Catholic colleges must engage with, confront difficult issues of our time: Bishop Hagemoen

The beginning of the academic year finds us in a frightened and fragmented world, said the Most Rev. Mark Hagemoen, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. These remarks set the context for his homily during the 2025 Academic Mass held at St. Thomas More College on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

Reflecting on the scriptural readings, he proceeded to trace the unique role of Catholic colleges and universities in responding to multiple crises in our world.

Each year, all facets of the STM community, and their community partners, come together in the Chapel. They implore the Holy Spirit to guide them in their mission to educate the diverse community of students that come through their doors.

Much has happened in the world lately, and higher education is called to a higher task in these times, said Bishop Hagemoen. “Many feel much is unravelling. Not to sound too sensational, when we are supposed to begin on a positive note at the beginning of the year.”

He said there is a desire to latch onto some sense of stability, which seems to be increasingly evading us. “All of this, of course, in the midst of terrible wars.”

Bishop Hagemoen said the task for Catholic institutions of higher education is to stand firmly in the difficult place between growing polarization, anger, and hate on the one hand, and isolating and suffocating indifference on the other.

“Both are highly problematic. How does St. Thomas More College fulfill all that academic excellence demands, and in doing so be a light of truth and real social and community progress?”

He suggested the answer lies in firmly choosing a third way.

“As a Catholic higher learning institution, we take our inspiration from Christ himself. In the words of our Gospel, Jesus confronts, not withdraws, from the difficult issues of our time. He engages.”

“He is the Good Shepherd who leaves the safe 99 sheep in the wilderness to seek the one sheep who is lost.”

“It seems to me that the task confronting us all is to join with Him in confronting all that prevents human flourishing of individuals and communities and this is, I know, an important and daunting task.”

But, he added: “the Spirit is with us. Always.”

On that note of hopeful realism, the annual liturgy continued with Dr. Carl Still, President of STM College, leading all assembled in a re-affirmation of St. Thomas More College’s mission.

Celebrating the Mass with Bishop Hagemoen were Most Rev. Michael Smolinski, C.Ss.R, Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon, as well as Fr. Andre Lalach, Fr. Ron Griffin, CSB, and Fr. Daniel Yasinski.

Deacon Harry Lafond also led the community in a grounding moment centered on the theme of the doors, connecting the Teepee teachings related to the doorway and the importance of the Holy Doors in this Year of Jubilee.

After the mass ended, attendees were invited to a reception in the STM Cafeteria, and the start of the academic year was celebrated with food, laughter, friendship, and a renewed resolve to make a fraught and fragile world a better place for all.