SASKATOON, Sask. (CCN) — On Christ the King Sunday Nov. 23 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon, Bishop Mark Hagemoen presided at Mass to mark World Youth Day in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.
Each year on Christ the King Sunday, dioceses around the world unite in prayer and celebration—connected spiritually to millions of youth and young adults journeying in faith across the globe. This year’s theme was “You also are my witnesses, because you have been with me.” (Jn 15:27)
Young adult missionary shares testimony
Before Mass, student Marie Levesque of Catholic Christian Outreach (CC) shared testimony about the impact of attending the Jubilee of Youth in Rome with CCO this summer as part of a mission project.
“Being in Rome for the Jubilee of Hope was an absolute blessing. There were so many ways that God worked in my heart during that time, and two of the big ways were through encountering the saints and through encountering Christ in learning about Ignatian discernment of spirits associated with prayer.”
Levesque was part of the CCO team that hosted the “Blessed Carlo Acutis Centre” at a church in Rome during the Jubilee of Youth July 29-31, 2025, which included the opportunity for pilgrims to venerate a first-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis, who was canonized by Pope Leo in September.
Bishop’s homily
In his homily, Bishop Mark Hagemoen reflected on how World Youth Day is marked on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.
“When we celebrate Christ the King who is like no other king, we are quickly confronted with how we are called to share his kingship” through our baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and king, noted the bishop, “so that we may live as members of his Body, sharing his life”.
He then turned to Pope Leo’s message for World Youth Day as an example of what this kingship means for young missionary disciples, quoting the Holy Father: “dear young people, with the help of the Holy Spirit, you can become missionaries of Christ in the world.”
Pope Leo continues: “Many of your peers are exposed to violence, forced to use weapons, separated from their loved ones, and compelled to migrate or flee. Many lack education and other essential goods. All share with you the search for meaning and the insecurity that accompanies it, the discomfort of growing social and work pressures, the difficulty of dealing with family crises, the painful feeling of a lack of opportunities, as well as the remorse for mistakes they have made. You can stand alongside other young people, walk with them and show that God, in Jesus, has drawn close to each person.”
