A Safe Space for Healing
Your journey towards peace begins hereTowards Peace provides spiritual support for survivors of abuse by Catholic Church personnel in Ireland. You are not alone.
About Us
A compassionate presence on your spiritual journey
Towards Peace is a spiritual support service that provides a safe space, for people who have been affected by abuse in a Church context can be accompanied as they seek their own experience of spiritual peace, one step at a time.
Our service offers “anam cara” (soul-friend) companions who meet survivors in a shared, non-prescriptive dialogue, helping them explore the spiritual wounds of abuse-loss of faith, feelings of abandonment by God, and mistrust of the Church.
Launched in 2014, Towards Peace operates from the Columba Centre at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, and is funded by the Association of Members of Religious Institutes (AMRI) and the Irish Episcopal Conference (IEC).
What We Offer
Support for every step of your journey
Our service is entirely free and available to anyone whose spiritual life has been impacted by abuse within the Catholic Church.
Spiritual Accompaniment
One-to-one sessions with trained spiritual companions who offer a safe and confidential space to explore your spiritual journey at your own pace.
Safe & Confidential
Everything shared with Towards Peace remains completely confidential. We provide a non-judgmental environment where you can speak freely.
Anam Cara Companions
Our soul-friend companions are carefully selected and trained to walk alongside you, listening with compassion and without an agenda.
Holistic Healing
We support your spiritual wellbeing as part of a broader journey of healing, complementing counselling and other support services.
Reflections
Words from those we walk with
“For the first time in decades, I felt like someone truly heard me without trying to fix me or bring me back to the Church. The companion just listened.”
— A Survivor
“Towards Peace helped me find a way back to my own spirituality, on my own terms. It gave me the space I needed to heal a part of me I thought was lost forever.”
— A Survivor
“I was afraid to speak about what happened. But the gentle, compassionate presence of my companion made me feel safe enough to share my story.”
— A Survivor
Resources
News, events & resources
Explore our resources, news updates, and connections to other support services.
News & Updates
Stay informed with the latest news from Towards Peace, including workshops, events, and community updates.
Day of Prayer
Each year on the first Friday of Lent, a Day of Prayer is held for survivors and victims of abuse in the Catholic Church.
Pause for Thought
Follow our regular reflections on Facebook, offering gentle spiritual meditations and moments of peace.
Related Services
Learn about Towards Healing and other related support services that complement our spiritual accompaniment.
You don’t have to walk this path alone
If your spiritual life has been affected by abuse within the Catholic Church, we are here to listen. Reaching out is the first step.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
If you have a question not answered here, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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Who is Towards Peace for?
Towards Peace is for anyone whose spiritual life has been impacted by abuse within the Catholic Church in Ireland. This includes survivors, their families, and those close to them. The service is open to people of all faiths and none.
Is the service free?
Yes, Towards Peace is entirely free. The service is funded by the Association of Members of Religious Institutes (AMRI) and the Irish Episcopal Conference (IEC).
What is spiritual accompaniment?
Spiritual accompaniment is a gentle process where a trained companion walks alongside you, offering a safe space to explore questions around faith, meaning, and spirituality. It is not counselling or therapy, but rather a compassionate presence that listens without judgment.
Is it confidential?
Absolutely. Everything shared with Towards Peace is treated with the utmost confidentiality. Our companions are bound by a strict code of ethics and confidentiality.
Will I be encouraged to return to the Church?
No. Towards Peace is entirely non-prescriptive. Our companions do not have an agenda to bring anyone back to the Church. The focus is entirely on your own spiritual wellbeing, whatever that looks like for you.
How do I access the service?
You can contact us by phone at +353 86 771 0533 (Monday to Tuesday, 9am-4pm; Wednesday, 9am-12pm) or by email at towardspeace@iecon.ie. You can also reach out through the contact form on this website.
Where is the service based?
Towards Peace operates from the Columba Centre at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare. However, sessions can be arranged at a location that is convenient and comfortable for you.
Who are the Spiritual Companions?
Women and men, lay people, religious brothers and sisters and priests – from the Christian tradition. The panel of spiritual companions is dispersed throughout the island of Ireland. They hold a qualification in spiritual direction, a commitment to ongoing specialised training to work with people who have been abused in Ireland, and are in regular supervision. All Towards Peace spiritual companions are members of AISGA (All Ireland Spiritual Guide Association) and abide by the AISGA Code of Ethics.
Contact
We’re here to listen
Whether you’re ready to begin or just want to learn more, reach out to us. There is no obligation.
You can contact Towards Peace by phone, email, or by filling out the form. All enquiries are treated with complete confidentiality. If you reach our voicemail, please leave your first name and a number, and we will return your call.
Phone
Location
Columba Centre, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare
Hours
Mon–Tue 9am–4pm, Wed 9am–12pm