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The Archdiocese of Chicago’s 10th Annual Pinwheels for Prevention Prayer Service Takes Place Online on Friday, April 9, 2021

The prayer service will include prayers, readings and reflections from students, clergy and staff to bring awareness to child abuse prevention.

Chicago, IL (April 8, 2021) – The Archdiocese of Chicago’s 10th Annual Pinwheels for Prevention Prayer Service will be held online 10 a.m. on Friday, April 9, 2021 [https://youtu.be/ikQz1N7h5X0]. The online prayer service will include prayers, readings and reflections from school students, clergy and staff to bring awareness to child abuse prevention and pray for the eradication of abuse in all of its forms. The service is observed in April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

“The Archdiocese of Chicago has had child protection policies in place for nearly 30 years and we remain vigilant in keeping the children in our schools, parishes, and communities safe,” said Mary Jane Doerr, director of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of the Protection of Children and Youth (OPCY). “For 10 years, our pinwheel prayer service has gathered students from across the archdiocese to raise their voices in prayer and song as a display of public support for protecting all of God’s children from harm.”

The prayer service will include Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, delivering an address; Bishop Robert Casey, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Chicago, leading the opening prayer; Michael Hoffman, chairman of the Hope and Healing Committee for OPCY, giving the welcome greeting; Dr. Jim Rigg, superintendent of Catholic Schools, reading scripture; Rev. Michael Gabriel, of St. Gertrude Parish, offering a reflection; students from St. Procopius School, Pope John XXIII School and St. Ferdinand School leading the prayers of the faithful; Rev. Larry Dowling, pastor of St. Agatha Parish, providing a closing reflection; and Rev. Patrick Fairbanks, SJ of St. Ignatius College Prep, delivering the closing prayer. Students from St. Ignatius College Prep will perform the opening song.

Through OPCY, schools and parishes provide age-appropriate, research-based training to children and youth enrolled in our schools and parish religious education programs to help them better recognize inappropriate behavior and understand how they should report it to trusted adults. More than 100,000 students receive safe environment training in Catholic school religious education classes annually. 

About the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools
The Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools serve nearly 50,000 students in 162 archdiocesan-run schools in Cook and Lake counties. It is one of the largest private school systems in the United States. Its schools have received 94 Blue Ribbon awards from the U.S. Department of Education.