Catholic’s Sunday mass likely to center conversation on residential schools: priest

PORT MOODY (NEWS 1130) — As the Catholic church faces renewed criticism following the news of an unmarked burial site at a former Kamloops residential school believed to contain the remains of 215 Indigenous children — a priest says the topic will likely be the focus for Sunday mass across the province.

Father Mark McGuckin is a Catholic priest in Port Moody. He tells NEWS 1130, since hearing the news, he has started conversations with his parishioners speaking about the responsibility Catholics and Canadian citizens have “to not repel away from this, but to enter in and to do so with listening ears, to behave that disposition as helpers, ready to listen, ready to love without counting the cost.”

“And then as we move forward, looking at concrete ways, where we can really make a difference here,” he says.

McGuckin explains that they will be hosting a prayer service and dedicate a few hours to ongoing prayers and start conversations to check how parishioners are doing.

“It’s easy just to just ‘talk the talk’ and not put words into action. So over time, we’ll have more creative ways to reach out, to make a difference …any kind of total satisfying answer is impossible. But that ongoing disposition of intentionality, and those without backing away here is so important.”

While Vancouver’s archbishop Michael Miller — has issued a statement of apology for the church’s role in residential schools, McGuckin says he’d like to hear an apology from the Pope.

Miller tweeted his “deep apology and profound condolences to the families and communities that have been devastated by this horrific news.” The churchman, who leads Catholics in that British Columbia archdiocese, added that the church was “unquestionably wrong in implementing a government colonialist policy which resulted in devastation for children, families and communities.”

Catholic priests across the Lower Mainland are reading this 'Statement of Apology' today.

It's to be read during Catholic Mass. Apology is from @ArchbMiller, NOT @Pontifex (Pope Francis). pic.twitter.com/wV2TJUWI52

— Tim James (@TimJamesPlus) June 6, 2021

Pope addresses’ sorrows’ of residential schools, does not apologize in public prayer

During his regular Sunday public prayer delivered to a gathering in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis said he was “following with pain” the news of an unmarked burial site. He added the “shocking” discovery is a call for Canadian religious and political authorities to keep working toward reconciliation.

However, he did not mention Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s calls for him to apologize for the Catholic Church’s role in Canadian residential schools, nor did he offer an apology.

Trudeau made the remarks on Friday, calling on Catholic officials to “step up” and take responsibility for the church’s role in the residential school system and urging the release of the schools’ records.

Related articles:

• Trudeau calls on Catholic Church to take responsibility for residential schools

• Vancouver Catholic school reckoning with founders’ role in residential schools

• Calls for Pope to apologize for residential schools persist after Vancouver bishop’s statement

• Vancouver archbishop apologizes for Catholic Church’s role in residential schools

The Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation announced 10 days ago that ground-penetrating radar confirmed the findings at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia.

The Vatican’s roster of papal audiences indicated the Pope met with two Canadian Cardinals on Saturday, but did not say why the meetings took place or what was discussed.

The United, Presbyterian and Anglican churches have apologized for their roles in the abuse, as has the Canadian government, which has offered compensation.

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line is available for anyone affected by residential schools. You can call 1-866-925-4419 24 hours a day to access emotional support and services.

– With files from Paul James and The Associated Press