“I WILL BE WITH YOU AS I WAS WITH MOSES: I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU. BE FIRM AND STEADFAST. . . . DO NOT FEAR NOR BE DISMAYED, FOR THE LORD, YOUR GOD, IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.” Joshua 1: 5-6, 9b
Like the Israelites who traveled for forty years before reaching the Promised Land, those who have experienced abortion often “wander in the desert” of suffering for years. Our Entering Canaan post abortion ministry is multi faceted; the “Day of Prayer and Healing” begins their healing journey.
Day of Prayer and Healing provides a safe, loving and prayerful environment. The theme of the day is taken from the message of Divine Mercy: “Jesus, I Trust in You.” The goal for the Day of Prayer and Healing is that each retreatant leaves the day with hope that healing is possible.
The Days are followed by our monthly Gatherings which consist of a half hour meditation before the Blessed Sacrament followed by a shared discussion. The Gatherings provide an opportunity for these women and men to form a community among themselves, to face fears together and to help one another gain the tools necessary for identifying and responding to personal battles and “abortion connectors”: seemingly ordinary events/sounds, etc. that evoke disproportionate responses because of their direct or indirect association with the abortion.
Hope and Healing weekend retreats are held from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon,They offer the opportunity for sustained healing to those who have begun the process of post-abortive healing. In the recollection afforded by silence, retreatants face their abortion experiences and its resulting burdens honestly in the presence of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, exposed throughout the weekend on the chapel altar. As they experience Jesus’ healing power in the Eucharist, He reveals His great love and shelters them in His mercy. Such gentleness draws retreatants to trust in His loving concern for them and invites them to release the heavy burden of their sins and wounds into His Sacred Heart, to be consumed by His love and healed by His life. Though the Weekend allows for an exponential increase in healing, the process is normally not completed in a few days. Each individual heals in her own time and in God’s time, with room given for individual response to grace and assistance.
Healing can take as little or as much time as God allows — He is the Healer. Because the time of healing is so individual continued support and healing are offered through continuing post-abortion education, and spiritual guidance through yearly special events such as special Gatherings during Advent and our yearly Mercy Renewal Retreat.
“AND SO THE LORD GAVE ISRAEL ALL THE LAND HE HAD SWORN TO THEIR FATHERS HE WOULD GIVE THEM. ONCE THEY HAD CONQUERED AND OCCUPIED IT, THE LORD GAVE THEM PEACE ON EVERY SIDE, JUST AS HE HAD PROMISED THEIR FATHERS. NOT ONE OF THEIR ENEMIES COULD WITHSTAND THEM; THE LORD BROUGHT ALL THEIR ENEMIES UNDER THEIR POWER. NOT A SINGLE PROMISE THAT THE LORD MADE TOTHE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WAS BROKEN; EVERYONE WAS FULFILLED.” -Joshua 21:43-45
"Entering Canaan" Days of Prayer & Healing are offered for women, men, siblings of aborted babies and those who aborted because of an adverse diagnosis. The weekends are only offered for women at this time but will be expanded in the future. Anyone wishing to find out more regarding the women can contact Lumina or The Sisters of Life. for the men's, siblings or adverse diagnosis retreats please contact Lumina.
