Reconciliation work to continue long after Papal visit

St. Thomas More College presented the 33rd Annual Michael Keenan Memorial Lecture on Nov. 3, with the Honourable Graydon Nicholas speaking on "Reflections on the Papal Visit: When does the Reconciliation Journey begin? and with Whom?"

Nicholas is Maliseet from the Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick and has enjoyed a ground-breaking career of service as a lawyer and public servant. He was the first Indigenous person to earn a law degree in Atlantic Canada. He was the first Indigenous provincial court judge in New Brunswick, serving from 1991 to 2004, and was also the province's first Indigenous Lieutenant Governor, serving from 2009-2014. In 2020 he was appointed Chancellor of St. Thomas University in New Brunswick.

Nicholas gave the background regarding how the Papal visit to Canada in July 2022 came about, from the invitation from Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in October 2021, to the visit of a delegation of Indigenous survivors, elders, knowledge keepers, and youth who visited the Vatican in late March of this year to speak with Pope Francis about the timing, focus and themes in preparation for his future pilgrimage to Canada.

In what he called Walking Together, His Apostolic Journey, A Penitential Pilgrimage, Pope Francis visited Canada from July 24-29.

It came in response the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015, specifically No. 58, which called upon the Pope to issue an apology to survivors, their families and communities, for the role of the Roman Catholic Church in the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children in Catholic run residential schools.

Nicholas chronicled the statements made by Pope Francis on his trip to Canada during the summer of 2022, including his admission the actions of members of the Catholic church resulted in a genocide.

“Pope Francis did apologize many times in his speeches and homilies,” said Nicholas. “Pope Francis invited the Indigenous peoples on a journey with our Catholic Church: ‘It will be based on trust, truth and sharing of our Catholic faith and Indigenous spiritualities.’ ”

“ ‘This sacred journey will have no shortcuts, and be arduous, with major stops along the way. There is hope with many prayers and rituals which will be shared on this path. We all need to be on this journey.’ ”

Nicholas, a devout Catholic, said as followers of the risen Jesus we must continue to pray, be open to learn, seek the truth, express our sorrow and hope, and move forward with determination to a reconciliation and healing.

“With all this important information, what is a person, community or university to do?” Nicholas asked. He said this history needs to be taught at universities to reach young minds.

He also said for those who are just learning about the history and details of the tragic events that spurred the need for the Papal apology, the path ahead was clear. It must involve Indigenous persons and communities who belong to the First Nations, Metis and Inuit.

“Each of these peoples experienced residential schools in different ways. This will not be an easy process. But I encourage you to begin that path.”

To begin the evening, Dr. Tammy Marche, Dean of STM College, gave a history of the Keenan Lecture, and noted it is STM’s signature academic lecture of the year. It was named in honour of Dr. Michael Keenan, the first Dean of the College from 1975 to 1985. The annual lecture features leading intellectuals in various fields, and it has been the focus of the lecture to explore the synthesis of faith and reason, in keeping with the mission of the College.

The full 2022 Keenan Lecture is available to watch online at:

2022 Keenan Lecture