A Message from Bishop Fabbro about Residential Schools and Relations with Canada's Indigenous People

Please see a new message from Bishop Fabbro at this link (February 23, 2022)

There is also an update on the Indigenous-led process that developed the upcoming delegation to Rome. The message is also on the homepage of the diocesan website. For future reference, our statements, CCCB statements and other resources are posted on this webpage

Link to Fr. Chris video Truth and Reconciliation

From the Pastor's Pen - We are happy to welcome Alexandre Nadie for a presentation on Indigenous Art, and how it can be seen as a window to indigenous culture on Nov 20 from 2-3:30pm at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish Centre. Alexandre is a native artist with degrees in art and education, and has a teaching certificate. He has been part of the Association for Native Development in Performing and Visual Art, as well as part of the Halton Advisory Committee for Indigenous Educaton. Though currently living in Oshawa, he has family on Walpole Island and is back regularly to visit. His presentation will involve slides of native art (including some of his own I hope!) and will share insights into indigenous culture through the window of artwork. All are welcome to attend!

Mark your calendars - We will be welcoming back Fr. Henry Sands for a parish mission on Indigenous Spirituality March 26 -28, 2023. Fr. Sands is the Director of the Black and Indian Mission Office for the U.S. bishops in Washington, and hails from Walpole Island.

God bless.
Fr. Chris

From the Pastor's Pen 
I'm on my way to Quebec to take part in Ironman Mont Tremblant on August 21. I'm excited to be doing my second full-distance triathlon, which is made up of a 3.8km swim, 180km bike, and a 42.2km run. I am welcoming any sponsorship to raise money for my upcoming house-building mission trip to El Salvador with Homes for Hope, and to fix the roof in the Catholic Church in Las Lajas, the area we build houses in.  Thanks to those who have already sponsored me, and any donations are still welcome and appreciated! There is a free app called "Ironman Tracker" if you wish to follow me throughout the day and see where I'm at in the race.  Once on the app, find the race (Mont Tremblant) and you can find me by my last name (Gillespie). I'm racing in the male 50-54 yrs category.
Any prayers you can send my way for the race day would also be greatly appreciated!

God bless.
Fr. Chris

From the Pastor's Pen - We are very happy to be welcoming Fr. Henry Sands to speak to us Sunday July 17 at 1:30pm at Our Lady Help of Christians.  Fr. Henry is originally from Walpole Island First Nation. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit and is currently serving in Washington, D.C. as the Director of the Office of Black and Indian Affairs for the U.S. bishops. Fr. Henry was part of the Indigenous delegation who went to Rome recently to meet with Pope Francis. His talk "Truth and Reconciliation - residential Schools, a papal apology and moving forward together" is open to all either to attend in person or watch livestreamed from our parish website at this YouTube link. Please pray for the success of the pope's upcoming visit to Canada July 24-29, and for healing and reconciliation across Canada.

The bishop has also extended the dispensation from the Sunday obligation to Labour Day. This will be the last extension unless the pandemic situation changes drastically for the worse. Let us pray everyone may soon be comfortable returning to the Lord's table of the Eucharist to receive Jesus the Bread of Life!

God bless,
Fr. Chris

 The Vatican formally announced that Pope Francis will travel to Canada from July 24-29, 2022. The historic visit, focused on Indigenous healing and reconciliation, will be the fourth papal journey to Canada and the first since Saint John Paul II’s visit in 2002.

Bishop Raymond Poisson, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) welcomed the formal confirmation of the visit on behalf of Canada’s Catholic Bishops: “We are immensely grateful that the Holy Father has accepted our invitation to continue the journey of healing and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples of this land. In late July, Pope Francis will have the opportunity to visit Indigenous Peoples here in their homeland, as he promised when he met them recently in Rome. We pray for the health of the Holy Father as we undertake the intensive planning for this historic visit.”

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From the Pastor's Pen - Covid requirements update: The bishop has announced that beginning Monday, March 21, masks will no longer be mandatory to wear in our churches, except for the priest or minister while distributing Holy Communion. Communion from the cup will not yet be permitted. The sprinkling rite may once again be used at Easter and other times.

Ukraine and Russia - Bishop Fabbro invites all to pray for peace between Russia and Ukraine, especially this Thursday March 24 as NATO meets to discuss the situation. On Friday March 25 Pope Francis and all the bishops of the world will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and invite priests and parishioners around the world to join them in doing so and praying for conversions. 

