The Irish Bishops Conference has dedicated the first Friday of Lent as an annual day of prayer for victims and survivors of abuse.  This year’s Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Sexual Abuse will take place on 16th February, the first Friday of Lent.  The Day of Prayer is an initiative of Pope Francis and was first marked in Irish dioceses in 2017. Every Cathedral in Ireland on this day will light a candle of Atonement, and prayers will be offered at all masses for the victims of abuse as we pray for forgiveness and healing.
 
 
 
CANDLE OF ATONEMENT PRAYER

Lord, forgive us our many sins.
We grieve and repent with all our hearts for having offended you, for our great failings and neglect of the young and vulnerable.
We place all of those who have been hurt by the Church in any way into your loving hands and under the protection of Our Blessed Mother.
Lord, bring peace to their broken lives and show us all the way out of darkness and into the light of your Word.
May we as the people of God be more fully human, more fully Christ-like, and more fully your people, that we may see the errors of the past and go forward with renewed hope and faith in Christ and in our Church.
Amen.

CLICK HERE for Candle of Atonement Prayer. 

CLICK HERE for Prayer of Dedication of Candle of Atonement

CLICK HERE for Prayers of the Faithful for use in parishes