Ash Wednesday Collection (Needs of our Northern Mission)
In 2009, when the decree was made for a special collection on Ash Wednesday, our archdiocese was still designated a missionary diocese, under the auspices of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. We received huge subsidies from Propaganda Fidei in Rome and from Catholic Missions in Canada from Toronto. In January 2016, the northern dioceses in Canada were transferred to the Congregation of Bishops which changed our status. The subsidies from the Propaganda Fidei ended shortly after. Since 2023, the amount of funds provided by CMIC were substantially cut. Archbishop Pettipas, in writing his decree stated:
“I would see us, as a diocesan family, move gradually away from huge subsidies from outside sources, to being able to support our own diocesan needs. With this in mind, I hereby decree that all parishes and missions where we have an Ash Wednesday Mass or service take up a collection at that Mass or service, for the Needs of Our Northern Missions. For Ash Wednesday of 2009, I ask you to make available special envelopes that parishioners can use for this collection; in future years, have your supplier of donation envelopes add this to the boxes of envelopes. You are to submit the total of this collection to the chancery office, designated Needs of our Northern Missions.”
In 2015 – Renovation of the Little Flower Mission in Fox Lake
In 2016 – Our Lady of Assumption in Chateh
In 2017 – Ste Anne in Joussard
In 2018 – Ste Anne in Joussard
In 2019 – St Jean Baptiste Church in Garden River
In 2020 – Little Flower Mission in John D’Or and Fox Lake
In 2021 – Our Lady of Assumption in Chateh
Indigenous Reconciliation Fund
In September 2021, The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, at their plenary assembly committed to raising $30 million over a 5-year period. A determined amount is to be raised locally, and also to be used locally for programs that promote reconciliation. All dioceses and eparchies in Canada are taking part in this initiative, to the extent of their ability, but the total will not be less than $30M.
The CCCB has structured the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) to be highly accountable and transparent. While all monies will be raised in the dioceses and eparchies, those funds must be deposited in a central bank account before it is returned to the successful project applicants for its stated purposes.
The Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan was allocated to raise $165,000, (spread over 5 years), for an amount of $33,000 per year. In the next five years, the Ash Wednesday Collection will go towards our portion of the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund. The Ash Wednesday collection has customarily brought in about $25,000 each year. The Archdiocese tops this up from other sources to cover the deficient amount. We will also have to maintain our northern missions’ churches and rectories from other sources as well.
The following is from the IRF guidelines.
The IRF has designated four pillars to promote healing and reconciliation:
- Healing and Reconciliation for communities and families;
- Culture and language revitalization:
- Education and community building:
- Dialogues for promoting Indigenous spirituality and culture.
Dioceses can choose to create their own Committee (or leverage their own existing Reconciliation Action Committee, Discernment Circle or working group) or join together with other Dioceses to create a Regional Reconciliation Committee.
Committees can make granting recommendations/requests to the IRFund for up to the amount that their Diocese has contributed to the Fund. Committees are responsible for consulting with local Indigenous leaders, groups and agencies to source potential grantees. Grant recommendations/requests to the Fund are to be made with Indigenous input based upon an assessment of their merit and local value consistent with the General Criteria/Guidelines for granting and within each
Diocese/Region’s budget. Diocesan/Regional Reconciliation Committees can seek support from other Committees for grant requests that have impact beyond their Diocese/Region or are in excess of the Committee’s budget.
The Committees role is central to the success of the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund by ensuring that grant requests to the Fund are consistent with the Fund’s General Criteria/Guidelines for granting and that such grants made by the Fund have the maximum positive impact in their Diocese/region.
Committees are expected to exist for up to 7 years or until all of the monies contributed by the local Diocese/Region have been granted by the Fund.
2026 is the final year of the Ash Wednesday collection for the IRF and so far, three proposals have been approved:
Grouard Seniors Community Club ($11,050.00)
To install a monument containing the names of the 1,500 residents of the cemetery, including 221 people who attended the IRS in Grouard. We have a suggested donation of $50/ person for those 221 attendees for a total of $11,050.00
Peace River Aboriginal Inter-Agency Annual Reconciliation Vision Quest ($15,400.00)
PRAIC Vision Quest begins and ends with a sweat lodge, feast and giveaway. Elders and their helpers provide Vision Quest teachings including the Quest’s potential to bring healing to IRS survivors and succeeding generations. The Vision Quest will provide opportunities for people from varied backgrounds to learn, work and make ceremony available to those who participate as fasters and helpers. They received $15,400.00
Elders Pow-Wow – JB Wood Long Term Care ($5,000.00)
This is a one-time event being held for the residents and families of the JB Wood Long Term Care Facility in High Prairie. They had requested a one-time donation of $5,000.00 to cover the cost of Pow–Wow drummers, Master of Ceremonies and dancers. JB Wood covers the cost of staff bringing residents to the event. The High Prairie Friendship center provided snacks and drinks for the elders and families.
As the Church – disciples of Jesus Christ, we must be committed to believe that, we as the people of God should have a safe and welcoming environment to gather to pray, to learn, to receive the sacraments and to grow as a faith community. We should know and believe that this is one of the many aspects of our Christian vocation for the church in northern Alberta. The Ash Wednesday collection is an opportunity for you to be part of that vocation in a very real and meaningful way. You will be part of helping another mission move toward having a safe and welcoming environment.