Awake Blog
We’re still in the process of moving blog posts over from our previous website.
In the meantime, please click here to read older posts.
Professor and Students Examine the Crisis of Church Abuse in New Course
Marie Griffith, a religion professor at Washington University in St. Louis, thought she’d probably get eight or nine students signed up for her course, “The Abuse Crisis in Modern Christianity.” She was shocked when it filled up instantly, with a long list of students hoping to get in.
John Heffernan
“It’s a surprise that opening up about being a survivor has allowed me to love my family, friends, and community more deeply and to be loved more fully.”
As Awake Begins Our Fifth Year, We Unveil An Updated Mission Statement
It’s hard to believe that it was only four years ago, in August 2019, that Awake Milwaukee was launched. What started as a small group of Catholic lay people gathering in my living room has become a vibrant, rapidly expanding nonprofit organization with a national and even international reach…
Awake Reflects on Darkness, Light, and Hope in Advent Prayer Service
Last Friday evening the Awake community gathered for an Advent prayer service exploring both darkness and the gift of light.
Bill Kessenich
“Pope Francis says that the Church needs to be a ‘field hospital’ for the marginalized. I believe that we survivors of trauma have roles to play as doctors and nurses for the field hospital.”
Holiday How-To: 10 Tips for Talking with Your Family About Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church
It’s the holiday season, a common time for family gatherings—and a chance to engage loved ones in important conversations.
Called to the Foot of the Cross: Why the Catholic Church Needs a “Catechesis of Survivor Stories”
Gerard McGlone, SJ, a Jesuit priest and researcher, believes all Catholics should regularly hear the stories of people who have experienced sexual abuse in the Church.
Courageous Conversation: Lay Leaders Reflect on Their Role in Facing the Abuse Crisis
Last week Awake Milwaukee hosted its latest Courageous Conversation, which considered the role of lay leaders in addressing the twin crises of sexual abuse and cover-up in the Catholic Church.
Survivor Voices: After My Experience with David Haas, I Can’t Sing His Music
Margaret Hillman was 12 years old when she joined the choir at her parish in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Within a few years, she began serving as a cantor, leading the congregation during Mass. Liturgical music became a family affair; Hillman’s mother soon joined the choir, and eventually met her second husband in the group.
