Domestic Violence Awareness and Outreach Mass Sept. 30

Father Louis Cameli, Cardinal Cupich's delegate for Formation and Mission, will preside and preach at an archdiocesan-wide Mass for Domestic Violence Awareness and Outreach at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30, at Holy Name Cathedral, corner of State and Superior streets, in Chicago. All are welcome to attend, especially victims of domestic violence, their children and families.

The Mass is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago's Domestic Violence Outreach office, led by the Rev. Charles W. Dahm, O.P., who has preached on domestic violence at Masses in 100 parishes throughout the Chicago area from 2008 to the present. Archdiocese of Chicago's Domestic Violence Outreach has developed local ministries serving victims of domestic violence in more than 80 parishes; hundreds of representatives from these ministries will attend and participate in the Mass.

"Many times violence in the streets begins at home," said Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago. "Adults and children are traumatized and alienated from the love and support they need by the violence they witness. We must respond to this tragedy."

Domestic violence is an epidemic in the United States, affecting more than one in three women and one in eight men within their lifetimes, impacting all communities, races, ages, genders and financial strata. Among the 198 Catholic dioceses in the United States, the Archdiocese of Chicago has the most developed domestic violence outreach program.

"Other dioceses are looking to our work in Chicago as a model for their own local churches," said Rev. Dahm. "We encourage everyone interested in this issue to attend this Mass, to help build awareness of the problem and to support individuals and families who have or currently are experiencing domestic violence."

More information about domestic violence is available on the Archdiocese of Chicago's website, archchicago.org. Click Domestic Violence Outreach on the homepage to access resource material and a list of Catholic parishes involved in domestic violence ministries.