SPECIAL EVENTS

A MASS DEDICATED TO ENDING ABUSE TOWARD WOMEN

Each and every year, thousands of women in our Archdiocese will experience violence by their most intimate partner. Statistics tell us that 1 in 3 women suffer this kind of violence. And each year Catholic Family Services of Toronto serves hundreds of women and children, from all walks of life. We also work with partners who are abusive, helping them to understand and change their violent behavior.

Catholic Family Services of Toronto would like to extend a special invitation to the women and girls of the Archdiocese of Toronto to join us at a special Mass, celebrated by His Grace Archbishop Thomas Collins, dedicated to ending the cycle of violence. The Mass will be held on November 3rd, 2010 at St. Paul’s Basilica (83 Power St., Toronto) at 5:00 p.m.

There will be refreshments following the Mass.

For further information, please call 416 921-1163 or E-Mail us at info@cfsofto.org

WOMEN HELPING WOMEN

Catholic Family Services of Toronto has received funding to implement an innovative response to help women with abusive pasts break free from poverty and unemployment. The Status of Women Canada, a federal government department, has provided us with funding for a three year project, Women Helping Women

The project will develop a pool of trained volunteers to act as mentors for women experiencing violence. Mentors will also deliver training/educational activities to parish priests, parish councils and parishioners. Each year, Catholic Family Services of Toronto delivers counseling services to hundreds of women who are experiencing violence. Women Helping Women will support women to end violence in their lives, will advance economic and social conditions for women who have experienced violence and will encourage women to take on leadership roles in the Catholic community.

Following a conference hosted by our agency in 2008, entitled “Woman Abuse… Living Without Fear: A Day of Social Justice”, participants recommended that outreach and education in our Catholic churches and other faith organizations must continue. His Grace, Archbishop Thomas Collins was our key-note speaker. At the conference, he stated that there is a need to do more than just identify and name woman abuse when it occurs. We are also compelled to act, and to act thoughtfully, carefully and effectively.

Many abused women face what may seem insurmountable challenges to living free from violence. Systems and services, including our churches and other faith-based organizations, often pose their own barriers. Much of the work with women who have experienced violence includes helping them learn about resources and to utilize them effectively. This is work that is as critical as counseling interventions, and perhaps even more time consuming.

Our three year project will train volunteers to act as mentors for women experiencing violence. Women who have received help and are in a more stable stage in life can be powerful mentors. The programme will help develop skills that will enable them to help other women confronting the legal and other systems

Recently the Archbishop had these words to share,

“And, let us not forget the women who will be served by the mentors. Women in abusive relationships can feel guilty, blame themselves and feel that there is little hope. I think that in the mentors they will see someone who has broken free of the cycle of abuse. They will meet women like themselves who will inspire them to have hope and confidence that they too can live the fullness of life to which we all are called. What could be more powerful than that?”

If you are interested in the programme, please contact us at 416-222-0048