Awake Blog
Welcome to the Awake Blog! If you’re new to Awake, we recommend you check out these top blog posts from our archive.
Sign up here to receive an email notification when a new blog post is published!
Abuse Survivor Brings His Story to the Stage, Finding Healing and Joy
Jay Sefton has turned his experience of clergy abuse and his attempts to navigate the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s victim’s compensation fund into a one-man play, “Unreconciled.” He will perform the play later this month at the SNAP National Conference.
Awake Delivers Heartfelt Survivor Letters to the Vatican This Week
This week, Awake Executive Director Sara Larson delivered a set of 37 letters—written by abuse survivors to Pope Leo—to the Vatican in Rome.
Awake Leaders Reflect on the “Good Fruit” of Centering Survivors—and Plan for the Year Ahead
Last weekend, a group of Awake leaders and committed volunteers continued the biannual tradition of gathering online and in person to connect and build community, and consider big picture questions for the year ahead.
We Concluded a Powerful Season of Courageous Conversations. Which Topics Meant the Most to You?
Earlier this month we reached the end of the fifth season of Courageous Conversations, our much-loved virtual speaker series. Here’s a review of the five conversations we hosted this year, along with a link to the recording of each event. Check out any that you may have missed.
Survivors Share Their Hopes for the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV
“I hope Pope Leo will truly listen to survivors, not through carefully managed encounters, but by sitting with them in their raw pain without any defensiveness, aides, or lawyers present.”
In Memory of Pete Singer: Why We Must Build a Trauma-Sensitive Church
We at Awake were sad to learn of the passing of Pete Singer, executive director of GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment), on May 1. We are fortunate that he was able to take part in our November 2024 Courageous Conversation, “Cultivating a Gospel Response to Trauma.” To honor Pete’s memory, we revisit the summary of that important conversation.
Mary O’Day
“Healing my image of God has been incredibly impactful in both healing my trauma and helping me learn to accept love.”
Courageous Conversation: Confronting Sexual Abuse in the Deaf Catholic Community
Last week Awake hosted an event that touched on the history of sexual abuse among Deaf Catholics and considered why Deaf people have faced an elevated risk of sexual abuse.
Awake’s Way of the Cross with Survivors Offers Meaningful Holy Week Prayer
Awake’s annual Way of the Cross with Survivors invites us to see the traditional Stations of the Cross from the perspective of people who have experienced harm in the Catholic Church.
Survivors Share 6 Myths About Abuse in the Church
What do people in the Catholic Church and the broader public typically get wrong about sexual abuse by Church leaders? Earlier this year, we posed this question to people in the Awake community who have experienced sexual abuse in the Church, asking them which myths they hear most.
A Time of Transition for Awake’s Board of Directors
This is an important week for Awake, as we express deep gratitude to four people concluding their terms on the Board of Directors and welcome a group of new directors.
Courageous Conversation: Exploring the Invisible Abuse of Women Religious
Last week, Awake hosted a valuable event focusing on the abuse of religious sisters, an issue that is only beginning to receive attention in the wider Church.
What Stops Adult Survivors Who Are from Minority Groups from Disclosing Abuse?
New work by Lucy Huh, a researcher and member of the Awake community, describes the barriers that stop people harmed as adults from disclosing abuse, particularly if they come from minority cultures or are immigrants to the United States.
Why Have Many Survivors of Church Abuse Suffered Previous Trauma?
This week we revisit helpful information from expert Pete Singer of GRACE, who explains why victim-survivors of harm in the Catholic Church often have previous trauma histories.
Vince Pérez
“I aim to promote understanding by educating church leaders and congregations about the compounded effects of racism, sexism, and clergy abuse on BIPOC survivors.”
Embracing Lament: Awake Prayer Service Brings Our Suffering to God
Last week Awake hosted a special prayer event exploring the spiritual practice of lament, an ideal form of prayer for people suffering in any way.
How to Grow in the Aftermath of Trauma
When someone has suffered deep wounds from a traumatic event such as sexual abuse, how can they move beyond the pain to achieve healing and growth? We posed this question to Mitch Mueller, LPC, a Catholic psychotherapist from West Bend, Wisconsin.
6 Tips for Priests: How to Address Abuse in a Homily
This week we revisit a 2024 post written for priests and deacons by Awake Executive Director Sara Larson. Here she offers advice on how to cover the topic of abuse in homilies.
Courageous Conversation: Understanding How Systems of Power Contribute to Abuse in the Church
Awake’s latest Courageous Conversation, held last week, offered an important exploration of systems of power and their role in abuse in the Catholic Church.
Awake Leaders Gather for Strategic Planning and Look Ahead with Hope
Last Saturday, leaders from Awake gathered in the Milwaukee area and virtually for a strategic planning day to brainstorm, discuss, and set our priorities for the next three years.