The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops at its September 2021 Plenary meeting announced a nation-wide collective financial commitment in the amount of thirty million dollars to support healing and reconciliation initiatives for residential school survivors, their families, and their communities. The Truth and Reconciliation Fund serves as a tangible expression of the commitment to engage in truth, reconciliation, and healing with Indigenous Peoples and to address the trauma Indigenous Peoples experienced and continue to experience to this day due to the Residential Schools Policy.
Each Diocese across Canada has pledged a sum of money to ensure that the national financial commitment will be met. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough has agreed to pledge the sum of $400,000 and our own parish, St. Peter the Apostle Church, is happy to support this endeavour for healing.
* If you’re contributing to the fund: be sure to choose ‘Indigenous Reconciliation Fund’
On April 1st, after days of listening to the stories and situations of indigenous peoples of Canada, Pope Francis offered an official apology for the involvement of the Catholic Church in the residential school system. He also affirmed his commitment to make a visit to Canada in the near future.
I feel shame – sorrow and shame – for the role that a number of Catholics, particularly those with educational responsibilities, have had in all these things that wounded you, in the abuses you suffered and in the lack of respect shown for your identity, your culture and even your spiritual values. All these things are contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For the deplorable conduct of those members of the Catholic Church, I ask for God’s forgiveness and I want to say to you with all my heart: I am very sorry. And I join my brothers, the Canadian bishops, in asking your pardon.
Pope Francis – April 1, 2022
The Indigenous Delegation to Rome
This year has brought great sadness and shame to this land called Canada and to its Catholic faithful with the sweeping discoveries of unmarked graves raising awareness of our part in residential school history. These events have increased the discomfort of the Catholic faithful trying to reconcile their understanding of the Catholic faith and how the horrors of residential school experiences occurred under the care of its leaders.
The summer and fall of 2021 witnessed individual apologies from many dioceses involved in running residential schools across Canada, a formal apology by all Catholic bishops in Canada followed by a $30M National Financial Pledge to support healing and reconciliation initiatives, and an announcement of Pope Francis’ willingness to visit Canada.
This past week, the Indigenous Delegation to the Holy See visited with the Holy Father in Rome. We have been keeping the Delegation in our prayers at Mass and many have of you have joined these prayers with your personal prayers. At the final audience, Pope Francis responded to the Indigenous peoples that he heard their experiences at the Residential Schools and felt both indignation and shame.
The Pope’s response echoes the feedback the Diocese received in the survey on Pastoral Planning which expressed anger and hurt from both clergy and faithful. The response of Pope Francis to the Indigenous Delegation was welcomed in a heartfelt and good way. Pope Francis will be coming to Canada to deliver the Apology on Canadian soil – and as he said, not in the winter and probably before the winter. Let us continue to pray that this journey of truth, reconciliation and healing will bear good fruit in our Church, nation and among Indigenous people.