Priest Support Working Group
reported by Svea Fraser

The fourth Sounding Board in the Boston archdiocese was held at St. Denis' Church in Westwood, MA on June 24, 2003. Eight priests and nine lay people gathered around a table in the rectory for an informal evening of sharing our stories and our hopes for the Church. Every time we meet, people come away with a deeper understanding of the challenges facing our ordained ministers, and appreciation for our shared baptismal priesthood. Building relationships one by one encourages mutual understanding and our need to support one another. As one person admitted, as terrible as the past year and a half has been, and in no way diminishing the deep pain inflicted on survivor/victims and their families, "this has been a blessing for us because we are finding community with others, and meaning in our faith."

A summary of the evening will be posted on the VOTF website, under "Clergy Support." The Priest Support Working Group will not be meeting over the summer. This is a time for rest and reflection: Sabbath time. We ask that every time you think about our priests who are faithful to their ministry, you say a prayer on their behalf, and on behalf of all our Church.

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