Post-abortion healing retreat was full of grace

    I’m in my 20th year of priesthood. Some days I think I have seen it all, but then along comes a profound new experience in ministry.
    That’s what happened recently when I participated in a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat Weekend.
    Rachel’s Vineyard is a retreat ministry that offers healing for post-abortive women and men. I had heard that these retreats were powerful moments of grace, but now I can attest to that first-hand.
    Considering that the Catholic Church has been in the forefront of opposing abortion for the past 40 years, it takes courage for someone who has had an abortion to seek healing at a retreat affiliated with the Catholic Church. Courage is precisely what I saw in the women and men of various ethnic backgrounds who participated in the retreat.
    On the first night of the weekend, the participants began sharing the pain that had brought them there; they spoke of guilt, grief, shame, self-hatred, depression and despair. Some said that they were able to “stuff” the painful emotions they had experienced from their abortion for a time (some said for years), but eventually, the emotions burst forth and refused to remain suppressed.
    Some spoke about a persistent regret in imagining what their children would be like were they alive today.
    The format of the retreat combined Scripture meditation, prayer ritual, small group sharing, the sacrament of reconciliation and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Friday and Saturday were intense days during which many tears were shed. The participants spoke about deep family hurts and relived the circumstances surrounding their abortions, admitting their culpability and asking God for mercy and healing of their pain.
    And that’s exactly what they received. Jesus came to them. He embraced them, assured them of forgiveness, lifted their guilt and shame, instilled in them the hope of meeting their children in heaven and filled them with peace.
    Sunday was a wonderful day of resurrection, rejoicing and gratitude for God’s healing grace and for a new set of friends with whom to share the journey of recovery.
    The retreat dramatically underscored that Jesus’ healing power didn’t end with the apostolic age; it didn’t end when he converted and transformed Peter or Paul or Mary Magdalene. The Lord is alive and moving with healing power in our day and time.
    I am extremely grateful that I was invited to be part of the Rachel’s Vineyard retreat experience. I look forward to future opportunities to work with this ministry. I recommend this retreat for all who have experienced the pain of abortion and want to receive the healing of Jesus – moms, dads, grandparents, siblings and extended family.
    In my experience, the Rachel’s Vineyard Ministry is full of grace.
    For information, visit www.rachelsvineyard.org or contact Melanie at [email protected] or Pam at [email protected].