Subjects discussed at the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon are similar to what Chatlain faces in Keewatin-Le Pas, what Gordon faces on Vancouver Island in the Diocese of Victoria and what other dioceses face across the vast Canadian north. The areas are remote, largely populated by Indigenous peoples, have too few priests and their lands are rich in natural resources coveted by corporations.
Chatlain said the attention brought to the Amazon can only help conversations when the first world meets with the Indigenous peoples who have called these lands home since before the Europeans arrived.
鈥淚 think it鱿鱼视频app a validation of Indigenous peoples across the world, that there are gifts and cultural values that are to be respected and listened to,鈥� said Chatlain, archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas, which covers a vast swath of land across northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba into northwestern Ontario. 鈥淚 think that鱿鱼视频app a good model for us to continue to work on in Canada. The Indigenous peoples of Canada have a very significant role and voice that we as Church continue to be able to hear.鈥�
Gordon said the synod provided 鈥渁 listening stance to the Indigenous populations in those regions.鈥�
An issue long on the table in Canada has been the discussion of married priests in the North, though the northern bishops have not been pushing as strongly as they did in the late 20th century. The issue drew plenty of attention at the synod and synod fathers called for approval of ordaining married priests to serve remote Amazon regions, as well as giving women leadership roles in the Church. Whether Pope Francis approves changes remains unclear.
Gordon said 鈥渋t just doesn鈥檛 cut it鈥� in 鈥渞adically rural territory鈥� for a priest to be flying in for Mass once a year. The synod kickstarted the conversation needed for serving these territories and the Church needs to be 鈥渁 little more creative鈥� in how this works.
鈥淚f the celebration of the Eucharist is the source and summit, we may have to think of other ways that it might be able to happen without a 10-year seminary program,鈥� said Gordon, who served nine years as bishop of Whitehorse in the Yukon and northern B.C.
Chatlain said his diocese is trying to address things 鈥渇rom a variety of perspectives.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e open to the Holy Spirit鱿鱼视频app direction if a married clergy is a way forward. We鈥檙e praying for vocations (and) we鈥檙e also working on the permanent diaconate,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat was fairly strong a few years back and now we鈥檙e starting to resurface the development of permanent diaconate, especially from some of our Indigenous men.鈥�
Chatlain said they鈥檝e had 鈥渁 gift鈥� in the number of foreign priests who serve in Canada鱿鱼视频app north. The key, though, is developing local leaders. 鈥淥ur real goal is our lay leaders. We have worked hard over many years to call forth our local lay leaders, and most of them are grandmas,鈥� he said.
The Whitehorse diocese has recently begun to seek new vocations from outside the diocese. It has only a handful of active priests and religious brothers and sisters serving 7,500 Catholics spread over 23 parishes and missions in a 725,000 square-kilometre area. The plan is to have these candidates study at one of the three Redemptoris Mater Seminaries in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver and Quebec City).
In the aftermath of the synod, it鱿鱼视频app time to act on a host of issues, but it won鈥檛 be easy or quick, said Chatlain. 鈥淭rying to have reconciliation, to try to have a deeper understanding between groups, it鱿鱼视频app not simple work or we would have done it a long time ago,鈥� he said.
There鱿鱼视频app no one solution and the bishops have been observing the efforts of the Anglicans in the North, and 鈥渢hey鈥檙e not hitting the ball out of the park,鈥� said Chatlain. Their struggles are similar to those of the Catholic Church.
鈥淚 think the Amazonian reality may lend itself to something more creative because of the radical isolation,鈥� said Gordon.