We warmly invite you to stand with survivors at the 2nd Wales LOUDfence event, hosted at St David’s Priory on Saturday, October 19th, at 12:00 noon. Archbishop Mark will celebrate Mass, offering a time for reflection, prayer, and solidarity.
This event is organized by the Cardiff-Menevia Safeguarding team to raise awareness and show support for survivors of abuse. Throughout the week, we encourage you to tie ribbons around the church grounds as a visible symbol of support and engage with our team to learn more about how we can collectively foster healing and protection.
Your presence matters—let’s unite in faith, hope, and action.
What is LOUDfence?
LOUDfence, a survivor-led initiative, which gives a voice to all those who have experienced abuse within a faith-based setting or have been affected by it, although it is open to everyone. LOUDfence provides an opportunity for reflection on the times the Church and wider society has failed victims/survivors of abuse and to say we are truly sorry. It enables us to commit ourselves to doing our utmost to being a place which is safe for all people.
LOUDfence is a process which aids gradual culture transformation through celebrating the virtues we hold valuable. LOUDfence raises awareness in the community and in institutions, it challenges the silence and shame which surrounds the issue of abuse. LOUDfence seeks to support the survivor and validate their worth by celebrating the act of speaking out and truth telling.
What happens at a LOUDfence event?
A LOUDfence event involves tying brightly coloured (LOUD) ribbons and messages of support in public spaces to show support to ALL victims and survivors of abuse. LOUDfence has now spread to other organisations, leading to events being held across the UK including those held in Plymouth, Northampton and Birmingham and in Lourdes and Paris in France.
A little more background on LOUDfence
LOUDfence originated in Australia as a protest and solidarity movement in 2015, whilst here in the UK it has become a survivor support and reconciliation movement, led by Antonia Sobocki in Cumbria in 2020. We really hope that you will join us for this event. Please let us know if you wish to have an information stand.
LOUDfence Wales
The Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Mark O’Toole on Saturday 19th October at 12 noon in St David’s Priory, Swansea and will be followed by refreshments in the Parish Hall.
We welcome your presence alongside the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Team, clergy and laity who will be offering a listening ear, support and guidance to survivors and anyone with concerns about abuse in any context. Additionally, LOUDfence provides an ideal occasion for you to share information about your services. Please don’t hesitate to forward this information to your network.
Tie a ribbon on the day, and throughout the week LOUDfence is present at the Priory. Anyone is welcome to tie ribbons of all colours and messages of support for survivors on the railings of the cathedral and/or to the dedicated LOUDfence tree inside the church. We very much want LOUDfence week to be an opportunity for all faiths and communities to come together. We really hope that you will join us for this event. Please let us know if you wish to have an information stand.
Would you like more information?
Please get in touch with the Safeguarding team at safeguarding@rcadc.org.
Why not show your support by leaving a virtual ribbon below?
Simply email Joanne White Joanne White with your message and we will attach your message to a ribbon which will be attached to the railings and placed inside the church. You do not need to leave your actual name if you don’t want to – or you can just leave your initials.