Prayer and Spirituality

National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous People

The National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples is celebrated on December 12 every year, on the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, who appeared to a humble native peasant, Juan Diego, in Mexico in 1531.  The Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council celebrates this day for prayer, solidarity and reconciliation, by issuing an annual message honouring Aboriginal people who were inspired by their Catholic faith.

2022 National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples

Tuesday, December 06 2022

On 12 December, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Church in Canada celebrates the National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. This initiative of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has been coordinated since 2002 by the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council (formerly the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council). This year, the reflection by the Council is inspired by Pope Francis’s words of…

2021 National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples

Thursday, November 25 2021

On 12 December, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Church in Canada celebrates the National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. This project, with the approval of the Bishops of Canada, has been coordinated since 2002 by the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council (formerly the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council). This year, the reflection by the Council centres on the theme We are called…

2020 National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples

Monday, August 17 2020

On 12 December, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Church in Canada celebrates the National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. This project, with the approval of the Bishops of Canada, has been coordinated since 2002 by the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council (formerly the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council). This year, the reflection by the Council centres on the theme Healing of the…

2019 National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples

Monday, May 25 2020

On 12 December, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Church in Canada celebrates the National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. This project, with the approval of the Bishops of Canada, has been coordinated since 2002 by the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council (formerly the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council). This year, the reflection by the Council draws on theme of the United…

2018 National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples

Monday, May 25 2020

On 12 December, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Church in Canada celebrates the National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. This project, with the approval of the Bishops of Canada, has been coordinated since 2002 by the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council (formerly the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council). This year, the reflection by the Council draws on the theme explored during…

2017 National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Tuesday, November 21 2017

Since 1980, over 1000 Indigenous women and girls have been murdered in Canada. While Indigenous women make up only 4% of Canada's female population, 16% of all women murdered in Canada between 1980 and 2012 were Indigenous. In June 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission issued 94 Calls to Action designed to redress the legacy left by the Indian Residential Schools. In Call to Action…

2016 National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples: Prayer for Families

Friday, November 25 2016

The Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council has released a prayer of thanksgiving for families to mark the 2016 National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. The Aboriginal Council and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops have promoted the annual National Day of Prayer since 2002. It is celebrated on December 12, the memorial of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whom Pope Pius XII proclaimed patroness…

National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples, 2015: Introduction and Prayer

Thursday, October 22 2015

Catholicism and Traditional Indigenous Spirituality – A Reflection on Commonalities The National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples has been celebrated on December 12 since 2002. The following reflection by the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council identifies areas of commonality found in Traditional Aboriginal spirituality and the Catholic faith, seeking to point out bridges for mutual understanding. These will hopefully lead to a deeper…

2014 National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples

Friday, November 07 2014

The National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples has been celebrated since 2002 on December 12 by the Church in Canada. This year and next, as we join our Bishops in reflecting on the pastoral challenges for the family and its needs and role in evangelization, the members of the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council wish to honour elders who helped them develop their…

Message for the 2013 Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous People

Tuesday, October 22 2013

The National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples is celebrated on December 12 every year, on the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, who appeared to a humble Aztec peasant, Saint Juan Diego, in Mexico in 1531. The Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council celebrates this day of prayer, solidarity and reconciliation by issuing an annual message honouring Indigenous people…

Message for the 2012 Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous People

Saturday, December 08 2012

In response to an invitation earlier this year by the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops offers the following message for the 12 December 2012 Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous People: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha: A model for loving and following Jesus This year, through the miracles of God and the prayers of the Church, we are celebrating the solemn…

Statement of the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s National Event in Saskatchewan, June 2012

Saturday, June 23 2012

The Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council (CCAC) is composed of Aboriginal Canadians representing the different regions in Canada, some of whom attended residential schools, as well as two Catholic Bishops.  It was established in 1998 by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and serves to advise and assist the CCCB on issues concerning Aboriginal Peoples in Canada and to support and encourage efforts by the…

Message for the 2011 National Day of Prayer for Aboriginal Peoples by the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council

Tuesday, November 22 2011

Message from the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council of the CCCB National Day of Prayer for Aboriginal PeoplesFeast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe12 December 2011Rose Prince There was little indication of anything special about a quiet and unassuming child who attended the Lejac Indian Residential School in the 1920s and 1930s. She was perfectly ordinary.  Rose Prince was born in 1915 at Nak’azdli, a First Nations…

Message for the 2010 National Day of Prayer for Aboriginal Peoples by the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council

Wednesday, November 24 2010

Joseph Chiwatenhwa To all the faithful in parishes and dioceses across Canada: We turn to the Lord for peace, solidarity and inner strength for all! December 12 marks an important celebration in the Catholic Church in Canada, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the National Day of Prayer for Aboriginal Peoples. We ask, especially today, that you devote your prayers for the special…

Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council’s Message for the 2009 National Day of Prayer for Aboriginal Peoples

Friday, December 11 2009

  Grand Chief Henri Membertou On June 24, 1610, Chief Membertou was baptized, along with 21 members of his family, by Fr. Jessé Fléché, as a sign of alliance and friendship with the French in Port Royal, known today as Annapolis Royal, in Nova Scotia. Before Fléché’s arrival, Marc L’Escarbot had been teaching the Mi’kmaq people about the Christian faith, a directive from King Henry…

Message from the Catholic Aboriginal Council for Reconciliation for the National Day of Prayer for Aboriginal People

Monday, December 08 2008

Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe 12 December 2008 For the past six years, on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, the National Day of Prayer for Aboriginal People has expressed, through prayer, the unity that non-Aboriginal Catholics and Aboriginal Catholics share in their faith in Jesus Christ.  Today, this event is of particular significance as it takes place…

Preliminary study of Aboriginal Catholic Population in Canada

Thursday, July 24 2008

Preliminary study of Aboriginal Catholic Population in Canada (PDF Format)

Pastoral Message from the Catholic Aboriginal Council for Reconciliation for the National Day of Prayer for Aboriginal People

Thursday, July 24 2008

 Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe December 12, 2007 1. When the Blessed Mother appeared to Juan Diego on December 9, 10 and 12, 1531, she spoke to him in compassionate terms. She used the words my most abandoned son in her dialogue contained in the Nican Mophua. Juan Diego did not feel that he was worthy to be the messenger for her to…