Pope Francis / Vatican News
Today Bishop Joseph welcomed the news of Pope Francis’ message of apology to residential school survivors at the end of his week of meetings with Indigenous, Inuit, and Metis delegates in Rome.
This is another step on the journey of healing and reconciliation with those who welcomed missionaries and immigrants to this land long ago. Last year, the Diocese of Kamloops embarked on a fundraising appeal to support residential school survivors, their families and communities and to promote reconciliation among the indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in our part of the country. The Diocese of Kamloops commits to raise $30,000.00 per year as its share of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ collective pledge to raise $30 million across the country over the next five years. The bishops’ conference established a new registered charity to manage funds raised across the country with transparency and good governance, including oversight from Indigenous Board Directors. The fund will publish annual reports and will be subject to an audit by an independent accounting firm each year. All the funds pledged and raised from the diocese will be returned and used to support projects recommended by a local working committee of Indigenous and non- indigenous persons, which is in the process of being formed. The diocese will provide updates as this work proceeds. We hope this initiative will be one more contribution to the work of fostering mutual respect and commitment to a shared future for all who call this land home.
Bishop meeting with Chief Rosanne Casimir and Council on July 30, 2021 (L-R Rick Gilbert, Bishop Joseph Nguyen, Chief Rosanne Casimir, and Jeanette Jules)
Canada’s Catholic Bishops Welcome Pope Francis’ Apology to Indigenous Peoples:https://www.cccb.ca/media-release/canadas-catholic-bishops-welcome-pope-francis-apology-to-indigenous-peoples/
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