A Message from Bishop Fabbro about Residential Schools and Relations with Canada's Indigenous People

Please see a new message from Bishop Fabbro at this link 

There is also an update on the Indigenous-led process that developed the upcoming delegation to Rome. The message is also on the homepage of the diocesan website. For future reference, our statements, CCCB statements and other resources are posted on this webpage

Link to Fr. Chris video Truth and Reconciliation

From the Pastor's Pen - Greetings from the KLRCFP (that's the "Kent Lambton Roman Catholic Family of Parishes" just in case you're not up on the new lingo!)
We hope and pray everyone is keeping well amidst this latest wave of the pandemic. A few changes from the dioceses include temporarily halting congregational singing (though we can still have a cantor and musician) and halls being closed to regular meetings. Food preparation for the poor such as community meals are still permitted. Let's continue to pray for, reach out to and support one another in this ongoing difficult time!
Congratulations to Brother Michael Mascarhenas OFM Cap. who did his internship with us and who will be ordained a priest for the Capuchin order this April 28 in Toronto.  Brother Michael is currently serving as a transitional deacon in Blenheim, Thamesville and Ridgetown with his community.  We hope to have him back for a weekend or two in the near future for him to preach and see people here again.  Please keep him in your prayers as he continues his formation for the priesthood.
Fr. Steve Eckert, who also did his internship with us has just been reassigned to the Lake Huron Family of Parishes (Goderich, Grand Bend, Zurich, St. Joseph, Mt. Carmel and Exeter) and is replacing Fr. Matthew George who died tragically in a car accident late last year.  Please say a prayer for the repose of the soul of Fr. Matt and please keep Fr. Steve in your prayers as he begins his new assignment!

God bless.
Fr. Chris
 

From the Pastor's Pen - The diocese announced last week that singing may now resume in our churches, however masks must still be worn.  Also, the dispensation from the obligation to attend mass on Sunday in person for our diocese has been extended to Feb. 27.

Sadly, we learned of the sudden death of Fr. Matthew George in a car collision last Monday. Fr. Matthew served at Our Lady Help of Christians in Wallaceburg in the late 1990's but was currently assigned to the Lake Huron Family of Parishes. Fr. Matthew will be remembered for his welcoming and joyful spirit, his concern for the poor and his great sense of humour. Please pray for the repose of his soul and for his family, friends and parishioners who mourn his loss. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

God bless,
Fr. Chris

From the Pastor's Pen - We are very happy to have learned yesterday that Pope Francis is planning to visit Canada sometime soon to meet with Indigenous people to foster reconciliation and healing. Let us pray for the success of this papal visit and for all who are in need of healing.  
Pope Francis has also recently announced the next synod for 2023 and is inviting a broad consultation from around the world. The Diocese of London has recently begun the process locally as well. The diocese states:

This past Sunday, October 17, Bishop Fabbro launched the Synod in the Diocese of London. You can watch the recorded livestream from St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica at this link and hear about the Synod in the Bishop’s homily, which starts at 16:31. An excerpt: “In this synodal process we will sit down to pray and listen to one another. Like Jesus, we are not to judge one another, we’re to accept others as they are, listen to one another, to the Holy Spirit speaking through each of us. As together we seek to discern the path that God has for our church…I encourage all of us to be engaged in the synodal process, to take part in it, and to join in prayer. May the Holy Spirit unite us, guide us, and teach our Church the way we must go.”  Links to the recorded livestream, a transcript of the homily, and several other important preparatory documents are posted on the diocesan website at this link where ongoing updates will be added.

Let us pray also for a successful and Spirit-led process as we prepare for and contribute to this synod.

