ST. PAUL’S CATHOLICS MARK 50 YEARS, AS BISHOP SAYS HE WILL JOIN POPE FRANCIS IN FIRST NATIONS APOLOGIES

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — The local Catholic bishop will be joining the Pope this week in apologizing to Indigenous Canadians.

Bishop Daniel Miehm said he will be in Quebec Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as part of the historic occasions after Pope Francis arrived in Edmonton today.

The bishop was in Gravenhurst Sunday as Pope Francis arrived in Canada for the first leg of his momentous “pilgrimage of penance.”

Miehm was here to help St. Paul’s parishioners mark the 50th anniversary of their “new” church rebuilt in 1972 at a cost of about $150,000.

After celebrating Mass at 9 a.m., the Bishop told MuskokaTODAY.com that while he has not met the Pope personally, he has previously been part of a larger delegation of bishops in Rome to meet with the pontiff.

He said he didn’t know of any official delegations of First Nations representatives from his diocese attending any of the Pope’s multiple appologies planned, but said he himself has been meeting with area Native representatives to discuss the church’s reconciliation efforts.

Miehm, who also concelebrated the 10:30 a.m. Mass with parish priest Father Placid Obiji, acknowledged this week’s round of apologies for the “injustices,” while noting the Pope was landing out west jus about as he delivered the first of his two sermons.

Following the two masses parishioners sat down to lunch in the packed parish hall, joined by two former retired parish priests Father James Sercely and Father Joe Moran, who live in Gravenhurst and Bracebridge respectively.

Most Rev. Daniel Miehm, bishop of the Peterborough Catholic diocese, congratulates St. Paul’s parish priest Father Placid Obiji on the church’s 50th anniversary celebration.
The bishop spoke to a small audience of parishioners at the first of two masses, which be promised would be larger at 10:30 a.m. when “a free lunch would follow.”
Bishop Miehm and Father Placid both wore masks while distributing holy communion. Some other parishioners also wore masks.
Retired parish priests Father Joe Moran, left, and Father James Sercely joined the bishop and parish priest in concelebrating the second mass this morning.

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