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Welcome to my Blog!

Here is where I share insights and information about issues such as trauma, faith, and healing. I also write the occasional book review.
To read my Advice from a Survivor Blog with The Ruth Institute, please go HERE.
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Truth Can Hurt...Especially When It’s Twisted
+JMJ+ Years ago, when my brother suddenly died at 22, before we even had the autopsy results, a local paper ran a story implying...

Faith Hakesley
15 hours ago


When Faith Hurts but Still Holds
+JMJ+ To anyone out there searching for faith or returning to it after years away, this is for you. Maybe you’ve been hurt. Maybe...

Faith Hakesley
15 hours ago


A Reflection of Love, Loss, and Our Heavenly Mother
+JMJ+ Mother’s Day can bring out a full range of emotions. For some, it’s a day of celebration—of hugs, flowers, and thank-you’s. It’s a...

Faith Hakesley
May 6


Don’t You Hate It When People Mock the Catholic Faith? (Or… Do You?)
+JMJ+ Don’t you just hate it when people mock the Catholic Church? When they reduce sacred traditions to no more than pomp and...

Faith Hakesley
May 6


This Is Not the Papal Draft (Put Your Brackets and Hot Takes Away)
+JMJ+ Pope Francis has died. This is a time for deep prayer for his eternal soul and for our church. It is not a time for division, fear,...

Faith Hakesley
Apr 23


The Gift of Music: Speaking Through Joy, Hope, and Sorrow
+JMJ+ Hello, old friend. It’s been awhile since I took my violin out. Years ago, one of my greatest childhood passions was nearly stolen...

Faith Hakesley
Jan 24


Misplaced Compassion: Illegal Immigration, Hypocrisy, and the Neglect of Survivors
+JMJ+ As someone who deeply loves my faith and my Church, I feel compelled to point out a glaring injustice. I generally avoid politics...

Faith Hakesley
Jan 23


The Healing Power of the Catholic Latin Mass: A Survivor’s Reflection on the Extraordinary Form
I have found solace and peace in many places. One of those places is the Latin Mass.

Faith Hakesley
Jan 18


Why I Kneel for Communion: A Survivor’s Perspective
+JMJ+ I am a Catholic survivor of clergy abuse, and my faith has been tested in many ways. The betrayal I experienced from someone who...

Faith Hakesley
Jan 16


Honoring the Eucharist: The Essence of Our Catholic Faith
Let this be a call to action for all of us. To remember the immense love and grace that Jesus offers us in the Eucharist.

Faith Hakesley
Jul 29, 2024


An Open Letter to Dr. Paolo Ruffini, Vatican's Head of the Dicastery for Communication
Dr. Paolo Ruffini Head of the Dicastery for Communication Vatican City Dear Dr. Ruffini, We write to you as victims of clerical abuse,...

Faith Hakesley
Jul 4, 2024


Honoring God-given Femininity
+JMJ+ While women around us can certainly inspire, motivate, and encourage us, it is to Mary and the saints to whom we should look to...

Faith Hakesley
Mar 8, 2024


Jesus of Divine Mercy
A reflection on Jesus of Divine Mercy +JMJ+ Jesus suffered everything we suffered. He joins us in our suffering and never leaves our...

Faith Hakesley
Apr 7, 2021


The Holy Name of Jesus
Encouraging respect for God's holy name +JMJ+ It seems that everywhere these days we hear the name of God being taken in vain, and many...

Faith Hakesley
Mar 11, 2021


Staying Rooted in Hope in the New Year
Some reflections and encouragement for the new year +JMJ+ As this new year dawns upon us, I just want to say a quick thank you to you all...

Faith Hakesley
Dec 31, 2020


There is Always Hope
Some reflections during this Advent season +JMJ+ There is always hope. If you’ve been following for me awhile you probably know that I...

Faith Hakesley
Dec 14, 2020


Such a Time as This
+JMJ+ The other afternoon, I experienced a moment of pure panic. I wasn't doing anything particularly significant, just hanging the wash...

Faith Hakesley
Aug 17, 2020


Litany of Trust
+JMJ+ 2020 has been quite a challenging year, hasn't it? There's really no word that comes to mind to accurately describe it. Our world...

Faith Hakesley
Jun 24, 2020


Arms Open Wide
A few thoughts as we approach the end of this Lenten season and sharing some helpful resources from Our Sunday Visitor +JMJ+ Well, we've...

Faith Hakesley
Apr 9, 2020


Walking Through the Desert of Lent
My thoughts on the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Catholic Church sexual abuse crisis, and finding Christ during this Lenten season +JMJ+...

Faith Hakesley
Mar 15, 2020
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