News

Service planned for anyone hurt by the church

By Communications Department

All people who have been hurt in any way by any representative of the Catholic Church are invited to attend a Prayer Service of Apology. The service will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, 140 S. Monroe Ave., Green Bay.

Green Bay Bp. David Zubik will lead the service, the first of its kind in the diocese.

Bp. Zubik intends to follow the example of Pope John Paul II - who publicly apologized in a special prayer service in the millennium Jubilee Year of 2000 to anyone the church hurt - by publicly apologizing to anyone hurt by any representative of the church, especially within the diocese.

Bp. Zubik said he hoped that any affected person will attend.

"I think of people who may have been offended by sharp remarks, perhaps in the Sacrament of Confession or during a church meeting; I think of anyone who feels they were treated unjustly in the church's employment; I think of anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse or misconduct. Anyone who feels in their heart some hurt from any representative of the church is welcome to attend," Bp. Zubik said.

The service will include Evening Prayer, hymns, several Bible passages, prayers of petition and a reflection by Bp. Zubik. The evening is designed as a gathering of the community in prayer, he said.

"It will be my humble privilege to lead all gathered in prayer in what I hope and pray will be a healing time for all of us," Bp. Zubik said.