News releases

The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) once again demonstrated their solidarity with the World March of Women (WMW) by organizing a symbolic march on October 17 at their heritage campus in Longueuil. The group of about fifty people was composed mostly of religious, as well as affiliated and lay people and some children.

The Catholic Bishops of Canada are grateful that Pope Francis has accepted their invitation to visit Canada on a pilgrimage of healing and reconciliation. In anticipation of this visit, the planned delegation of Indigenous survivors, Elders, knowledge keepers and youth will travel to the Holy See, where they will have the opportunity to speak to Pope Francis about the timing, focus, and themes in preparation for his future pilgrimage to Canada.

The Bishops of Canada, as a tangible expression of their commitment to walk with the Indigenous Peoples of this land along the pathway of hope, are making a nation-wide collective financial commitment to support healing and reconciliation initiatives for residential school survivors, their families, and their communities. With a target of $30 million over up to five years, this will include initiatives in every region of the country.

Today marks the beginning of Truth and Reconciliation Week. This national educational program continues the conversation about the truths of First Nations Treaties, the Métis and Inuit Land Claims, and the legacy of the residential school system. […] This is an opportunity to fulfill the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action #62 on Education for Reconciliation, which calls for the development of an age-appropriate curriculum to involve students across the country in the Reconciliation process.

We, the Catholic Bishops of Canada, gathered in Plenary this week, take this opportunity to affirm to you, the Indigenous Peoples of this land, that we acknowledge the suffering experienced in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools. […] Along with those Catholic entities which were directly involved in the operation of the schools and which have already offered their own heartfelt apologies, we, the Catholic Bishops of Canada, express our profound remorse and apologize unequivocally.

It has been brought to the attention of the Sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame that a few congregations have received a letter appearing to have been signed by Sister Agnes Campbell and requesting the deposit of the accompanying cheque as well as the transfer of funds to beneficiaries.

The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) elected a new Congregational Leadership Team at the 35th General Chapter of Delegates, held from July 18-28, 2021. In addition to Sister Linda Haydock, elected as Congregational Leader for a second term, the team includes Sister Mary Haupt and Sister Susan Wells as General Councillors.

The Jesuit Provincials of Canada and the United States commit to studying the history of Indigenous boarding schools. “We write to express our deep sorrow at the recent discoveries of unmarked graves of Indigenous children at the sites of several former boarding schools in Canada. We grieve deeply the loss of human life and culture that took place at such schools, both in Canada and the United States, and we acknowledge that the Society of Jesus participated in that history.”

The discovery of the unmarked graves at former Canadian residential schools is a stark reminder of the most vulnerable and enslaved in our nations. We listen through the winds of time to the cries of hidden children, women, and men. Our breath is labored as we begin to understand the harms inflicted on the innocent. The discovery of these remains is heart-breaking and shameful. As human beings and as members of a religious congregation that served at two of these schools, we weep.