Each year the Catholic Church in Scotland sets aside a day to pray for those who have suffered any form of abuse.
It takes place in the Church's calendar on the first Friday following Ash Wednesday (4 March).
Archbishop Cushley said: “The Church is keenly aware of the pain and suffering caused by those who have experienced abuse. I’m encouraging parishes in the Archdiocese to host a service on 4 March using the liturgical resource provided by the Bishops' Conference where we can acknowledge the hurt caused and pray for healing in the lives of those affected.”
Pray
Please pray for children, young people and vulnerable adults whose lives have been scarred by the abuse they have experienced at the hands of those whom they trusted.
Pray also for all are engaged in the pursuit of peace, healing and reconciliation for the abused, the needy, the weak and the vulnerable.
Pray that the work of the new Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency will be guided by the Holy Spirit to help us all to meet our responsibility to respect and safeguard the dignity of all.
A liturgical resource is provided by the Bishops' Conference to encourage prayers in Churches and home. Click here. Safeguarding resources from BCOS can be found at bcos.org.uk/Safeguarding
40 Hours' Devotion - Blackburn/Stoneyburn
The 40 Hours' Devotion takes place throughout this current liturgical year. It's a chance to spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at every parish in the Archdiocese. Visit parish website for date/times and location. Full schedule for Archdiocese here
Prepare yourself with our series of videos on our YouTube channel. Click here.
40 Hours' Devotion - St Mary's, Stirling
The 40 Hours' Devotion takes place throughout this current liturgical year. It's a chance to spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at every parish in the Archdiocese. Visit parish website for date/times and location. Full schedule for Archdiocese here
Prepare yourself with our series of videos on our YouTube channel. Click here.
40 Hours' Devotion - St Mary Magdalene Parish, Glenrothes
The 40 Hours' Devotion takes place throughout this current liturgical year. It's a chance to spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at every parish in the Archdiocese. Visit parish website for date/times and location. Full schedule for Archdiocese here
Prepare yourself with our series of videos on our YouTube channel. Click here.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: 18-25 January
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2022 begins on Tuesday 18 January. It is an annual ecumenical celebration when Christians around the world are invited to pray together for unity.
Materials for the Week have been prepared by the churches of the Middle East (available here) and this year's theme is 'We Saw His Star in the East'.
Events include:
Edinburgh Churches Together Ecumenical Service of Prayer, City of Edinburgh Methodist Church, 25 Nicolson Square, EH8 9BX, 7pm, 24 January.
Ecumenical group Churches Together in Britain and Ireland state: "The Middle East is still characterised by conflict and strife, tainted with blood and darkened by injustice and oppression.
"The Christians of the Middle East offer these resources conscious that the world shares many of the travails and much of the difficulties that it experiences, and yearns for a light to lead the way to the Saviour who is the light that overcomes darkness."
Our Commission for Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue, led by Fr Jeremy Bath, has also made available resources here.
Is your parish hosting an ecumenical service? Share what's happening with matthew.meade@staned.org.uk
WATCH: Child Anxiety and the Pandemic
Catholic educator and former headteacher Angela Dodds provides practical and prayerful tips on helping your child move from fear to peace during the pandemic. Helpsheet available here.
Join us tonight at 7:45pm on Zoom for our Pro-Life Stations of the Cross. It's a chance to meditate upon the Passion of Christ and to pray particularly for unborn children, their mothers and all Pro-Life intentions. Registerhere.
EVENT: Pro-Life Stations of the Cross
Join us tonight at 7:45pm on Zoom for our Pro-Life Stations of the Cross. It's a chance to meditate upon the Passion of Christ and to pray particularly for unborn children, their mothers and all Pro-Life intentions. Registerhere.
MONDAY: Pro-Life Stations of the Cross
Join us tonight at 7:45pm on Zoom for our Pro-Life Stations of the Cross. It's a chance to meditate upon the Passion of Christ and to pray particularly for unborn children, their mothers and all Pro-Life intentions. Registerhere.
FRIDAY: Day of Prayer for those who have suffered abuse
Archbishop Cushley encourages you to set aside time on Friday to pray for those who have suffered any form of abuse.
It's part of the annual Day of Prayer for Those who have Suffered Abuse, scheduled in the Church's calendar for the Friday following Ash Wednesday.
He said: "A short prayer service is available online and I ask Catholics to make some time on Friday to say these prayers. We pray for those who have suffered any form of abuse in the Church and across society, that God may give them peace and comfort."
To find out more about Safeguarding in the Catholic Church in Scotland please visit bcos.org.uk/safeguarding. The Archdiocese's Safeguarding page can be found here.
