With Bishop Walkowiak’s support, the diocese partnered with RENEW International to implement the Healing Our Church/Sanando Nuestra Iglesia process in English and Spanish in parishes of the diocese. Facilitated by members of the laity during fall 2019, this process offered the opportunity for Catholics who’ve been discouraged and angered by the clergy sex abuse scandal and the mishandling of these cases by church leaders, to directly address these issues and set a course toward healing.
“My intention and well-founded hope is that this program will help our Catholic men and women deal with the complex emotions this scandal has caused and start them on the path to healing and renewed discipleship,” said Bishop Walkowiak.
Healing Our Church/Sanando Nuestra Iglesia initiates the healing process by encouraging participants to share their feelings about the scandal, embrace their roles as members of Christ’s Body, and discern and commit to meaningful actions.
Small group gatherings took place in parishes around the diocese. To learn more about the Healing Our Church process, contact your parish or the diocesan office of communications (see “Contact” below).
Diocesan-wide Holy Hour with Bishop Walkowiak Dec. 18
A Holy Hour for healing, reparation and restoration was celebrated by Bishop Walkowiak at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew on Wednesday, Dec. 18 to mark the conclusion of the Healing our Church process in parishes.
Watch video of the Holy Hour on our Facebook page.
Learn more about the ‘Protecting God’s Children‘ program in the diocese.
Contact:
Annalise Laumeyer, director of communications
alaumeyer@grdiocese.org | 616-551-5629
