Special Mass to focus on child victims
‘It’s a time to remember the harm done’

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”
These words conclude the Gospel reading for Sept. 23, the day selected as a day of prayer for child victims of abuse and other violent crimes throughout the Diocese of Tucson.
At 10 a.m. that day, Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas will celebrate a special liturgy for child victims of violent crime at St. Augustine Cathedral in Tucson, and parishes throughout the diocese are being asked to join in.
“It is a time for all of us to remember the harm done to child victims of violent crime, in the past and now, and to recommit ourselves to the work of preventing abuse, in the Church and across our communities,” the Bishop said.
Pastors are being asked to schedule a special Mass for child victims that weekend and to include these children, past and present, born and unborn, in the Prayer of the Faithful at the other Masses.
“Our Church constantly reminds us of the dignity of all life from conception to natural death,” said Deacon Paul Duckro, director of the Office of Child, Adolescent and Adult Protection. “Every violent act is an offense against the dignity of the human person, with consequences that are intense and long-lasting, but violent acts against children are particularly painful.”
While the majority of these assaults occur within the victims’ own homes, “some occur in child-serving organizations like schools, social organizations and, painfully, even within the household of the Church,” Deacon Duckro said.
Sept. 23 is the day set aside for each parish to rededicate itself, in collaboration with local law enforcement and social service agencies, to the prevention of and response to child abuse, he added.
In a letter to pastors, Bishop Kicanas expressed his thanks for the work being done to protect children from harm.
“I know that your implementation of the Safe Environment Program requires great leadership and tremendous effort, but it does make a difference,” Bishop Kicanas wrote.
“Catholic churches and schools are justifiably said to be among the safest places for children and youth in our country.”
At the same time, the Bishop said, “we realize sadly that the plague of child abuse has not been eradicated in society. It takes only a casual reading or hearing of the news to find far too many situations in which children have been harmed, even murdered, by those who should have been their protectors.”
The event is being coordinated by the Office of Child, Adolescent and Adult Protection and the prayers and resources for parishes are being prepared by Father Miguel Mariano and Sister Lois J. Paha. For more information, contact worship@diocesetucson.org.