‘Healing stone’ for abuse victims to be unveiled at International Eucharistic Congress

May 18, 2012

A granite “healing stone,” evocative of Celtic crosses and the stone that covered Jesus’ tomb, will be unveiled at the International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in June in commemoration of the victims of the clerical abuse scandal.

“In our Christian tradition, the stone which covered the tomb of Jesus, symbolizes both the end of his earthly existence and the fact of his Resurrection,” said Father Kevin Doran, secretary-general of the congress. “We are conscious of the fact that, for many who have experienced abuse, either themselves or to a member of their family, the pain of abuse can sometimes be like a stone weighing heavily on them. It is a stone that, in some way or other needs to be rolled back so that they can be set free.”

“It is planned that after the congress, the stone will be given a more permanent home on an accessible site, where people can pause and pray, and so that there will be a permanent public reminder of our need never to take safeguarding for granted,” he added.

The following prayer will be recited during the congress's opening session: “Lord, we are so sorry for what some of us did to your children, treated them so cruelly, especially in their hour of need. We have left them with a lifelong suffering; this was not Your plan for them or us. Please help us to help them; guide us, O Lord.”

 

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Further information:

• IEC2012: Ireland carves a prayer for healing in stone (Vatican Radio)
• IEC2012 Opening Ceremony to unveil Healing Stone (International Eucharistic Congress 2012)