The Day of Prayer for the Victims and Survivors of Abuse is an important initiative that was proposed by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. The Holy Father welcomed the proposal and asked that each Bishops’ Conference choose an appropriate date to mark the day.
Originally observed during the season of Lent, the Bishops, listening to the voices of victims and survivors, moved the date on which the Day is marked in England and Wales to the Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter.
The focus for 2025 is on the theme of “The Empty Chair”. Many of us are saddened by reducing numbers in our churches. This is happening for a wide variety of reasons, but our thoughts are on those who are not there because they have suffered abuse in a church setting and cannot face being here. They may be the families or friends of survivors. They may be former members of a community affected by allegations or convictions for abuse. They may be people who are simply so disgusted or ashamed by what they have heard about abuse within the Church that they no longer want to be part of it. All these groups and others are represented by “The Empty Chair”. Read more.
The group has already released a resource called ‘Listening With Love’ – inviting people to reflect on the impact of abuse on individuals and the Church. Read more.
The Isaiah Journey (formerly ‘Let’s Be Honest’) is a working group of the Bishops’ Conference that has grown out of the need for a pastoral-spiritual response to the suffering of victims and survivors of abuse in the Church. Read More.
This year’s focus is on the theme of “The Empty Chair”.
With the support of the ‘Isaiah Journey’, the Jesuit Institute is offering a week of guided prayer for those who have been affected by the scandal of clergy abuse in the Catholic Church.
The Isaiah Journey (formerly ‘Let’s Be Honest’) is a working group of the Bishops’ Conference that has grown out of the need for a pastoral-spiritual response to the suffering of victims and survivors of abuse in the Church.
The Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse is observed on 30 April 2024. It is always marked on the Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter in England and Wales.
Tuesday 9 May 2023 marks the Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse. This is observed on the Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter in England and Wales.
Tuesday 17 May 2022 marks the Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse. This is observed on the Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter in England and Wales.
In consultation with survivors, the Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse is observed on the Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter in England and Wales.
The Bishops had originally chosen the Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent as the Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse. In consultation with survivors, from 2021, this was changed to the Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter.
