We are called by God to make a difference, bishop tells youth at Search retreat

By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News

At a closing Mass for the Search youth retreat Nov. 9, Bishop Mark Hagemoen affirmed participants in their baptismal call to be missionary disciples.

“I hope this weekend has been a journey to allow God to dwell in you in a bigger and broader way,” Hagemoen said, reflecting on scriptures for the Feast of the Lateran Basilica.

“As wonderful and beautiful and massive as this great basilica in Rome is, what we hear from the Word of God, is that in all its splendour and wonder, it is nothing compared to the temple that God sees in each of you,” he said

“You are young yet, but you are growing … it is exciting to have new young men and women who are called by God to make a meaningful difference with their lives in the world.”

Fr. Gregory Hrynkiw of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon — who spent time at the Search retreat Nov. 9-11 along with Fr. Gregory Roth of Saint Anne Catholic Parish — also spoke at the closing Mass, echoing St. John Paul II’s words from his 1984 visit to Winnipeg: “Resist the wind — but do not resist the Spirit!”

“We are immersed in the Trinity, in that water that flows from the temple … the living water flowing from the temple, the throne of the Lamb… it becomes fruitful, but it also becomes the healing of all nations. That’s your goal just to be a receptacle of that Living Water, to let it flow through you,” Hrynkiw said.

Youth in grades 10-12 who participated in the weekend retreat were sent forth in a ceremony in which they received a lit candle as a symbol of the Light of Christ, and were presented with a cross by a representative of all those who prayed, mentored, and served them through the many hours of the weekend retreat.

The Search retreat weekend for Grades 10-12 is offered twice a year in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, supported by a large team of volunteers and former “Searchers”– as well as by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal.

The retreat is described as a “Search for Christian maturity” focused on the saving love of God, deepening a relationship with Jesus Christ, and offering inspiration and challenge for continuing the journey once the retreat itself is over. The Search weekend is highlighted by peer-based ministry, with “talks given by young adults for young adults.”

The next Search retreat for Grades 10-12 youth will be held in February. Find more information at: saskatoonsearch.ca

Photos

Search participants — past and present — along with Search leaders and organizers gathered for a large group photo at the end of Mass. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

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

Search, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Communications and Catholic Saskatoon News are supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal: dscf.ca/baa.