Truth and Reconciliation
Current events/programs
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Saturday, September 30, 2023
A Commemoration Gathering (funeral and memorial) is being hosted by the Stó꞉lō Nation on the weekend of Sept 30. All Indigenous groups throughout BC have been invited. It is a closed event.
Let’s pray for those who are attending as they grieve.
Our thoughts for continued healing will be greatly appreciated.
Prayer to St. Kateri Tekakwitha:
“Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, our elder sister in the Lord, discreetly, you watch over us; May your love for Jesus and Mary inspire in us words and deeds of friendship, of forgiveness, and of reconciliation. Pray that God will give us the courage, the boldness,
and the strength to build a world of justice and peace among ourselves and among all nations.
Help us, as you did, to encounter the Creator God, present in the very depths of nature, and so become witnesses of Life.
With you, we praise the Father, the Son and the Spirit. Amen. Holy founders of the Church in North America. Pray for us.”
Kateri Tekakwitha is the first Native American to be declared a Saint.
She is the patroness of the environment and ecology, as is St. Francis of Assisi.
KAIROS Blanket Exercise at St. Augustine’s Parish
St. Augustine’s parish is hosting a KAIROS Blanket Exercise on Saturday, September 30 (National Day for Truth & Reconciliation)
From 1:00- 4:00pm at St. Augustine School’s gym. This interactive workshop offers participants an opportunity to learn about colonization and its legacy in Canada from the Indigenous perspective, and discern a path forward towards healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Sign up is required.
To register, please visit: https://staugustineschurch.ca/events/kairos-blanket-exercise
For more info, visit https://staugustineschurch.ca/openingourhearts
Listening to Indigenous Voices reflection group continues
Meetings are on:
selected Sundays, 11:00am-12:30pm in Room 300 (college building)
If you are interested in attending, please contact the Parish to register.
You can also access all materials for free at www.ltiv.ca.
Articles
Watch the lecture here:
Papal Visit 2022: The Catholic Church and the Four Steps of Reconciliation February 29, 2024
Dr. Niigaan Sinclair
Professor, University of Manitoba.
National Commentator on Indigenous Issues
Pope Francis’ historic visit in July of 2022 to apologize for the church’s role in residential schools and answer the Truth and Reconciliation calls to action was rich in symbols, stories, and steps. Every night of the visit, Dr. Niigaan Sinclair was a voice on national and international media documenting the visit and the four steps the Pope modeled to evoke reconciliation in the Catholic church in Canada.
Explore this documentary:
Walking Together is a Salt + Light Media original documentary about Canada’s residential schools, the ongoing process of reconciliation which led to Pope Francis’ apology in 2022, and the long road ahead for healing and reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Indigenous Peoples of Canada.
Sept 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
As Canadians honour and celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, we pray for our First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people.
May their unique heritage be better understood, their diverse cultures more deeply appreciated, and may their outstanding contributions continue to enrich our lives as we seek to grow together in greater harmony.
process of reconciliation which led to Pope Francis’ apology in 2022, and the long road ahead for healing
Pope Francis expresses “deep shame and sorrow” for harm done to residential school survivors
Pope’s apology advances path to healing: former AFN chief
“Phil Fontaine, a residential school survivor and former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, speaks with Adrienne Arsenault about what Pope Francis’s apology to Indigenous people means to him, and why he thinks it charts a path forward for healing.”
Pope Francis Visit to Canada
July 24 — July 29, 2022 Walking Together Towards Healing & Reconciliation
The Pope’s pastoral visit will provide a unique opportunity for him, once again, to listen and dialogue with Indigenous Peoples, to express his heartfelt closeness and to address the impact of colonization and the participation of the Catholic Church in the operation of residential schools throughout Canada.
The papal visit will also provide an opportunity for the shepherd of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics to connect with the Catholic community in Canada. We invite you to join us as we reflect, pray and prepare to welcome the Holy Father for these special days among us.
Click here to view schedule for Pope Francis’ visit
There will be extensive coverage on television networks across the country for the Pope's visit.
Salt & Light Catholic Media Foundation has a dedicated site for information & broadcast details for the papal visit – https://slmedia.org/popeincanada (English) or https://slmedia.org/fr/papeaucanada (French). The network will air all public events.