God bless.
Fr. Chris

From the Pastor's Pen - In an effort to speed up the end of the pandemic and slow transmission of the coronavirus, the Diocese of London is implementing a vaccine mandate for all employees and volunteers throughout the diocese.  This will not affect those who are simply attending mass, but will affect those ministering, working or volunteering in any way.  The bishop is giving 45 days for this to take effect as of Oct 18 when it was promulgated. By Dec 1 anyone not having received both doses of the vaccine at least 14 days prior will not be permitted to exercise any ministry requiring in-person contact with people. Volunteers are asked to show proof of vaccination to the staff member who oversees their ministry prior to Dec 1. A big thank you to our volunteers for all you do for our parish and community! God bless. Fr. Chris

In addition to the Canadian Bishops' collective apology to Indigenous peoples, Bishop Fabbro has written his own apology as well. Bishop Fabbro writes:
My Apology to the Indigenous Peoples of this Land

On 24 September  2021, at the conclusion of our Plenary Assembly, the Bishops of Canada issued a statement to you, the Indigenous Peoples of this land, acknowledging the suffering of those who attended Canada’s Indian Residential Schools as well as the intergenerational trauma and the tragic legacy of suffering that Indigenous people continue to experience. The whole system of the residential schools did not respect the languages, culture and spirituality of Indigenous Peoples but sought rather to suppress them. The Bishops acknowledge that the Catholic religious orders and dioceses which ran these schools participated in this system, and that terrible abuses were committed in them by some of these Catholics. In their statement, the Catholic Bishops of Canada express their profound remorse and apologize unequivocally.

In solidarity with the Bishops of Canada, I too want to acknowledge the grave harm afflicted on you, the Indigenous Peoples of this land, to express to you my profound sorrow and to offer my own unequivocal apology to you. With the Bishops of Canada, I am committed to the process of healing and reconciliation across the country and here in the Diocese of London.

As an expression of our continuing commitment to healing and reconciliation, we will take the following actions in the Diocese of London:

1. Conversations with local Indigenous communities:  We will continue conversations that have already been taking place with band members at Walpole Island and Aamjiwnaang First Nation. These conversations and others give us an opportunity to learn from local Indigenous communities how best we can journey with them on the road of truth and reconciliation and could also provide a platform for educational opportunities.
    
2. Educational opportunities:  Currently, there are some excellent educational opportunities in our diocese, such as the Truth and Reconciliation Speaker Series offered by the Springbank Catholic Family of Parishes in London and available virtually to all in our diocese. We will continue these conversations with local Indigenous communities to learn from them the educational process that is needed and are adding resources to a dedicated page on our website.

3. Service of Reparation:  With guidance from local Indigenous communities, we will craft a “service of reparation” to express the suffering and the harm afflicted by the residential schools, to atone for the role our Church played in them and to seek God’s guidance as we journey on the path of healing and reconciliation.

4. Collection of funds: Our diocese will develop a fundraising plan as our contribution to the nation-wide collective financial commitment to support healing and reconciliation initiatives for residential school survivors, their families, and their communities announced by the Bishops of Canada on 27 September 2021. The allocation of funds raised in our diocese will involve the input of local Indigenous communities and will be part of our efforts to build good relationships and partnerships with them. We will also continue our financial commitment to the Diocese of Whitehorse, with its large Indigenous population.
    
5. A new committee to oversee this work:  We will establish a committee to oversee these actions:  the conversations, the educational pieces, the service of reparation, and the collection and distribution of funds. This committee would be named by the Bishop and report to the Bishop regularly. The work of healing and reconciliation is ongoing. The duration of this committee and the role it would play into the future, however, will need to be determined.

In union with the Bishops of Canada, I commit the Diocese of London to accompany you, the Indigenous Peoples of this land, on the journey of healing and reconciliation. I realize that there is much more work to do in our diocese, but I know that “we look forward to listening and learning from you as we walk in solidarity”. Through the intercession of our Lady of Guadalupe, may God bless you and may our efforts bear fruit in abundance.

Most Rev. Ronald P. Fabbro, CSB
Bishop of London
27 September 2021

From the Pastor's Pen - Please see below the statement of apology the Canadian bishops have just made to Indigenous Peoples for the church's part in Indigenous Residential Schools. Let us continue to pray and work together to foster reconciliation, healing and respect for all peoples and cultures. Fr. Chris  

Statement of Apology by the Catholic Bishops of Canada to the Indigenous Peoples of This Land

We, the Catholic Bishops of Canada, gathered in Plenary this week, take this opportunity to affirm to you, the Indigenous Peoples of this land, that we acknowledge the suffering experienced in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools. Many Catholic religious communities and dioceses participated in this system, which led to the suppression of Indigenous languages, culture and spirituality, failing to respect the rich history, traditions and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples. We acknowledge the grave abuses that were committed by some members of our Catholic community; physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and sexual. We also sorrowfully acknowledge the historical and ongoing trauma and the legacy of suffering and challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples that continue to this day.  Along with   those Catholic entities which were directly involved in the operation of the schools and which have already offered their own heartfelt apologies[1], we[2], the Catholic Bishops of Canada, express our profound remorse and apologize unequivocally.

