Breaking bannock on city streets
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/article32318
- Author
- De Santis, Solange
- Journal
- Anglican Journal
- Date
- 2004 December
- Volume
- 130
- Issue
- 10
- Page
- 3
- Notes
- The Rev. Andrew Wesley divides his time between the Church of the Redeemer and outreach to the native community in the city. "On a warmish Saturday morning in October [2004], Rev. Andrew Wesley walks along one of Toronto's major thoroughfares, Bloor Street, carrying a plastic contained of blueberries and a bag of flatbread. ... Mr. Wesley is heading for his constituents -- a group of aboriginal people who live in Bedford Park just across from the University of Toronto's football field. The flatbread is bannock, a traditional Indian bread that is a taste of home for the people he would be meeting". "The Cree priest, who grew up in northern Ontario, often discusses forgiveness in his work. 'I tell them I did it and so can you', says Mr. Wesley". "These Saturday morning 'walkabouts', as Mr. Wesley calls them, are part of a recent commitment by the diocese of Toronto to minister to some of the approximately 60,000 aboriginal people in the city. Mr. Wesley divides his time between the downtown Church of the Redeemer, known for its social justice activities, and the Toronto Urban Native Ministry office housed in an aboriginal service agency called Council Fire Native Cultural Centre". "Archbishop Terence Finlay, formerly the bishop of Toronto says that in 2000, as stories of the residential schools came to light, the diocese held a 'healing circle' meeting to hear natives talk about their experiences in the schools. One of the organizers, Frances Saunderson, 'challenged the diocese to do something and find and develop an aboriginal priest who would guide us in this', says Archbishop Finlay. Mr. Wesley he says, 'has a real passion for this ministry and is helping native and non-native people to understand each other. He has a foot in both camps and the ability to be a bridge-builder'". "Ordained in 2003, Mr. Wesley says he us 'very strongly rooted' in his aboriginal traditions but that he also 'comes with Christ behind (him); when he works with native people".
- Subjects
- Wesley, Andrew
- Indigenous clergy - Anglican Church of Canada
- Indigenous peoples - Canada - Residential schools - Anglican Church of Canada
- Indigenous peoples - Canada - Urban residence
- Inner cities - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Toronto Urban Native Ministry