Paulist Center Groups Voice of the Faithful
The following is from the brochure distributed during the Paulist Center's annual Communifest gathering in September 2002.
The Paulist Center chapter of Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) was formed on June 30th, 2002. As a chapter we agreed to support VOTF's three goals:
- Support those who have been abused
- Support priests of integrity
- Shape structural change in the church
The focus of our initial meetings was to provide community members with background information about VOTF, and to seek input on how the community wished to respond to the crisis. Proposed activities include: a healing mass, guest speakers, a survivors support group, information about keeping kids safe, and a robust laity education program. Some of these activities, such as information about keeping kids safe, are already underway through the FREP program.
As of September 2002, seven working groups have been formed (or are forming) to plan and develop our VOTF activities. We anticipate that additional groups will be formed over time, based on the interests of community members. We encourage you to sign up for one of the working groups described below, and add your name to our PCC VOTF database.
To join VOTF (the parent group) see http://www.votf.org
Communications Working Group
Contact person: Susan White (gramlesue@attbi.com), 603-458-1399
Our goals include maintaining the membership database, informing members of important developments, developing a web page as part of the PCC web site, working with members of other groups to provide written materials to other languates such as Spanish. We are in need of people to help with graphic design and other creative endeavors.
Future of the Church Working Group
Contact person: Tom Burke (TJB555@aol.com)
The present crisis has created feelings of isolation and exclusion for many faithful. Too often our church unfortunately has become a predator, nor a protector. As members of VOTF, we want to help as the Church recommits itself to its role of protector of the individual.
Our goal is to study and discuss how the Church can best organize itself to nurture, not alienate its flock. We will use as our guide the tradition and philosophy set forth in Vatican II. Through reading, group conversation and prayer, our group hopes to develop a better understanding of how VOTF can fulfuill both its mission to support those who have been abused and its mission to support priests of integrity.
Outreach Working Group
Contact person: Marie Puggi (Czort206@aol.com)
The Outreach working group is a newly forming working group that will focus on expanding the membership and reach of VOTF, especially among groups currently underrepresented in VOTF, such as minorities and young Catholics. Activities may include seeking out Catholics currently away from the Church, working with Outreach groups from other parishes, and helping to launch VOTF activities in inner-city parishes.
Prayerful Voices Working Group
Contact person: Eileen Fortunato (imfortunat@aol.com) 617-288-4743)
Mission: to provide a prayerful space on a regular basis for reflection and dialogue, mindful of VOTF's goals to support survivors of clergy sexual abuse as well as priests of integrity, and to shape structural change within the Catholic Church. The forms of prayer may vary according to the needs and/or gifts of the group.
Safe Parish Working Group
The goal of this subcommittee is to review and develop policies for both active and passive means of maintaining a safe parish/community and monitoring the implementation of these plans in the larger Church as well as in the local community. In addition, this group will work towards finding th emost appropriate ways for education children.
Support for Survivors Working Group
Contact person: Janice Turikain 617-566-5495
We will meet on on ongoing bases to:
- provide emotional support for all those affected by sexual abuse
- promote communication between survivors and the community at large
- provide a time and space for respectful dialogue and sharing.