The Catholic Church in Australia observed Child Protection Sunday on September 8 as a sign of its strong ongoing commitment to ensuring Church communities are safe places for everyone. The resources for the day included ‘A Prayer for Stronger Communities, Safer Children’.
A Prayer for Stronger Communities, Safer Children
Gracious God, you said "Let the children come to me".
The hurt felt by those wounded by abuse weighs
heavily upon us. Trust has been eroded when
institutions failed to appropriately respond to their
needs. Lord, we as your Church stand in need of your
healing and help.
We ask you, God, to strengthen and guide all in our
Catholic communities. Grant us wisdom in our time
to make decisions that protect children and the
vulnerable.
May our families and communities, through love,
generosity, commitment and patience, build stronger
communities safe for children.
Let your grace and love fall gently upon our children
giving them the inner strength, peace and resilience
they will need for their life’s journey.
We ask you, God, to help our Catholic communities
to be resolute in building a community where our
children flourish and are safe.
Amen
This prayer was prepared by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.
For more information or resources regarding the Catholic Church’s response to sexual abuse and safeguarding measures click here.