Prayer for Safeguarding Sunday Gracious God, you love and care for all of your children, especially the smallest and most vulnerable. We entrust to you the lives of children and adults at risk who have been abused, neglected or exploited and whose trust and innocence have been destroyed. Help us to hear their cries of pain and to take responsibility for those whose lives have been broken. Help us to recognise the hurt felt by those wounded by abuse, and the failure to be heard. We pray that with the help of your grace communities and families will find understanding and support, so that now and in the future their wounds may be healed and they may find lasting peace. Let your grace and love fall gently now upon our children and adults at risk, giving them the inner strength, peace and resilience to seek out assistance when required. We ask this prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen
Each year, the Catholic Church in Australia marks Safeguarding Sunday on the second Sunday of September, following National Child Protection Week. Safeguarding Sunday seeks to acknowledge the immense damage caused by the sexual abuse of children and adults at risk, including by priests, religious and lay people within Catholic contexts. It makes a commitment to practices and protocols that create and maintain safe environments for all people. It invites people to pray for those harmed by abuse directly and indirectly.
Innaloo/Karrinyup Catholic Parish and the Archdiocese of Perth are committed to the care, wellbeing and protection of children, young people and people at risk in our community. May we continue to work to build and support safe communities for all people.
You can access other information on the Church’s response to child sexual abuse on the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference website . It includes information about reporting allegations, the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards and the various national organisations with responsibility for safeguarding and child protection.