Livestream links – www.papalvisit.ca will provide links to a number of livestreams
for papal events, broadcast in more than 10 languages, including many Indigenous languages, as well as sign languages. Visitors will also be able to access feeds from Vatican TV that include commentary in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and German.
Novalis has produced a digital resource for all the liturgies presided by Pope Francis, prayers as well as reflections on the significance of the Papal Visit. Get a free exclusive digital edition of Living with Christ to commemorate the Papal visit. To download the resource, visit livingwithchrist.ca
Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe
“Who is this that comes forth like the dawn, as beautiful as the moon, as resplendent as the sun…?” Song 6:10 (Vg)
O Blessed Virgin, Our Lady of Guadalupe Intercede for us with your Son
That we who live in this land, Indigenous and non-Indigenous together may experience healing and reconciliation,
on a renewed journey for justice and peace for our children.
Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle is a Catholic coalition of Indigenous people, bishops, clergy, lay movements and institutes of consecrated life, engaged in renewing and fostering relationships between the Catholic Church and Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
Pope’s Penitential Pilgrimage to Canada to reconcile and heal
Pope Francis is set to fly to Canada on Sunday for his 37th Apostolic Visit abroad. He’ll be travelling to the Canadian cities of Edmonton, Quebec, and Iqaluit, where the Holy Father will bring his closeness to indigenous peoples who suffered from attempts to erase their culture, especially in the residential schools system….
Bishop of Edmonton looks ahead to Pope's penitential pilgrimage
An overview of the Church in Canada
Into the Deep: Truth and Reconciliation
On May 27, James Borkowski, Archbishop’s Delegate for Operations provided a presentation regarding the work of reconciliation between Catholics and Indigenous people.
He challenged us to learn more about the history of Residential Schools and the deep flaws within the system. With this new understanding, we can grow in compassion and appreciate the sacrifices made by early Missionaries.
<– View the presentation here
Pope Francis apologizes to Canada's Indigenous Peoples
Watch this video as Pope Francis met with Canadian Indigenous delegations on Friday, April 1, 2022.
More Recent Articles
Download Document here…
2022 Justice Generation Student Conference:
What Are We To Do?
***POSTPONED (See note below from the organizers)***
Dear Participant in the Justice Generation Conference,
We hope this email finds you well.
We regret to inform you that due to unforeseen circumstances, we have made the difficult decision to alter the format of the Justice Generation conference this year. Rather than have a gathered event, the presentations by each of the speakers will be recorded. These recordings, along with a suggested format and questions, will be made available to campuses across the country free of charge so that each campus will have the opportunity to offer live, in-person, listening sessions on their own campuses and communities. The hope is that each campus ministry will be able to create meaningful dialogue and response, tailored to their community’s needs.
We are sorry for the short notice; however we believe this will prove to be an enriching experience for all. The presentation, format and questions will be available at the end of July – in time for the fall semester 2022.
You will be contacted about reimbursement shortly for your payment. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions and concerns.
In peace,
The Justice Generation Committee
“Who is this that comes forth like the dawn, as beautiful as the moon, as resplendent as the sun…?” Song of Song 6:10
Prayer for Healing and Reconciliation
O Blessed Virgin, Our Lady of Guadalupe
Intercede for us with your Son
That we who live in this land,
Indigenous and non-Indigenous together
may experience healing and reconciliation,
on a renewed journey for justice
and peace for our children.
Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle is a Catholic coalition of Indigenous people, bishops,clergy, lay movements and institutes ofconsecrated life, engaged in renewingand fostering relationships between the Catholic Church and Indigenous Peoplesin Canada.
INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS: A New Awakening in Canadian Consciousness
Photo courtesy of Google Earth
After Kamloops, the Flood
“As Canada and the Catholic Church face a crisis of conscience over the history of residential schools and their corrosive legacy, various questions arise that must be addressed.”
Listen to the lecture by Dr. Michael W. Higgins, held on Oct 1, 2021, St. Mark’s College.
Call to Action for Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
Thursday September 30th: 9:30am-1:15pm PST
During the academic year, the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the U.S. will host a learning series on the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the Jesuits in North America. Over four sessions, Unpacking Histories: Reflecting on the relations of Indigenous Peoples and Jesuits in what we currently call the U.S. and Canada will feature Indigenous and Jesuit voices as we reflect on the history between Jesuits and Indigenous Peoples. To read more, share or register, click here.
