residential schools

In September 2021, the Canadian Catholic bishops had committed to raising CA $30 million ($22 million) over the next five years.

At Mass July 28 at the National Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Pope Francis spoke of “the scandal of evil and the Body of Christ wounded in the flesh of our Indigenous brothers and sisters.”

While presented as missionary work, the operation of residential schools by Catholics in Canada was actually an attempt to impose European culture on Canada’s Indigenous people, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis is scheduled to be in Canada July 24-29, flying to Edmonton, Quebec and Iqaluit. He also will visit the site of a former residential school near Edmonton, join Indigenous pilgrims at Lac Ste. Anne and celebrate Mass at the National Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré near Quebec.

The pope is held three meetings to listen to the experiences of representatives of Canada’s Indigenous communities, experiences that include being sent as children to residential schools operated by Catholic dioceses and religious orders.

The pope is holding three meetings to listen to the experiences of representatives of Canada’s Indigenous communities, experiences that include being sent as children to residential schools operated by Catholic dioceses and religious orders.

In one hour gathered in a room with Pope Francis, Dec. 20, 13 Assembly of First Nations delegates plan to lay down heavy burdens and raise up the hope of nations.

More churches across Canada have been destroyed or damaged by fires that police are describing as suspicious or suspected arson.