Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day, December 12, 2018.
The Catholic Aboriginal Council for Reconciliation was created by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1998 to provide resources to increase awareness of indigenous issues, to support processes of healing and to foster indigenous faith leadership in the Christian community. In 2002 this Council recommended that each year December 12 be a National Day of Prayer for Indigenous Peoples. Our Lady of Guadalupe is also recognized Our Lady of the Americas. Our Blessed Mother appeared to Juan Diego, a humble indigenous man, in 1531 from December 9 to 12 and called him her “most abandoned son”.
Prayer
Creator God, we acknowledge all of the gifts we have been given. We especially acknowledge the gifts of the women in our lives, our mothers, grandmothers, wives, aunties, sisters and nieces. We express our sorrow and hurt for those of our Indigenous sisters who have gone missing or have been murdered. At this time, we ask for blessings for all women, and especially for those who have experienced inexplicable violation and suffering. We ask for comfort, care, and consolation, for those family members left behind. We again acknowledge the gifts of the Spirit we have been given and we ask for these blessings in Christ.
Amen