Catholic Mission In Canada

Recently, Canadians have been made aware of Northern First Nations reserves that are in particularly difficult straits. Suffering from constant unemployment, poverty, and appalling living conditions, many reserves lack good and dependable sources of water. Such is the case in Attawapiskat, on James Bay, Ontario, but the condition sadly applies to several reserves across the country.

The Church has been an active presence in Attawapiskat since 1912, almost 100 years. St. Francis Xavier Mission there is still administered by the Oblates, and Father Rodrigue Vézina is the resident priest. Beyond the expected spiritual services provided by the priest and lay assistants, the Catholic mission has for a long time allocated funds and basic goods to the people when the residents are particularly needy and cannot get by on what the band and government funds give. Fr. Vézina harbours a deep concern for the physical welfare of his parishioners.

The deep-seated problems of the reserves like Attawapiskat cannot be solved by Church activities alone, but wherever we have a presence in one of these locations, Christ’s loving care can be witnessed.