“We want to walk together, to pray together and to work together, so that the sufferings of the past can lead to a future of justice, healing and reconciliation.”
– Pope Francis, in his apology to the Indigenous People of Canada, July 2022
About Truth and Reconciliation in our Diocese
During his 2022 penitential pilgrimage, Pope Francis gave a heartfelt and solemn apology to Indigenous Peoples on behalf of the Catholic Church and called on us to continue to assist survivors and families in healing from the traumas they have suffered. This page is part of an evolving diocesan plan to engage in and support individual and collective healing. The page will remain a permanent part of our diocesan website, a reminder that Truth and Reconciliation is not a single day but every day.
The Diocese of Antigonish promises to:
1. Engage our indigenous elders, chiefs and faithful in learning history and culture through their lenses, to reframe our inherent colonial view
2. Host opportunities for us to learn from our indigenous faithful sharing their stories
3. Support spiritually and financially the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund and promote opportunities for local projects
4. Examine our liturgical and administrative practices for ways to include and honour local indigenous cultures in everyday life
While we don’t yet know what this will look like, we welcome the exploration. Reconciliation is a journey that involves all of us, and Pope Francis’ penitential pilgrimage has been a source of hope and inspiration for Canadians across our country. We are blessed to have been part of this penitential pilgrimage and it is with renewed hope that we walk together towards a better future.
-Bishop Wayne Kirkpatrick
Annual Collection
Indigenous Reconciliation Fund website
The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund has been established by Canada’s Catholic Bishops to support healing and reconciliation initiatives. The 73 dioceses in Canada have been asked to contribute a total of $30 million to this fund over five years. Contributions to the fund are an important way we can help with healing and learning: acknowledging our responsibility and investing in a new chapter of faith, knowledge and walking together with Christ.
Money contributed by our diocese will be returned to our diocese through funding for programs, events, and projects to support healing in our local indigenous communities and cultural awareness, appreciation and action in our parishes and communities at large. More information about the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, including application process and projects funded to date, may be found on the IRF website
In 2024, collection envelopes will be made available in our parishes during the month of October. Donations may also be made anytime online, mailed to our Diocesan Pastoral Centre, c/o Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, PO Box 100, Stn A., Sydney NS. B1P 6G9, or delivered in person to our Pastoral Centre or Chancery Office.
What can we do to observe and grow in Truth and Reconciliation?
Suggested Action: ‘Be Opened’
Today and every day, we can ‘be opened’ to awareness and knowledge, leading to compassion and understanding.
“We are speaking of processes that must penetrate hearts.”
– Pope Francis
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
Suggested Action: Observe
These special days are invitations to pause, pray, and engage: through Mass, reading, taking a virtual course … something mindful and connecting through faith and awareness.
Sept. 30
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html
“The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.”
October 1
Treaty Day and start of Mi’kmaw History Month
The first Mi’kmaw History Month in Nova Scotia was proclaimed in 1993 by Premier John Savage and Mi’kmaq Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy.
This year, the 30th anniversary of October as Mi’kmaw History Month, the theme is Mi’kmaw sports, traditional games, and pasttimes.
“Sports, games and pastimes have been a tool to develop young minds. These teachings carry us into ways of thinking, moving and being as adults.”
For details on this year’s poster and events:
https://mikmaqhistorymonth.ca/
December 12
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples
April 17
Feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Protectress of Canada
https://www.cccb.ca/the-catholic-church-in-canada/saints-blesseds-canada/canadian-saints/st-kateri-tekakwitha-1656-1680/
July 26
Feast of St. Anne, patron of the Mi’kmaq and secondary patron of our diocese
celebrated during the annual Sante’ Mawio’mi – Chapel Island Mission held in our diocese each summer
This historic gathering of Mi’kmaq Chiefs and faithful and veneration of St. Anne is the longest running mission of its kind in Canada.
