A Letter of Consolation
8th February 2017
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This is a most difficult time for you and, as your shepherd, I wish to express and assure you of my solidarity with you and my prayers for you.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse has revealed deep wounds. Victims of child abuse by priests and religious have suffered enormously. Their wounds are deep and profound.
Let us pray for them. Let us pray that God will guide them to those persons who may help to heal their suffering. In particular, may Jesus, the Divine Physician, touch them and heal them.
I feel deeply, too, for my brother priests who serve you in this your parish. Please support your priests, care for them, and pray for them in this fragile time.
I feel very much for each one of you. I thank you most sincerely that you have not walked away from the Church community. You have remained steadfast in the Faith.
In a few days I will appear before the Royal Commission and I ask for your prayers and blessings. Please remember me so that I may be an instrument of Truth, Justice and Healing at this critical moment in our Catholic history here in Australia.
My prayer for you is St. Paul’s prayer. May you feel and know the consolation of the Lord in these days:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our sufferings, so that we may be able to comfort those who are suffering, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2Cor 1:3-4)
ARCHBISHOP CHRISTOPHER PROWSE
CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF CANBERRA AND GOULBURN