Brother Michael's ordination - On Thursday April 28, Brother Michael Mascarenhas OFM Cap will be ordained to the priesthood at 5pm at St. Philip Neri Parish in Toronto.  He is inviting parishioners of KLRCFP to join him for the ordination and reception, and is asking anyone interested to RSVP to the KLRCFP parish office by March 30 so they can have an idea of numbers.  Please keep Brother Michael in your prayers as he prepares for his ordination and ministry as a priest.

Steps towards healing with Canada's Indigenous Peoples - Bishop Fabbro has recently issued the following letter outlining steps being taken to foster healing with Indigenous peoples:
22 February 2022 To: All the Faithful of the Diocese of London Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I am pleased to bring you updates on the progress of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee of the Diocese of London which I established last fall and on some of the ongoing efforts of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.  Our local Committee has been able to meet three times, virtually, and they are currently compiling a list of resources that our parishes and faith communities may find helpful in their pursuit to better understand the legacy of Canada’s residential school system. Their hope is to provide a variety of resources, appropriate to various ages and backgrounds.  Responding to the actions called for by the final report of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, our own Committee is developing resources for distribution to parishes and other opportunities for both education and formation. Its hope is to provide an opportunity for our clergy, lay ecclesial ministers and staff to better understand the issues our nation faces, while considering how our parishes might cooperate as agents of reconciliation.  Last month, on 28 January, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops announced that it will establish a new registered charity to support and advance healing and reconciliation initiatives. The charity is expected to manage the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, which will accept contributions from 73 dioceses across Canada to fulfill the $30-million financial commitment made by Canada’s Bishops in September. The commitment of the Diocese of London to this fund is $1,800,000 over the next five years. Any administrative costs will be on top of the $30-million being raised and will not be deducted from this principal amount. Independent auditors will foster transparency in this work. The Bishops intend the funds to contribute to the following priorities: - Healing and reconciliation for communities and families - Culture and language revitalization - Education and community building - Dialogues for promoting Indigenous spirituality and culture I have asked the Truth and Reconciliation Committee of the Diocese to assist me in reviewing and assessing requests made by individuals or groups. The Committee will continue to work with me on goals, objectives and the manner by which it will review and assess requests.  The delegation to Rome of Indigenous Elders and leaders, which had been delayed by the pandemic, is now scheduled to meet with Pope Francis the week of 28 March 2022. A final audience with all participants will take place on Friday, 1 April 2022. There is a recognition that any authentic healing will take time, but the preliminary work that is being done and the accomplishments of our diocesan Committee are positive steps forward. We pray that God, who in Jesus has embodied reconciliation, may bring this work to fruition in our Diocese and across our country. Sincerely yours in Christ, Most Rev. Ronald Fabbro, CSB Bishop of London

Let us continue to pray for peace and healing in our community and in our world today as we journey towards Easter, reminded that Jesus has conquered sin and death!

God bless.
Fr. Chris

In addition to the Canadian Bishops' collective apology to Indigenous peoples, Bishop Fabbro has written his own apology as well. Bishop Fabbro writes:
My Apology to the Indigenous Peoples of this Land

On 24 September  2021, at the conclusion of our Plenary Assembly, the Bishops of Canada issued a statement to you, the Indigenous Peoples of this land, acknowledging the suffering of those who attended Canada’s Indian Residential Schools as well as the intergenerational trauma and the tragic legacy of suffering that Indigenous people continue to experience. The whole system of the residential schools did not respect the languages, culture and spirituality of Indigenous Peoples but sought rather to suppress them. The Bishops acknowledge that the Catholic religious orders and dioceses which ran these schools participated in this system, and that terrible abuses were committed in them by some of these Catholics. In their statement, the Catholic Bishops of Canada express their profound remorse and apologize unequivocally.

In solidarity with the Bishops of Canada, I too want to acknowledge the grave harm afflicted on you, the Indigenous Peoples of this land, to express to you my profound sorrow and to offer my own unequivocal apology to you. With the Bishops of Canada, I am committed to the process of healing and reconciliation across the country and here in the Diocese of London.

As an expression of our continuing commitment to healing and reconciliation, we will take the following actions in the Diocese of London:

1. Conversations with local Indigenous communities:  We will continue conversations that have already been taking place with band members at Walpole Island and Aamjiwnaang First Nation. These conversations and others give us an opportunity to learn from local Indigenous communities how best we can journey with them on the road of truth and reconciliation and could also provide a platform for educational opportunities.
    
