Srviteten Ke ope Francis Valican Koruny 19, 2018 ‘We come from a broad range of faiths ~ Roman Catholic, Protestant (Anglican to Evangelical), Jewish, Muslim and indigenous - but share a common goal to have your message of humility, love and care for the marginalized heard in Vancouver, Canada, Although we may not all be Roman Catholic, wwe all value your spiritual leadership to the marginalized. Vancouver is one of the world’s most beautiful cities with much wealth ~ yet its urban core (the Downtown Eastside) has large, growing numbers of people who are homeless and who have mental disabilities. Many are indigenous peoples from remote reserves, often from communities of great despair. Our governments, churches and social agencies have not struggled hard enough to find solutions. ‘Your presence and message will bring a spotlight internationally to those concerns, and we are confident will start a dialogue towards resolution through engaged leadership from residents, governments, churches and social agencies. Ideally that visit would occur in the months of May to September, perhaps when you are next in North America. Specifically we invite you to + walk the Downtown Eastside; + engage in discussions and break bread with the residents and others; + visit an urban reserve and a remote reserve in Canada: and + celebrate Mass from a barge in English Bay, Vancouver, surrounded by indigenous canoes, and transported to the barge by one of those canoes — a moment on the journey of reconciliation between indigenous peoples and Christians. ‘We have sought input and guidance on this invitation from church leaders but the invitation is a {grass roots, mult-faith invitation. We look forward to discussions with you and your representatives on this invitation. Please contact Judy Graves or Tom Beasley to initiate those discussions. No one in our wealthy nation should be without a home and good food. Judy Grdves United Church of Canada Anglican Church of Canada P: 778-855-7750 tbeasley@telus.net P: 604-729-5650 judylynnegraves@ gmail.com in Gillése Roman Catholic Church Executive Director, Hillel House BC Susan Tatoosh Dr. Cheryl Bear Barnelson Executive Director, Nadleh Whut'en First Nation Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship 4 re Society a _ Ce aan Ccertanselef Mufti. Aasim Rashid Karen Giesbrecht British Columbia Muslin Association Alliance Church of Canada c: Archbishop Michael Miller, Archbishop of Vancouver Bishop Melissa Skelton, Bishop of New Westrinster Rt. Rev. Dr. Gary Paterson, Moderator of the United Church of Canada Rev. Ken Shigematsu, Senior Pastor, Tenth Avenue Alliance Church