homes to cross the ocean and face harsh conditions, hardships, and eventually martyrdom in a new land. “The love of God is a motivating presence with them and in them,” he said.
“What is that love of God that is so powerful, and have we experienced that love of God in the same way?” he challenged, noting that the word “martyr” means “witness.” O’Brien said that in a sense we are all martyrs called to share in Christ’s Great Commission to go and make disciples and to be witnesses of God’s love in the world.
He also pointed to the reconciling prayer featured on prayer cards for the relic tour, praying that through the intercession of these saints “our hearts may be better disposed to seek reconciliation with God, with others, with ourselves, and with creation.”

Fr. John O’Brien, SJ, of the National Shrine to the Canadian Martyrs in Midland, Ontario, is accompanying the sacred relics on the national tour during the Jubilee Year. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Bishop Mark Hagemoen lifted the relics to bless the assembly at the conclusion of Mass. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Following Mass, veneration of the relics continued, with members of the St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission formation program serving as ushers, and a St. Therese choir singing a translation of the Huron Carol written by St. Jean de Brebeuf. Priests were also hearing confessions throughout the evening.
The national tour of the relics from the Canadian Martyrs Shrine in Midland, ON, got underway at the start of the Jubilee Year at a Catholic Christian Outreach Rise-Up Conference, with Janaury stops in British Columbia and Alberta, before arriving in Saskatoon for the evening event Jan. 24. The tour continues with a visit to Regina Jan. 26, before continuing east to Manitoba.

At the conclusion of Mass, priests venerated the sacred relics. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Related: Indigenous missionary’s legacy highlighted during relic visit – LINK
Related: Canadian Martyrs Shrine TOUR
Photo gallery
-30-
Kiply Lukan Yaworski is the communications coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon – rcdos.ca
Diocesan Communications and Catholic Saskatoon News are supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal: dscf.ca/baa.