Bearing Witness in Rome: Reflections from the International Safeguarding Conference
I returned Tuesday from an unforgettable trip to Rome, where I had the privilege of speaking at the International Safeguarding Conference hosted at the Pontifical Gregorian University. This year’s theme, “Women of Faith, Women of Strength,” focused on both the victimization of women and the leadership of women in addressing abuse—within the Church and throughout wider society.
The conference brought together safeguarding experts, scholars, religious sisters, clergy, and survivors from around the globe. Being in such a diverse community reminded me again of the truly global nature of the Catholic Church—and the immense challenge of addressing abuse in cultural contexts that vary so widely.
Throughout the conference, I met many dedicated individuals working to bring safety, accountability, and healing to their local churches and communities. While the obstacles are real, I found hope in the shared commitment to this work.
I shared a slideshow featuring photos of survivors, to remind everyone of the human reality of abuse.
Session topics included violence against religious women, violence against adult women, case studies of abuse in the context of migration, and general reflections on abuse of women within society and the Church. One of the most moving presentations came from Sr. Teodora Shulak, a Ukrainian religious sister and Superior General of the Redemptorist Sisters. She offered powerful testimony about the use of sexual violence against Ukrainian women as a weapon of war and pleaded with us not to forget her people. Her words and stories stayed with me long after she spoke.
I was honored to be invited to share about Awake’s unique model of accompanying survivors and how we’ve sought to create spaces of belonging, empowerment, and healing. But when it came time for me to speak, I’ll admit I was intimidated. The room was filled with experts from around the world, and more importantly, I knew many survivors from Awake were attending our livestream watch party on Zoom. I wanted to represent them well, to share their stories with both honesty and reverence.
Once I got started, my presentation went smoothly (aside from being a little bit over time - oops!). The audience seemed to respond well, but I’ll let you watch it for yourself to decide what you think!
Following my talk, participants moved into small discussion groups (a welcome breather for me!), then reconvened for a live Q&A session. The questions touched on everything from seminary formation to compassionate listening to the complex topic of forgiveness. These thought-provoking questions weren’t easy to answer on the fly in just a few minutes, but I welcomed the chance to engage more deeply. (If you’re interested in hearing this portion, you can find the Q&A here.)
After my presentation, many people approached me to introduce themselves, express gratitude, and ask questions about Awake’s model. This continued over the next few days, and I was moved by the eagerness of so many to learn from our work. Standing in a lecture hall in the heart of this ancient city, I was struck by how far Awake has come since our founding in Milwaukee six years ago.
This was truly an international conference, with attendees from all around the globe.
It was great to see Lucy in person and hear her important presentation.
Representing Awake in our new staff shirt!
A special joy of the trip was spending time with Awake board member Lucy Huh, who gave a powerful presentation during the conference’s Academic Day, about legislative challenges in the United States to protecting women from clergy abuse. I also enjoyed connecting with colleagues and fellow travelers from around the world who share in this mission.
One of the most meaningful parts of my trip was carrying with me 37 letters from survivors in the Awake community, addressed to Pope Leo XIV. I had the honor of delivering them to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (after some adventures finding the correct entrance and making it past the Swiss Guards!). There I met with Commission staff, including Adjunct Secretary Teresa Kettelkamp, who is in a position to pass the letters along to the Pope.
This trip reaffirmed the sacred importance of our work. It reminded me that Awake is part of something larger: a rising chorus of voices across the globe calling the Church to be worthy of the Gospel it proclaims. As I walked the streets of Rome—passing grand churches and the tombs of saints—I carried with me the stories entrusted to Awake. I lit candles in quiet chapels for the survivors in our community, and for those still waiting to be heard. I prayed that my Church will move forward with both humility and courage.
With Fr. Hans Zollner outside of his office
Enjoying Siena with my husband Mike
I am deeply grateful to all the people who made this trip possible, especially Fr. Hans Zollner who created this opportunity to speak, my wonderful husband Mike who accompanied and supported me, and all of the survivors in the Awake community who have trusted us with their stories and their hearts.
I’m returning home with a renewed sense of purpose, conscious that many people around the world are looking to Awake as an example of what is possible. Several attendees asked whether I might offer a virtual presentation in their countries, and the coordinator for the English-language programs of the university’s Institute of Anthropology requested permission to use my talk in their safeguarding courses. While Awake remains focused on our mission in the United States, I’m heartened by the opportunity to share what we’ve learned, and I hope it will inspire others to take courageous steps in their own contexts.
Praying at Basilica di San Domenico for all members of the Awake community
My prayer request at the statue of Saint Catherine
PS: After the conference ended, Mike and I spent a few days in Tuscany, including a wonderful visit to Siena to connect with one of Awake’s patrons - Saint Catherine of Siena. In the church where she attended daily Mass in the fourteenth century, I left a prayer for Awake alongside hundreds of prayer requests from around the world.
St. Catherine, woman of faith and woman of strength, pray for us!
— Sara Larson, Executive Director
Interested in Hearing More?
Join me for Zoom gathering next Tuesday, July 1 from 7:00pm - 8:00pm Central Time (8:00pm - 9:00pm Eastern). I’ll share more details about my experience, offer a few insights from the trip, and answer any questions you might have.
