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40 Days for Life
Vision and mission
40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion in America.
The mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting, and peaceful activism, with the purpose of repentance, to seek God’s favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion in America.
To join in the vigil and find out additional information visit: www.40daysforlife.com/siouxcity.
Wounded by Abortion or Abuse?
Abortion can be one of the most traumatic experiences a person can have.
It is normal to grieve a pregnancy loss, including the loss of a child by abortion. It can leave a hole in one’s heart, a hole so deep that sometimes it seems nothing can fill the emptiness.
You may have been certain that abortion was the only answer. It is common when a person is faced with a crisis pregnancy to feel fear, anxiety, and confusion. A quick solution to the dilemma is often sought, and since abortion is legal and often socially sanctioned, it is a choice many make in responding to this crisis.
Most abortion decisions are made within four days after confirmation of pregnancy. After an abortion, there is an immediate sense of relief that the crisis is over. However, any moral dilemma felt before the abortion will eventually resurface.
Many women, usually alone, have walked a path of grief and hopelessness after abortion, Eventually they begin to understand that they have a deep spiritual wound. But sadly, they also are likely to believe that they have committed “the unforgivable sin” and fear God’s anger.
Some of the symptoms after an abortion may include: Medical complications
• Regret and remorse
• A sense of relief accompanied by guilt
• Nightmares
• Anxiety around pregnant women
• Crying along with thoughts of the baby
• Sleeping problems
• Morbid or suicidal thoughts
• Loss of decision-making abilities
• Low self-esteem
• Strong feelings or reactions each year on the date that the abortion occurred
• A vague sort of emptiness and sense of loss
• Negative reaction to the mention of abortion
• Feeling distant from your church
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If you are in this position, it is important for you to know that we care and we reach out to you in compassion and concern in two ways: Project Rachel and Rachel’s Vineyard.
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Project Rachel
Project Rachel is a private, confidential, free service.
Call 1-877-612-2272
The person who answers the phone will put you through to a trained counselor who can help you sort through your feelings, questions and current conflict. Calls are totally confidential, non-judgmental and free to all.
For over 18 years, women and men have been coming to Project Rachel, the post-abortion ministry of the Catholic Church, for help in healing their emotional and spiritual wounds. Project Rachel has professional counselors and trained priests who can help you to heal spiritually and emotionally, no matter what faith tradition is yours. They have lead thousands of grieving women and men from despair to hope and peace.
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This ministry is available to:
• Women
• Boyfriends
• Husbands
• Parents
• Grandparents
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"I can now look at myself without seeing a lonely, selfish, desperate young woman.
I see a woman who has grieved the loss of a baby and mourned the part of myself, which died along with the baby. Someone was there to help pick up the pieces of my broken life and help me move on." - Zoe
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If you are hurting because of abortion, we encourage you to call Project Rachel or visit the website http://www.hopeafterabortion.com for more information or to read the stories of stories of women.
Introducing Hope and Healing Ministries
Hope and Healing Ministries is a service of the Diocese of Davenport that encompasses the state of Iowa by offering healing retreats for any person who has struggled with the emotional or spiritual pain of an abortion or sexual abuse. Hope and Healing Ministries encompasses Rachel’s Vineyard (for those wounded by abortion) and Committed to Freedom (for abuse survivors) retreats. Both retreats are beautiful opportunities to help one experience the mercy, compassion, and love of God.
Rachel’s Vineyard – for those wounded by abortion
Rachel’s Vineyard weekend retreats are for any person who has struggled with the emotional or spiritual pain of an abortion. The retreat is a very specific process designed to help you experience the mercy and compassion of God. It is also an opportunity to surface and release repressed feelings of anger, shame, guilt and grief. There are many group exercises to help you grieve the loss of your unborn child and to receive and accept God’s forgiveness. The retreat concludes with a Memorial Service. The weekend will help your soul find a voice, and transform the pain of the past into love and hope.
Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat Schedule in Iowa:
July 24-26, 2009
November 20-22, 2009 at Rock Island, IL (across the river from Davenport)
More information is available by phone (1-866-363-3772 or 319-665-3077)
or email hopeandhealing@gmail.com
Retreats are held continually throughout the United States and internationally. For more information and a complete listing of Rachel’s Vineyard retreats, please visit the website: www.rachelsvineyard.org
The retreat and registration are strictly confidential. Rachel’s Vineyard is a healing and training resource that welcomes collaboration with other post-abortion ministries. Retreats are held in both Catholic and Interdenominational settings.
Committed to Freedom – for abuse survivors Committed to Freedom (CTF), developed by Sallie Culbreth, provides people with spiritual tools to help them move beyond abuse. This is accomplished through retreats, seminars, and resources for survivors of childhood and adolescent abuse, specifically sexual abuse. For use in the Diocese of Davenport, this non-denominational retreat has been adapted for a Catholic environment to fit the needs of Catholic participants. Hope and Healing Ministries is committed to offering hope, healing, reconciliation, and the love of God to the many wounded by abuse. More information about Committed to Freedom can be found at www.committedtofreedom.org
More information is available by phone (1-877-896-4673 or 563-322-1645)
or email hopeandhealingtoday@gmail.com.
You may also visit the webpage www.davenportdiocese.org/hopeandhealing
You may also visit the webpage for more dates www.davenportdiocese.org/hopeandhealing
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