Awake Blog
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Pope Leo Responds to Letters from Survivors
It’s been a meaningful week for Awake: the mail brought a letter from Pope Leo XIV, written in response to the moving messages from survivors that Executive Director Sara Larson carried to the Vatican in June.
“I Was Surrounded by Beauty and Glimmers of Hope and Goodness”: Reflections from Awake’s Third Annual Survivor Retreat
Just a few weeks ago, Awake held its third annual retreat for survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic leaders. This was my second time helping as a facilitator. I’m relatively new to Awake—first connecting with Sara only a couple of years ago—but it quickly became clear to me that Awake is unlike any other community I’ve been a part of, and so is this retreat.
Awake Leaders Reflect on the “Good Fruit” of Centering Survivors—and Plan for the Year Ahead
Last weekend, a group of Awake leaders and committed volunteers continued the biannual tradition of gathering online and in person to connect and build community, and consider big picture questions for the year ahead.
Awake Leaders Gather for Strategic Planning and Look Ahead with Hope
Last Saturday, leaders from Awake gathered in the Milwaukee area and virtually for a strategic planning day to brainstorm, discuss, and set our priorities for the next three years.
Awake Introduces Four New Members of the Survivor Advisory Panel
This week on the blog we honor four new members of the Awake Survivor Advisory Panel, who introduce themselves to the Awake community.
Join Us in Welcoming Meghan Fiebelkorn to the Awake Staff!
This week we are honored to introduce Meghan Fiebelkorn, Awake’s new full-time associate director. Here she tells us a little about her career background, what she and her family do for fun, and the projects that she is the most excited to undertake with Awake.
Awake Warmly Welcomes New Associate Director, Whitney True Francis
On September 4, Awake joyfully welcomed Whitney True Francis, our second full-time staff member. As she begins her work with Awake, we asked Whitney a few questions about her background, personal life, and hopes for this role.
“Without Saying a Word, You are Safe and Understood”: Reflections from Awake’s Second Annual Survivor Retreat
There are many things I love about my work as Awake’s executive director, but our annual retreat for abuse survivors has quickly become the highlight of my year. It is a profound privilege to share this transformative experience.
Awake Team Gathers for Annual Meeting to Reflect and Plan
Last weekend, thirty members of the Awake community from across the United States assembled for a hybrid, day-long meeting to socialize, reflect on previous work, brainstorm future projects, and pray together.
Awake’s Board Welcomes New Directors, Thanks Outgoing Members
It’s an exciting week for Awake as we welcome three newly elected members to our Board of Directors, as well as a new treasurer.
The Top 10 Questions We Hear About Awake
Since we recently changed our name and unveiled a new logo and website, many new people have contacted us with questions about who we are, what we do, and whether they belong.
Awake Unveils A New Name and New Look
Members of the Awake community have likely noticed some buzz in the air. This week, we’re finally ready to share the news.
Awake’s Top 10 Blog Posts of 2023
To mark the arrival of 2024, we take a look back over the Awake Blog in 2023, a busy year of growth for Awake. Here are the ten blog posts that were read and shared the most often.
Awake Welcomes Five New Leaders
As Awake continues to grow, we are pleased to welcome two new members to the Awake Leadership Team and three new members to the Board of Directors. All five people have been engaged with Awake in a variety…
Awake Community Pauses to Breathe and Pray in Advent Mini-Retreat
This week, Awake hosted a peaceful Advent mini-retreat based on the work of writer, poet, and liturgist Cole Arthur Riley (pictured above), author of This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories that Make Us. A 48-minute-long recording…
Awake Welcomes 6 New Members to Our Survivor Advisory Panel
Awake considers listening to and learning from victim-survivors of abuse to be central to our work as an organization, which makes our Survivor Advisory Panel a valuable part of our community. This diverse group of survivors is invested…
Meet Awake’s New Patron Saints
In a special prayer service this week, Awake introduced a group of patron saints recently chosen for our community, and launched a novena calling on the intercession of these saints. A recording of the service, just 16 minutes…
As Awake Begins Our Fifth Year, We Unveil An Updated Mission Statement
It’s hard to believe that it was only four years ago, in August 2019, that Awake Milwaukee was launched. What started as a small group of Catholic lay people gathering in my living room has become a vibrant, rapidly expanding nonprofit organization with a national and even international reach…
Awake Community Gathers to Celebrate God in the Stillness
Last week, Awake hosted its much-loved annual Prayer in the Park service, which featured hymns, scripture, poetry, and small group conversation, all built around the theme of “Finding God in the Stillness.” Some members of the Awake community…