We Hold Special Events to bring healing to all sides in the communities wounded by abuse.

Our Upcoming special events include:

Rosary Retreat for Healing the Wounds of Abuse to be held at Ascension Catholic Church in Portland, Oregon from 9 AM to 4 PM on the first Saturday of December 2009.

A Lenten Reconciliation during Lent 2010.  This will feature an apology made by a family member of a priest to that priest’s survivors.  Both the wopunded family member and survivors will tell their stories in an atmosphere of support and belief.

Retreat for Healing based on the work of Theresa of Avila in December 2010.

Click here for more information

Past special events:

On September 22, 2007, we screened the film “Hand Of God” at the Hollywood Theater in Portland, Oregon.  Filmmaker Joe Cultrera and his survivor brother, Paul Cultrera answered audience questions after the film.  Later in the day we hosted a symposium on healing the wounds of clergy abuse with presentations by survivor and spiritual director, Billie Mazzei, clergy abuse lawyer Kelly Clark, and Compassionate Gathering cofounders, Elizabeth Goeke and Virginia Jones.  Fr. Armando Lopez, the Franciscan pastor of Virginia Jones’ parish, Ascension Catholic Church in Portland, Oregon, also attended the symposium.

Survivors felt uplifted.  They met other survivors who understood their losses, but they also met Catholics, including priests and nuns, who cared and who were willing to listen through a great deal of pain and anger.  One survivor decided to return to Mass after an absence of 40 years. The event also left Catholics feeling uplifted.  Supporting someone who is deeply wounded on their spiritual journey towards healing is transformative.

We didn't know if it was possible to bring together survivors and other Catholics for mutual understanding and healing.   It can be done.   We need a whole day and a retreat like atmosphere to make it work.   The sacredness of the space and of all the people present has to be emphasized.   Compassion and prayer have to set the tone.