On Friday, September 14, Bishop Boyea celebrated Mass and led a holy hour for a Day of Prayer and Penance for the sins of the Bishops. He was joined in the services, at St Mary Cathedral, by priests of the Diocese of Lansing and a large gathering of the faithful.
In his homily, Bishop Boyea said “Today, we bring sorrow especially for the sins of sexual abuse. I have met with over 30 victims of sexual abuse by clergy. It is a great evil, a great sin. I am here today to express my own sorrow for those evils that have been inflicted upon society, especially upon young people. We need to be sorry for this because the pain of it never goes away.
“I’m grateful that you’re here today to pray for us bishops, as I express sorrow for our failure to do everything that we should have done in the past.
He concluded “Every day I beg your forgiveness for my sins. I seek your prayers that God will forgive me my sins. And I seek your prayers that he will bring healing to myself and my brother bishops, as well as to all of us who need that healing so desperately.”
