HEALING AND RECONCILIATION FOR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES
One Step Forward
Reconciliation is a pathway all must walk together, no matter the starting point, to heal old hurts, introduce hope and encourage understanding and empathy.
This road, rooted in healing and reflection, is focused on the rebuilding of bridges between Indigenous Peoples and the Church, who have historically had a harmful relationship.
Healing begins with spiritual renewal, connection, honouring of sacred traditions and the affirmation of Indigenous identity and faith.
A group of Cree residential school survivors from James Bay are honouring their Indigeneity one step at a time, through a pilgrimage to Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec. There they will take part in the annual Novena at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Cape – a cherished Catholic tradition that includes daily masses, rosaries, hymns and communal prayer. This pilgrimage is more than a physical undertaking, it’s a spiritual journey that will allow survivors to come together in faith, reflect on their experiences and find strength and healing in a sacred space.
The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is honoured to ease the financial strain of survivors and help them focus on their pilgrimage, with a special focus on Cree participants. Many individuals who seek out the Shrine of Our Lady of the Cape are faithful that they will experience its healing grace and feel seen, heard and embraced by a larger, unspoken community. By supporting this pilgrimage, the IRF is helping survivors reclaim their spiritual selves and find peace through a sacred experience rooted in both tradition and reconciliation.
Diocese of Hearst-Moosonee
