The potential $50 million to $100 million cost of a Canadian papal visit isn't far off the amount the Catholic Church still owes residential school survivors, say advocates.
The Saskatchewan bishops are reviving the fundraising goal made a few years ago of raising $25 million. The previous fundraising move was halted after raising only $3.9 million. Anglican, Presbyterian, and United Methodist churches had fulfilled paying the full amount a few years ago. Archdiocese of Regina Archbishop Donald Bolen, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon Bishop Bryan Bayda of the, Keewatin-Le Pas Archdiocese Archbishop Murray Chatlain, Diocese of Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen and Prince Albert Diocese Bishop Stephen Hero signed the letter. “We are deeply grateful for the signs and indications of encouragement and commitment that we have been hearing from the people of Saskatchewan and beyond. It is for all of us to rise to the occasion to be instruments of healing and reconciliation, moving forward in humility, truth, and justice,” the Saskatchewan bishops said in a statement posted on social media.
Posted: Jul 15, 2021 8:02 PM CT | Last Updated: July 16
Survivors of the St. Philip s Indian Residential School had the opportunity to ask the archbishop of Regina questions at a gathering on Thursday. (Chanss Lagaden/CBC)
WARNING: This story contains details some readers may find distressing.
Saskatchewan residential school survivors shared their painful and graphic stories Thursday and the region s Roman Catholic archbishop was there to hear them.
Survivors at the Cote First Nation told Regina Archbishop Donald Bolen he was brave for making the effort, but told him talk is useless without action.
Some said the church has betrayed them and broken too many promises.
“The overall goal of this campaign is to support Residential School survivors and their communities, and to engage more deeply in our own ongoing commitment and response to the Truth and Reconciliation process. We have heard the strong request, from Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in various quarters, to initiate a new fundraising campaign to support survivors and engage more deeply in our own ongoing commitment and response to the Truth and Reconciliation process,” the bishops said in the letter. “Out of these conversations, each diocese and eparchy will discern and communicate separately how they will proceed with the Appeal in their respective dioceses and communities,” the bishops said, noting that a province-wide goal and timeline will be announced by September 2021. “As we noted in our July 3 letter, we are deeply grateful for the signs and indications of encouragement and commitment that we have been hearing from the people of Saskatchewan and beyond. It is f
The Archdiocese of Regina is in active conversations with Indigenous leaders and communities on steps it can take to reconcile and mend broken relationships.