On Wednesday, December 3 at 7pm CST, the Awake community will gather for a virtual Advent prayer service.

Sign up here to attend live or receiving the recording.

Part 2 will focus on small group discussion of the previous week’s topic and speaker insights, using the Zoom breakout rooms feature. (This event will not be recorded for later viewing.)

Click here to register.

Our November Courageous Conversation will focus on seminary formation, specifically the work of preparing priests in training to minister to people who have experienced harm in the Catholic Church.

Part 1 will take place on Zoom and will include a short introduction from Awake, engaging conversation with our panelists, and question and answer time. (This event will be recorded for later viewing.)

Sign up here to attend live or receive the recording.

Rooted and Rising is a new online program from Awake, featuring mental health professionals offering expert guidance on coping with trauma. This Zoom speaker series is designed for abuse survivors, those who accompany them, and all who want to be more aware of trauma-informed tools for healing.

Our first Rooted and Rising will be Wednesday, October 22, 7:00–8:30 PM CDT. In this event, Mitch Mueller LPC will guide us through trauma-informed techniques designed to help survivors find steadiness and strength in their daily lives.

The conversation will explore strategies such as grounding and connection practices, offering tools to help trauma survivors feel more empowered, balanced, and supported on their healing journeys.

Sign up here to attend live or receive the recording.

Part 2 will focus on small group discussion of the previous week’s topic and speaker insights, using the Zoom breakout rooms feature. (This event will not be recorded for later viewing.)

Sign up here to join us.

Our sixth season of Courageous Conversations will begin with survivors Michael Vanderburgh, Leona Huggins, and Maria Silvers in a conversation moderated by Awake's executive director, Sara Larson. This conversation will focus on healing after abuse and what these three survivors have found helpful and harmful in their healing journeys. 

Part 1 will take place on Zoom and will include a short introduction from Awake, engaging conversation with our panelists, and question and answer time. (This event will be recorded for later viewing.)

Sign up to attend live or receive the recording.

On Tuesday, August 19 at 7pm CDT, the Awake community will gather on Zoom for our first prayer event of the programming year. This service will be exploring themes of joy in creation and nature.

• We are looking for your participation! Do you have a photo of something in creation that brings you joy? Some ideas include: pets, plants, sunsets, your garden, scenes from travel, just to name a few.

• You may submit up to 1 photo you have taken of something in creation that brings you joy.

Sign up here to attend live or receive the recording.

On June 18th, our executive director Sara Larson gave a keynote address at the International Safeguarding Conference in Rome. While in Rome, she also hand-delivered our Letters to Pope Leo booklet to members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Many of you have been asking how the trip went.

We invite you to join Sara on Tuesday, July 1 at 7:00pm Central/8:00pm Eastern on Zoom as she gives a recap of her experience and shares her insights from the trip. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions, and we'll wrap up by 8:00pm Central. Sign up to join us here.

If you were unable to catch Sara's talk live at our watch party or would like to rewatch it before joining us on July 1, here is a link to her keynote address: Awake's Model for Survivor Accompaniment.

We are really excited for Awake's Executive Director, Sara Larson, to speak at the 2025 International Safeguarding Conference at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome on Wednesday, June 18 at 9:15am CDT / 10:15am EDT. She will be reflecting on Awake's model for accompanying abuse survivors and what she has learned from the amazing survivors in our community.

We invite you to join members of the Awake community for a watch party on Zoom hosted by our associate director, Meghan Fiebelkorn! 

We'll gather at 9 am CDT / 10am EDT, watch Sara's 30 minute talk together, and have time for some brief reflections before wrapping up at 10 am CDT / 11 am EDT. Please RSVP here so we know to expect you!

If you aren't able to join us live, you can watch Sara's talk on the conference YouTube channel.

Awake’s leaders, including staff and members of the Board of Directors, Leadership Team, and Survivor Advisory Panel, will gather for our annual day of planning and community building on Saturday, May 31.

Our final Courageous Conversation for the 2024-2025 season will focus on abuse in the Deaf Catholic community.

Part 1: Thursday, April 24, 12pm - 1:30pm CDT

Part 2: Thursday, May 1, 7pm - 8:30PM CDT

Sign up here to join us live for small group discussion in Part 2.

Our final Courageous Conversation for the 2024-2025 season will focus on abuse in the Deaf Catholic community.

Part 1: Thursday, April 24, 12pm - 1:30pm CDT

Part 2: Thursday, May 1, 7pm - 8:30PM CDT

Part 1 will take place on Zoom at 12pm (central time) and will include a short introduction from Awake, engaging conversation with our panelists, and question and answer time. (This event will be recorded for later viewing.)

Sign up here to join us live for Part 1 or receive the recording.

We invite you to join the Awake community for our annual Way of the Cross with Survivors. This powerful prayer experience combines reflections from abuse survivors with the traditional Lenten Stations of the Cross devotion.

Click here for more information and to register to participate.

Part 2 of this Courageous Conversation will take place on Zoom at 7pm (central time) the week after Part 1 and will be focused on building connections and community while diving deeper into the questions raised by the conversation the previous week. We will utilize Zoom breakout rooms for facilitated small group discussion and sharing, encouraging all participants to bring their own perspectives and experiences to the conversation. (This event will not be recorded--you'll need to attend live to hear these insights!)

