It began when one woman watched a high school friend’s life ripped apart by an abortion, found it unacceptable and decided to do something about it.

Her solution was to create a ministry pairing priests and licensed therapists to deliver an empowering message to post-abortive women that abortion is wrong, but there is a bridge back to God.

In 1984 in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Vicki Thorn founded Project Rachel, a post-abortion reconciliation program named for the Old Testament woman who wept over the loss of her child.

The international program, which since that time has trained more than 4,500 priests and therapists nationally, was featured at a “Project Rachel Post Abortion Healing and Reconciliation Training” held Oct. 3 at Christ the King Retreat Center in Citrus Heights.

The event was co-sponsored by the Diocese of Sacramento’s Family Life Department and the Sacramento Life Center.

The training session was an opportunity for priests, deacons, Catholic therapists and leaders in parish communities to learn about the complex issues that impact approximately 1.37 million U.S. women annually.

Tom Vanevenhoven (left) and Ralph Michel (center), members of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 5978 of Yuba City, present a donation of $500 to Vicki Thorn Oct. 3 for the work of Project Rachel. The donation was the first from charitable monies raised through the Knights’ “Living Memorial to the Unborn” project. Cathy Joyce/ Herald photo

“A lot of women who have experienced an abortion feel alienated from church,” said Christine Cipperly, respect life coordinator for the diocese. “Project Rachel leads women back to the church, to reconciliation and healing.”

Thorn, who was the featured speaker at the training session, carries with her the stories of thousands of women who have suffered the trauma of abortion.

“Abortion is a soul wound,” said Thorn in a telephone interview with The Herald. “Women of all faiths believe it’s an unforgiven sin, that something greater than them has been offended. There’s a great big hole in their soul.”

Thorn explained that post-abortion healing and reconciliation training sessions address the impact of abortion on women and on other family members, the process of healing and dealing with the loss of a child. The sessions also assist women who have had an abortion deal with spiritual issues so they can move forward with her lives.

As administrator of the Project Rachel program, which is offered in 144 dioceses nationwide, Thorn is amazed at what has happened to “a little diocesan program” that catapulted her into becoming an expert in a field that previously didn’t exist.

“It wasn’t something I set out to do. It wasn’t in my game plan,” said Thorn, the mother of six children ranging in age from 11 to 22. “It’s a kind of charism that comes from God.”

Thorn’s interest in post-abortion work began with a friend from high school whose mother forced her into having an abortion as a teenager.

“She was dealing with lots of grief and guilt,” said Thorn of her friend, who became involved in alcohol abuse and other destructive behavior.

Additionally inspired by the U.S. bishops’ call in 1975 for a pro-life pastoral plan of ministry of reconciliation and healing, Thorn founded Project Rachel.

Launching the program as a young mother required that she not only spend countless hours on the phone and in meetings but also logging time on the road. But because of people like one volunteer who offered to assist in caring for Thorn’s children on the home front, the Project Rachel founder was able to pursue her dream.

She says a key to the success of the program has been the support it has received from priests who personally encounter post-abortive women.

“Our training sesssions always grow the clergy…because we offer them tools to make them more effective in their ministry,” she noted.

In addition to a growing presence nationally, Project Rachel is currently developing programs in Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Honduras.

“When the Holy Spirit is ready, things happen pretty quickly,” said Thorn, whose office typically receives 300 to 400 inquiry calls monthly. “Ten years from now we could be looking at a universal ministry.”

For more information on Project Rachel, call Christine Cipperly at (916) 733-0161.

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