The Archdiocese of Chicago to Hold Eighth Annual Mass for Hope and Healing at Holy Family Church on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019
Chicago, IL (Oct. 15, 2019) – The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Assistance Ministry will hold the Eighth Annual Mass for Hope and Healing at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019 at Holy Family Church, 1080 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago. Rev. Larry Dowling, pastor of St. Agatha Church, will preside over the Mass. Victim-survivors will welcome attendees, participate in the Mass and anointing. Michael Hoffman, a victim-survivor, will offer personal testimony and reflection on behalf of clergy sexual abuse victim-survivors He will speak about how his father assisted in his personal healing, which helped to restore joy to his family relationships.
“I am thankful that Cardinal Blase Cupich has continued to foster and encourage this vital outreach effort to victim-survivors, their family members and all concerned with healing the wounds of clergy abuse,” said Hoffman.
The Mass for Hope and Healing started in 2011 when victim-survivors requested a special Mass so they could support one another and reconcile their experiences with their desire to be part of a faith community within the Catholic Church. Each year, victim-survivors collaborate with clergy and staff to plan the liturgy. Attendance has grown to include clergy, victim-survivors of clergy sexual abuse, family members and caregivers of survivors, church lay ministry staff, Catholic school leadership and many others who are committed to the protection and safety of children and youth.
The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Assistance Ministry, part of the archdiocese’s Office of the Protection of Children and Youth (OPCY), provides pastoral care, support and resources to victim-survivors of clerical sexual abuse and their loved ones in their journey to achieve psychological, emotional and spiritual healing. Since its creation as one of the first victim assistance ministries in the United States, the Office of Assistance Ministry has provided services and support to more than 400 victim-survivors and their family members.
Catholics from across the archdiocese are welcome to attend the Mass to pray in solidarity with all who have been, and continue to be affected by this sin in our society and our Church.
For more information on the Mass for Hope and Healing, please visit https://protect.archchicago.org/news-and-events/hope-and-healing-mass.
For more information on the services provided by the Office for Assistance Ministry, please visit www.archchicago.org/departments/assistance_ministry/assistance_ministry.shtm.
Media please note: To respect the privacy of victim-survivors and their families in attendance, we ask that video or photographs taken during the Mass are only of Rev. Dowling and Mike Hoffman. Please refrain from taking video or photographs of any other attendees.
