GSCS staff celebrates new school year with Mass and program at cathedral

This story is written by Kiply Lukan Yaworski and was originally published by Catholic Saskatoon News, the news portal of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. It is re-published here with permission.

Joyful songs rang out Aug. 30 as Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools (GSCS) teachers, staff members, administrators, and trustees gathered for celebration of the Eucharist and a program of reflection and inspiration to launch another academic year.

Some 2,000-plus participants filled the worship space and the overflow area at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon for Mass, a program, and a keynote address by singer, composer, storyteller, and psalmist ValLimar Jansen, who had the whole assembly on their feet, singing along during her presentation.

A tipi was once again set up on the cathedral grounds for an early-morning pipe ceremony before the start of the day. Learning & Student Services Coordinators Cari Anning and Rosalie Roesch were MCs for the Opening Celebration, using some of their classroom techniques to engage the crowd. T.J. Warren of the GSCS Treaty, First Nations and Métis Education team also came forward to offer a drum song.

Celebration of the Eucharist

“Salt of the Earth, Light of the World,” taken from Matthew 5:13-16 was the theme for the opening of the 2024-25 school year. It was also the Gospel proclaimed at Mass by Deacon Paul Labelle of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Saskatoon.

Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon and Vicar-General Fr. Ivan Nahachewsky of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon (representing eparchial Bishop Michael Smolinski, who was unable to attend) presided at the celebration of the Eucharist, and led a “renewal of commitment” by members of the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools family. They were joined for the celebration of Mass by other priests from across the diocese and eparchy of Saskatoon.

In his homily, the bishop noted that the 2024-25 school year will include the start of a Jubilee Year declared by Pope Francis for 2025, marking the 60th anniversary of the closing of Vatican II, the fruits of which are still unfolding in the Church.

Hagemoen referenced the theme of “Salt of the Earth, Light of the World,” and reflected on the ongoing challenge of continuing the two imperatives of the Second Vatican Council: “Ressourcement” (going back to the sources — including sacred scripture and the foundational teachings of the Church)  and “Aggiornamento” (finding new ways to proclaim the Gospel in today’s world), which he summarized as “looking back for the sake of moving forward.”

The bishop also pointed to the discernment process of fifth-century theologian St. Vincent Leriens regarding the authentic advance of doctrine, versus a reversal or change of the teachings of Christ and the Church. It is an ongoing challenge for everyone in the Church, including teachers who must grapple with a range of issues, he said.

Hagemoen noted that the theme of Jubilee 2025 is Pilgrims of Hope. “You mediate meaning and hope in a very powerful way for young people,” he told the assembly. “Let us look for that hope and be that hope in the world.”

Readings during Mass were proclaimed in Ukrainian, French, and English, with Prayers of the Faithful also presented by representatives of a number of schools in a range of languages: English, Chaldean, Ukrainian, Nẽyihaw, American Sign Language, French, and Michif.

Opening Celebration – program

During the program after Mass, GSCS Board of Education Chair Diane Boyko introduced fellow trustees Ron Boechler, Hudson Byblow, Dana Case, Bonita Elliott, Tim Jelinski, Wayne Stus, and Sharon Zakreski-Werbicki. She also reflected on the role and meaning of Catholic education.

“We recognize our duty to bring Christ to others, we are also called to be Christ to others,” she said. “Our motivation is different. Our ‘why’ is different. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19) and we want that love to last for all eternity in heaven, not just for our time on earth.”

She noted that in the call to be “light to the world,” Christians are to have Jesus as their primary light source, reflecting Christ’s light to others, as the moon reflects the light of the sun.

“You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. On behalf of all the school board, have a wonderful school year, and may the Creator God bless all of you. Happy New Year!”

Director of Education François Rivard introduced the GSCS administration team, and reflected on “hope, being the light, and unity” in the mission of Catholic schools.

He described the administration goal to be present in GSCS schools and classrooms in order to experience something of their every-day challenges and successes. “These visits create hope for me,” he said.

“As I visited our schools, it became abundantly clear that our staff members create the hope – or the light – for our students.”

In spite of huge challenges on many fronts, hope can be found in the people of GSCS, no matter what their roles or their titles, he said. “The hope that emanates from our schools is counter-cultural.”

He then offered a litany of some of the “amazing works of hope” he has encountered in visits to schools over the past year, including hope in service, in reconciliation, in prayer, in compassion, and in faith.

Hope also inspires a sense of unity “in a shared belief and the promise of salvation,” Rivard said.

“I am reminded that it takes us all to do the work that we do, none of us is more important than the other, and none of us got here in life without someone else.” He then asked all those present to immediately send a message of thanks to someone who has provided them with support.

“As we embark on another academic year, with our faith as our rock, may we be united in a plan that is greater than any of our personal plans. May our work at GSCS continue to be a beacon of hope, a light for each other, for our families, and our schools,” Rivard concluded.

Laurie Karwacki, chair of the GSCS Foundation, spoke about huge challenges faced in education and in continuing the Foundation’s mission to provide funding and support for initiatives leading to educational excellence, spiritual growth and enhanced learning opportunities for students and staff.

She described the sorrow of not being able to fund all the rosary clubs in Catholic schools last year. “We need a ‘home run’ to boost us higher… quitting is not an option,” she said, before introducing John McGettigan, who has joined the GSCS Foundation team.

McGettigan asked all those assembled to share their ideas, and to assist in building connections and raising awareness about the work of the Foundation to support Catholic schools. “The need is deeper than it ever has been before,” he said.

GSCS “Together in Faith and Action” sub-committee member Curtis Wagner also spoke during the program, introducing The Search video series as a resource available to enrich and support staff in their faith formation.

The address of keynote speaker ValLimar Jansen included inspirational words and joyful singing by the “primary choir” of the entire assembly, with her husband Frank on piano. It was a follow-up to a 2017 visit to the GSCS Opening Celebration, when she waived her fee given funding constraints facing the school division.

With 50 schools and over 22,000 students, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools (GSCS) is Saskatchewan’s largest Catholic school division, providing Catholic education from pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 in Saskatoon and area, as well as in Biggar, Humboldt, Martensville and Warman, SK.