Towards Healing Letter.indd - Catholic Diocese of Ballarat

TOWARDS HEALINGPastoral Letter on Sexual AbuseDear People Of The Diocese Of Ballarat:I have been Bishop of the Diocese of Ballarat fornearly ten years and during that time I havebeen responding to the terrible legacy of severalformer priests of the Diocese, who sexuallyassaulted young people over many years.Inrecent months, publicity surrounding courtproceedings has again raised public awarenessof the damage that is inflicted by this abuse.SUFFERINGI have personally met with many victims ofthese crimes. I am appalled by the sufferingthat has occurred. Their families, too, have beendevastated by the harm to their loved ones,and by the violation of the trust they placed infigures they once respected and admired.The priests of the Diocese have been shockedand saddened by what has been done by someof their number. They feel betrayed and aredeeply disappointed. They join me in abhorringthese actions and in their commitment to dowhatever possible to work for healing and torebuild trust.CATHOLICDIOCESEofBALLARATACKNOWLEDGEMENTTherefore, I ask that this fifth Sunday of Lentbe celebrated asTOWARDS HEALING SUNDAY’throughout the Ballarat Diocese. It is my hopethat this will provide an opportunity forus to acknowledge the suffering of victimsand to ask for God’s grace and mercy as wecommit ourselves to working for the healingof victims, their families, and the wider churchcommunity.I wish to express my sincere regret and apologyfor the suffering and trauma caused by theactions of some of our priests. I am also awarethat the response of the church to this issuein the past has sometimes increased people’sanger, confusion and disappointment. For thisI also apologise.

TOWARDS HEALINGSuggestions for Prayer and LiturgyF O R M A S S O N “ TOWA R D S H E A L I N G” S U N DAY• Use the Litany of Healing for the Penitential Rite.• Include one or two of the Intercessions in the Prayers of the Faithful• Use the Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation• Have printed copies of prayers available to be taken for further group and individual prayerIntercessionsLord, we pray for the Church: strengthen the Church in thishour of trial, and make her ever more perfectly a sign of theheavenly Kingdom.We pray for our leaders and our ministers: help them tocommit themselves anew to you and to the service of yourholy people.We pray for those who have suffered any abuse at the handsof those entrusted with their wellbeing: may God leadthem in the paths of inner peace and renew them in lovingkindness.We pray also for those who have sinned against theircommitment to care for God’s people, and against the mostvulnerable among us; grant them the gift of true repentance,and a firm resolve to live according to the ways of God.We pray for parents, spouses, brothers and sisters, sonsand daughters, extended family and friends of victims whohave carried a variety of painful crosses connected to theexperience of sexual abuse.We pray for ourselves and all who work to build the Kingdomhere on earth; may God keep us all vigilant in our dedicationto the safety and well-being of those to whom we minister.God of light and goodness, send your Holy Spirit upon us,and strengthen us in your service. Help us to love each othereven as you love us, and to commit ourselves anew to theprotection of all your children, especially the most innocentand vulnerable.A Prayer For Healing (for the victims of abuse)God of endless love,ever caring, ever strong,always present, always just:You gave your only Sonto save us by the blood of his cross.Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace,join to your own suffering the pain of allwho have been hurt in body, mind, and spiritby those who betrayed the trust placed in them.Hear our cries as we agonizeover the harm done to our brothers and sisters.Breathe wisdom into our prayers,soothe restless hearts with hope,steady shaken spirits with faith:Show us the way to justice and wholeness,enlightened by truth and enfolded in your mercy.Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts,heal your people’s woundsand transform our brokenness.Grant us courage and wisdom, humility and grace,so that we may act with justiceand find peace in you.We ask this through Christ, our Lord.Amen.+ Bishop John F. KinneyBishop of the Diocese of St. CloudCONCLUDING PRAYERHeavenly Father, grant to us your children of all ages the joyof seeing you in each other. May the adults among us alwaysmirror your protection for our children and young people.And may we all praise you with your Son our Lord, and theHoly Spirit, now and forever.All:Amen.

Lord, have mercyChrist, have mercyLord, have mercyProtect all children, LordGrant us the grace, LordPreserve our nation, LordA LITANY FOR HEALINGFor children afraid or abandonedFor children abusedFor children who sleep in fearFor children afraid to go homeFor children afraid of their abusersFor children whose innocence has been stolenFor the adults whose innocence was stolenFor the adults bearing the pain of childhood abuseFor those who cannot trust, LordFor those who cannot love, LordFor those whose hearts are filled with fearFor the Church, called to be the light of the worldFor Bishops, called to be Good ShepherdsFor Priests, conformed to the person of ChristFor all ministers of the Church, called to live the GospelFor priests who abuse childrenFor parents or relatives who abuse their childrenFor teachers and coaches who abuse childrenFor all who abuse childrenTo doctors and therapists, LordTo houses of healing and renewal, LordTo men and women of the media, LordTo lawyers and judges, LordTo those imprisoned for abuse, LordLord, have mercyChrist, have mercyLord, have mercyHoly Mary, Mother of GodPray for us!St. Patrick (or the Patron of your Church) Pray for us !Blessed Mary MackillopPray for us!Lord have mercyChrist have mercyLord have mercyWith your enduring loveTo protect and nourish the innocentTo be chaste and pure in loveSave, heal and protect them, O Lord!Save, heal and protect them, O Lord!Save, heal and protect them, O Lord!Save, heal and protect them, O Lord!Save, heal and protect them, O Lord!Save, heal and protect them, O Lord!Save, heal and protect them, O Lord!Save, heal and protect them, O Lord!Save, heal and protect them, O Lord!Save, heal and protect them, O Lord!Save, heal and protect them, O Lord!Banish all darkness from her children, O Lord!Make them vigilant defenders of the weak, O Lord!Grant them purity and Christ-like love, O Lord!Grant them love of Christian virtues, O Lord!Grant them repentance, O Lord!Grant them repentance, O Lord!Grant them repentance, O Lord!Grant them repentance, O Lord!Grant compassion and skillGrant wisdom and dedicationGrant a love for the truth aloneGrant wisdom and convictionGrant repentance and healingLord have mercyChrist have mercyLord have mercyMay almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life.Amen