Marie was just 16 years old ó attending high school and dating a boy she very much liked ó when she discovered she was pregnant.

Her boyfriend, the son of a prominent doctor, was college bound. Having a baby wasn’t in the future either one of them had planned. Marie, who was born and raised in the Catholic faith, kept her pregnancy a secret from everyone but her sister, and went along with her boyfriend’s wishes to end the pregnancy early in an abortion.

Time passed and Marie married. For two years she talked to her husband about the child she wanted. But by the time she became pregnant, her husband had become addicted to drugs and her marriage was crumbling. She believed if she had the baby she would have to continue a disastrous marriage, and had an abortion at a clinic, a decision she found much harder to forgive.

For 20 years she kept her secrets buried deep within her soul. She remarried and gave birth to a beautiful son. Then about a year ago she discovered that due to infertility issues, her little boy would be the only child she would ever have.

It was in her heart to go to confession, and over the next four months the priest who heard her confession began to lead her through the healing process. She wrote letters and planned a memorial Mass for her two children who were never born.

But her most profound healing occurred when she participated recently in a Rachel’s Vineyard retreat, where she opened her soul to others who had been on a similar journey, let go of more pain, and offered herself to God.

Rachel’s Vineyard is sponsored by the diocese’s Project Rachel program, a post-abortion outreach that provides hope and healing for individuals struggling with their past involvement with abortions.

A respect life program in the department of Catholic Faith Formation, Project Rachel sponsors not only weekend retreats for women and family members hurt and trying to heal, but also 15-week support groups facilitated by a licensed therapist.

The format for support groups and retreats includes healing rituals, journaling, sharing, and living Scripture verses re-enacted by participants.

“We witness real miracles of healing,” according to Christine Cipperly, respect life coordinator for the diocese. “The women who go through commit themselves to continuing their spiritual healing by helping other women.”

Begun in the diocese in 1996, Project Rachel started out by teaming up priests and licensed therapists to provide spiritual and psychological counseling for women who suffer post-abortion stress. Currently more than 80 priests and 20 therapists, including experts on pastoral and psychological issues, have been trained at semi-annual Project Rachel training sessions.

Rachel’s Vineyard retreats, the newest addition to the program, began as a joint effort with the Oakland Diocese, which has provided the retreats for the past few years. The first was held Jan. 24-26 at the Mercy Center in Auburn. The weekend brought together 13 women and men and the Project Rachel team, which included three priests.

“It was a grace-filled experience,” Cipperly said. “The whole weekend really touches the heart of Christianity, the gift of forgiveness. To be able to forgive others and accept forgiveness oneself is probably the most difficult and most liberating aspect of our faith.”

Father Blaise Berg, vice-chancellor and secretary to the Bishop William K. Weigand, served as chaplain for the retreat. He saw in the Rachel’s Vineyard experience an empowering hands-on ministry with the power to lift the burden of post-abortion many carry for so long.

“It takes a lot of courage for men and women involved with abortion to come face to face with their decision, bring it before the Lord and ask forgiveness, and receive the healing that comes with that,” Father Berg said.

For more information on Project Rachel or Rachel’s Vineyard retreats, call Christine Cipperly at (916) 733-0123.

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