Ursuline Sisters Make a Generous $100,000 Commitment to our Truth and Reconciliation Fund

For Immediate Release                        

London, Ontario – The Ursuline Sisters of Chatham have made a five-year commitment of $20,000 per year to the Diocese of London Truth and Reconciliation Fund. This generous donation will help the fund achieve its goal of supporting projects that promote healing for, and reconciliation with, Indigenous People.

In February of 2022, Bishop Fabbro committed the Diocese to raising $1.8 million over five years for the Truth and Reconciliation Fund as our portion of the $30 million commitment made by Canada’s bishops in September of 2021. The Diocese of London’s $1.8 million will support projects that advance healing and reconciliation with Indigenous communities. This generous donation by the Ursuline Sisters supports the funds that are being raised by our parishioners and other donors.

Six projects have already been approved by the diocesan Truth and Reconciliation Committee to receive funding and more are being readied for submission this year and next. After local approval by the diocesan committee, all projects are reviewed by the national Indigenous Reconciliation Fund that is overseeing donations from 73 Catholic entities in Canada.

Projects supported to date include:
•    Thames Bluewater Métis Council •    Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation - Giiwayshkodayaang (The Place Where You Come Home to the Fire)
•    Oneida Nation of the Thames •    Northern Bridge - In Person & Virtual Counselling, Systems and Support Programming for Indigenous Communities Affected by Residential Schools Systems

More details on the Diocese of London’s truth and reconciliation work are at this link.

Quotes
“We are pleased to offer our support for this historic effort and help the healing and reconciliation journeys with Indigenous People. We thank Bishop Fabbro for his leadership and encourage all to support these efforts to bring justice and peace to our brothers and sisters,” said Congregational Leader Sister Theresa Mahoney, osu. 

“Our commitment is to continue making investments in programs that will help communities heal. We are starting to see the fruit of generous donations like this, as the funding we are providing reaches local Indigenous communities. I offer my thanks to the Ursuline Sisters for their very generous donation and to the diocesan Truth and Reconciliation Committee that is guiding our efforts,” said Bishop Fabbro.  . 

More Information 
About the Diocese of London - Founded in 1856, the Roman Catholic Diocese of London serves an estimated 440,000 Catholics in nine Southwestern Ontario counties.  The Diocese currently comprises 118 parishes and Catholic Communities ranging from Windsor to Woodstock and from Goderich to Port Dover.  The Bishop of the Diocese of London is the Most Rev. Ronald P. Fabbro, CSB.

About the Ursuline Sisters of Chatham – The Ursuline Sisters were founded in Chatham in 1860. In the late nineteenth century, the Ursuline Sisters began expansion throughout Southwestern Ontario establishing houses and ministering in elementary, secondary, post-secondary educational institutions as well as founding Glengarda, a residential and day program for children with special needs, music schools and a business college. Along with other communities of religious women, they are responsible for the building up of the Catholic school system in Ontario. The Ursulines established Brescia University College, which until 2023, was Canada’s only university college for women.

Media contact 
Matthew Clarke, Director of Communications 
T: 519-433-0658 ext. 263
M: 519-494-4086 
mclarke@dol.ca
www.dol.ca