Services for Survivors and their Families

• Assistance Ministry sponsors free support groups for victim-survivors and their family members, led by professional counselors. These twelve week support groups are offered three times a year at different locations throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago

  The next therapy group sessions for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse are scheduled to meet for twelve consecutive weeks beginning March, 2010.

  A men’s support group will be held in Downtown Chicago beginning Tuesday evening March 16th and a women’s support group will be held in Evergreen Park beginning Thursday evening March 18th. The Archdiocese of Chicago through the Office of Assistance Ministry sponsors these sessions. Licensed professionals, who have experience working with victims of sexual abuse, will conduct separate group sessions for women and men at no cost to the participants. Participation in the adult therapy groups is not limited to those who were sexually abused as minors by a priest or deacon. The abuse may have been perpetrated by a family member, friend, or stranger. Support groups for survivors of sexual abuse have been an ongoing service from the Office of Assistance Ministry since its inception in 1992.

  Family member psycho-educational groups: These four-week educational groups are designed to provide support family members (parents, spouses, adult children, loved ones, siblings) as they support their loved ones thought the difficulties associated with sexual abuse trauma. These groups are offered twice a year at a downtown location in Chicago. (Parking will be available). The next family group is scheduled to run on designated Saturday mornings beginning March 13, 2010.
  YOU DO NOT NEED TO WAIT to call for additional information or to register for one of these sessions.

  Those interested in attending any of these sessions are asked to call or email Clinical Specialist Kathleen Leggdas at 312-534-5268, kleggdas@archchicago.org or Assistance Ministry Director Matt Hunnicutt at 312-534-8267, mhunnicutt@archchicago.org.

• Assistance Ministry hosts a weekend retreat for interested victim-survivors and their families. These two day retreats offer a meaningful chance to share stories, and assess the needs of victim-survivors and their families, including how the Assistance Ministry Office can respond more effectively to aid in people’s journeys to healing and wholeness. The next retreat is scheduled for Fall of 2010. For more information please contact Matt Hunnicutt at 312-534-8267, mhunnicutt@archchicago.org.

• Assistance Ministry hosts a day of reflection for interested victim-survivors and their families. These events offer a meaningful chance to share stories, and assess the needs of victim-survivors and their families, including how the Assistance Ministry Office can respond more effectively to aid in people’s journeys to healing and wholeness. The next day of reflection is scheduled for Fall of 2010. For more information please contact Matt Hunnicutt at 312-534-8267, mhunnicutt@archchicago.org.

  "I wanted to call you to say that you really hit a home run with Saturday's presentation! You set it up so that we could listen to a couple of stories, but then you focused on ways to heal. It was a much more pro-active approach. It seems strange to say it, but I enjoyed myself. I felt I was part of a useful participation."
  

  -Day of Reflection Participant

• Assistance Ministry sponsors the Healing Garden: a gathering place for healing – this project is spearheaded by victim-survivors. Here is a vision statement from survivors:

  “The creation of this healing garden is an attempt by us, clergy sexual abuse survivors of the Archdiocese of Chicago, to heal, learn and grow from the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual harm done to us. We wish to reach out to you who may have suffered from any tragic event that has left your hearts broken, just like ours. Together in this healing space, may we find within ourselves a place to feel free: free from fear, free from shame and free from judgment.”

  Here is a letter from a survivor who chairs the Healing Garden Planning Committee:

  A small group of clergy sexual abuse survivors has been working in cooperation with the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Assistance Ministry to create a healing garden.

  Francis Cardinal George has approved the creation of this healing garden to help victims-survivors of clergy sexual abuse and others who may have
  suffered from tragic events in their lives.

  A Planning Committee is moving ahead with design ideas for the garden. If you and your family members or loved ones would like to offer any ideas or feedback regarding what you would like to see at this healing garden, please contact Mayra Flores, Assistant Director of the Office of Assistance Ministry at 312.534.8256 or by email at mflores@archchicago.org

  The creation of this healing garden is a real and symbolic attempt to break the silence related to childhood sexual abuse. We hope to hear from you.

  Sincerely,

  Michael

  Chairman, Healing Garden Planning Committee

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