A Message from Archbishop Miller

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I write to you today to invite you to join me in contributing generously to the September 10th special collection for Healing and Reconciliation. This collection helps to fulfill the commitment our local Church has made to seek a new path with our Indigenous brothers and sisters.

The funds raised provide grants for local projects developed and administered by Indigenous peoples. This initiative brings healing and reconciliation to communities and families, promotes culture and language revitalization, provides opportunities for education and community building, and facilitates dialogue.

The Archdiocese of Vancouver has committed $2.5 million to the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF), a Canada-wide Catholic initiative, over a five-year period that began in 2021. In 2022, we formed a grant committee to review project applications from local First Nations and Indigenous groups before recommending them to the IRF.  To date, your donations have sponsored eight projects, with many more to come.

Your support this year will allow us to continue sowing seeds of understanding and hope, thereby creating a future where reconciliation flourishes and the wounds of the past are gently healed.  On September 10, please give generously to the Healing and Reconciliation collection and be part of this transformative journey.

With the assurance of my prayers for you and your families, I remain

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+ J. Michael Miller, CSB 
Archbishop of Vancouver