Since 2002, the Canadian Church has marked December 12 as the National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. Organized with the support of the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council, this day encourages prayer, reflection, and concrete actions that help us learn to live together more harmoniously.
The date of December 12 coincides with the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas. Appearing in 1531 in Mexico as an Aztec princess to the humble Indigenous peasant Juan Diego, she stands as a powerful symbol of encounter, inculturation, and reconciliation.
Image source: Painting of Saint Juan Diego | Photo: Lawrence Lew, o.p. – Mission chez nous
2025 Theme: Remembering … the bridge we are called to build between us
This year’s theme invites us to rediscover the history behind the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and to draw inspiration from the spiritual message of this foundational event. It calls for rebuilding bridges, opening spaces for dialogue, and nurturing fraternity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Ready-to-use tools for communities
Mission chez nous, an initiative of the Assembly of Quebec Catholic Bishops committed to Christian solidarity with Indigenous Peoples, offers a resource sheet prepared by Pascale Haddad. Adapted to various liturgical and community settings, the sheet can be shared in multiple formats (printed leaflet, projection during celebrations, newsletter, social media, etc.).
It includes:
- a brief prayer intention suitable for celebrations or gatherings
• a longer general prayer
• catechetical suggestions based on a painting depicting Saint Juan Diego.
These tools provide simple and accessible resources to support moments of prayer in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples on December 12 or in the days surrounding this observance.