BC Bishops' Campaign in Support of Healing & Reconciliation
The Catholic Bishops of British Columbia recognize the need for a province-wide initiative to raise funds to support healing & reconciliation between Indigenous & non-Indigenous people in our Province.
This appeal is launching formally this September.
100% of contributions made for this Campaign will be allocated for these projects. It is our hope that this Campaign will help to restore trust & further the ongoing journey to truth and reconciliation. For more information and the link to donate please visit https://support.rcav.org/archdiocese/archbishops-priorities/bc-bishops-appeal/.
The Archdiocesan-wide Second Collection was held on September 12, but the donations are still being accepted.
Archdiocesan-wide Second Collection - September 12
In this homily, Father Cristino Bouvette says the enduring faith of his Indigenous grandmother shows the real peace of Christ heals even the torments of residential schools.
RESUMING DEBATE PODCAST
Episode 6: Residential Schools, Reconciliation, and Indigenous-Catholic Relations
This episode features three guests; Graydon Nicholas, Maria Lucas, and former Liberal MP, Robert Falcon-Ouellette.
Graydon Nicholas is the former Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick and the first Indigenous person to hold that role. He has had many prominent roles before and since, including President of the Union of New Brunswick Indians and chair of the Native Studies program at St. Thomas University. Graydon is also a practising Catholic and serves on the board of the Knights of Columbus.
Maria Lucas is a Black-Métis woman whose heritage inspired her to study Indigenous-Crown relations in a historical and political context in her undergraduate degree, which she completed at the University of Toronto.
Former Liberal MP, Robert Falcon-Ouellette served in the Canadian Forces for over 20 years before entering into politics.
Listen to the podcast here:
“Each week, beginning on Sunday, 21 November 2021, the Solemnity of Christ the King, the CCCB will release a video recording of a Bishop in Canada reflecting on the Gospel Reading for each Sunday of Advent. This year’s reflections were developed in view of the Indigenous Delegation which will be travelling to Rome to meet with Pope Francis from December 17 to 20, 2021.”.
Expression of Commitment from the Archdiocese of Vancouver (June 2, 2021)
Dear First Nations governments and all Indigenous communities, families and citizens:
In light of the heartbreaking disclosure of the remains of 215 children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, I am writing to express my deep apology and profound condolences to the families and communities that have been devastated by this horrific news. Each time new evidence of a tragedy is revealed, or another victim comes forward, countless wounds are reopened, and I know that you experience renewed suffering.
I take this opportunity to reflect upon the apology I gave publicly before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2013, words to which I remain committed and accountable: “I wish to apologize sincerely and profoundly to the survivors and their families, as well as to all those subsequently affected, for the anguish caused by the deplorable conduct of those Catholics who perpetrated mistreatment of any kind in these residential schools.”
The Church was unquestionably wrong in implementing a government colonialist policy which resulted in devastation for children, families and communities. If words of apology for such unspeakable deeds are to bring life and healing, they must be accompanied by tangible actions that foster the full disclosure of the truth.
Truth comes before reconciliation.
On behalf of the people of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, I commit to the following first steps in support of the Nations, families and communities impacted by the recent heartrending disclosure:
1. We will be fully transparent with our archives and records regarding all residential schools, and strongly urge all other Catholic and government organizations to do the same. Our records regarding the Kamloops Indian Residential School (Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc) were provided to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and will remain available for review.
2. We will offer and support mental health support and counselling for family members and others whose loved ones may be buried on the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
3. We will offer to assist with technological and professional support to help the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and other affected Nations in whatever way they choose to honour, retrieve and remember their deceased children.
4. We commit to supporting the same process and resources to all Nations in whose territories Catholic-run residential schools were forcibly located, and which fall within the historical boundaries of the Archdiocese of Vancouver.
5. We will renew our efforts to listen to Indigenous Peoples to hear from you how we can best walk with you along the path of justice.
We recognize that so much work remains to be done, yet we hope that, if we persevere in these commitments with humility, we can restore the trust among us that will bring healing.
Sincerely yours,
J. Michael Miller, CSB
Archbishop of Vancouver
Read statements from:
Fr. Erik Oland, SJ, Jesuit Provincial (Jesuits of Canada).
Archbishop Michael Miller (Archdiocese of Vancouver)
Bishop Gary Gordon (Diocese of Victoria)
Richard Gagnon (Bishop of the Diocese of Winnepeg and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops)