For the fourth consecutive year, this September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation takes place in Canada, concerning the relationship between the Church and indigenous peoples. Two years after the Pope’s visit, the Catholic community remembers the words of the Holy Father advocating reconciliation and urging all Canadian people to “grow together.”
Vianney Gilliot – Radio Vatican
«I am distressed. I ask for forgiveness“, declared Pope Francis during his trip to Canada in July 2022. Two years after this visit, and faced with the role of the Canadian Church in what were the residential schools, the Canadian bishops once again strive to no more linking actions to words.
A work of truth
Since the first day of truth and reconciliation in 2021, the Canadian Church has not only faced this terrible reality but has also participated in the search for the most just solution to these events which are still shaking up today. Canadian company. If words are not enough for the Church which saw the last boarding school close in 1997, concrete actions appear year after year.
In 2021, the Canadian Church announced the creation of an Indigenous Reconciliation Fund: local populations have thus benefited from resources to revitalize their culture and language, improve education and, thus, strengthen their community. This followed for the Church the opening of its own sacramental archives. Even if they do not make it possible to count the deaths more precisely, this work of transparency is a first step towards reconciliation for the Canadian community. The bishops reaffirmed, in a press release published this Monday, September 30, their support and accompaniment to all truth-seeking enterprises that will arise within the indigenous community. In particular, they express their “pain in the face of the painful legacy of former residential schools“. The invitation is then given to all the faithful to open their hearts, “honor the stories that are told, walk the path of truth and healing».
“The Church is the house where we are reconciled”
Regarding the objective of 30 million dollars to be raised as part of the indigenous reconciliation fund, the Canadian bishops’ conference announced this year that it had raised half of it. A five-year advance is then taken on the planned schedule. Still very current, the Pope’s message is still relayed by Canadian bishops.
«The attitude of conviviality, fraternity, the calming, available, open look, without judgment on the part of the Holy Father, marked everyone» remembered Mgr Raymond Poisson, bishop of Saint-Jérôme-Mont-Laurier. The latter noted in particular the approach of humility demonstrated by the Bishop of Rome and which had been noticed by the indigenous populations. The Canadian bishops, in this year 2024, once again joined the words of the Pope when he said that “the Church is the house where we are reconciled, where we come together to start again and grow together».
The episcopal conference thus renews its interest in healing the wounds caused by the Church.
