UPDATE: July 2nd, 2021

"A Message from Bishop Fabbro about Residential Schools and Relations with Canada's Indigenous People" as published on the DOL webpage

Please take the time to read this important letter from Bishop Fabbro published on July 2nd.  The letter recognizes the current anger and emotional responses that some have expressed in this present situation.  It reaffirms the work that has been ongoing for many years.  We all are saddened by the discoveries and look for continued healing and hope for the future. 

In honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council released the prayer entitled Prayer for Tolerance, Forgiveness, Reconciliation. 

The English text is below and printable PDFs are available from the CCCB website in English and French. 

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

Update Thursday, June 17
as found on our Diocesan Parish Briefings (an email that is sent to all parishes in the Diocese of London.)

National Indigenous People’s Day
Monday, June 21 celebrates National Indigenous People’s Day in Canada. Now more than ever, it is important that to understand the enduring legacy of colonization in our country and commit to proclaiming the truth, to seek authentic reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. The following links will provide initiatives of the Federal Government, various groups from the Christian community, and opportunities for your growth and reflection.
https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100013248/1534872397533 (Federal Government)
https://ourladyofguadalupecircle.ca (Catholic Church)
http://www.trc.ca/about-us/trc-findings.html (Truth and Reconciliation Committee: Final Report, Summary, Survivor Stories, Calls to Action)
https://www.kairoscanada.org/what-we-do/indigenous-rights(Kairos Canada)
https://www.northernbridge.org/ (Northern Bridge Community Partnership)

Update Monday, June 14
The shoes placed on the steps at OLOS have been collected, before the rain-soaked them, and were given to the local Goodwill to help children of today as we remember the children of the past.

Update Friday, June 11
As found on our Diocesan Parish Briefings (an email that is sent to all parishes in the Diocese of London.)

CCCB Delegation to the Holy See with Indigenous people
The CCCB announced that planning continues for a delegation to visit the Holy See before the end of 2021 that will include “a delegation of Indigenous people to meet with the Holy Father to foster meaningful encounters of dialogue and healing. This pastoral visit will include the participation of a diverse group of Elders/Knowledge Keepers, residential school survivors and youth from across the country.” More information is in the CCCB announcements in English and French. Additionally, Bishop Fabbro’s statement on the discovery is at this link and a helpful Q&A document is at this link.

Update June 8th

The following update to the diocesan website has been added to look at frequently asked questions.
Please take a look at this link
https://dol.ca/news/frequently-asked-questions-on-residential-schools-and-the-catholic-church

https://dol.ca/news/frequently-asked-questions-on-residential-schools-and-the-catholic-church

Let us continue to pray for healing for a broken and wounded world.


May 31, 2021
I am shocked and profoundly saddened by the horrifying discovery of the remains of at least 215 children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School on the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation.

When the operation of residential schools was delegated by the federal government to several Christian faith-based groups, there were many failures in fulfilling Christ's mission of bringing the good news of the kingdom of God and helping the oppressed, including failures of the Catholic Church.
 
The presence of the graves of these innocent ones sheds light on a clear failure of those responsible in not embracing the Gospel values of love, mercy, justice, and compassion, and for forgetting their commitment to respect the dignity of all people. These lost innocent ones are another reason why we must continue to learn from these failings and work with Indigenous communities towards the healing called for by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Yesterday, a memorial was placed at St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica in London as part of a nationwide commemoration of the lost children. I visited the memorial today to pray, asking God to bring comfort to the families of the deceased and all survivors of the residential school system. We will continue to pray for the families of these children and survivors and commit ourselves to play a constructive role in the journey towards healing and reconciliation.
 
Most Rev. Ronald P. Fabbro, CSB
Bishop of London

We at the Elgin Roman Catholic Family of Parishes are in communion with the Bishop in the sadness and deeply disturbing discovery.  In this month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, plead God's mercy on a very broken world.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Fr Graham on behalf of  the staff