A local Catholic parish is holding a Mass of healing in the wake of the child sexual abuse scandal.
The Solemn High Mass will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, at Queen of Peace Church in Patton.
Church members and the community are invited to come and pray for the healing of victims, and for the contrition of the abusers.
“We desire here in our church in Patton to make a public act of reparation so therefore we are going to process outside for all the world to see that we are contrite for what has happened and to atone for the sins of various clergy and even lay people who have been involved in these abuses,” said Father Ananias, Queen of Peace Parish.
Father Ananias said the service of healing is being held in atonement to God and to appease Him, and certainly for the abuse victims so that the grace from the Mass might soothe their souls.
“The response has been actually very, very positive because everyone in the church feels horrified about what has been going on, so the church is very happy to be able to make an act of penance or reparation, you know that is public,” said Father Ananias.
Father Ananias says the sins committed by the abusers wound all the world and affect non-Catholics as well as Catholics. All are welcome to attend.