We are fully committed to the process of healing and reconciliation. Together with the many pastoral initiatives already underway in dioceses across the country, and as a further tangible expression of this ongoing commitment, we are pledging to undertake fundraising in each region of the country to support initiatives discerned locally with Indigenous partners. Furthermore, we invite the Indigenous Peoples to journey with us into a new era of reconciliation, helping us in each of our dioceses across the country to prioritize initiatives of healing, to listen to the experience of Indigenous Peoples, especially to the survivors of Indian Residential Schools, and to educate our clergy, consecrated men and women, and lay faithful, on Indigenous cultures and spirituality. We commit ourselves to continue the work of providing documentation or records that will assist in the memorialization of those buried in unmarked graves.

Having heard the requests to engage Pope Francis in this reconciliation process, a delegation of Indigenous survivors, Elders/knowledge keepers, and youth will meet with the Holy Father in Rome in December 2021. Pope Francis will encounter and listen to the Indigenous participants, so as to discern how he can support our common desire to renew relationships and walk together along the path of hope in the coming years. We pledge to work with the Holy See and our Indigenous partners on the possibility of a pastoral visit by the Pope to Canada as part of this healing journey.

We commit ourselves to continue accompanying you, the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples of this land. Standing in respect of your resiliency, strength and wisdom, we look forward to listening to and learning from you as we walk in solidarity.

24 September 2021

[1] Indian Residential Schools and TRC – Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (cccb.ca)

[2] The CCCB website has a link to several apologies previously offered by Catholic bishops, including those offered by bishops at national TRC events

Statement of Apology by the Catholic Bishops of Canada to the Indigenous Peoples of This Land

From the Pastor's Pen - Proof of vaccination for hall use - Effective September 22, the province has implemented as a requirement for being in restaurants, theatres, and halls that everyone show proof of being double vaccinated at least 14 days prior to seeking entry. While this will not affect attendance at mass it does affect any individuals or groups using our parish halls at all other times.  The directive from our diocese reads as follows:

"As of September 22, 2021, those entering the parish hall including rooms connected to and ancillary to the hall, must be fully vaccinated (two doses plus 14 days) and provide proof of vaccination along with photo ID (driver’s license, health card, passport). Entry is not permitted, without compliance. Persons who cannot receive the vaccine due to medical exemptions will be permitted entry with a doctor’s note until recognized medical exemptions can be integrated as part of a digital vaccine certificate. Children who are under the age of 12 will also be exempted from these requirements. For the period between September 22 and October 12, 2021, persons attending wedding or funeral receptions at a parish hall including rooms connected to and ancillary to the hall will be able to provide a negative rapid antigen COVID-19 test from no more than 48 hours before the event as an alternative to proof of vaccination."  


If a group wishes to use one of our halls, one person from the group must be designated beforehand to check at the door and ensure this requirement is met. The previous conditions of self-screening, wearing a mask, physical distancing and signing in for contact tracing remain in effect.

Let us continue to pray for one another, especially for those who are sick, and that this pandemic may soon come to an end!
God bless.
Fr. Chris

Is it Okay for Catholics to be Vaccinated Against COVID-19?
The letter from the CCCB, written by the bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories, explains why taking the COVID-19 vaccine is morally permissible according to Catholic teachings. The letter is available at http://www.forums.dionet.ca/.../2020_12_02_Letter%20to...
The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna/NIH vaccines have been deemed “ethically sourced” by the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute (CCBI) and others. With the Lozier Institute, the CCBI has been following the development the vaccines and you can learn more about their analysis at http://www.ccbi-utoronto.ca/2020/11/27/ccbi-resources-for-covid-19-november-27-2020/?fbclid=IwAR1hNvKTuN24rc2hlM_4jp-u6YoV8vEwnY3BXbjjRKy7_5wo9myhEPfhJLM