By Patrick T. Brown | Associate Editor

As cardinals and bishops gather with Pope Francis in Rome to discuss pastoral issues facing families today, there are few topics that are as personal or challenging as marriages which have been broken.

Recognizing the reality that Catholic couples who have separated, divorced, or preparing to be are in need of particular support and healing during a difficult time in their lives, the Diocese of Trenton’s Department of Pastoral Care is hosting a weekend focused on these difficult but vital topics.

Marianne Skrobiak, a nationally-known speaker and creator of “Return to Life,” a six-week DVD series aimed at Catholics who have divorced, will be presenting on healing and support in a day-long seminar in St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, on Oct. 17.

The Day of Healing for separated and divorced Catholics will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and include selections from Pope Francis on the special needs of the separated and divorced, activities and interaction sessions, numerous talks and a ritual designed to help participants build trust and let go of old wounds.

“This day will be a source of grace and healing for anyone struggling with a separation or divorce,” said Deanna Sass, director of the Department of Pastoral Care. “In light of Pope Francis’ Synod on the Family, it is essential that our Church recognize the brothers and sisters among our parish families who are divorced. They are as much a part of our parish communities as anyone else and we need their gifts and talents to make us complete as the Body of Christ.”  

Talks at the session will include “Will I Ever Trust Again?” “Forgiveness: The Key to Healing,” “Where I Have Been, Where I Am, Where I Want to Go,” and “Letting Go, Moving On, and Living Life Again.”

“We hope and pray that those who may feel alienated from Church will reach out to one of these parish support groups and find that they are sorely missed and warmly welcomed into our Catholic family,” said Sass.

Skrobiak, a psychotherapist who works in private practice in Hales Corner, Wisc., holds a master’s degree in theology as well as one in educational psychology, and has served as associate liaison of the charismatic renewal for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

A separate training, to be held on Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., also at St. Ann Parish, will offer leadership training to those in ministerial positions on how to recognize and respond to the unique needs of separated and divorced Catholics, and will dispel some of the myths around this community.

“We hope this day of healing and our leadership training day for Ministry to Separated and Divorced Catholics  on the 16th, will encourage more of our parishes to start support groups for the separated and divorced,” Sass said.

The fee to attend the full-day session is $10 per person. Registrations can be sent to the Diocese of Trenton, Department of Pastoral Care, 701 Lawrenceville Road, Trenton, NJ, 08638, and should include the participant’s name, address, phone number, email, parish and parish city.

St. Ann Parish is located at 1253 Lawrenceville Rd., Lawrenceville.

For more information on this day of healing, or to see a listing of all current separated and divorced support groups within the Diocese, visit www.dioceseoftrenton.org/pastoralcare.