Praying for healing and reconciliation
By Darcie Lich – Oblate Associate
Creator God of love and justice, comforter of those who mourn, we turn to you acknowledging the actions of our Church and our nation. We have asked forgiveness and committed to work for healing and reconciliation. But we are painfully aware that for some, that change came too late.
We offer you our sorrow for the wrongs committed against the people of this land, our First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools.
We offer you our contrition for what was allowed to happen, and for what will never be.
We offer you our repentance for the injustices borne of arrogance and the harm done through indifference.
We pray for comfort for the families and communities whose children, siblings, family, and friends were taken from home but did not return.
We pray for consolation of hearts wounded through separation and trauma.
We pray for healing of bodies, minds, and spirits wounded through abuse and oppression.
We ask for clear eyes, that we may face the story of our nation and our Church with honesty.
We ask for open hearts, that we may hear the stories of Indigenous Peoples with humility.
We ask for courage, that we may once again ask our brothers and sisters for forgiveness.
We declare our desire to be a people who pursue peace.
We declare our resolve to be a people who remember.
We declare our commitment to be a people of truth and reconciliation.
Holy One, Creator of all that is, seen and unseen, of story and of song, of heartbeat and of tears, of bodies, souls, voices and all relations: you are the God of all truth and the way of all reconciliation. Come upon us, O Divine Healer, and open our eyes to the injustices brought against the Indigenous peoples of this land, their languages and cultures. May you be known for healing and wholeness, rather than being blamed for abuses that were brought about by human weakness and hostility. Make us people of integrity and bearers of hope, that we may commit to restoring relationships and to journeying together, as Non-Indigenous and Indigenous brothers and sisters, to a place of peace in you, where every tear will be wiped away, and every sorrow turned to joy. Give us one heart and one mind to walk together in the love and strength of your Spirit, in truth, reconciliation, and peace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Son, our brother, our Lord, and our hope.
Amen. St. Paul, pray for us.
Event in Enoch, AB
On Wednesday, June 2 people of Alexis Nakota Sioux nation had a beautiful and moving gathering at the community elders’ garden. All the children of the school, elders and community leaders were present.
The gathering began with a pipe ceremony, then the Chief and two members of chief’s council welcomed everyone and shared their feelings and passed the message to the community. The pain and unbelief of the discovery in Kamloops were expressed by the leadership.
In memory of the children from residential school in Kamloops, 215 flowers were planted in the garden.
In the evening we had rosary with 215 candles lit in the shrine of Lac Ste Anne. We begun with elder prayer in four direction and smudging. The members of Enoch First Nation shared their feeling and message of faith and led the rosary.
We are trying to walk with the people as they go through these very painful times in their life journey.
I am asking for your prayers and prayers for healing
By Les Kwiatkowski, OMI
