Reclaiming Our Children

Rest in the Lord

Beginning tomorrow, I will be taking a hiatus. Three weeks of travel, fun,  relaxation in the Lord, and of course, hopefully ending with the walking pilgrimage . http://www.walkingpilgrimage.us/English/PilgrimInfo.html

I have made the decision to stay off of the computer, etc, so I do not get drawn into anything during this time but can really use it to rejuvenate. So, after today, I will not be back until August 9th.

Lumina of course will be covered in relation to referrals etc. We ask that those looking for help call our number 877-586-4621 or email [email protected]  If there is a request for speaking etc, or anything else , please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I return.

I will be praying for everyone while I am gone... pray for me too!

Entering Canaan Gatherings

The Gatherings: Fighting the battles of post abortion trauma

 

“The Lord said to Joshua “Take all the soldiers with you and go on up to Ai…don’t be afraid or discouraged…I will give you victory”. Joshua 8

 

At the Gatherings specific issues of post abortion trauma are addressed using scripture meditations followed by questions pertaining to a particular issue regarding abortion, such as denial, grief, or shame. Through this time of prayer and discussion the participants are able to grow as a community, face their fears together and gather the tools necessary for them to deal with the individual experiences they are having as a result of their abortions. Their various stages of healing enable them to share with one another, specific methods that have worked. They are also able to discover personal trouble spots and individual abortion connectors that are crucial to identify in order to reach healing. Each group has 2-3 facilitators consisting of at least one counselor.

 

The Gatherings run for two hours and begins in chapel. Each woman is given a copy of a scripture meditation that will be used for the group. Each meditation is focused on a specific post abortion issue and has questions pertaining to that issue following the reading.

 

After ½ hour of meditation before The Blessed Sacrament, the participants gather in another room and a discussion begins. This group is 1 1/2hours in duration.

 

 

Special Gatherings

During the advent season, a day long retreat is given each year with a theme in the birth of Christ.

As post abortive women and men, the advent and Christmas season can be particularly trying as we focus on the birth of a baby, and getting gifts for children.

This retreat allows those who attend to focus on the birth of Mercy Himself, who came to earth to save us from our sins..

Entering Canaan - Days of Prayer & Healing

Beginning the Journey

 

“I will always be with you. I will never abandon you…be determined and confident…do not be afraid or discouraged, for I the Lord your God, am with you wherever you go.” Joshua1

 

Like the people traveling into the land of Canaan, post abortive people have often been suffering for years. By deciding to attend a Day of Prayer and Healing, they have taken the first step on the journey, one that requires a leap of faith, courage and trust in God.

 

Through the acceptance of Gods invitation of mercy made manifest to them by knowledge of the Days, the seeds of faith, hope and trust can be planted.

 

Faith-by recognizing that by just coming, they have begun the journey. Learning that faith is “believing and trusting even when we do not understand”. A movement forward in spite of any anxiety or fear. A presence to God that opens them to His grace.

 

Hope – By hearing the testimonies of those whose have gone before them and have reached healing. By beginning to learn of the very real impact abortion has had on their lives and the tools to deal with the impact.  By the reality of healing becoming a possibility for them through Christ.

 

Love – manifested by the charity made present to them by those who will serve them unconditionally this day, in spite of, and even because of their sin of abortion – that someday they may love others suffering unconditionally. To be themselves in all their humanity and sinfulness and still be loved as God loves them. The day is a reflection of His love and the love of their children.

A validation of their feelings, their grief.

 

Entering Canaan con't

In our human weakness we like to believe that we are the best suited to be in control of our lives. We tend to dictate to God what we want and how we want it, assuming we know better than He does what is best for us.

So it is with post abortive healing. Those stepping forward want to be healed in their time, not Gods.

Most times, God does not work that way. In His wisdom He is the one who truly knows our hearts and wants to be sure we are healed completely down to our core. He knows what we can handle and at what time. He knows wounds we may not even be aware of. Little by little, gently, He reveals the truth to us and the way to wholeness. He is the Divine Physician.

A large part of the healing process consists of surrender to His love and goodness…a trust in His love and mercy to spite any feelings we may have. An acceptance of the journey itself, knowing, if not in our emotions, in our hearts, that He loves us and that we are being healed by Him in the way and time that is best for us.

In the bible the Israelites set out for Canaan seeking a new life of peace and joy. A fulfillment of Gods promise to them. There is no doubt many of them wanted to get to Canaan quickly. Like us, their impatience is evident in the stories we are told, but God in His wisdom had other plans. The journey to Canaan took 40 years to complete…I am sure some of the travelers abandoned the journey or settled in a land on the way unable or unwilling to go on. Some probably died before reaching Canaan but those who persevered entered the land of milk and honey to enjoy life to its fullest.

The Entering Canaan Ministry reflects that journey to the Promised Land.

May each of us reach the fulfillment of Canaan.

Reclaiming our Children

Today I have an article on Catholic Exchange....

Reclaiming Our Children

July 13th, 2010 by Theresa Bonopartis

I must admit, sometimes in this abortion debate I feel like I am floating on the periphery, looking on, while the world dissects and argues about abortion, and concerning the unborn and the women who have them.

For me, as a post-abortive mother, it is much more personal. It is about reclaiming my child.

It is about relationships, family, and my son, who is now “living in the Lord” (Gospel of Life, JPII).