Registration for Part 2 is now open.

Part 1: Thursday, March 20, 12pm - 1:30pm CDT
Part 2: Thursday, March 27, 7pm - 8:30PM CDT

Part 1 will take place on Zoom at 12pm (central time) and will include a short introduction from Awake, engaging conversation with our panelists, and question and answer time. (This event will be recorded for later viewing.)

More details and registration here.

We invite you to join the Awake community for a virtual prayer service centered around the spiritual practice of lament. Please register here.

Part 2 will take place on Zoom at 7pm (central time) the week after Part 1 and will be focused on building connections and community while diving deeper into the questions raised by the conversation the previous week. We will utilize Zoom breakout rooms for facilitated small group discussion and sharing, encouraging all participants to bring their own perspectives and experiences to the conversation. (This event will not be recorded--you'll need to attend live to hear these insights!)

(If you cannot attend Part 1 live, you can also register to receive a recording of the event via email.) The follow up email from Part 1 will share information and an RSVP link for the Part 2 discussion.

Sign up to join us for small group discussion on Thursday, January 30.

Part 1 will take place on Zoom and will include a short introduction from Awake, engaging conversation with our panelists, and question and answer time. (This event will be recorded for later viewing.)

Sign up to attend Part 1 live or receive the recording!

We invite you to join the Awake community for a virtual prayer service centered around art created by survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic leaders.

Sign up to join us live on Zoom or receive the recording.

Part 2 will take place on Zoom at 7pm (central time) the week after Part 1 and will be focused on building connections and community while diving deeper into the questions raised by the conversation the previous week. We will utilize Zoom breakout rooms for facilitated small group discussion and sharing, encouraging all participants to bring their own perspectives and experiences to the conversation. (This event will not be recorded--you'll need to attend live to hear these insights!)

Click here to register for Part 2.

Please note these dates have been updated from what was previously announced due to speaker availability and the holiday calendar.

Part 1: Thursday, November 21, 12pm - 1:30pm CST

Part 2: Thursday, December 5, 7pm - 8:30PM CST

Part 1 will take place on Zoom at 12pm (central time) and will include a short introduction from Awake, engaging conversation with our panelists, and question and answer time. (This event will be recorded for later viewing.)

Sign up to attend Part 1 live or receive the recording!

Please note these dates have been updated from what was previously announced due to speaker availability and the holiday calendar.

We invite you to join the Awake community for a virtual prayer service centered around Awake’s patron saints.

Sign up here to join us live or receive a recording of the event.

Our fifth season of Courageous Conversations will begin in September and feature a panel of survivors.

Part 1: Thursday, September 12, 12pm - 1:30pm CDT

Part 2: Thursday, September 19, 7pm - 8:30PM CDT

Part 2 will take place on Zoom at 7pm (central time) and will be focused on building connections and community while diving deeper into the questions raised by the conversation the previous week. We will utilize Zoom breakout rooms for facilitated small group discussion and sharing, encouraging all participants to bring their own perspectives and experiences to the conversation. (This event will not be recorded--you'll need to attend live to hear these insights!)

Sign up here to attend Part 2!

Our fifth season of Courageous Conversations will begin in September with Listening to Survivors: What Went Well—and Didn't—When I Shared My Story, featuring a panel of survivors in a conversation moderated by Awake's executive director, Sara Larson.  

Part 1: Thursday, September 12, 12pm - 1:30pm CDT

Part 2: Thursday, September 19, 7pm - 8:30PM CDT

Part 1 will take place on Zoom at 12pm (central time) and will include a short introduction from Awake, engaging conversation with our panelists, and question and answer time. (This event will be recorded for later viewing.)

Register here to attend live or receive the recording.

We invite you to join the Awake community for our annual outdoor gathering for community-building and prayer on Wednesday, August 7 at 7:00 pm CDT.

• Join us at Estabrook Park, 4400 N. Estabrook Drive, Milwaukee. Please bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket. After our peaceful and participatory prayer service, we will enjoy refreshments and social time on (hopefully) a beautiful summer evening.

• Or, join us on Zoom from your sofa, backyard, or favorite outdoor space! We’ll host a simultaneous online gathering for members of the Awake community from across the country and around the world to connect and pray together.

Please sign up here to receive more details via email as the date approaches. We look forward to praying with you!

Awake’s leaders, including staff and members of the Board of Directors, Leadership Team, and Survivor Advisory Panel, will gather for our annual day of planning and community building on Saturday, June 1.

The second part of our May Courageous Conversation will take place on Zoom and be focused on building connections and community while diving deeper into the questions raised by the conversation the previous week.

We will utilize Zoom breakout rooms for facilitated small group discussion and sharing, encouraging all participants to bring their own perspectives and experiences to the conversation. (This event will not be recorded--you'll need to attend live to hear these insights!)

Click here to learn more and sign up to attend Part 2.

In our May Courageous Conversation, journalist and co-founder of The Pillar, JD Flynn, and co-director of BishopAccountability.org, Anne Barrett Doyle will be in conversation on the impact of Vos Estis Lux Mundi in the five years since its promulgation. Vos Estis created new church law mandating the report and investigation of sexual abuse of children and adults by either clergy or men and women in religious orders. It also sought to establish structures of accountability for bishops who mishandle reports of abuse.

Click here to learn more and sign up to attend live or receive the recording.