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PASTORAL
MINISTRY
OFFICE OF PARISH MINISTRIES
RACHEL'S VINEYARD RETREATS
FOR HEALING AFTER ABORTION
Rachel’s Vineyard weekend retreats are a beautiful opportunity
for any woman or man who has struggled with the emotional or spiritual
pain of an abortion. During the weekend, we gather as the suffering
Body of Christ and minister to each other in His name. We share spiritual
exercises focusing on God’s forgiveness, compassion and mercy.
There are psychological exercises that help work through repressed grief
and anger and many rituals to help you grieve the loss of your unborn
child and accept God’s forgiveness. The sacrament of reconciliation
is also available. The retreat concludes with a memorial service and
Mass of Resurrection.
“Thus says
the Lord: In Ramah is heard the sound of mourning, of bitter weeping!
Rachel mourns her children; she refuses to be consoled because
her children; are no more. Thus says the Lord: Cease from your
cries of mourning, wipe the tears from your eyes. The sorrow you
have shown will have its reward. There is hope for your future,
says the Lord.” Jeremiah 31: 15-17 |
“I experienced
a great inner healing as a result of attending the post abortion
retreat. I would highly recommend this retreat to any woman who
has felt the void and shame of the abortion experience. It is
a wonderful way to forgive yourself, find the unconditional love
of Christ and grieve the loss of your little child.” |
“To any woman
considering the need to reconcile her abortion, the retreat is
a wonderful gift she could give to herself. You are able to experience
the sadness, grief, and shame in the company of other women and
men feeling very much the same. You are able to turn this pain
into hope with the help of nurturing counselors and supportive
caretakers. You are not rushed or hurried, but given time to reflect
and become open to the healing process gradually. In the spirit
of penance and reconciliation this retreat addresses the pain
and suffering of women who feel their sin of abortion has made
them outcasts from their church and their faith.” |
“I was terrified
to take the first step forward and participate in Rachel’s
Vineyard. It seemed safer to remain hiding in the darkness, keeping
the pain locked up deep inside rather than to risk exposing my
shame to another soul. Now I am grateful to have experienced God’s
healing and forgiveness with other women in an atmosphere of complete
acceptance and trust. Rachel’s Vineyard has been a blessing
to me.” |
“Shout for
joy, you heavens; earth, rejoice, break into songs of triumph,
you mountains, for the LORD has comforted his people and has had
pity on them in their distress.” Isaiah 49:13 |
If you or a friend are hurting from an abortion, please
call the toll-free national hotline 877-HOPE-4-ME or
in the Diocese of Springfield call 413-452-0661.
Retreats are held throughout the year in many states. The retreat and
registration are strictly private! All inquiries will be answered confidentially.
For more information and retreat dates call one of the numbers above
or visit the website at www.rachelsvineyard.org.
You can also write to
Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries, P.O. Box
195, Bridgeport, PA 19405-0195;
or locally to
Rachel’s Vineyard Retreats, P.O. Box1730, Springfield, MA 01102-1730.
Weekends in the Diocese of Springfield will be held:
October
30-November 1, 2009
March 19-21, 2010
July 16-18, 2010
November 5-7, 2010
Please call 413-452-0661
Link
for informational flyer
About Rachel’s Vineyard
| “Jesus Himself said that
He came to call sinners and not the self-righteous. I pray that
all who participate in Rachel’s Vineyard with the longing
to be free and to be healed by Jesus, may find Him, the source
of true joy, peace and love, and allow God to restore them to
wholeness and happiness, I am praying much for you.”
----God bless you.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta |
“The experience of the healing leads one
to an openness in faith and life that often draws those who are
broken back to the church and the Christ who loves them. Rachel’s
Vineyard is an experience that leads its follower to a wholeness
that can only be God’s gift.”
----Father Michael Mannion
Author and lecturer |
“Rachel’s Vineyard is a unique weaving
of spirituality and psychology. Participants are invited to experience
God’s conversion by reverencing the mystery of their own
lives, experiencing the gentle embrace of Jesus and the power
and transforming grace of the sacraments. Rachel’s Vineyard
calls each participant into the heart of the God who passionately
desires their wholeness and holiness, loving each as if they were
the only one.”
----Trish Schickert
Associate Director, National Office of
Post-Abortion Reconciliation & Healing |
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