Lots of the necessary moments in Missy Fraser’s life have been celebrated at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Parish in Ottawa — from Sunday companies to household funerals to her personal marriage ceremony.

“It held a particular place, as a result of it was a part of our household,” stated Fraser.

However since 2019, St. Margaret Mary has sat empty and now it is on the market. There isn’t any value listed, however provides have been to be thought-about on July 20, 2022.

About 70 congregants signed a letter to the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall asking that the proceeds of the sale, between $1.5 and $three million, be directed towards reconciliation and residential college survivors, in response to Fraser. 

The group’s first response from the archdiocese was the property had already been offered. The truth is, officers later clarified the property had simply been transferred to the Roman Catholic Episcopal Company of Ottawa. 

In line with Fraser, the archdiocese advised the group of parishioners it has its personal plans for residential college survivors and no proceeds of the sale of the church will go to survivors.

Church initially bought by parishioners

It was the native Catholic neighborhood that initially purchased the church nearly 100 years in the past, so members of the congregation felt they need to have a say within the proceeds of the sale of the property now.

“It was bought within the 1920s, grassroots parishioners going door to door elevating the cash for it … that church was transferred to the archdiocese in belief,” stated Fraser.

Fraser worries the church is attempting to “liquidate to realize revenue,” noting the archdiocese is not simply ignoring the desires of former members, however its historical past too. 

“Within the first occasion, the church and the property is on unceded Algonquin Anishinābeg territory,” stated Fraser. 

“We’re now seeing this nice human tragedy in residential faculties. To not acknowledge that, to imagine rezoning for condominium models, we have ignored some necessary issues.”

Separate funds for survivors

For its half, the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall stated it has different plans to assist Indigenous communities. 

“We’re doing totally different actions and consulting First Nations and assembly folks about totally different initiatives that may be towards reconciliation,” stated Geneviève Bonin-Labelle, director of communications for the archdiocese.

“However our actual property is separate from Indigenous funds, in order that’s a call the diocese has made.”

The Canadian Convention of Catholic Bishops has pledged to place thousands and thousands of {dollars} towards initiatives for residential college survivors. 

The fund, registered as a charity in March, is accepting contributions and reviewing proposals for the place cash may go, the convention stated.

The group has additionally promised to supply public updates on the progress made towards the $30 million goal, which it has pledged to achieve by January 2027.

The Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall stated it hasn’t launched the marketing campaign nevertheless it plans to contribute $1.2 million to that fund, however that cash will probably be raised by neighborhood donations. 

Catholics for Fact and Reconciliation

It is not the primary time Catholic leaders have tried to boost cash for residential college survivors.

Catholic church entities signed on to boost $25 million below the Indian Residential Faculties Settlement Settlement in 2006, however lower than $four million was raised. 

Former chief of the Meeting of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, a survivor himself, stated with the Pope’s apology and go to to Canada this week, this time is totally different. 

“There may be significantly extra strain on the Canadian Convention of Catholic Bishops to do the fitting factor, which suggests increase the cash they promised us,” Fontaine stated not too long ago on CBC’s The Present. 

Final summer time, a bunch referred to as Catholics for Fact and Reconciliation began its personal grassroots marketing campaign and raised about $30,000.

It has been a troublesome time to be a Catholic, in response to Erin Kinsella, a member of the group.

“The God that I do know shouldn’t be a God of abuse. It is painful,” stated Kinsella. “I grew up in Saskatchewan. I had no concept that residential faculties even existed.” 

The bishops have been inviting folks of their dioceses to contribute financially, she stated. 

However Missy Fraser and others who attended St. Margaret Mary, consider communities have already contributed, and now it is the establishment’s flip handy over proceeds as properties are offered.

“The archdiocese wants to begin listening to the communities … which are connected to the land that the church sits on. To not do that’s to proceed a sample of assuming that issues are yours that aren’t yours,” stated Fraser.