Archdiocese to host Rachel’s Vineyard retreat on March 24-26
By Mary Ann Wyand
Women and men who are suffering emotional, psychological and spiritual pain because of past abortions are invited to seek healing and reconciliation with God during the first-ever archdiocesan Rachel’s Vineyard retreat on March 24-26 in central Indiana.
Servants of the Gospel of Life Sister Diane Carollo, director of the archdiocesan Office for Pro-Life Ministry, said participants will have opportunities to experience God’s mercy and compassion during the confidential weekend retreat at an undisclosed location in the archdiocese.
Sister Diane said the retreat will enable participants to release repressed feelings of anger, shame, guilt and grief about the loss of their babies killed in abortion.
“Five years ago, when I came to the archdiocesan Office for Pro-Life Ministry, I knew that I had to develop post-abortion ministries here,” Sister Diane said. “One of the first things that I did was to modify an existing program from out of state that I call Rachel’s Companions.”
She said this three-month support group for people in need of post-abortion reconciliation helps them find healing and peace in the aftermath of abortion.
“The benefit of the support group is that it takes place over a prolonged period of time so people have time to work through some of the issues, the pain and the anguish,” Sister Diane said. “In many cases, it brings them back to the sacraments if they have been away from the Church. It helps those who have been receiving the sacraments find a deepening sense of peace and forgiveness so they can begin forgiving themselves, which leads to healing of the mind and the heart.”
Sister Diane said she worked with Pat Car of Spencer, who is a member of St. John the Apostle Parish in Bloomington, as well as St. Thomas More parishioner Bernadette Roy of Mooresville and St. Monica parishioner Jeannette Andrews of Indianapolis, who recently retired from her volunteer ministry as a post-abortion reconciliation facilitator, to plan the Rachel’s Vineyard retreat.
Car is a registered nurse and is coordinating the retreat, Sister Diane said. Car and Roy are volunteering their time as the retreat facilitators.
A therapist and priest will be present throughout the retreat, Car said, which includes Mass and a memorial service for babies who have died in abortion.
Car said the Rachel’s Vineyard retreat is Christ-centered and presentations are based on Scripture, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and God’s healing love.
“Many women will go to confession and be officially forgiven,” Car said, “but they have a very difficult time forgiving themselves because of their guilt and anger. The retreat is a time for them to share their feelings with other women and men, and to finally be able to experience healing and forgive themselves. Hearing other people’s stories and sharing their own story helps them find healing.”
Sister Diane said some people need a jump-start or some kind of retreat experience in order to begin or deepen the post-abortion healing process.
“I’ve always taken a very cautious approach with post-abortion ministry because these are very wounded women and men who have experienced the aftermath of abortion,” she said, “so I want to make sure that what we’re offering them is sound doctrinally and in terms of spirituality. God is the ultimate healer.”
The Rachel’s Vineyard retreat and Rachel’s Companions support group focus on healing and growth in spirit, she said. Another program, Rachel’s Network, helps support group participants stay connected and continue to grow in their Catholic identity and mission in the Church.
“These women are models of the Catholic faith who show others what it means to be a woman in the Church today,” Sister Diane said. “Despite the bad choices they made, despite their agonizing past, they have come from being victims to being women of hope, and they offer that hope to other women who have experienced the trauma of abortion.”
(For more information about the Rachel’s Vineyard retreat, call Pat Car at 812-327-3712 by March 21. The retreat cost of $130 per person covers lodging and meals. For more information about Rachel’s Companions, call Bernadette Roy at 317-831-2892 or 317-989-1507. A new support group started on March 12, and new members are welcome. All calls are confidential.) †