The Waterloo Synod, The Gift that Keeps on Giving
By Kay and Marie “Mimi” Craig
The Synod in Waterloo in June 2025 was a wonderful experience, both inspiring and spiritual. The design: the use of round tables and the distribution of the participants was one of the gifts of the Synod. I was fortunate to be placed next to Deacon Dave Frank from Thunder Bay. He was representing his home Indigenous parish of Kitchitwa Kateri Catholic Church, Thunder Bay, plus St Anne’s Fort William, First Nation and other Indigenous parishes in the north that he assists. Deacon Dave attended with his wife Debbie, his mother-in-law Grace Esquega and other Indigenous people. After three full days, he knew that I was born and raised in Fort Frances, 250 miles west of Thunder Bay and was possibly planning a trip to the old homestead this fall. Deacon Dave extended an invitation to visit him and Debbie if I ever traveled by way of Thunder Bay.
In September, it was decided that my niece Kay and I would make the long journey over Lake Superior by car. However, due to family reasons, we couldn’t leave until September 28th. I called Deacon Dave and indicated that unfortunately the day we would be in Thunder Bay was Sept 30th and I didn’t know if he and Debbie were available that day as it was Canada’s National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. He said the timing was perfect as they were having a liturgy honouring the Day of Truth and Reconciliation at 10AM at St Anne’s Parish, Fort William First Nation, and would we like to attend. Yes, I would love to attend. My niece, Kay, was more hesitant as she and her family members have felt very unwelcome in Catholic Churches they attended. She had told our mutual friend Christine Way-Skinner that she was never stepping into a Catholic Church again!
The first person I spotted, upon arriving at St Anne’s Parish, was Father Daryold Winkler, the priest from Ottawa with Indigenous roots who was part of Synod Team in Waterloo. He was visiting the Indigenous Community at St Anne’s, and he was to co-celebrate the liturgy with the parish priest and Deacon Dave.
Meanwhile, in the parking lot, my niece Kay was having second thoughts about even going in. However, her daughter took Indigenous Studies as a minor in her undergrad and she felt that in her honour and the Indigenous people, she would give the liturgy a try. Kay loved it! She found St Anne’s very welcoming and felt at peace with the surroundings, people and liturgy at St Anne’s.
The liturgy and the time of fellowship and community luncheon is beautifully written up on the web at tbnewswatch.com under the title “ Honouring Truth and Reconciliation at St Anne's Fort William First Nation.” This is a beautiful re-telling of the event and I could not do it justice here. So please read the article on this special time of healing and reconciliation.
Following the liturgy, the Waterloo Synod attendees decided to take the opportunity to have a photo-op to celebrate this reunion of the Synod attendees.
Left to right: Father Daryold Winkler, Grace Esquega, Marie Craig, Deacon Dave Frank and Debbie Esquega Frank
During fellowship, Kay admitted to Deacon Dave her hesitation to even enter St Anne’s due to past experiences. He quietly removed a cross necklace from around his neck and slipped it into her hand. She graciously accepted it, thanked him, and hung the cross over the rear-view mirror in our van for our safety and protection on our continuing journey.
So, while we went on a mission seeking reconciliation with the Indigenous community, it appears that the gift of the Indigenous Community to Kay, was their role in her reconciliation with the Catholic Church. She says she is not ready to attend just any church; we will pray that she finds a community as welcoming as St Anne’s. In the meanwhile, I have gifted Kay with the First Nations Version, Indigenous Bible Translation of the New Testament, to continue her own healing and reconciliation with the Catholic Church through the Indigenous people. The Waterloo Synod is the Gift that Keeps on Giving.