Date: Monday, Jan. 26
Hora de inicio: 6:30 p.m.
Hora de finalización: 8 p.m.
Ubicación: Virtual
Register here
For many survivors of sexual abuse, shame becomes a toxic burden. It can make us question ourselves and our worth, even though the harm we experienced was never our fault. Often the shame we carry belongs to our abuser. Even if our own shame is what helped us survive, it leaves us lonely and exhausted. Shame can’t actually protect us, and it won’t help us heal. Grief can. Healthy grieving lets us tell the truth about what happened without blaming ourselves. It creates space to breathe, to process, and to move forward with compassion. As we explore these ideas with presenter Fr. Derek Sakowski, we’ll look at why shame shows up after abuse and how we can begin to set it down—so that healing, truth, and freedom have room to grow.
Derek Sakowski was ordained a priest for the Diocese of La Crosse in 2003. He holds a Licentiate in Philosophy from Catholic University of America and a Doctorate in Ecclesiology from the Gregorian University. He has been on his own path of healing and recovery, including three years of training with the Allender Center, where he became certified in Narrative Focused Trauma Care. His ministry has included high school teaching and pastoring two parishes. In 2023, he began serving as Director of the Rebuild My Church Initiative, inviting priests into deeper human integration and spiritual renewal. He often reminds both clergy and lay leaders that we cannot accompany others any farther than we are willing to go ourselves. Many know him through his blog, Abiding in Love and Truth, where he writes about trauma, healing, and the lifelong journey toward wholeness.
For more information contact Paula Kaempffer, Coordinator for Restorative Practices & Survivor Support for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, at kaempfferp@archspm.org.
