Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
March 9th, 2023
Call to Action: 60
60. We call upon leaders of the church parties to the Settlement Agreement and all other faiths, in collaboration with Indigenous spiritual leaders, Survivors, schools of theology, seminaries, and other religious training centres, to develop and teach curriculum for all student clergy, and all clergy and staff who work in Aboriginal communities, on the need to respect Indigenous spirituality in its own right, the history and legacy of residential schools and the roles of the church parties in that system, the history and legacy of religious conflict in Aboriginal families and communities, and the responsibility that churches have to mitigate such conflicts and prevent spiritual violence.
Suggestions for Almsgiving
The 2023 Lenten Calendar is a project of CTA's Indigenous Solidarity Collective, a working group that addresses the Catholic Church's historical and current role in colonialization. To support more projects from working groups like this one, please consider making a contribution!
Thursday, Mar. 9, 2023
Church Apologies and Reconciliation
Call To Action's 2023 Lenten Calendar is a collaboration between the Indigenous Solidarity Collective and Anti-Racism Team (ART). This calendar provides more than 40 days of prayer and study to lead members into action and solidarity with Indigenous communities. For holy days and Sundays during Lent, we'll publish a reflection from an ART or Indigenous Solidarity Collective member on why we're committed to undoing racism and Indigenous oppression in our own communities and biases and what it means to do this work as Catholics. Following each meditation or reflection, we will feature a call to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
It is estimated that almost 25% of the population of the United States identifies as Catholic in some way. While that is quite a large portion of the population, it still leaves so much room for spiritual diversity within and apart from Christianity.
It was the work of Christian supremacy that sought to outlaw and eradicate the spiritual culture and wisdoms of the Indigenous peoples in North America, and now it is our responsibility to help aid in the restoration process through deep listening and appropriate action. This is especially true for our spiritual leaders, who live in the public eye and set the example of Christlike love servant-leadership.
As Christians we observe the calling to emulate Christ by extending love to our neighbors no matter how different they are from us. Our parishes, seminarians, clergy, and laypeople must do better to not perpetuate oppression and violence–spiritual or otherwise. This is how we follow Christ and show love for each other–not through assimilation, but through restoration.
—Meditation by Indigenous Solidarity Collective member Revalon Wesson
As part of your Lenten practice, please consider donating to one or more of the
following organizations: