Leo XIV Appoints Canadian Archbishop – Promoter of Indigenous Paganism in Eucharists
Born on December 19, 1969, in Montréal, he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Edmonton in 2000. In 2021, Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Prince Albert.
Inculturation of Mother-Earth Indigenous Rituals
In May 2025, the Catholic Bishops of Saskatchewan – including Bishop Hero – issued a directive on “Liturgy and Inculturation for Indigenous and Métis Celebrations.”
It allows drums to be used during the Eucharist with guidance from an Elder. In Indigenous natural religion, drums are considered sacred because the drumbeat symbolizes the heartbeat of “Mother Earth.”
Furthermore, the directive allows sweetgrass or sage to be used in place of incense during the Eucharist. Sweetgrass is often referred to as the “hair of Mother Earth” and is therefore regarded as sacred.
The indigenious ritual of "Smudging" is also permitted in churches before the Eucharist, facilitated by an Elder. This practice is understood as removing anything heavy and establishing a connection to ancestors and the land.
The directive furthermore references praying toward the four (or six) directions, which are ritual gestures in Indigenous cosmology.
“Terrible Memories” of Residential Schools
In June 2025, Bishop Hero supported a history about body discoveries at the Catholic Marieval Indian Residential School. However, even the local chief explained later: "This is not a mass grave site. These are unmarked graves".
The cemetery was known and used even before the school as built.
But Bishop Hero, together with the other Catholic bishops of Saskatchewan, issued a strongly worded joint statement about the residential schools: “Discoveries of unmarked graves open deep wounds and bring back terrible memories which re-traumatize.”
They also launched a province-wide fundraising appeal.
The bishops used to speak of “residential school survivors,” implying that the missionary work of countless priests and nuns had been evil.
“Season of Burning Churches”
When the church of Holy Trinity at Orlow in his diocese was burned to the ground in July 2021, Bishop Hero spoke sarcastically of a “terrible season of ‘burning churches’.”
In March 2022, Bishop Hero met with some tribal chiefs. According to SaskToday.ca, the meeting began with a pipe ceremony in which Bishop Hero participated.
During the meeting, Bishop Hero expressed “his personal apology for all the harm caused by residential schools.”
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