The Catholic Church in Australia marks Safeguarding Sunday (formerly Child Protection Sunday) on the second Sunday of September, at the conclusion of National Child Protection Week.
Safeguarding Sunday seeks to acknowledge the immense damage caused by the sexual abuse of children and adults at risk, including by priests, religious and lay people within Catholic contexts. It makes a commitment to practices and protocols that create and maintain safe environments for all people. It invites people to pray for those harmed by abuse directly and indirectly.
Safeguarding Sunday also invites us to thank God and the people responsible for the enormous work that has been done to ensure that children are safe in Church settings. We need to keep working to ensure that they continue to do so.
A series of resources have been created to support local recognition, including within liturgical celebrations:
Visit the Safeguarding section to learn more about the Archdiocese’s commitment to building a culture of safety and care
