On Sunday 10 September, the Catholic Church in Australia will mark Safeguarding Sunday (formerly Child Protection Sunday), which falls on the second Sunday of September each year, at the end of National Child Protection Week.
Safeguarding Sunday seeks to acknowledge the immense damage caused by the sexual abuse of children and adults at risk, including by priests, religious and lay people within Catholic contexts. It makes a commitment to practices and protocols that create and maintain safe environments for all people, and it invites people to pray for those harmed by abuse directly and indirectly.
The following resources, including for liturgical celebrations, have been released by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference to support local communities in their recognition of Safeguarding Sunday 2023:
- parish notices
- prayers of intercession
- an A4 Prayer card
- prayer slides
- a Powerpoint template background
- an A5 prayer card
- a social media image
- a Facebook cover image
- a website banner.
Other information on the Church’s response to child sexual abuse can be found on the Bishops Conference website, including information about reporting allegations, the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (external site) and the various national organisations with responsibility for safeguarding and child protection.
Visit our Safeguarding page to learn more about the Archdiocese of Melbourne’s commitment to building a culture of safety and care.
