Healing from divorce is not easy. It can be a long, sometimes painful process for spouses, and for the children from the marriage. Separation and divorce can be two of the most difficult events in an adult’s life. As Catholics, we believe that marriage is permanent and indissoluble. The beauty and wisdom of this teaching may bring additional pain to those who are separated or divorced.
Divorce is a process, not an event. Legal divorce can be pinpointed to a moment in time, but not so the experience of divorce. It is the result of a series of incidents that eventually erode a relationship between a husband and a wife. The ending of any marriage that has endured long enough for the two partners to have children and invest portions of their lives, money, emotions and dreams is often a devastating experience.
The Team should be made up of married couples from different stages of married The first thing an individual must do is to take good care of themselves. Their children, their job, their extended family will all suffer more if they are not healthy and hopeful for the future.
The Church is uniquely positioned to offer help on the journey toward healing and recovery. Support groups, Healing Retreats and the care of our Church is what most divorcing Catholics desire and benefit from. It is also important that correct information on their status with the Church and the Annulment process be readily available.
- Consider implementing the Catholic’s Divorce Survival Guide by Rose Sweet as part of your ministry to the divorced. Rose has done an excellent job creating a series of 12 gatherings to help Catholics deal with their Divorce. Available through Ascension Press.
- MarriageBuilding USA has teamed up with Rose Sweet to offer REBUILD! Your Life After Divorce, a two-day retreat for divorce recovery. Scheduling this event might best be done for a group of parishes.
- Schedule a skills-based workshop for the Divorced that teaches relationship skills that would be beneficial in their recovery.
- Include intentions for those affected by Divorce in the Prayers of the Faithful.
- Provide opportunities for healing, growth, support and skills for Catholics (adults and children) affected by Divorce.
- Offer Annulment workshops, Annulment Advocates and/or Parish Annulment Advocate kits.
- Make sure RCIA candidates receive information on annulments early in the process.