When Angels Weep

by Mary Ann Mulhern

When Angels Weep deals with one of the most damaging and controversial issues facing the Roman Catholic Church and the largest settlement for sexual abuse in Canada's history. The book tells the stories of four victims of the late Father Charles Sylvestre, who was found guilty of 47 counts of sexual abuse over a 40-year period in churches in Chatham, London, Sarnia and Windsor. He died in prison serving a three-year sentence. The book chronicles the abuse and the ways it has affected these four women into adulthood, giving them a voice as they speak out against what they experienced. Their stories are similar to those of many other victims who spoke to the author but are unable to come forward and share their experiences publicly.

88 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2008

About the author

Mary Ann Mulhern is a teacher who began writing poetry in 2001 during a summer writing seminar at the University of Windsor, conducted by John B. Lee.

In September of 2001, she won first prize in the Freedom Festival Poetry Contest, with her poem about Harriet Tubman , entitled, Freedom's Rail.

Marty Gervais, publisher of Black Moss Press, noticed her success and began a mentoring program that October. Since she had been in a convent for eight years
in the sixties, Gervais asked her to write about her experiences during those years.

From this came her first book of narrative poetry, The Red Dress, Black Moss Press, 2003. The Red Dress received national attention through an interview on Tapestry, CBC radio, with host, Mary Hynes.

Another life-experience which she was encouraged to write about was growing up in a "cemetery house," located at the edge of a cemetery in St. Thomas, Ontario, where her father, Patrick, was grave-digger and caretaker. This resulted in Touch the Dead, Black Moss Press, 2006. Touch the Dead was short-listed for the Acorn-Plantos Award, 2007.

Mulhern was asked by Marty Gervais to research and write about the Father Charles Sylvester priest sexual-abuse case which was successfully prosecuted by crown attorney, Paul Bailey at the Chatham Court House.

The book, When Angels Weep, was launched April 8, 2008 at the University of Windsor, with over four hundred people in attendance.

When Angels Weep was short-listed for the Acorn-Plantos Award, 2009.

Mary Ann Mulhern's latest book is: Sleeping with Satan, Salem Witch-hunt, 1692.

Sleeping with Satan was launched November 4, 2010.