Domestic and family violence victims, survivors, their extended families, communities, those who had caused harm and those working in the system came to St Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane for a night of prayer. Source: The Catholic Leader.
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge led the prayer vigil on May 21. He told the crowd it was the most important thing happening in Brisbane that night.
Organisers said it was a chance for storytelling, healing and raising awareness about domestic and family violence.
One survivor who did not wish to be identified said the prayer vigil was a way to build a safe space to share stories, which was important for healing.
She said the more “we are able to break the silence and talk about the realities of our lived experiences, the more we are able to heal ourselves”.
She said it also meant “we are able to (better) walk with others in empathy, solidarity and support”.
Challenge DV workplace programs manager Juliana Mantilla said the evening was about “holding space for pain, but also for healing”.
“We prayed that every voice silenced by fear finds strength, every heart broken by violence finds healing, and that we, as a faith community, continue to be a well of living water, offering love, safety, and restoration through Christ,” Ms Mantilla said.
Carole Danby, chair for the joint churches domestic violence prevention project at Queensland Churches Together, said they “stood on holy ground, in faithful solidarity and belief in our God who ‘sees’ the suffering and offers living water to revive our drooping spirits”.
The night was organised in collaboration with Honorary Consul of Portugal for Queensland Diana Lopes, Challenge DV, Sicura, Queensland Churches Together and Archdiocesan Ministries.
Other groups also attended, including Beyond DV, Red Rose Foundation, archdiocesan agencies, Deakin University and local representatives councillors Vicki Howard and Alex Givney.
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Brisbane Cathedral prayer vigil makes ‘space for holding pain and healing’ for domestic and family violence (By Joe Higgins, The Catholic Leader)
