It was a solemn and moving experience to take part in a solidarity and atonement walk with the people of Cloughjordan Parish in support of all who were sexually abused. It was St. Valentine’s day, Sunday 14th February, 2010. The Priests and Pastoral Council had been planning this for six months. In May, following the publication of the Ryan Report, the Pastoral Council, in an attempt to respond in a meaningful way, decided to consult with all parishioners to seek suggestions, comments and observations on all aspects of abuse in society. This was done through suggestions boxes in each of the three churches. There was an excellent response – prayer, a healing service, a monument and a walk were suggested. It was a privilege for me to be a listener at the meetings of the steering committee of the pastoral council as they prepared for this day. The priests, Fr. Tom Hannon and Fr. Enda Bourke, were open and receptive and the members of the committee were honest, caring and very dedicated. A mission given by Fr. Tony Flannery and his team took place the week before the walk.

Bishop Willie Walshe addressed and blessed the walkers outside Ardcroney and Kilruane churches before he left for Rome. There was a wonderful sense of togetherness and a great sense of drawing together of place and people from past and present on this historic occasion. There was also a sense of inclusiveness as people from other parishes took part and all age groups were present. Srs. Patricia O’Donovan, Kathleen Curtin and I took the shorter route. When people from all approach roads reached the church grounds there was a short explanation and prayer at the site of the sacred space and the monument “Lest We Forget”. This monument is being erected to the memory of all who have been abused by Clergy, Religious, by members of family or society or in Institutions. It has three sections;

• Remembrance in prayer of those who suffered abuse.
• Acknowledgement of the dignity of children and Christ’s care for them.
• The commitment of the parish community to safeguard young people in future.

A drawing of the monument to be erected

Following on the unveiling ceremony, the crowds packed the church for a ‘Healing the Hurt’ service . We experienced this service as the most beautiful and deeply touching service we ever attended. The prayers, readings, litanies, music and hymns were carefully chosen and very appropriate. People in the church were deeply moved. The sanctuary was arranged to portray the awfulness of all abuse – big boots, a locked gate, nails. The people in the church were invited to come forward with the stone which they had carried with them, and place it in a chalice-shaped vessel. The vessel was surrounded by open hands symbolic of the healing power of Christ. These significant stones stirring memories of our own personal hurt and pain and the hurt and pain of those who were abused will become part of the sacred space around the monument.

Refreshments were available in the GAA Pavilion for all, to complete what had been an amazing experience of people power and real church in action.

A letter of apology from the priests and the pastoral council had already gone out to every household and a financial contribution to support charitable agencies working to help children/adults affected by abuse, was made by the parish.

This was one parish’s attempt to respond in a meaningful, positive and appropriate way to the Ryan and Murphy Reports and to the pain and hurt in society.

Patricia Greene rsm
South Central Province