“It’s an opportunity to heal and get reconnected to Jesus – it’s all about the relationship with him,” said Brenda Rascher, director of Project Rachel Ministry for the Diocese. “We’re welcoming them back to the Church, because so many of them feel ‘I can never go back.’ [We show them that] mercy and forgiveness are still available.”

On Oct. 22, the Diocese of Trenton’s Project Rachel Ministry, in cooperation with Rama de Maria – a healing after abortion nonprofit based in Elizabeth – will offer its first Spanish language one-day retreat for women, men and families who are seeking spiritual healing and restoration from an abortion. The retreat, offered in a Trenton-area location, will run 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and include breakfast and lunch, fellowship, prayer, celebration of the Mass and an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Location details are provided to registrants only to ensure confidentiality.
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“Project Rachel Ministry is collaborating with organizations that provide retreats,” Rascher explained. “Rama de Maria, which is sponsored by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, and organized by Teresa Martinez, has been doing one-day Spanish language retreats for healing after abortion for decades.”

A ministry of the Catholic Church in the U.S. to those who have been involved in abortion, Project Rachel Ministry has been described by the national office as a diocesan-based network of priests, religious, counselors, and laypersons who provide a team response of care for those suffering in the aftermath of abortion, as described by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In addition to referring for Sacramental Reconciliation, the ministry provides an integrated network of services, including pastoral counseling, support groups, retreats and referrals to licensed mental health professionals.

“Healing from anything is not a ‘one-and-done’ approach – it’s a process,” Rascher emphasized. The one-day retreat is meant to be a part of that process and allow for greater accessibility.

“Some of these women’s families don’t even know [about their abortion], so options are needed for one-day retreats when a weekend-long retreat is not workable,” she continued. “We are collaborating with two organizations – Rama de Maria, which provides one-day retreats, and Rachel’s Vineyard, which provides weekend retreats – to provide services in the Diocese.”

To that end, an English-language Rachel’s Vineyard weekend retreat is also planned for Nov. 11-13 in an Ocean County location. The Rachel’s Vineyard ministry has origins in Newark, and its three-day retreats include access to licensed counselors as well as priests available for Confession and Mass.

“One thing I’m working on is connecting people who may need actual counseling,” Rascher said of her work through Project Rachel Ministry and its collaboration with the various post-abortion healing ministries and services available. “Often over the years they may develop addictions, and don’t even realize it’s coming from that abortion wound until they’re in counseling.”