MADISON — Rachel’s Vineyard Retreats offer healing for those who have been affected by abortion.
A past retreatant named Molly explained what happened in her life. “It was a little more than two years ago when our Lord placed in my ear a call to a vineyard. By coming back to the Church with a granddaughter who came to live with my husband and me, it all began,” she said.
A homily message from a priest also helped her deal with over 30 years of denial about her abortion. “God’s desire,” the priest said, “is to grant us mercy, forgiveness, and love, softening our hardened hearts so that we can repent and have eternal life with Him.”
He talked about Rachel’s Vineyard, a confidential weekend retreat for people exposed to abortion.
Said Molly, “I went to the weekend retreat, and through the living Scriptures, I came face to face with Jesus. . . . I continued to feel His presence in the leaders who guided us through the weekend. When I finally emptied myself of all the pain, I felt Jesus wrap his arms around me and weep with me. He took my hand and told me that He loved me and that I was forgiven.
“He asked me to forgive myself and told me that a very dear child in heaven was praying for me and was waiting to be reunited with me. . . . He turned something ugly and sinful into a joyful and beautiful awakening of His love and mercy.”
Molly said that she is grateful for the gift of support Rachel’s Vineyard offers to singles and couples, men and women alike, all ages and faiths, “so that many like me, and someone that you may know, can find healing, too.”
The next Rachel’s Vineyard retreat offered in the Diocese of Madison will be April 12-14. To register for this retreat, call Mary at 608-221-9593 or visit www.MadisonDiocese.org/Rachel or e-mail [email protected] Confidentiality is assured.