- Download PDF Version available for use with email and print distribution.
To: Priests, Deacons, Parish Administrators and Secretaries
From: Patrick Metts, LPC, Marriage, Family and Pastoral Care; Office of Formation and Discipleship
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Annually, the Office of Formation and Discipleship updates our online resources and referral information, available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Last year, we provided newly updated pamphlets that can be a helpful resource for those in the cycle of abuse. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the resources and consider printing pamphlets to raise awareness in your parish.
The newly updated pamphlets, Domestic Violence: Break the Silence, Stop the Cycle, are helpful in ministry and provide a quick reference for local resources. Click here to download the pamphlets.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops offers recommendations and many other ideas and resources for pastors, clergy and pastoral staff to use throughout the year on their website.
Unfortunately, Georgia had a significant amount of domestic violence-related homicides in 2016. The Project recorded 121 domestic violence-related deaths. There were 53,414 crisis calls made in 2016 to Georgia’s certified domestic violence agencies. 15.5 million children witnessed domestic violence at least once in the past year. Authorities believe that more incidents go unreported. Making it known that a parish is a safe place where both victims and abusers can find hope and healing can be a powerful means of ending this cycle of violence.
For additional information, please email pmetts@archatl.com.