We Can Support and Empower Abuse Survivors - Together

Hello friends,

As many of you know, In Spirit and Truth is my personal project, something I do on the side of my full-time work as executive director of a grassroots Catholic nonprofit organization called Awake. I believe in the trasformative power of stories, so I think this blog matters. But Awake is where these words come to life - in a community of survivors, their loved ones, and concerned Catholics coming together for education, advocacy, prayer, and survivor support.

Awake is ready to take the next step in our growth by hiring a part-time staff member dedicated specifically to survivor care. We have the perfect person in mind: Esther Harber has been a dedicated volunteer with Awake for several years, and as an abuse survivor herself, she is able to connect with fellow survivors in a unique way. You can read a little about Esther here: Survivor Story: Esther Harber.

I can't tell you how excited I am about the opportunity to bring Esther on board as a staff member. She is such a smart, compassionate, dedicated person, with a true gift for this ministry. And honestly, I really need the help! :) It's important to me that we are able to give personal attention to each survivor who reaches out to us, and we want to begin expanding our offerings to better serve our community. The need is great, and I just can't keep up!

So, I’m asking today: Would you consider partnering with Awake to support and empower abuse survivors? You can learn more and make a gift here: 

One side note: I’ve decided not to set up paid subscriptions to this blog, a choice that is made possible because I am paid a (modest) salary by Awake. If you value what I’m doing here, the best way to help sustain this work is by financially supporting Awake.

More importantly, if you have been impacted by the stories and reflections you read in the Survivors’ Voices series, know that your donation can make a real difference in the lives of those who have experienced sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Here’s what one survivor said to me in a recent email: “Thank you so much for providing such a wonderful space for people like me to get support and feel understood.”

I’m proud to say that more and more survivors are now donating to Awake themselves, and I hope many Catholics will continue to stand in solidarity with them.

Thank you for considering this! Your support would mean a lot to me.

With gratitude,
Sara

PS: Not so excited about seeing a request for support on this blog? Don’t worry, this doesn’t happen often. I’ll be back to my regular posts next time. :)