By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News
As part of their ongoing ecumenical covenant, members of Saskatoon’s Holy Spirit Catholic and McClure United Churches came together Nov. 26, 2025 for an ecumenical Pre-Advent Worship Service.
Hosted at McClure United Church, the service was “a moment of unity, prayer, and hope as we prepared our hearts for the coming of Christ,” said Astrid Alas, Adult Faith Coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, who serves on the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission that is chaired by Fr. Joseph Salihu, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish.
Advent hymns were part of an ecumenical service held Nov. 26 at McClure United Church in Saskatoon, celebrated with ecumenical covenant partner Holy Spirit Catholic Parish. A number of other ecumenical events will be held in the weeks ahead. (Photo by Astrid Alas)
Fr. Joseph Salihu, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish, and chair of the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, at the recent servicee held at McClure United Church. (Photo by Astrid Alas)
Four Advent themes of hope (Isaiah 40:3-5), peace (Isaiah 9:6-7), joy (Luke 2:8-14), and love (John 15:9-12) were proclaimed through scripture, prayer and song and the lighting of four candles on an advent wreath.
“It was a beautiful prayer service followed by refreshments and social.,” said Alas. “We pray that this season draws all of us deeper into peace, fellowship, and joyful anticipation.”
(Photo by Astrid Alas)
(Photo by Astrid Alas)
(Photo by Astrid Alas)
Weekly ecumenical prayers online in Advent
Another ecumenical undertaking in Advent has also been launched by the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism: a series of prayer services offered online via Zoom, led each week by a different local Christian leader representing various denominations. starting at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Dec. 2, Dec. 9, and Dec. 16. (For more information and registration, see: pcecumenism.ca/news-events.)
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January
Further to the upcoming Week of Prayer for Christian Unity early in the New Year (Jan. 18-25) free resources are now available, focused on the 2026 theme: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Eph 4: 4).
A Canadian Week of Prayer for Christian Unity website at www.weekofprayer.ca is a joint project of the Canadian Council of Churches, the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism in Saskatoon, and the Centre canadien d’oecuménisme in Montreal. Resources for this year’s week of prayer are available at: LINK.
De Margerie Series for Christian Reconciliation and Unity
In Saskatchewan, the week of prayer will again include the De Margerie Series for Christian Reconciliation and Unity from Jan. 21 to 24, with sessions in both Regina and Saskatoon.
The series, named in honour of the late Fr. Bernard De Margerie who co-founded the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism (PCE), is presented by the PCE in partnership with St. Thomas More College in Saskatoon, Campion College in Regina, and the Catholic dioceses of Saskatoon and Regina.
The series guest speaker this year will be Dr. Jeremy Bergen, who will offer a two-lecture series titled “Christian Martyrdom and the Unity of the Church” as well as morning workshops in both Saskatoon and Regina.
Bergen is Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Theological Studies at Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo. He has written on church apologies, martyrdom, ecclesiology, ecumenism, the Holy Spirit, and Mennonite theology, and is currently completing a book on Christian martyrdom and the unity of the church for Baylor University Press.
The 2026 De Margerie Series includes:
- De Margerie Lecture 1 in Regina: “The Ecumenism of Blood: Solidarity in Trying Times” will examine the basic claim that a history of martyrdom serves as a resource for ecumenism. By exploring the stories and legacies of some particular martyrs, we can see how unity and solidarity might be expressed, but also the challenges and tensions – Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 7:00 pm at Campion College, 3825 Lee Gren Avenue, Regina and live-streamed at: https://www.youtube.com/@stm1936/streams.
- De Margerie Lecture 2 in Saskatoon: “Christians Killing Christians: Reconciling Violent Pasts and Conflicting Martyrdoms” will look at one major barrier — the history of Christians killing Christians. During the Reformation, the execution of fellow Christians was justified on theological grounds, and some of those killed are honoured as martyrs by some churches. How do we reckon with this history in ways that do justice to the past, and promote reconciliation and unity in the future – Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7:00 pm at St. Thomas More College, 1437 College Drive, Saskatoon and live-streamed at: .https://www.youtube.com/@stm1936/streams.
- De Margerie Series Public Workshop “Church Apologies, Rites and Wrongs” will be presented in-person only on Friday, Jan. 23 from 9:30 am. To 11:30 a.m. at Wildwood Mennonite Church, 1502 Acadia Drive, Saskatoon. The workshop will also be presented in-person only Saturday, Jan. 24 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Regina.
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Kiply Lukan Yaworski is the communications coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: rcdos.ca.
Ecumenism, Communications and Catholic Saskatoon News are supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal: dscf.ca/baa.