A delegation of Indigenous survivors, Elders, knowledge keepers and youth will meet with Pope Francis in Rome from March 28 to April 1, 2022. Rescheduled from an original December 2021 date because of the pandemic, the visit will include private meetings between the Holy Father and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis delegates where Pope Francis can hear their personal stories of the lasting legacy of residential schools. Delegates will also have the opportunity to speak with the Holy Father about their hopes and expectations for his eventual pilgrimage to Canada.
The members of Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle encourage the whole faith community to embrace this historic moment. The Circle is a Catholic coalition of Indigenous people, bishops, clergy, lay movements and institutes of consecrated life, which is engaged in renewing and fostering relationships between the Catholic Church and Indigenous Peoples in Canada. They have written a prayer for the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe; you can read it below, or download a prayer card.
As a way to stand in prayerful solidarity with the Indigenous delegation, the Circle also invites all the faithful to take a moment on March 28th to light a candle and pray for the delegation. In Indigenous spirituality, the Sacred Fire starts a ceremony or sacred event; it is a sacred practice meant to make individuals feel open, grounded, and connected with people on Earth and those who have moved on. In the Catholic church, light has also always had a special significance.
Together with the Circle, we pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe for her to intercede with her Son to shower abundant graces among and between us, for the conversion and healing of hearts, as we continue our journey of truth and reconciliation:
O Blessed Virgin, Our Lady of Guadalupe
Intercede for us with your Son
That we who live in this land,
Indigenous and non-Indigenous together
may experience healing and reconciliation,
on a renewed journey for justice
and peace for our children.
Mother of the Church, pray for us.
