During the weekend of June 23-25, the diocese will welcome the Life-giving Wounds Retreat. The Life-Giving Wounds retreat is a unique opportunity for adult children of divorce, separation, or family brokenness to reflect intentionally on the wounds caused by their family’s breakdown, together with others who know this pain and knowledgeable, compassionate retreat leaders. With the help of God, retreat attendees learn to see how their life-draining wounds can become a life-giving mission of love for themselves, their relationships, and others. 

The retreat will be held at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville and staffed by the trained Life-giving Wounds team. Presenters include national speaker and author Beth Sri, Life-giving Wounds founder Dr. Dan Meola, as well as Father John Paul Mary Zeller, M.F.V.A., who many know through EWTN. Music during the retreat will be provided by Catholic recording artist Martin Doman.

Sessions to be featured during the retreat include: Finding Our Deepest Identity; Faith and Our Relationship with God; Love, Dating, and the Sacrament of Marriage; Loneliness, Anger and Anxiety; False Guilt and Shame; Forgiveness and Reconciliation; Family Boundaries; and more.

The “path” of the retreat follows a paschal journey through first the pain (“death”) of their parents’ divorce, separation, or dysfunction by uncovering and grieving various layers of the wound, then the deep joy (“rising”) of accepting their deepest identity as a beloved child of God and becoming more aware of Christ in their lives and wounds, finally discovering a way forward (“going forth”) to sustain healing and a mission in the midst of their suffering. The 3-day (Friday evening – Sunday afternoon) retreat includes presentations by trained retreat leaders, guided small group discussions and journaling sessions, time for prayer and eucharistic adoration, Mass, and opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation.

Registration information and details are available at http://bhmdiocese.org/life-giving-wounds. Meals and accommodations are included. Space is limited, so please register early. Questions regarding the retreat can be directed to Alex Kubik at the Diocesan Office of Discipleship and Mission, 205-776-7186.