The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Assistance Ministry will hold its 13th Annual Hope and Healing Mass at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at the Church of the Holy Family in Chicago. The event aims to provide clergy abuse victim-survivors with a supportive environment for healing. Media are requested not to film or photograph attendees' faces to protect their privacy.

"Clergy sexual abuse is a profound betrayal of trust that has caused immense suffering and grief, and as a Church, we must continue to confront this painful reality with utmost seriousness and humility,” said Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago. “As victim-survivors gather for this healing Mass, we acknowledge the deep wounds inflicted on the innocent and commit ourselves to the path of justice, rebuilding trust and providing support and healing for survivors, ensuring transparency and accountability, and creating a culture where every person is valued, protected and respected.”

Rev. Richard Jakubik, pastor of St. Mary of the Woods Parish in Chicago, will serve as the main celebrant. Mayra Flores, director of the Office of Assistance Ministry, and Michael Hoffman, chairman of the archdiocese’s Hope and Healing Committee as well as a victim-survivor from St. Mary of the Woods Parish, will participate in the Mass.

“The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Assistance Ministry has been at the forefront over the years in working with clergy abuse survivors by asking survivors what they feel they need in their own individual healing journey,” said Hoffman. “This dialogue, with support and encouragement from archdiocesan leadership, has produced several survivor-driven healing initiatives.”

The Mass for Hope and Healing was first held in 2011 when victim-survivors requested a special Mass so they could support one another while reconciling their experiences with their desire to be part of a Catholic faith community. Each year since then, victim-survivors have collaborated with clergy and staff to plan the liturgy. Attendance has grown to include clergy members; victim-survivors; family members; caregivers; church lay ministry staff; Catholic school leadership; and others committed to protecting children and youth.

The National Catholic Restorative Justice Initiative (NCRJI), comprising Catholic clergy, victim-survivors, and laypeople dedicated to promoting healing within the Church from clergy sex abuse incidents, is spearheading an effort to develop a National Healing Garden in Washington D.C., symbolizing U.S. Catholic Church's acknowledgment and commitment towards victims' healing. This garden will also host prayer services among other events focused on healing efforts.

Hoffman serves as chairman of this planning committee for the National Healing Garden which takes inspiration from Chicago's local model.

The survivor vision statement for this initiative reads: “As clergy sexual abuse survivors from across the United States in relationship with the Church we offer empathy & acknowledgment towards all kinds’ abuses suffered by any survivor anywhere."

Hoffman added that "the national garden like our annual mass here stands witness uniting Catholics nationwide encouraging reconciliation alongside freedom eventually free themselves away completely off painful scars left behind due past abuses faced."

The Office Of Assistance Ministry operates under OPCY provides pastoral care along resources supporting clerical sexual abuse victims aiding them achieve psychological emotional spiritual recovery journey since inception being among earliest US-based assistance ministries extending services over 400+ affected individuals including families till date offering various supports therein

For more information regarding these services visit https://protect.archchicago.org/offices-and-services/office-of-assistance-ministry