Contact: Rita Welsh

(919) 219-1101

Ministry Description:

       Bringing prayerful support to victims of domestic violence through compassion,information sharing, education, and referrals. 

     " Religious faith represents a primary source for making sense out of experience and for providing support in times of crisis. Hence it is not surprising that, in the midst of violence in the family, many people turn to their religious or spiritual tradition to explain what is happening and to find support."........Marie Fortune

"When I call for help: A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against Women"

    As Pastors of the Catholic Church in the United States, we state clearly and strongly as we can that violence against women, inside or outside the home is never justified. Violence in any form "-physical, sexual, psychological, verbal" -is sinful: often, it is a crime as well. We have called for a moral revolution to replace a culture of violence. We acknowledge that violence has many forms, many causes, and many victims-men as well as women.

     The Catholic Church teaches that violence against another person in any form fails to treat that person as someone worthy of love. Instead, it treats the person as an object to be used. When violence occurs within a sacramental marriage, the abused spouse may question. "How do these violent acts relate to my promise to take my spouse for better or for worse?" The person being assaulted needs to know that acting to end the abuse does not violate the marriage promises. While violence can be directed towards men, it tends to harm women and children more. In 1992 we spoke out against domestic violence. We called on the Christian community to work vigorously against it. Since then many dioceses, parishes, and organizations have made domestic violence a priority issue. We commend and encourage these efforts.

     Many abused women seek help first from the Church because they see it as a safe place. Even if their abusers isolate them from other social contacts, they may still allow them to go to church. Recognizing the critical role that the Church can play, we address this statement to several audiences:

         * To women who are victims of violence

        * To pastors, parish personnel and educators

        * To men who abuse and men who do not know how to break the circle of       violence

        * To society

     ...............reprinted from The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops "When I Call for Help: A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against Women" (tenth anniversary edition) available in print editions in English and Spanish and may be ordered by calling toll-free 800-235-8722. Ask for publication number 5-509 (English) 5-888 (Spanish).

Ministry Name:

St. Rita of Cascia

     Born Rita Lotti, at Rocca Porena near Cascia in the Province of Umbria, Italy in the diocese of Spoleto in 1386* to parents Antonio and Amata, aging parents who looked upon her birth as a gift from God.

    She was betrothed at age 12 by her parents to Paolo Mancini and was married to him at age 18. She bore him two sons. Her husband was a cruel and ill-tempered man. She was a good wife and mother and put up with his abuse for 18 years. Her husband was murdered and their sons swore vengeance on their father's killers. Through St. Rita's prayers and intervention they forgave the offenders and died a few years later of natural causes.

     After her sons died St. Rita joined the Augustinian Nuns. Her days were spent in prayer and contemplation in service to the sick and poor.

     St. Rita is well known as a patron of desperate, seemingly impossible causes, abuse victims, and difficult marriages.

Ministry Purpose:

     The St. Rita Ministry was developed in partnership with INTERACT of Wake County, to bring awareness, understanding, and education to the St. Michaels and Cary Communities, and to offer referral assistance to Interact, local law enforcement agencies, Triangle Family Services, the DOSE program, and other supportive agencies.

 Facts:

    An estimated 3 - 4 million women in the United States are battered each year by their husbands or partners.

    Approximately 37 percent of obstetric patients of every race, class and educational background report being physically    abused while pregnant

    Journal of the American Medical Association

    There were 600 reported cases of domestic violence in Cary in 2001

    There were over 750 reported to the Cary Police Department in 2002.

    More than 54% of all calls to the Cary Police Department are for domestic violence.

Ministry Goal:

 Our goal is to educate the St Michael's community through informational seminars and making educational materials available. To establish a hot line to be staffed by trained volunteers. To offer confidential support groups to victims of domestic violence, facilitated by trained volunteers.

Direct Support Committee:

To staff the 24 hour hotline, volunteers will be provided with crisis intervention training. Cell phones to be provided.

Education Committee:

Volunteers are needed to help with parish presentations and table top displays, to recruit volunteers and to keep the website current. The work of the ministry is made known through NC Catholic newspaper and parish publications. This group will meet as needed to keep materials and news of the ministry updated.

Adult Group Facilitators:

Co-facilitate support groups for victims and survivors of domestic violence.

Training to be provided by INTERACT.

BREAK THE SILENCE

Trust your feelings.

Talk about what is happening with someone you trust.

Keep telling until someone believes you and will listen.

Tell a counselor.

Don't blame yourself.

If you are in an emergency or dangerous situation call 911.

Hotline Numbers: 

Ministry Yearly Events:

Prayer Vigil

The St. Rita Ministry holds an annual prayer vigil during the month of May. It is held in memory of victims of domestic violence and to pray for survivors, families and supporters of victims as well. It is always held on or near the 22nd of May, which is the feast day of our ministry’s patron, St. Rita of Cascia.

The vigil consists of scripture readings, hymns, prayer petitions, messages from social action organizations within our community, meditations, a candle-lighting segment and, of course, plenty of prayers.

Our prayer vigil is an opportunity to reflect on and give our spiritual support to all those affected by domestic violence.

Cell Phone/Personal Items Drive

The St. Rita Ministry holds an annual cell phone/personal items drive during the month of October.  At this time the ministry asks all parishioners of St. Michael Church to bring old cellular phones with charger and battery to the Parish Office during the last two weeks in October. Boxes are set up in the stairwell outside the Parish Office. The cellular phones are reconditioned by Alltel and given to Interact of Wake County. At that same time the ministry also collects new personal items like: Deodorant, Bars of Soap, Lotions, Conditioner, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Dental Floss, Q-Tips, Hairbrushes, Combs, Packages of Underwear. These items are also donated to Interact for victims who are seeking shelter.