Those of you who are listeners of the SLHour know that we usually take a break from new content during the Summer, and instead play some of our favourite conversations from earlier in the year. Sometimes, however, there are things that cannot wait until the FALL and this is one of those times. The two conversations featured in the latest SLHour episode are so important that we thought we'd also share them here on our blog. First we speak with Archbishop Michael Miller, CSB of Vancouver about the historic Sacred Covenant that was signed between the Archdiocese of Vancouver, the Diocese of Kamloops, and the TK’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation. We also speak with Mary and Louis Richard, Program Directors of the new Discipleship Formation Program offered by the Catholic School of Evangelization of the Archdiocese of Saint-Boniface. They're now accepting applications for this new year that begins this September. You can listen to the episode by clicking on the video at the top. If you prefer to listen to the podcast, visit the SLHour webpage.  

A Sacred Covenant in B.C.

On Easter Sunday, 2024, Archbishop Michael Miller of Vancouver, Bishop Joseph Nguyen of Kamloops and Chief Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir of the TK’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation signed a Sacred Covenant, with the goal of fostering healing and reconciliation and showing a deep commitment to truth and a desire to walk together. You may remember that in May 2021, the TK'emlups Nation in Kamloops, British Columbia reported their preliminary findings on the grounds of the former Kamloops Residential School. This announcement unleashed a fury of emotions, brought the issue of the Residential School System to the mainstream, and renewed a passion across the country for finding the missing children who attended these schools between 1890 and 1996, some 4,100 who likely died while in the 150 schools, according to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Some will even say that Pope Francis’ visit to the Indigenous people of Canada in 2022 was precipitated by that Kamloops announcement. The Kamloops Residential School operated from 1890 to 1969 and at one time was the largest Residential School in Canada, with as many as 500 students. The school building still stands today. It was in May 2021, after a survey with ground-penetrating radar, that disruptions in the ground were found – at the time reported as unmarked graves. Based on their placement, size and depth, the assumption was that these were the remains of as many as 200 children who may have died while attending the school and were buried there, instead of being returned home. Even though Indigenous people in Canada have had a relationship with the Catholic Church since the 17^th century, and many of their people have been Catholic for many generations, the signing of this agreement forges a new relationship between the Church and Indigenous peoples, reflecting a mutual acknowledgement of the Church’s role in the Residential School System.  

Discipleship Formation in Manitoba

In 2010, on Salt and Light Radio (the program that is now called "The Salt + Light Hour") featured the music of a musical family, The Richard Family. This week they join us for this special short edition of the SLHour, not to speak about the music they produced with their five children while they were growing up, but about a new program that we hope will be interesting to many of you. I speak with people all the time who tell me that they want to go deeper into the faith. Mostly they want the basic stuff: they want to learn more about the saints, or church history, or what the Church teaches about sexuality or social justice. For some it’s basic catechism or they want to learn more about the liturgy. Some, however, feel a deeper call, maybe to mission and discipleship, to be more than just spectators in the faith. But they are not called to religious or ordained life, and most of these people don’t want to or can’t go and get a theology degree. Honestly, I don't think that they can find what they are looking for by studying theology alone. They also won’t get it at your parish adult catechesis program. If this describes you, then you’re in luck, because the Catholic School of Evangelization in the Archdiocese of Saint-Boniface in Winnipeg, Manitoba has been providing adult formation programs since 1992. One of these is The Discipleship Formation program: for one year, young Catholics live in community during the week, and study the Catholic faith with the head and the heart. The program is also designed to help them develop their personal relationship with Jesus Christ and grow in their missionary zeal through evangelization and ministry. You can learn more and apply for the program at www.catholicway.net. Remember that if you don’t want to miss an episode of the SLHour, you can subscribe to the show anywhere you get your podcasts, just look for the Salt and Light Hour Catholic Podcast or ask your voice-activated device to play the Salt and Light Hour Catholic Podcast. More Indigenous Resources:

Watch Walking Together.

Watch Walking Together: Into One Beat

Watch our coverage of Pope Francis' visit to Canada.

Watch Salt + Light Media's coverage of the Indigenous delegation's meetings with the Holy Father that took place March 28 to April 1, 2022: A Journey Toward Healing and Reconciliation.

Read "Understanding the Indigenous delegation to Rome: Some helpful resources".   Check out all our SLHour podcasts! Click here.