Assumption University and Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic Parish will host a special mass this Friday recognizing the recent discovery of unmarked graves outside residential schools.
A joint statement by Principal John Cappucci at Assumption University and Chaplain Steven Huber at the church expressed condolences after another 182 bodies were found outside the former St. Eugene Mission School in B.C.
"We are particularly grieved and ashamed to learn this residential school was under the auspices of a Roman Catholic organization," said the statement. "Again, this terrible treatment of Indigenous Peoples at the hands of the church does not reflect the intentions of Jesus Christ."
The discovery near Cranbrook, B.C., was announced last week.
The Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate operated the St. Eugene Mission School. It opened in 1890, and 5,000 Indigenous children from B.C. and Alberta attended it until it closed in 1970.
"For the past week, we at Assumption University and Assumption Parish have been setting aside time each day to pray and reflect as individuals about the tragedies associated with the residential school system," the statement continued. "We believe now is the time to come together as a community."
The service, which is open to the public, is scheduled for Friday, July 9 at 7 p.m. Those that wish to go should register in advance because seating is limited. Those who can not attend can watch it on YouTube starting at the same time.
The latest discovery is the third major announcement about the discovery of unmarked graves outside the schools. In May, the bodies of 215 children were discovered outside a residential school near Kamloops, B.C., and the Cowessess First Nation announced it had found another 751 outside the Marieval Indian Residential School east of Regina, Saskatchewan last month.
People struggling to cope with the discoveries can also contact the Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society at 1-800-721-0066 or the 24-hour Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419.
