The Catholic Church in Belgium too is organising a national celebration of prayer to commemorate the victims of sexual abuse. It will be held on Sunday, 17^th December, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Koekelberg) in the run-up to the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence. During the commemorative celebration, which will start at 5.30pm – a notice states –, speeches will be given by the victims of sexual abuse and by mgr. Luc Terlinden, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Belgium. The attendees will stop in front of the sculpture “Esse est percipi” by Ingrid Rosschaert, unveiled in the Basilica in Spring 2017 to commemorate the victims of sexual abuse in the Church. Similar ceremonies will take place in the Cathedrals of Bruges and Tournai, also on Sunday 17^th November. In Bruges, the ceremony will start at 10.00am and will be officiated by the Bishop, Lode Aerts. In Tournai, mgr. Guy Harpigny – before the celebration – will unveil a commemorative work painted by a victim of abuse.
At the initiative of the local ecclesial community and civic authorities, a work in memory of the victims of sexual abuse has been made in the garden of St Peter’s Church in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. The unveiling, on Saturday 16^th November at 03.00pm, will be attended by a victim, the Mayor, Jan Desmeth, and the archbishop, Luc Terlinden.