Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska
Victim Assistance
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The Diocese of Fairbanks maintains a Victim Assistance Coordinator to assist anyone who has been abused. Victim Assistance Ministry exists to receive reports of abuse, provide compassionate care and support, offer resources, and ensure that local law enforcement is informed. The Diocese will encourage the accuser or survivor to report the accusation to the proper civil authorities without delay. If either the accusation has not already been reported to civil authorities, or the accuser or survivor chooses not to make a voluntary report to the civil authorities, the Diocese will make this report if the abuse involved a minor. The Diocese will closely collaborate with the civil authorities in any investigation of the accusation.
Reports involving the sexual abuse of minors are to be reported to the Office of Children's Services at 1-800-478-4444 or [email protected] AND local law enforcement.
Jocelyn Niedziela
Victim Assistance Coordinator
(907) 374-9553
[email protected]
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Contact Us
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Jocelyn Niedzielavaccbna.orgSafe Environment/Victim Assistance Coordinator
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Restorative Justice
To those victim/survivors in the Diocese of Fairbanks,
Restorative justice is an outreach effort to repair harm that was done to you from abuse. We wish to accompany you on a healing journey involving the entire church. Wherever you are on the path to healing, we want to support you in ways that are helpful to you. The Church hears and acknowledges the deep pain you have suffered at the hands of clergy, religious, and lay employees of the Church. That should never have happened to you. Please accept our deep sorrow and apology for the abuse and for any response you experienced that was not welcoming or compassionate.
We need to be honest about what has happened to you, the burden of your suffering, and the daily struggle of living with the shame and pain that was unjustly forced upon you. Our hope and desire, is to walk with you in your healing journey. All of us our deeply connected and are called to repentance and to the work of healing.
Coming forward to report abuse can be a scary and difficult endeavor, requiring great courage. We thank those who have come forward and invite others to begin their journey of healing by unloading the secret and burden of abuse. Please use the resources on this page or reach out to Jocelyn Niedziela, the Victim Assistance Coordinator, to find support for your healing journey.
May Christ's peace be with you.
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Resources/Events
Awake Milwaukee - Our mission is to awaken our community to the full reality of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and work for transformation and healing www.awakemilwaukee.org
Spirit Fire - Our primary goal is to offer, from our own experience of sexual abuse by clergy, a very real hope for a new and well life among individuals, families, parishes, clergy, religious, and communities wounded by the abuse of childr en or vulnerable adults in settings of faith. www.spiritfirelive.org
Global Safeguarding - These resources provide ethical and theological reflection on the theory and practice of safeguarding vulnerable populations from sexual abuse in religious and faith-based settings. www.berkleycenter.georgetown.edu
Maria Goretti Network -
The Maria Goretti Network reaches out to all those affected by abuse, to survivors and victims, their families and those who support recovery, with God's love as witnessed in the life of Maria Goretti. This web site is for information only and should not be construed as mental health or legal advice. People anywhere can attend meetings via Zoom.
www.mgoretti.org
Villanova University Task Force on the Sexual Abuse Crisis in the Catholic Church - committed to understanding the root causes of the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church and encourages change at all levels in the Church in order to keep children safe from abuse. They foster internal reform within the Catholic Church, organize campus events that draw upon national and international experts on the sexual abuse crisis.
VU Task Force on the Sexual Abuse Crisis | Villanova University
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Prayer for HealingVictims of Abuse
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God of endless love,
ever caring, ever strong,
always present, always just:
You gave your only Son
to save us by the blood of his cross.Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace,
join to your own suffering
the pain of all who have been hurt
in body, mind, and spirit
by those who betrayed the trust placed in them.Hear the cries of our brothers and sisters
who have been gravely harmed,
and the cries of those who love them.
Soothe their restless hearts with hope,
steady their shaken spirits with faith.
Grant them justice for their cause,
enlightened by your truth.Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts,
heal your people’s wounds
and transform brokenness into wholeness.
Grant us the courage and wisdom,
humility and grace, to act with justice.
Breathe wisdom into our prayers and labors.
Grant that all harmed by abuse may find peace in justice.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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Dios del amor infinito,
siempre presente, siempre justo;
Tú nos cuidas y nos proteges
y nos diste a tu único Hijo
para salvarnos con su sangre en la cruz.Jesús manso, pastor de la paz,
dígnate unir a tu propio sufrimiento
el dolor de todos los que han sido heridos
de cuerpo, mente y espíritu
por parte de aquellos que traicionaron la confianza puesta en ellos.Escuche el clamor de nuestros hermanos y hermanas
que han sido lastimados gravemente,
así como el clamor de aquellos que los aman.
Dales la esperanza que mitigue el desosiego de sus corazones,
dales la fe que calme sus espíritus perturbados.
Concédeles justicia para su causa,
ilumínalos con tu verdad.Espíritu Santo, consolador de corazones,
cura las heridas de tus hijos e hijas
y devuelve la integridad a lo que ha sido quebrantado.
Concédenos el valor y la sabiduría,
la humildad y la gracia, para actuar con justicia.
Sopla tu sabiduría en nuestras oraciones y empeños.
Que todos los que han sido heridos por el abuso encuentren paz y justicia.
Te lo pedimos por Cristo, nuestro Señor. Amén.
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