https://www.antigonishdiocese.com/sante-mawiomi-st-annes-mission/
Suggested Action: Learn
“We are each one feather”
Our diocesan staff in 2022 hosted Manson Gloade for a daylong session on treaties, politics and growing up Mi’kmaq in Nova Scotia. Manson grew up in the Mi’kmaw community of Millbrook, Nova Scotia and worked for the federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs for 36 years. Now retired, Manson lives in Amherst with his wife, Beverley, and serves on the Indigenous Pastoral Council of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth.The afternoon discussion was joined by Deacon Tom Sylliboy, from the Eskasoni Mi’kmaw nation and the only ordained Mi’kmaw Roman Catholic clergy.
Click here for a summary and videos of the day
Register and complete a free online course on Indigenous Studies and Reconciliation
https://www.coursera.org/learn/indigenous-canada
Suggested Action: Read
Pope Francis offered an apology to indigenous peoples of Canada for the role of the church in residential schools
From his apology:
“To remember the devastating experiences that took place in the residential schools hurts, angers, causes pain, and yet it is necessary.
It is necessary to remember how the policies of assimilation and enfranchisement, which also included the residential school system, were devastating for the people of these lands…
What our Christian faith tells us is that this was a disastrous error, incompatible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is painful to think of how the firm soil of values, language and culture that made up the authentic identity of your peoples was eroded, and that you have continued to pay the price of this. ..
I humbly beg forgiveness for the evil committed by so many Christians against the indigenous peoples. …
It is my hope that concrete ways can be found to make those peoples better known and esteemed, so that all may learn to walk together. For my part, I will continue to encourage the efforts of all Catholics to support the indigenous peoples.
Read the full text of the apology here
Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action
https://ehprnh2mwo3.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf
The final report and related reports are available free of charge on the website of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation:
From the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada:
“As we continue our journey as Catholic health care organizations to create culturally safe places of hope and healing, we embrace the call to recognize and value traditional healing practices (Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action #22).”
To learn more:
First Nations perspective of wellness
Source: First Nations Health Authority
https://www.fnha.ca/PublishingImages/wellness/wellness-and-the-first-nations-health-authority/first-nations-perspective-on-wellness/FNPOW.png
Indigenous approaches to traditional medicine
Source: First Nations Health Authority
https://www.fnha.ca/WellnessSite/Documents/Traditional_Medicine_web.pdf
Indigenous health and professional organizations
Source: Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University
https://ishs.mcmaster.ca/resources/indigenous-health-professional-organizations
Research into Indigenous Healing Practices
Source: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
https://kmb.camh.ca/uploads/2d544aff-b495-4fbf-8a74-37cbf78b9d20
From the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops:|
Papal addresses, Indigenous art collections, ‘Doctrine of Discovery, and more
https://www.cccb.ca/indigenous-peoples/resources/
Suggested Action: Visit
Membertou Heritage Park in person or online:
https://www.membertouheritagepark.com/
Membertou Heritage Park showcases the history and culture of the indigenous community of our pastoral centre, and Mi’kmaw nation that includes our diocese.
Mi’kmaw Parishes and Missions in our diocese:
Holy Family
Eskasoni
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Pictou Landing
St. Anne
Membertou
St. Anne
Paqtnkek
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Chapel
Potlotek
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish
Mary Queen of the World, Wagmatcook
Holy Trinity, Waycobah
Theresa Winnifred Odo - September 28, 2021
Good afternoon, I really feel touched to know that this page has been added to our Diocesan Website. There have been so many injustices done to our Indigenous neighbors, hopefully this awareness will be balm for each of them to know that we are united with them in their pain.
Fr. Tom MacNeil - September 30, 2021
Congratulations on the “Truth and Reconciliation” site added to our web page. It also has very good links to other informative sites. Thanks for all the work that has gone into that. (Fr) Tom
Joanne M MacNeil - September 30, 2021
I love this web page. A great resource to make everyone aware of our history and ways to move forward with truth and reconciliation. Healing is a process.