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That We May Walk Together
Pastoral Letters from Pope Francis - February 8, 2023-
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Indigenous Reconciliation Fund: A Catholic Commitment
to Healing and ReconciliationOfficial site: https://www.irfund.ca
Donate nowThe Indigenous Reconciliation Fund has raised $8,447,581.87 to date, putting the fund on schedule to exceed its five-year $30 million commitment.
Join Canada’s Bishops in supporting a more hopeful future for Indigenous Peoples of the land.
Contribute
Apply for funding
The goal of the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund is for local dioceses to identify the priority, meaningful reconciliation work as determined by local Indigenous groups and organizations. To that end, project leads seeking funding are encouraged to reach out to the Catholic diocese or Regional Reconciliation Committee in their area.For questions about the most appropriate diocese or Regional Reconciliation Committee, please reach out to [email protected].
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CCCB Statement: Delegation to the Holy See
Canada's Catholic Bishops Welcome Pope Francis' Apology to Indigenous Peoples
Canadian Bishops and Indigenous Delegates
Depart on Historic Trip to the Holy SeeThe CCCB is sponsoring a delegation of a diverse group of Elders/Knowledge Keepers, residential school survivors and youth from across the country to undertake a pastoral visit to the Holy See this fall. More information about the purpose and goals of this important initiative can be found here.
Following the 10 June 2021 announcement regarding the delegation of Indigenous people to meet with the Holy Father to foster meaningful encounters of dialogue and healing, the Catholic Bishops of Canada are pleased to announce that the delegation is scheduled to take place from 17-20 December 2021 in compliance with global travel restrictions.
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Key Messages and Reactive Q&As (27 October 2021)
Canadian Bishops Announce $30M National Financial Pledge
to Support Healing and Reconciliation Initiatives
Statement of Apology by the Catholic Bishops of Canada
to the Indigenous Peoples of This Land - (French ver.)The Catholic Bishops of Canada, gathered in Plenary this week, took the opportunity to affirm and acknowledge to the Indigenous Peoples the suffering experienced in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools. Many Catholic religious communities and dioceses participated in this system, which led to the suppression of Indigenous languages, culture and spirituality, failing to respect the rich history, traditions and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples. They acknowledged the grave abuses that were committed by some members of our Catholic community; physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and sexual. They also sorrowfully acknowledged the historical and ongoing trauma and the legacy of suffering and challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples that continue to this day. Along with those Catholic entities which were directly involved in the operation of the schools and which have already offered their own heartfelt apologies, the Catholic Bishops of Canada expressed their profound remorse and apologized unequivocally.
Together with the many pastoral initiatives already underway in dioceses across the country, the Bishops pledged to undertake fundraising in each region of the country to support initiatives discerned locally with Indigenous partners. Furthermore, they invited the Indigenous Peoples to journey with us into a new era of reconciliation, helping us to prioritize initiatives of healing, to listen to the experience of Indigenous Peoples, especially to the survivors of Indian Residential Schools, and to educate our clergy, consecrated men and women, and lay faithful, on Indigenous cultures and spirituality. They further committed to continue the work of providing documentation or records that will assist in the memorialization of those buried in unmarked graves.
A delegation of Indigenous survivors, Elders/knowledge keepers, and youth will meet with the Holy Father in December 2021. Pope Francis will encounter and listen to the Indigenous Peoples, so as to discern how he can support our common desire to renew relationships and walk together along the path of hope in the coming years. The Bishops of Canada have pledged to work with the Holy See and our Indigenous partners on the possibility of a pastoral visit by the Pope to Canada as part of this healing journey.
We are committed to continue the journey with the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples of this land. For more information, please contact the diocese or visit www.cccb.ca.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) have been engaged in joint initiatives through the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council (CCIC) since 1998 to work with Indigenous Peoples toward reconciliation and healing. The Council is comprised of Bishops from across the country and many Indigenous Catholics. The role of the Council is to provide advice to the CCCB on how to further relationships and healing with Indigenous Peoples across the land. To learn more about the many initiatives of the CCIC.
Statement from the Executive Committee of the CCCB regarding the Corporation for the Catholic Entities Party to the Indian Residential School Settlement
Canadian Bishops & Catholic Organizations Apologies and Statements
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Since my consecration as a bishop in 2007, it has been an honour for me to be invited to listen and learn about the experience of those who have had been forced to attend residential and day schools as well as those affected by inter-generational trauma. I was deeply moved by what I heard and by the courage of those who spoke to me of traumatic experiences in their lives. This courage has also been evident in the work of many Indigenous leaders, especially those involved in the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council. In the past 14 years, I have had the privilege to know many bishops from across the country for whom a significant portion of their episcopal ministry involves continuing the journey of understanding and reconciliation.
In these past weeks, following the reporting of extensive cemeteries at the sites of former residential schools, many wounds have been re-opened and a fresh examination of conscience is called forth from Catholics across the country, so that, our resolve might be strengthened as we continue the journey of understanding and reconciliation with our beloved Indigenous brothers and sisters. We are all called to listen, learn and imitate Christ in our thoughts, actions and words so that reconciliation, healing and hope may dispel the darkness of grief. I continue to educate myself about the complicated relationship between the Catholic Church and the Indigenous peoples of Canada.
I ask for your prayers for the ongoing work of reconciliation, and, for the healing of all who are suffering. The priests of the Archdiocese of Kingston have been offering Masses for the children who died, their families and all who have been harmed by the legacy of residential schools. I pray that this [web page dedicated to Indigenous People] may be of assistance for you and for me, that we may come to a greater understanding of this important issue and commit ourselves to the imitation of Christ in walking with our Indigenous brothers and sisters toward reconciliation and healing.
+Michael Mulhall
Archbishop of Kingston
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Archdiocese of TorontoStatement from Cardinal Thomas and Frequently Asked Questions
Catholic Register:
Articles on Indigenous Reconciliation
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Prayer for Tolerance, Forgiveness, Reconciliation
O God, Creator and Father of all,
with humility we your children acknowledge the relationship of all living things.
For this we thank you, we praise you and we worship you.
We call on you, Great Mystery, the Word made Flesh
— our teacher, prophet and brother —
to open our hearts to all our brothers and sisters,
and with them to grow in the wisdom, honesty, courage
and respectfulness shown in The Sacred Teachings.
Give us the vision and honesty to recognize
that the we are all brothers and sisters of one human family,
created and sustained by the One Creator.
As we deal with many challenges, may we never give way to fear and anger,
which can be the source of division and threat amongst peoples.
We look to how God always gives to us,
as a remedy for sins of prejudice and intolerance.
We see in God the Creator of all things,
One who always provides and is generous
— even given the abuses we have heaped on one another and on the Earth.
We see in the Son, Jesus Christ
— the innocent Victim who pours His life blood out from the Cross for all peoples.
We see how the Holy Spirit is God’s gift,
alive in our world today —
inspiring vision and hope that we can have
the same mind and heart of God!
May Your Spirit bless the souls
who died at the Kamloops residential school
and all souls who died at residential schools.
May this same Spirit also bring blessing and healing
to all families and communities affected in any way by the schools.
O Creator, show us the way to healing,
forgiveness and reconciliation and a renewed fellowship.
Amen
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