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SAGINAW - In a Mass of Atonement on March 29, Bishop Robert Gruss offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in atonement for the sins of clergy whose actions allowed children to be harmed. In this Mass, the faithful joined Bishop Gruss in praying for healing of those who have been hurt and a renewal of vigilance and compassion.
During the penitential rite, Bishop Gruss set aside the symbols of his office— his episcopal ring, zucchetto, mitre, crosier and pectoral cross— and lay prostrate before the altar “as a symbolic action recognizing my own sinfulness as a creature of God and the sinfulness of our entire community,” Bishop Gruss said.
This prostration signifies contrition, humility, reverence, and deep anguish for the suffering Body of Christ, and the grief and sorrow of the Church,” he said.
Bishop Gruss' Homily
Good evening everyone. My heartfelt welcome to all of you present here as well as to those who may have joined us via livestream. Thank you for being here for this Mass of Atonement. As we gather for this Mass, in this season of Lent, may it be a sign of repentance, making reparation for the sins of priests and bishops who have abused their power and authority, allowing children to be harmed. We lift up in prayer in a special way all victims – children, young people and adults – all who have suffered any abuse at the hands of priests and bishops and any other church personnel.
I want to express my deepest sorrow to those who have been victims of abuse by members of the clergy. Please accept my sincere apology for the pain and suffering you have had to endure as a result of your own experiences. None of us will ever know the depth of the pain that survivors endure. I am deeply saddened by it all and I apologize to you on behalf of the Church.
We gather in support of the survivors, family members and communities that have spoken or unspoken stories of survival and pain, praying for peace, healing and justice.
In this Mass of Atonement this evening, we as a Church, shamefully and remorsefully acknowledge that there were those clergy and others who abused our children, the most vulnerable entrusted to our care; there was also cover-up and silence, dismissing the cries of those who were suffering, only to magnify their pain; there was ignorance on the part of many and a lack of understanding of the gravity of this sin – all of which inflicted deep wounds on the body of Christ.
Atonement comes from a place that cries out for God’s mercy – seeking healing of the wounds that have been created by our sins. As a Church we cry out, “Be merciful O Lord, for we have sinned. In the greatness of your compassion, wipe out our offense. For we acknowledge our offenses, personally and communally; this scourge of sin is always before us.”
In a special way this evening, we entrust ourselves to the only One who can bring about true healing – the One who was made sin for us so that we could be saved and reconciled through Him. We entrust for healing all who have been impacted by sexual abuse in any way to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We pray for the healing of memories, for the rebuilding of lives, for the recovery of a lost sense of worth and dignity, for reconciliation and redemption that comes through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus.
For most of us, and especially for many survivors of abuse, it’s hard to come to terms with such suffering and pain – despite the fact that it may have occurred years and years ago. Time doesn’t always heal. We must acknowledge this.
Jesus, too, knew the unfair affliction of pain and suffering – an innocent man consumed by a broken, sinful world. But as we know, sin and death did not have the final word in Jesus’ experience. The cross of Jesus, despite the burden of its overwhelming pain, was not the end of Jesus’ story but, through the power of God, gave way to the fullness of life, meaning and peace for Jesus – and for each of us through faith.
God overcame the powers of evil and raised Jesus from the dead, “that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name."
And we who gather in his name at this time of prayer are “witnesses” to the saving, healing presence of God, not just in Jesus’ life, but in our world and in our lives as well.
Jesus stretching out his arms on the cross reveals his love for each one of us. He died for you and for me, personally and individually– a love more powerful than betrayal, grace stronger than sin.
Even today, Jesus’ love for us is no less than the day he died, and he longs for our love in return. On the cross, Christ’s love was poured out completely. In the words of Pope Francis, “Gaze upon the outstretched arms of Christ crucified, let yourself be saved over and over again.”
Friends, this is the pathway to healing, to freedom, and to new life. By the Cross of Jesus Christ, the very heart of God is displayed. Jesus surrendered it all. In doing so, he takes upon himself the evil, the filth, the sin of the whole world, including ours, and the sin of the Church, and he cleanses it with his blood, mercy, and the love of the Father. He transforms it and us. If this mystery is to come alive for each of us, we must enter into it in such a way that its meaning penetrates our hearts anew. We must pray for this grace. Lord Jesus, give us this grace.
As I have said before, no single statement or event like this Mass can ever make up for the painful abuse of our most vulnerable brothers and sisters. But as people of faith, we know that through Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection, we can find hope beyond measure as we move toward a brighter future.
But we also know that Christ also sends us into the world to enter into the suffering of others. Like Jesus, as a Church, we can never be too afraid to enter into pain of others – in order to bring love there, Christ’s merciful love. This is how Christ heals his Church. Through each of us.
We also turn to our Sorrowful Mother, who sustains and loves us when we are overcome by the distressing trials of life. As Mary stood at the foot of the cross of her Son, she experienced that pain and suffering as only a mother can. Whenever Mary loves us, she gives us Jesus. We ask her today, in a special way, to bring her love to us – to give us Jesus.
Just as she held the broken body of her son, we ask her to hold the broken Body of Christ, the Church. We entrust to her maternal love and mercy, all victims of sexual abuse by clergy and others.
We entrust to her maternal love and mercy all those who have committed these heinous crimes.
The grace that strengthened Mary at the cross is the grace for which we must pray for every day – trusting in divine providence.
We trust that God never abandons us – that He is ever present to his Church, seeking to pour out his Divine Love on our misery.
But we also live in faith and hope that Jesus, the “Crucified One”, will lead us to a new place where the Gospel can be preached and lived with faithfulness and love, thus bearing new life in the world.
May the Lord bring his healing love to you all.
-Bishop Robert Gruss
Bishop Gruss also shared the following with the faithful on March 22, 2022:
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
In April, which is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we are all encouraged to recognize the signs of child abuse and to report to legal authorities. The abuse of one child is a tragedy that cries out to heaven.
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father." (Matthew 18:10)
In our own Church, the sexual abuse of children and youth by clergy has been a source of tremendous sorrow, anger, and betrayal. It has deeply wounded victims and their families. I ask all of you to join me in praying for healing of those who have been hurt, and I call upon each one of us to renew our vigilance and compassion.
On March 29, I will celebrate a Mass of Atonement at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption. During this Mass, I will lay before God the Father the sorrow of all victims of child abuse and neglect and in particular the victims of child sexual abuse by clergy. I ask that you join me in person for this liturgy, which also will be available via livestream, in seeking reconciliation with God and forgiveness of sin.
Our safe Environment training has been substantially improved and enhanced during the past 2 years. The training includes scenarios, which help participants recognize the signs of child sexual abuse and offers details about the proper steps to report. Since August 2020, safe environment training has been offered virtually and in-person. From August 2020 through 2021, 1,383 adults were (re)trained. During this same period, criminal history background checks were updated for all employees and volunteers in contact with minors.
Especially during this month of April, I invite all people of good will to pray for the healing of those who have been mistreated by those in authority. May we never turn aside from caring for God’s little ones.
Full Video of Mass of Atonement on March 29, 2022