I suspect, some of the children that went through the Verona Father’s Junior Seminary at Mirfield, that are now adults, are thinking, how is it that abuse was allowed to take place at Mirfield – and more importantly why was it allowed to carry on?

I know, and a part of me understands, the feeling that some people think that the ‘Mirfield Memories Blog’ has run its course and it should be wound down.
However, I also know there are some ‘Mirfield Old Boys’ that, for the first time in their lives, have been able to speak about their abusive experiences at Mirfield. They have had the strength and courage to do this because of the blog – other people have written on the blog, and this has had a massive positive effect on them.

Their responses and experience may not have been written on the Mirfield Blog, however, the blog has been a catalyst for them – it has given them the courage and strength to talk and email others about their time at Mirfield.

They no longer feel alone. They do not believe that they were the only one’s abused – they now know that there were others. This knowledge gives them, perhaps for the first time in their lives, some sense of control in dealing with their abuse.

I think, a large number of ‘Mirfield Old Boys’ – the abused and the non abused – are trying to make sense of what took place at Mirfield, and because of that I believe that the Mirfield Blog, at least for the time being has a purpose to serve.
Write on the blog If you have any thoughts or experiences – it can only help.

Mark