杏MAP导航 in Qu茅bec to 'foster communion with Canada's Indigenous peoples'
By Benedict Mayaki, SJ
The second leg of 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� ongoing 鈥淧enitential Pilgrimage鈥� has brought him to Québec City, where he will remain till Friday when he leaves for Iqaluit.
On Thursday evening, the Holy Father is scheduled to preside at Vespers with the Bishops, clergy, consecrated persons, seminarians and pastoral workers at the Notre Dame de Québec Cathedral.
As the Cathedral prepares to receive the 杏MAP导航, Fr. Jimmy Rodrigue, Notre Dame鈥檚 Rector, shares his thoughts on the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 presence in the country and his message of healing and reconciliation for the Indigenous peoples.
Action accompanied by words
Speaking to Vatican News' Silvonei Protz, Fr. Rodrigue describes the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 visit to the Cathedral of Québec as a 鈥渄eeply meaningful moment鈥� and 鈥渁n act which will be accompanied by words.鈥�
The Cathedral鈥檚 Rector insists that the words which the Holy Father will speak have to be received with a 鈥渃areful and deep attitude鈥� in order to further foster communion.
He further stresses that this is the 鈥減rincipal attitude鈥� needed in order to be ready to embrace directions for new creativity in ministry and actions with Canada鈥檚 Indigenous peoples.
A sign of communion
Although the Vespers in the Cathedral is primarily for the Bishops, clergy, religious and pastoral workers in Québec, Fr. Rodrigue says that it is also for 鈥渢he whole Church in Canada.鈥�
杏MAP导航 Francis is expected to give a homily at the Thursday evening event.
鈥淚t will be a sign, a very beautiful sign of communion to receive together, the words of the Holy Father,鈥� Fr. Rodrigue says, adding that he hopes that it will provide 鈥渟trength to see the future with hope.鈥�
In the priest鈥檚 opinion, the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 presence in Canada is essential as it provides him with the opportunity to be more aware of the situation, as regards the sufferings inflicted on Indigenous peoples and the forced assimilation they endured in the residential school system administered also by some local Church institutions in the past.
On Monday, 杏MAP导航 Francis apologized to Canada鈥檚 Indigenous peoples, saying that he has come to their land in person to express his closeness to them and to 鈥渋mplore God鈥檚 forgiveness, healing and reconciliation.鈥�
Fr. Rodrigue expressed hope that the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 Apostolic Journey will create 鈥渂etter fruits for communion and for welcoming each other.鈥�
Notre Dame of Québec Cathedral
Notre Dame of Québec is the oldest Church in Canada and is recognized as one of the country鈥檚 historic monuments.
In 1664, it became the first parochial church north of Mexico and was dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. In 1674, it became a cathedral following the appointment of St. Francis de Laval as the first bishop of Québec City. Two hundred years later, 杏MAP导航 Pius IX elevated it to a Basilica.
The Cathedral houses the tomb of St. François de Laval, a large reliquary of Canada鈥檚 Saints and Blesseds, and is adorned with a Holy Door which was installed in 2014 on the 350th Anniversary of Notre-Dame de Québec Parish.
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