Frequently Asked Questions

Awake began in March 2019 with a group of Catholics gathered in a tiny living room in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the wake of the scandals of 2018, including the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report and the abuse revelations about then-cardinal Theodore McCarrick, we gathered to process our own feelings of betrayal, anger, and grief and to discuss what we could do to make a difference. We began listening to people who had experienced sexual abuse in the Church and realized that this was not a problem of the past. These conversations led to the founding of the organization we named Awake Milwaukee. Our first action was to publish our Open Letter to Survivors as a small gesture of solidarity and support for those who have experienced abuse at the hands of Catholic leaders. Most of Awake’s founders are still engaged with the organization today, including executive director Sara Larson and many of the current members of Awake’s Leadership Team and Board of Directors.

When we founded Awake Milwaukee, we were meeting in person, hosting small local events, and focusing specifically on the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. After COVID-19 shut down our local gatherings, we began to host Courageous Conversations, Survivor Circles, and other events on Zoom. We quickly discovered that there were many people throughout the country who were drawn to our mission, and our virtual community grew to include many abuse survivors, concerned Catholics, and allies from across the United States and beyond. In January 2024, we made this transition official as we removed the word “Milwaukee” from our name and launched our new website at www.awakecommunity.org.

When people think of the “abuse crisis,” they often focus specifically on the abuse of children and adolescents by priests. However, we know that people can be abused at any age - as children, teens, or adults - and that religious perpetrators include not only priests but also deacons, religious brothers and sisters, and lay leaders. We also recognize that the failed institutional response is a significant part of the problem to be addressed. Many survivors have told us that this institutional betrayal has been even more deeply traumatizing than the abuse itself. We have also learned that this is not strictly a problem of the past. Our mission is meant to encompass all of these aspects of the problem.

Awake is a single-issue organization, focused only on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Our community includes people who consider themselves conservative, liberal, and everything in between. We seek to create a space where people of many backgrounds and perspectives can transcend political and theological differences and come together around a common mission. 

When Awake began, we had a narrow focus on sexual abuse, and our mission statement still reflects this. However, over time we have learned more about the many ways that Catholics leaders can cause harm, including grooming, sexual harassment, or sexual propositions; physical, spiritual, emotional, or psychological abuse; or any number of other ways that power can be abused. We recognize that all of these experiences can cause deep pain and a deep need for support and healing. While we have a limited capacity to directly address these other forms of harm at this time, we are learning to speak about abuse in more inclusive ways, and many people who have experienced other forms of abuse have found Awake to be a meaningful community of support.

Yes, Awake is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the IRS and a charitable organization with the State of Wisconsin. Our Federal EIN is 84-4590798. You can see our IRS Determination Letter and Wisconsin Charitable Organization Certificate.

Awake is funded primarily by small donations from individual donors, including concerned Catholics, abuse survivors, and other allies, many of whom contribute a recurring donation as part of our Awake Allies monthly giving circle. We have also received support from a few foundations and the outreach funds of several individual parishes. We do not receive money from any Catholic diocese, and we do not charge survivors for any of our services. You can see more information about our income and expenses on our most recent Annual Impact Report.

While we often feel called to speak hard truths and stand on the prophetic edge, we undertake this mission out of love for our wounded Church, in response to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Awake’s leaders are grounded in the Catholic faith, rooted in prayer, and committed to working from within the Church as members of the Body of Christ. Many members of the Awake community are devout Catholics who are deeply engaged in parish life and other ministries. We believe that the work of awakening, transformation, and healing is essential to the health of our Church.

Yes, absolutely! While Awake was founded by concerned Catholics, we invite all who support this mission to be part of the Awake community. You will find respect and welcome, regardless of your spiritual path. 

We are deeply sorry for the ways you have been harmed, but we are glad you have found your way to this website. Many abuse survivors choose to begin learning about Awake by attending one of our public events, perusing our blog, watching recordings of past events, or reading our collection of Survivor Stories. When you feel ready, you might want to consider scheduling a welcome call on Zoom by reaching out to our Survivor Care Coordinator Esther Harber, participating in one of our Survivor Circles, or connecting with other survivors at The Well. We would be honored to accompany you on your healing journey. 

At Awake, we recognize that abuse harms the entire community and can have an especially serious impact on the family members of the victim-survivor. Our mission includes walking not only with survivors themselves but also with their loved ones. We hold monthly online gatherings on Wednesday evenings for family members of those who have experienced sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. If you are interested, please contact Sara Larson at saralarson@awakecommunity.org.

Thank you for your desire to bring awakening, transformation, and healing to your local community! This is important work. We encourage you to start by talking with fellow parishioners/group members and bringing together a small group of people who share this goal. You may want to use Awake’s blog, event recordings, and Survivor Stories to learn more about these issues together as you discern your next steps. Awake is currently developing a resource kit for parishes, so please contact us if you want to be notified when that is available. In the meantime, you can see some preliminary suggestions here.

We are grateful for your interest and warmly welcome you to engage with this ministry. While Awake is a lay-led organization, we believe the work of transformation and healing depends on lay and ordained Catholics working together for the good of the wounded Body of Christ. Priests often begin learning about Awake by attending one of our public events, perusing our blog, watching recordings of past events, or reading our collection of Survivor Stories. We especially recommend this blog post on 5 Things Every Priest Should Know About Sexual Abuse and our Courageous Conversation titled What I Want Catholics to Understand: A Conversations with Abuse Survivors. If you are interested in getting more involved with our restorative efforts, please contact Sara Larson at saralarson@awakecommunity.org.

There are many ways to support the mission of Awake! Please consider any of these actions as a first step:

-Join Awake’s Encourager Ministry to provide supportive messages to abuse survivors;

-Sign our Open Letter to Survivors as a gesture of solidarity and support;

-Volunteer your time, skills, and passion (just click here to get started);

-Tell family, friends, and fellow parishioners about Awake;

-Like and share Awake’s social media pages: Facebook / Instagram / LinkedIn / Twitter / YouTube;

-Talk to the clergy and lay ministers at your parish about Awake’s mission;

-Make a one-time or recurring donation to financially sustain our work;

-Sign up for our email newsletter to stay in the loop;

-Pray for our mission and for all who have been wounded by sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.