At seventeen years old, I hid my pregnancy from my parents for over four months. When I finally told them, I was asked to leave the house and forget that I was their daughter. Coming from a Catholic family, it was the one scenario I had not played out in my head.

read the rest here: http://catholicexchange.com/2010/07/13/132219/

Abortion and Mental Health

I am working on getting a copy of this booklet "Abortion and Mental Health" by Dr Pravin Thevathasan. I love this line: "Indeed no study has reported that it reduces mental health risks - a fact which surely challenges the use of psychiatric reasons for justifying abortion."

Study on Abortion and Mental Health

Dr Pravin Thevathasan, a psychiatrist with over twenty years' experience, who also holds a Masters in medical ethics and law, has written a very helpful booklet on Abortion and Mental Health in which he examines the psychological consequences of induced abortion. He notes:

Perhaps the most important statement in this study is that, while over ninety per cent of abortions are done on the ground that continuation of the pregnancy would lead to serious damage to the women's mental health, there is no evidence that abortion reduces the mental health risks of unwanted pregnancy. Indeed no study has reported that it reduces mental health risks - a fact which surely challenges the use of psychiatric reasons for justifying abortion.

read the rest here: http://the-hermeneutic-of-continuity.blogspot.com/2010/07/study-on-abortion-and-mental-health.html

No safety here

"For more information: forerunner.com In part 3 of this series, Pat McEwen Ph.D. focuses on some of the local abortion doctors who have performed abortions in Melbourne, Florida and elsewhere. Shockingly, they have left a trail of dead and injured women. One abortion doctor went to jail for extortion, had his license to practice medicine suspended and had his chain of abortion clinics shut down for violation of health code and legal procedures."

read the rest here: http://loan.193.at/?p=21897

Our Book

In the chapel resides  the “Immaculate Heart of Mary “ book, in which the parents place the names of their children. Here is our prayer to her:

Oh Immaculate Heart of Mary,

Mother of Mercy,

You trusted God and opened yourself to receive the graces

you needed to bear Jesus your son, Our merciful Savior.

 

In our ignorance and lack of faith we rejected

the graces we needed to bear our children.

Now we know that the graces were always there for us,

We were just too fearful to open ourselves to receive them.

 

Mary, we are sorry for the lack of trust and selfishness

That caused us to abort our children

And although we know we have been forgiven by your Son

It does not diminish the wrong we have done but

Instead magnifies the love and mercy offered to us by 

Jesus who is mercy Himself.

 

We know our children are in your care

Held by the same arms that held the baby Jesus

And loved by your Immaculate Heart.

Keep us safe beneath your mantle Mary

And lead us always to your Son

That through your Immaculate Heart we may come

To the Sacred Heart of Jesus

And share eternal life with our children

Praising God forever for the mercy and love

He has shown us.

Amen.

Friday Night Lights & Abortion

I don't watch this show but have heard that it was addressing teen pregnancy. This past week, the shows teenage pregnant character Becky, chose to have an abortion.

During her obvious conflict with the decision she says:"It's just really obvious that my mom wants me to have this abortion because I was her mistake and she has just struggled and hurt and everyday she wanted better."

Is it any wonder she chose abortion? Is that truly free choice ? Talk about pressure to abort! How sad..how could she choose life if her mom has given her the message she was a burden and "struggled and hurt".

The writer of the attached article muses: " I'm more curious and interested in how the show will portray the aftermath. Will Becky be ostracized? Will she come to regret her choice, especially after the touching and supportive phone call she got from Luke after she completed her abortion?

How will the writers deal with Luke? How will this impact him? Will he come to resent Becky for terminating their pre-born child? Will he regret that he didn't take more proactive steps toward convincing Becky to keep their child?

And how will Dillon's residents deal with this? Will there be outrage? Will people judge Becky and Luke?

I'm interested in how the writers will resolve the aftermath in subsequent episodes and if they can again deftly portray it in a de-politicized manner that shows rather than tells."

I am interested too....

Our Name

In 1990 The Sister of Life and I were asked by The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, to put our ministry into manual form to be distributed to the diocese in the United States. Up to this point, we did not even have a name for what we were doing, and so we decided we would all pray for God to reveal to us what He desired it to be called.

 

On e day while I was before the Blessed Sacrament, not thinking at all o f what to name the ministry, I got the sense o f God telling me “Entering Canaan” should be the name.

 

Of course, I remembered the story of the Israelites entering the Promised Land, “Canaan”, but I had no idea what this had to do with our post abortion ministry. I promised I would go home and read the story in the bible to see if it made any sense.

 

As I read through their journey, I saw how similar it was to the battles of post abortion healing. The call to trust in God no matter how things appear. To trust in His promise of Mercy and forgiveness and that He was leading us too into the land of “milk and honey”.

 

 “I will always be with you. I will never abandon you…be determined and confident…do not be afraid or discouraged, for r I the Lord your God, am with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:5,6, 9b

 

What a call to the post abortive woman and man!

 

But,  the most amazing thing was the book of the bible where they reached Canaan. It was in the book of Joshua, the name I had given to my aborted son long before my personal healing! How God and Merciful is our God!

 

So, we invite you to journey with us to the “Promised Land”. You will not reach it without going through battles. You will be tried and tempted to quit, but we can promise you, if you persevere, God will do mighty things for you, and peace and joy will reign in your hearts !