# Joint Statement of the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council and Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

- Link: https://nweparchy.ca/2026/09/joint-statement-of-the-canadian-catholic-indigenous-council-and-our-lady-of-guadalupe-circle-for-the-national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation/
- Published: 2026-09-29T15:16:29-07:00
- Author: Website

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_Tuesday, September 29 2026_

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[Download the PDF.](https://www.cccb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/OLGC-and-CCIC-30-Sept-2026.pdf)

On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Canadian Catholic Indigenous
Council and Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle honour the Survivors of the Indian Residential
School System, the children who never returned home, their families, and the generations
who continue to live with its legacy. We remember also the courage of those who 
have shared their stories and encourage those who continue to listen, so that the
truth of our histories remains the foundation upon which we build our collective
futures. We cannot turn away from these truths when they are painful or uncomfortable.
Our faith calls us instead to encounter them with humility, honesty, and charity
as we walk together and learn to live rightly with one another.

We give thanks for signs of hope this year. The ‘[Doctrine of Discovery](https://www.cccb.ca/indigenous-peoples/resources/doctrine-of-discovery-and-terra-nullius/)’
knowledge-sharing symposium held in Edmonton this past spring created space for 
honest dialogue among diverse voices about the historical and contemporary realities
that shaped colonization. Through the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, Catholic dioceses
across Canada have committed $30 million toward healing and reconciliation projects
developed with Indigenous communities. These are two examples of the many initiatives
taking place across the country as the fruits of dialogue and relationality begin
to shape a brighter tomorrow.
At the same time, we cannot ignore that there has 
been a noticeable shift in the discourse concerning Truth and Reconciliation in 
recent months. There is a temptation to become distracted from the healing mission
Pope Francis called us all to continue during his penitential pilgrimage to Canada
in 2022. We must remain patient with one another and trust that the journey is guided
by the Holy Spirit, who accompanies us at every step.

To aid in this journey, ongoing dialogue and mutual accompaniment remains paramount.
Whether in parishes or at community events, occasions for learning can create opportunities
for encounter, reciprocity, and relationality. We must see the faces and hear the
voices of those with whom we are walking so that, in the words of the late Canadian
Jesuit Michael Stogre, S.J., we might be drawn “… into the realm of discernment,
decision, and action on behalf of justice and liberation.”

Finally, we wish to acknowledge that this work must be rooted in the movement of
the Holy Spirit. We invite all to continue praying for this healing journey as we
look ahead to December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the National Day
of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. May Our Lady, who came to St. Juan
Diego in his own language and with the face of his people, accompany us on the path
of Truth and Reconciliation.