Maria Goretti Network

The Maria Goretti Network family reaches out to abuse victims, their families, and to those who support our recovery, with God's love as witnessed in the life of Maria Goretti.

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Inexcusable me...
Irreplaceable Him.

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Shannon is an international speaker and a strong supporter of the Maria Goretti Network.

Miguel Prats is a survivor of abuse as a child by a mentally challenged man in his neighborhood and as a teenager by a priest. He is well familiar with the pain and the difficulties faced by survivors in the aftermath of abuse. In 2003, he felt there was a need that had to be addressed. “I saw wounded and hurting people who only had SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) to turn to if they were abused by clergy.”  He thought, “There had to be something for Catholics who wanted to remain in the Church. The Church really didn’t have any programs for survivors”. Even now, he acknowledges that, for the most part, it still doesn’t. He wondered, “Why couldn’t we have a Catholic version of SNAP, a lay apostolate within the Church that was run by and for survivors?  A self-help support network similar to SNAP but solely about recovery and forgiveness, not legal issues.”
Prats says he understands the anger and outrage felt by members of SNAP, he was outraged too. For his own sanity, he had to learn how to live with what happened and the key was forgiveness. "I needed healing. The anger was like cancer and it was killing me.”  
He also knew that there are more than just clergy abuse survivors out there. “For every person abused by clergy, there are 50 more that were abused by others. Often these are family members or other people in a family’s circle of trust, such as friends, relatives, teachers, coaches, doctors and even therapists".
Prats wanted to go beyond victims of clergy abuse to provide care and healing for victims of all kinds of abuse. The story of St. Maria Goretti resonated with him and captured the vision of the project. It is the story of an innocent young girl killed in an attempted rape but who gave an extraordinary witness to the virtue of chastity and forgiveness. It was by a miracle of grace that the murderer of St. Maria Goretti, Alessandro Serenelli, would come to confess his guilt and be reconciled to God.  Serenelli testified during the canonization process of Maria Goretti because he was the only witness to what had caused her death.

In June of 2004, the Maria Goretti Network/MGN received it's 501 (3) (C) non-profit status and began working with the Diocese of Tyler, TX Victim’s Assistance Coordinator, Fr. Gavin Vaverek, and his bishop, Bp. Alvaro Corrada. The Maria Goretti Network is a peer-led support group for survivors of abuse. It is a lay movement that seeks to reach out to their brothers and sisters and to journey with them along the road back to Jesus Christ. 

There are currently five chapters in Texas.  
Prats says he and his board members have learned some strategies and recognized some challenges that they need to address to get these kinds of groups up and operating. “For a group to start, two people are required to lead. At least one of the two needs to be a survivor of abuse who is well along the path to recovery. They need to be dependable and solid people who will commit to serve.” Prats acknowledged that two are needed so the process doesn’t fall on just one person. “You listen to some pretty horrible stuff.  So the people selected for leadership need to be well-grounded.”

The process also requires the support of a local priest and parish for the chapter. Fr. Gavin Vaverek says “This whole process is Christ-centered. We seek to help other victims by listening, sharing and offering support. We encourage healing through acceptance of God's love poured out through the Sacraments. MGN encourages participants to pray, especially the Rosary.” 

Current President of the USCCB, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Fiorenza, past President of the USCCB, are actively supporting MGN and promoting local involvement by priests of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in this effort.

Fr. Gavin Vaverek, JCL, former Promoter of Justice and the Victim Assistance Coordinator for the Diocese of Tyler, TX, serves as an advisor and VP of MGN.
In an informational piece for diocese staff, Fr. Vaverek notes, “Sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults is not just a sin, not just a crime — it is evil. Our policies and procedures will help the Church to the extent that we help create an environment of external compliance and internal conversion. People in the Church and in society need to know more about the realities of abuse. They need to know what to look for and where to turn for help. They need to know that the Catholic Church will help them no matter who has abused them. I pray you take seriously the opportunity we have to serve the Church by helping victims, and by helping to be catalysts of this transformation in society.”

Prats and Fr. Gavin Vaverek JCL, work with local parishes who want to get a chapter started, providing them training and support.
An MGN chapter meets once a month and is designed to be a safe environment.  Confidentiality is key to the process.  Each session starts and ends with prayer.  Participants check in, letting others know how they are doing that day. Sharing names or talking in front of the group is optional. Participants then separate into two small groups – men in one, women in the other. This allows individuals to have more freedom to talk about issues that are pertinent to them. Once they return to the large group the balance of the time is focused on the topic of forgiveness.
“It’s up to each person to decide what they need to do to heal,” Prats says. “Each one has to find his or her own way. They will get our love, support and be believed. We tell people who come, we don't know what you need to do to heal. You have to figure that out for yourself. We can share what's worked for us in the hope you might hear something that will be of benefit to you".

Support groups work because they are an intimate way that people who are going through some difficulty in their lives can connect with others who are going through the same difficulty. The exchange of stories and information can be valuable tools for those seeking answers and emotional support. Furthermore, they can dispel myths and misinformation, and offer an environment of normalcy to the person who is struggling with a problem. A support group helps to put things into perspective.

For more information, Miguel Prats, Manager, can be reached by phone (24/7) at 713-851-3708 or email miguel@mgoretti.org.
If you would prefer to speak with or write to a priest, contact Fr. Gavin Vaverek, JCL, Promoter of Justice, Diocese of Tyler, Texas  through email @
 fatherg@mgoretti.org

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