Donations to the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund

Indigenous Reconciliation Fund – Parish Toolkit Parish Bulletin Content The Catholic Bishops of Canada have announced an Indigenous Reconciliation Fund to advance healing and reconciliation initiatives. The Archdiocese is committed to working with the bishops of Canada to meet the goal of securing $30 million over a five year period. We have entered an era of reconciliation with the Indigenous peoples and this is an important step in our journey. Funds raised locally will remain in the area and will support culture and language revitalization, education and community building and healing and reconciliation for communities and families. For the faithful who wish to contribute to the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, there will be two special collections across the Archdiocese on March 5/6 and March 12/13 weekends. There will be envelopes for this purpose at the parish or through the on-line donation link found at https://caedm.ca/IndigenousRelations. We are committed to continue the journey with the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples of this land. For more information, please contact the Archdiocese website caedm.ca or visit www.cccb.ca. Announcement The Catholic Bishops of Canada have announced an Indigenous Reconciliation Fund to advance healing and reconciliation initiatives. The Archdiocese is committed to working with the bishops of Canada to meet the goal of securing $30 million over a five year period. For the faithful who wish to contribute to the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, there will be two special collections across the Archdiocese on March 5/6 and March 12/13 weekends. There will be envelopes for this purpose or a link for on-line donations. For more information, please see the bulletin. Intercession – for the March 5/6 and March 12/13 weekends • We pray for the Bishops across Canada as they address the historical and ongoing trauma caused by the residential school system, and lead the faithful on the path to healing and reconciliation, we pray to the Lord. • We pray that the church and government leaders courageously reconcile the truth regarding residential schools. May they develop strategies, in collaboration with indigenous communities, to unite and to heal, we pray to the Lord. • We pray for all Canadians. May we open our minds and hearts to the truth regarding residential schools, we pray to the Lord. Indigenous Reconciliation Fund - Financial Messaging Archbishop Smith, in his letter dated February 9, 2022, indicated that the Archdiocese and its parishes will contribute $3 million toward the national goal. In the fall of 2021, discussions were held with the clergy and representatives of parish finance councils. A decision was made that the funding would be $2 million from the Archdiocese and $1 million from the parishes. In 2021, the total interest paid from the Concentration Account was $2.23 million of which $1 million went to the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund. This was possible by the parishes foregoing investment income for the third quarter and part of the fourth quarter of 2021. A good number of parishioners have expressed a desire to help in a practical way. As such, we are going to host two opportunities to contribute to this fund on the weekends of March 5-6, and March 12-13, 2022. The upcoming collections are an opportunity for the faithful to contribute if they wish. https://caedm.ca/indigenousrelations/ https://www.cccb.ca/media-release/canadas-bishops-announce-indigenous-reconciliation-fund-to-support-projects-across-canada/