Healing Retreats . . .

are an opportunity for any person who is wounded by the emotional or spiritual pain of an abortion or sexual abuse.

These retreats were created to help one experience the mercy, compassion, and love of God.

The weekend also provides an opportunity to surface and release feelings of anger, shame, guilt and grief in a safe setting.

Exercises assist participants in the grieving process—to receive God’s love, heal the brokenhearted, comfort those who mourn, and find freedom from the bondage of the past.

Aftercare is an important part of the healing process—assisting participants in moving forward toward deeper healing in their
lives. Growth groups are available—seeking to help individuals build life skills of self-worth, self-care, and healthy boundaries. These are tools to live out the Gospel in everyday life.

Counseling Referrals . . .

offer confidential, caring counseling and reconciliation by trained personnel for anyone wounded by abortion or sexual abuse.

The value of life does not depend upon the place we occupy.

It depends upon the way we occupy that place.

— St. Therese of Lisieux

Retreat dates:

Rachel's Vineyard

2008

April 4-6   Cedar Falls, IA

August 1-3 Cedar Falls, IA

October 24-26   Rock Island, IL

Aftercare Retreat

2008

February 1-3   Cedar Falls, IA

September 12 - 14   Cedar Falls, IA

Committed to Freedom

2008

June 27 - 29   Cedar Falls, IA

From Participants...

Project Rachel

“The priest through Project Rachel and God’s unconditional love gave me the strength of faith and trust to rearrange the broken pieces of my life, moving me toward happiness, toward life, and toward God.”

Rachel’s Vineyard

“For the first time in twenty years, I was able to share my grief, my guilt, my anger. I was able to mourn the loss of my baby. But most important, I was able to believe that she now lives with Jesus. For a short time I could almost touch her and hold her and see her. For this, I will always be grateful. I felt Jesus calling, pulling me back. A feeling I can’t forget or deny.”

“I never knew my wife had suffered so much pain over an abortion she had before I met her. It was a real eye opener to attend the Rachel’s Vineyard retreat with her and be a support in an area of her life where there was so much secret grief. Our marriage has truly been blessed. We are closer now than we have ever been and I had the privilege of being able to spiritually adopt her child during the memorial service.”

Committed to Freedom

“The sexual abuse I experienced as a child launched me on a journey - a quest to move beyond what was done to me. The surprising destination was a life altering encounter with God… surprising because I wanted nothing to do with him. My abuser used God in order to use me. In my confusion, I held God responsible for my abuse. I despised church. I despised people. I despised God. In many ways, my spirit was as damaged as the rest of me. I became dark and overwhelmed - so much so that I thought suicide was the only way to find relief.”

“But God placed an obstacle in my way and interrupted my plans for self destruction. As if a curtain was drawn back to expose the lies I believed, I began to separate the acts of an abuser from the acts of God. I found a place of understanding. I found a Savior who, like me, carried shame that was not his own. I found an Activist willing to march through darkness to show me light. Ultimately, I found freedom.”