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	19.08.2008 at Unveiling Dozens Donate Panels to Quilt By Shawn Jeffords Sarnia Observer August 18, 2008 http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1161131 They are survivors. Their shattered lives held together by a common thread. And now that thread has given way to a patchwork collection of their grief, pain and fledgling recovery. It's a creation that is helping the victims of disgraced pedophile priest Charles Sylvestre move from "isolation to action," said Sarnian Irene Williams. She and dozens of other women who were abused by the priest as children contributed panels to a quilt that was unveiled during an emotional ceremony at Dow People Place Saturday. "We thought art was a good forum for our voices to be heard," she said. Those voices, after decades of being ignored by church authorities, police and sometimes even family members, are now finally being acknowledged, she said. In July 2006, Sylvestre pled guilty to molesting 47 girls over three decades when he served at parishes in Sarnia, Chatham, Windsor and Pain Court. The 84-year-old died three months into a three-year prison sentence. "God kept him alive long enough to face man's law and now he faces God's law," Williams said. She and other survivors gathered with their families, local politicians, police officers and community members to commemorate how their lives were affected by a man who perpetrated what Williams called the "ultimate betrayal." "He left a legacy of unbelievable emotional pain," she said. Survivor Irene Deschenes steadied herself at the podium as she began to speak. The podium itself, made of hardwood and like a church pulpit, triggered painful memories of the abuse she experienced mere seconds before she took the stage. Sylvestre's victims deal with those scars on a daily basis and the quilt is actually an ironic tribute to all survivors, she said. "So many of us have trouble sleeping. It seems fitting that this quilt is a symbol of healing." The ceremony included a song and poems specifically written about Sylvestre's victims and their experiences. Local dignitaries like Sarnia-Lambton MP Pat Davidson also lent their support, lauding the survivors for their bravery. She recalled the first time Williams came to her office to share stories of Sylvestre's abuse. "It wasn't a story I wanted to hear and it wasn't a story she wanted to live," Davidson said. "But it was a story that needed to be told." Telling the stories of victims and highlighting their path to recovery is vital, said Michelle Batty, the director of the Sarnia- Lambton Sexual Assault Survivors Centre. Victims of sexual violence must feel they can report the crime or they will continue to live in agony. "We cannot underestimate the power of a public tribute to survivors," she said. "This quilt will help people believe and inspire more people to come forward." Quilt creators, Williams, Lisa Glass and Dianne Gauthier will now look for a place to host the work. They hope to tour the quilt so others can ensure the abuse they experienced won't happen on the same scale to other children. "We won't say it will never happen again," said Gauthier. "But we have to make sure it never happens to this many children again. We can't ignore these young people, they deserve a better future."
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