Moving Forward: Reflections on the Papal Visit
Channel: Jesuit Forum
Date: 2022-08-12

On August 10, the Jesuit Forum was joined by special guests Rosella Kinoshameg and Harry Lafond to reflect on the impact of the Papal visit as well as possible next steps for the Catholic Church and broader society to work for right relationships with Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

Rosella Kinoshameg is Anishinabe-kwe from Wiikwemikoong Unceded Territory (Manitoulin Island, Ontario) who is a retired registered nurse and a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Diocesan Order of Service. Rosella serves as member at large on Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle and as a director of the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund.

Harry Lafond is a member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, a deacon, and a member of the Jesuit Forum management committee who teaches Indigenous Education at St. Thomas More College at the University of Saskatchewan.

Together, Rosella and Harry led reflections on the Papal visit and possible next steps in the process of righting relationships with Indigenous Peoples.

During the second part of the webinar participants had the opportunity to reflect in small groups using a listening circle approach on both the impact of the Papal visit and to concrete live into an apology, working for authentic reconciliation, decolonization, and justice. 

Participants discussed the following questions: 

What has been the impact of the Papal visit, particularly in terms of promoting healing and right relationships?

What should be the next steps for the Catholic Church (and perhaps for governments as well) in terms of righting relationships, reconciliation, and decolonization? 

How, concretely, can each of us (settlers, newcomers, etc.) live into an apology with actions (individually, communally, and in terms of advocacy)?

Some of those reflections can be seen below: 

A feeling of disappointment in the organization of events during the papal visit, especially the Mass held in Latin in Edmonton.

Strong calls for churches/parishes to build meaningful relationships between Indigenous and Settler/Newcomer communities. As well as continued calls for the denouncement of the Doctrine of Discovery, the implementation of the TRC's 98 Calls to Action and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls 231 Calls for Justice. 

Calling on the Church leadership to look at the next step - calls to include Elders and Knowledge Keepers during the Bishops Assembly in October 2022. 

A need for the Catholic Conference of Catholic Bishops to encourage, create and push for educational resources that can be used by parishes/Catholic communities  throughout Canada, including encouraging the use of the guide, Listening to Indigenous Voices among all Catholics. 

A decolonization of Church institutions with a strong call for synodality and advocacy led by Indigenous voices.