2. Educational opportunities:  Currently, there are some excellent educational opportunities in our diocese, such as the Truth and Reconciliation Speaker Series offered by the Springbank Catholic Family of Parishes in London and available virtually to all in our diocese. We will continue these conversations with local Indigenous communities to learn from them the educational process that is needed and are adding resources to a dedicated page on our website.

3. Service of Reparation:  With guidance from local Indigenous communities, we will craft a “service of reparation” to express the suffering and the harm afflicted by the residential schools, to atone for the role our Church played in them and to seek God’s guidance as we journey on the path of healing and reconciliation.

4. Collection of funds: Our diocese will develop a fundraising plan as our contribution to the nation-wide collective financial commitment to support healing and reconciliation initiatives for residential school survivors, their families, and their communities announced by the Bishops of Canada on 27 September 2021. The allocation of funds raised in our diocese will involve the input of local Indigenous communities and will be part of our efforts to build good relationships and partnerships with them. We will also continue our financial commitment to the Diocese of Whitehorse, with its large Indigenous population.
    
5. A new committee to oversee this work:  We will establish a committee to oversee these actions:  the conversations, the educational pieces, the service of reparation, and the collection and distribution of funds. This committee would be named by the Bishop and report to the Bishop regularly. The work of healing and reconciliation is ongoing. The duration of this committee and the role it would play into the future, however, will need to be determined.

In union with the Bishops of Canada, I commit the Diocese of London to accompany you, the Indigenous Peoples of this land, on the journey of healing and reconciliation. I realize that there is much more work to do in our diocese, but I know that “we look forward to listening and learning from you as we walk in solidarity”. Through the intercession of our Lady of Guadalupe, may God bless you and may our efforts bear fruit in abundance.

Most Rev. Ronald P. Fabbro, CSB
Bishop of London
27 September 2021

From the Pastor's Pen - Please see below the statement of apology the Canadian bishops have just made to Indigenous Peoples for the church's part in Indigenous Residential Schools. Let us continue to pray and work together to foster reconciliation, healing and respect for all peoples and cultures. Fr. Chris  

Statement of Apology by the Catholic Bishops of Canada to the Indigenous Peoples of This Land

We, the Catholic Bishops of Canada, gathered in Plenary this week, take this opportunity to affirm to you, the Indigenous Peoples of this land, that we acknowledge 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. We acknowledge the grave abuses that were committed by some members of our Catholic community; physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and sexual. We also sorrowfully acknowledge 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[1], we[2], the Catholic Bishops of Canada, express our profound remorse and apologize unequivocally.

We are fully committed to the process of healing and reconciliation. Together with the many pastoral initiatives already underway in dioceses across the country, and as a further tangible expression of this ongoing commitment, we are pledging to undertake fundraising in each region of the country to support initiatives discerned locally with Indigenous partners. Furthermore, we invite the Indigenous Peoples to journey with us into a new era of reconciliation, helping us in each of our dioceses across the country 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. We commit ourselves to continue the work of providing documentation or records that will assist in the memorialization of those buried in unmarked graves.

Having heard the requests to engage Pope Francis in this reconciliation process, a delegation of Indigenous survivors, Elders/knowledge keepers, and youth will meet with the Holy Father in Rome in December 2021. Pope Francis will encounter and listen to the Indigenous participants, 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. We pledge 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 commit ourselves to continue accompanying you, the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples of this land. Standing in respect of your resiliency, strength and wisdom, we look forward to listening to and learning from you as we walk in solidarity.

24 September 2021

[1] Indian Residential Schools and TRC – Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (cccb.ca)

[2] The CCCB website has a link to several apologies previously offered by Catholic bishops, including those offered by bishops at national TRC events

Statement of Apology by the Catholic Bishops of Canada to the Indigenous Peoples of This Land

Is it Okay for Catholics to be Vaccinated Against COVID-19?
The letter from the CCCB, written by the bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories, explains why taking the COVID-19 vaccine is morally permissible according to Catholic teachings. The letter is available at http://www.forums.dionet.ca/.../2020_12_02_Letter%20to...
The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna/NIH vaccines have been deemed “ethically sourced” by the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute (CCBI) and others. With the Lozier Institute, the CCBI has been following the development the vaccines and you can learn more about their analysis at http://www.ccbi-utoronto.ca/2020/11/27/ccbi-resources-for-covid-19-november-27-2020/?fbclid=IwAR1hNvKTuN24rc2hlM_4jp-u6YoV8vEwnY3BXbjjRKy7_5wo9myhEPfhJLM