Vicar general named Prelate of Honour

Archbishop Raymond Roussin, SM, returned to his diocese from his ad limina visit to Rome and the plenary assembly of the Canadian bishops with an announcement of good news from Pope Benedict XVI.

“The Holy Father has bestowed the title of Prelate of Honour on Father Mark Hagemoen in recognition of his generous service and of the important office he holds in our archdiocese,” he wrote in a message to the priests of the archdiocese.

Father Hagemoen was named vicar general of the archdiocese and a member of the College of Consultors in July 2004. He had sole responsibility for the position of vicar general until Msgr. Stephen Jensen was appointed to join him in that role in November 2005.

Msgr. Mark Hagemoen

“I want to express my deep gratitude to Msgr. Hagemoen for the energy, dedication, and charity with which he has assisted me, his brother priests, and all the faithful. He is very worthy of this honour, and I am most grateful to the Holy Father for granting it,” Archbishop Roussin wrote.

He also thanked Msgr. Jensen, former Chancellor Father Mark Schwab, interim Chancellor Father Bruce McAllister, and Vice-Chancellor Barbara Dowding for their “indispensable assistance” during his absence in Rome and the bishops’ meeting.

Msgr. Hagemoen, born in Vancouver in 1961, was ordained a priest in 1990. He served as an assistant pastor at St. Mary’s Parish in Chilliwack and St. Stephen’s in North Vancouver before being named director of the Office of Youth Ministry in 1994.

He was appointed pastor of St. Nicholas Parish in Langley in 1999, where he served until his appointment as vicar general in 2004. He was then named pastor of St. John the Apostle Parish in Vancouver, a position he still holds. He has served on many boards, commissions, and committees with the archdiocese.

Msgr. Hagemoen’s new honour is expected to be formally conferred in the near future.