Planning and fundraising are underway for a national healing garden that will be located on the campus of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. The garden will serve as a place of mercy, hope, and reconciliation for survivors of abuse, their families, and the Catholic Church.
The survivor-driven project is the outcome of a gathering of the National Catholic Restorative Justice Initiative, which led to the formation of the National Healing Garden Working Group. This group includes survivors, a bishop, and a representative from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The garden has received support from bishops, dioceses, organizations, and the faithful from across the United States.
Catholic University was approached for this initiative because of its location in the nation’s capital and mission of service to the Catholic Church. The University also houses The Catholic Project (TCP), which is part of the working group. Formed as a response to the abuse crisis, TCP brings clergy and laity together to address challenges that the Catholic Church faces in the U.S. TCP led the widely referenced National Study of Catholic Priests.
“The national healing garden at The Catholic University of America will serve as a tangible sign of God’s mercy and an extension of our commitment to lift up human dignity. It is our hope that this garden brings solace and healing to all who have experienced pain from the tragedy of abuse,” said Peter Kilpatrick, president of The Catholic University of America.
“The commitment to create the National Healing Garden has been a massive collaborative effort. I’m grateful for the prayerful support of so many stakeholders across the Church, including bishops, victim assistance coordinators, the National Catholic Restorative Justice Initiative, the Catholic University of America, and, most importantly, to victim-survivors of clergy abuse for the courage and grace to share their stories,” said Michael Hoffman, who leads the National Healing Garden Working Group.
Fundraising for the garden and for the design process, which will determine the full cost, are underway. The University and working group plan to finalize plans and secure cost estimates during the summer of 2026. Construction will begin once fundraising is in place.
The garden is planned for the east side of Caldwell Hall, adjacent to the St. Francis Peace Garden.
Donations may be made online at give.cua.edu/national-healing-garden.