Re-launch of Rachel’s Vineyard healing ministry in Perth
The first Rachel’s Vineyard retreat in Perth will be held next month, with thanks to the generous donation from a benefactor, places are available on the retreat at $95 for the full weekend. Image: Supplied.
The first Rachel’s Vineyard retreat for Perth will be held next month.
And thanks to a generous donation, a limited number of places are available at $95 for the full weekend.
Rachel’s Vineyard is a weekend retreat program created by American psychologist Dr Theresa Burke for women and men who are experiencing grief and trauma because of an abortion experience.
The international healing ministry was re-launched in Perth in January 2018.
There are now more than 700 retreats held each year in 25 different countries, and the program has proved to be a highly successful treatment for post-abortion grief.
Statistics provided by Rachel’s Vineyard show that one-quarter to one-third of all Australian women will have an abortion in their lifetime, including Catholic women.
Sometimes the woman was coerced into abortion by her family – or her partner’s family – to save face in the local church community.
When there is coercion, a woman’s risk of developing mental health problems after an abortion increases.
Major depressive disorder, difficulty bonding with subsequent children, disrupted relationships, self-harming, substance abuse, flashbacks and nightmares can all be signs of post-abortion grief.
Men can also suffer profoundly after they lose a child to abortion.
Rachel’s Vineyard retreats give participants an opportunity to express their grief and be heard in a supportive and non-judgmental setting.
The first Rachel’s Vineyard retreat in Perth will be held next month, with thanks to the generous donation from a benefactor, places are available on the retreat at $95 for the full weekend. Image: Supplied.
Through a series of structured exercises focused on Scripture, and through somatic (body-based) activities, participants are able to open their lives up to God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Sr Stella Ruth Mary OSM, a Servite sister who is based at Lumen Christi College, is the new Rachel’s Vineyard Perth team leader, supported by a small group of both new and experienced volunteers.
Sr Stella, a qualified counsellor, is looking forward to the challenge.
“Sometimes people come on the retreat – women especially – where they are in their fifties or sixties or even older, but their abortion experience was when they were a teenager”, said Sr Stella.
“They have been carrying the pain all that time, but have been unable to put it down.”
As part of the re-launch, program author Dr Burke visited Perth in April and gave public lectures on post-abortion healing, and on the abuse healing program Grief to Grace.
Dr Burke also held workshops for clergy, providing upskilling on how to respond to people with longstanding trauma, especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
“Very often, a woman will bring her abortion to Reconciliation over and over, because she is unable to accept God’s forgiveness. Rachel’s Vineyard gives her an opportunity to let go of this pain, and to receive God’s love in a powerful and lasting way,” said Sr Stella.
Both women and men are welcome on the retreat, including those who have lost grandchildren or siblings to abortion.
Women and couples who have taken the morning-after pill or used abortifacient contraception, and who are now aware of the implications of this, are also welcome.
The first Rachel’s Vineyard retreat will be held from 2pm Friday 13 July – 2pm Sunday 15 July 2018. Thanks to a generous donation from a benefactor, places are available on the retreat at $95 for the full weekend.
For more information, contact Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries Perth. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
Phone: 0490 956 745
Email: rachelsvineyardperthwa@gmail.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/rachelsvineyardperthwa