CRA National Day of Sorrow and Promise

It is nearly a year since our inaugural National Day of Sorrow and Promise. You will recall that the purpose of this event was to join together as religious across Australia to ensure that we never forget the harm suffered by the young and vulnerable as a result of abuse in our Church.

The one-year anniversary of the Prime Minister's National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse at Parliament House in Canberra is Tuesday 22 October 2019. So, this year, we will hold the National Day of Sorrow and Promise on the Sunday 20 October, the closest Sunday to the anniversary of the National Apology because the day is symbolic of the profound impact that institutional sexual abuse has had on thousands of lives over many decades in Australia. Therefore, it is a significant date on which to hold a day of remembrance, such as CRA's National Day of Sorrow and Promise. The Government will not be repeating its National Apology this year.

When

• Date:  Sunday 20 October 2019
• Time: 5.00pm and 6.00pm One hour together on one day, to be one across the nation.

Why

CRA wishes to call all our congregations to set aside time and space in unity:

• To offer a national response from Catholic Religious across the country to recognise survivors and all who have been harmed from abuse in the Church and to make a commitment to a safer future. To bring together all congregations and at the same time in a coordinated manner, to make a national gesture of sorrow and promise, with a unified voice and responding to the needs within each individual community
• To honour those who spoke their stories to break the silence and those who work in the interests of those harmed by abuse and for the safety of the vulnerable

What

CRA will provide all our Leaders with:

• Liturgy of Sorrow and Promise, in the form of a soft copy A5 booklet; and
• Promise Statement, which is a commitment to a safer future

We received feedback last year that the font was too small so will adjust that this year. We aim to send this to you by the week commencing Monday 7 October, two weeks prior to the 2019 National Day of Sorrow and Promise. It can of course be modified to be responsive to the environment of the congregation and its community.

Where

Each congregation is invited to discern a way to engage in the Liturgy, which is meaningful and creates a place of acknowledgement, accompaniment, care and promise that has meaning for their congregation. 

Who

All CRA member congregations who wish to participate, some may wish to invite their ministries to hold the Liturgy or to join with the congregation in doing so. This includes PJPs.

We hope that this yearâs âgatheringâ across the country brings some healing to all those who have suffered.

Click HERE to view the Liturgical Booklet