“I wish to address two issues today: the issue of residential schools and the issue of sexual abuse. Both involve the Catholic church, and both involve sinfulness in particular the sinfulness of Catholics when we have not lived up to the gospel of Jesus Christ, as individuals or as an institution. Both involve deep and lasting wounds that will only be healed through listening, repentance, conversion of hears, and concrete action, demonstrating true conversion of heart,” said Hagemoen. “Since the discovery of grave sites at various cemeteries of former residential schools was announced, I have listened and heard how the shock and dismay of this news is impacting and hurting so many in our community.”
“I wish to address two issues today: the issue of residential schools and the issue of sexual abuse. Both involve the Catholic church, and both involve sinfulness in particular the sinfulness of Catholics when we have not lived up to the gospel of Jesus Christ, as individuals or as an institution. Both involve deep and lasting wounds that will only be healed through listening, repentance, conversion of hears, and concrete action, demonstrating true conversion of heart,” said Hagemoen. “Since the discovery of grave sites at various cemeteries of former residential schools was announced, I have listened and heard how the shock and dismay of this news is impacting and hurting so many in our community.”
First Nations communities continuing to find remains at residential school sites “has really opened wounds,” Hagemoen said.
“There’s a lot of emotion and anger among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. So in the midst of this, I as a bishop here in Saskatoon and with my brother bishops in Saskatchewan are trying to navigate and take a hopefully appropriate leadership role for our churches as we deal with this.”
The Catholic Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate operated 48 residential schools across Canada, including Marieval Residential School on Cowessess First Nation territory.
Hagemoen said any of the dioceses that ran schools in Saskatchewan, including Regina, made records available as part of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA).
First Nations communities continuing to find remains at residential school sites “has really opened wounds,” Hagemoen said.
“There’s a lot of emotion and anger among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. So in the midst of this, I as a bishop here in Saskatoon and with my brother bishops in Saskatchewan are trying to navigate and take a hopefully appropriate leadership role for our churches as we deal with this.”
The Catholic Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate operated 48 residential schools across Canada, including Marieval Residential School on Cowessess First Nation territory.
Hagemoen said any of the dioceses that ran schools in Saskatchewan, including Regina, made records available as part of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA).
Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark, from left, Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen, and Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand lead the way in Tuesday afternoon’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action Awareness and Education Walk in the downtown area of Saskatoon. Photograph By Jon Perez
An estimated 200 men, women, and children participated to form a sea of orange in the downtown area in Tuesday’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action Awareness and Education Walk. Photograph By Jon Perez Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand knows the dark past caused by residential schools in Canada’s history, a heartbreaking past where thousands of Indigenous children were forcibly taken from their families so they could be assimilated to western norms. They were not allowed to speak their language and practice the traditional beliefs they learned from their Elders. They also experienced abuse and many died while att