Oblate leader says truth, humility and relationship are at the heart of reconciliation

Father Andrzej Stendzina, the Provincial Superior of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Lacombe, Canada, stated that truth, humility, and relationship are essential to reconciliation.

Speaking at Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Stendzina acknowledged the complex history between the Oblates and Indigenous peoples. He noted that while the order's history includes missionary service and long-standing friendships, it also includes the suffering caused by the residential school system.

Stendzina said the Oblates were part of the residential school system where Indigenous children, families, and communities experienced harm, the separation of families, and the wounding of languages and cultures. He stated that while the order cannot undo the harm or change the past, they must acknowledge the truth honestly and accept responsibility to let that truth shape their current lives. He emphasized that reconciliation requires more than apologies, financial commitments, or official statements, identifying relationship as its core.