WESTFIELD-At 85, Maurice J. Proulx is on a mission – to share his personal experience of healing from childhood sexual abuse by a priest – in the hope his message will help others who too need to pursue their journey to healing.
Maurice J. Proulx will discuss his healing journey from childhood sexual abuse during a workshop Nov. 5 in Westfield.
Proulx, author of Reclaiming “Little Moe,” will present a workshop on Nov. 5 at the Genesis Spiritual Life & Conference Center, 53 Mill St. The 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. program is titled “Reclaiming ‘Little Moe’: Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse.”
During a recent morning interview at Genesis, Proulx – known to many as “Moe” – spoke of his youth and the joy that filled his spirit when he played baseball, golf, and hockey and rode his bicycle. When he was 12, he noted his world was turned upside down when he was sexually abused by a priest at St. George’s Catholic Church in Chicopee Falls.
“We grew up believing the priest could do no wrong,” said Proulx. “That’s the way we looked at priests in those days.”
Proulx, who attended St. George’s Grade School, immersed himself in parish activities as a pre-teen including serving as an altar boy.
“One day I was called to go to the rectory to work on a special project,” said Proulx, noting that is when Rev. Gerald Beauregard “approached” him.
“This being chosen led to an experience of childhood sexual abuse that led to confusion,” said Proulx. “I kept quiet to my parents because the priest was a friend of the family and my mom admired him.”
In a statement from the Diocese of Springfield, Mark Dupont, director of communications, noted, “This is a reminder that the pain and emotional suffering caused by abuse is a lifelong challenge for its victims. Maurice Proulx is to be commended for transforming the terrible things which happened to him during his youth into an outreach through his book, one which hopefully may help other victims of abuse. It is also a reminder that the Catholic Church must continue to make every effort to safeguard against abuse both within and outside the Church community.”
Dupont added that the Diocese of Springfield continues to reach out to past victims of abuse by clergy or church workers through its Office of Child and Youth Protection and noted the confidential toll-free number is 800-842-9055.
Proulx said after he overheard one of his brothers explaining to their parents about also being treated inappropriately by Beauregard he spoke up saying “he’s doing the same thing to me” but there was “no response” from his parents. Years later he learned that his father had spoken to Springfield Bishop Thomas O’Leary and his mother warned other friends not to allow their children to be left alone in the rectory with Beauregard.
“The church did not respond, God didn’t respond,” said Proulx, adding he didn’t think this was a “serious situation.”
“Unconsciously I had abandoned Little Moe,” said Proulx.
When Proulx was 14, he entered the LaSalette Seminary in New Hampshire and was ordained a priest in the religious order of the LaSalette Missionaries. He received a Master of Theology degree from Weston College School of Theology and his early ministry as a priest centered on training candidates for the priesthood in the LaSalette order. In later years he received training as a spiritual director and counselor in pastoral care.
“I did retreat work and chaplaincy work for many years,” said Proulx. “In the process of healing from childhood sexual abuse I questioned my being a priest, leading me to consider marriage.”
During his workshop at Genesis, Proulx will explain how he buried the two years of sexual abuse deep within himself for decades and only after a dream came to light in his mid-40’s during a retreat did he realize its significance.
“I had a dream about a man holding me back that I shared with my retreat director,” said Proulx. “When asked what I thought was the significance of the dream, the only connection I could make was trying to extricate myself from the priest who was sexually abusing me when I was a boy.”
Proulx said he will discuss how he got in touch with this experience and “it was clear” he needed deep healing. Through counseling, spiritual and psychological, journal writing and sharing his experience with other victims and friends, he realized the importance to return to the little boy who experienced the abuse.
“I felt the need to rescue him,” said Proulx.
Proulx added that while he did not seek financial compensation, the Diocese of Springfield did pay twice for psychological therapy sessions over the years.
Along his journey, he landed in Michigan for retreat work in the late 1980’s and met a nun from the Adrian Dominican order.
“She was part of the healing process and supported me,” said Proulx.
“As he shared experiences that were excruciating for him at times I became involved in listening and being supportive,” said Karen Fisk-Proulx, noting she left the Dominican community after 24 years. “It was a difficult decision but I knew I loved Moe and I wanted a different lifestyle than the community provided.”
The couple exchanged vows in 1992 and currently resides in Springfield.
Proulx has since retired from his full-time ministry and currently volunteers at Western Massachusetts Hospital in Westfield. He hopes his story of healing from sexual abuse will help others.
“Too many of us have tended to bury that experience as the only way to deal with it,” said Proulx in his book’s dedication. “Who cares to revisit such a painful experience? And yet, healing cannot happen without our returning to the original scene.”
Proulx noted that the Genesis workshop will be enlightening to those who have experienced abuse, those who work with those who have been abused, and those who love someone who has experienced childhood sexual abuse.
“I urge you to go back to the child who suffered the abuse and unearth what has been buried and come to experience a resurrection into new life and freedom,” said Proulx.
For more information on the program, visit www.GenesisSpiritualCenter.org or call (413) 562-3627. The registration fee is $35 and pre-registration is required.
Proulx will also have copies of his 106-page memoir, priced at $15, available at the workshop and his book is also sold at Genesis and through amazon.com. He will also answer questions following the presentation.
