Denver Catholic

12 I LOCAL NEWS July 17, 2013 I Denver CatholiC register SLATTERY & COMPANY Robert F. Connor, Sr., Chairman • Robert F. Connor, Jr., President Providing Exceptional Service Since 1919 slatteryandcompany.com PLUMBING • HEATING • AIR CONDITIONING Commercial, Residential / Prompt 24 hour service Emergency needs command our total commitment! Catholic Reg 3.77" x 4" 181 Vallejo Street Aug. 2012 303-744-6311 We care for patients in their homes, in our own inpatient facility, in nursing homes or in assisted living residences. During transition, we're with our patients, supporting loved ones or being with patients who have no one else. Our patients are not alone. Not in life. . . nor death. Holy Land Franciscan Pilgrimages Bringing pilgrims to the Holy Land for over 100 years Colorado dioceses form state network to serve those suffering after abortion By JULiE FiLBy Colorado is believed to be the first state to combine diocesan efforts and establish a statewide network to more effectively minister to post-abortive women and men through Project Rachel. The new model, Project Rachel Colorado, is based on the national ministry founded by Vicki Thorn in 1984 in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. On June 18, 19 and 20, Thorn and other experts led Project Rachel Colorado Basic Training in each of the three Colorado dioceses: Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo. It was a collaborative effort of Regina Caeli Clinical Services of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver, Catholic Charities of Central Colorado, Spe Salvi Institute in Pueblo; and the dioceses of Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo. "We're very excited about the development of a statewide Project Rachel ministry network of specially trained (personnel) who can effectively reach out to those suffering the aftermath of abortion," said Kathryn M. Benes., Ph. D., director of Regina Caeli. "With one in three women under the age of 45 being post-abortive, and with many women and men leaving the Church following an abortion, the network is a much-needed apostolate in the state." Approximately 170 priests, deacons, religious, mental health professionals, medical personnel, spiritual directors and respect life coordinators and volunteers attended one of the three pROJECT RACHEL COLORADO What: Statewide network providing post-abortive support Call: 720-377-1351 or 855-377-1351 Email: projectrachel@ccdenver. org B Deacon Charles Hahn fromP Spirit of Christ in Arvada attend-D ed the training to allow him to7 e better serve those who are seeking post-abortion healing. "Today's training really opened my eyes ... as a deacon, I want to be informed," he said. "Most importantly I want to be compassionate and not put (someone) on the spot, but give the best direction I can." Erin Venters, a student at Regis University studying for a master's degree in marriage and family therapy, and a parishioner of St. Mary Church in Central City, said the training will aid her in her work as a therapist. "This will help me with potential clients I might see in the future," she said. "I'm looking systemically at this issue, and how to serve the whole family." Thorn talked about how abortion hurts not only women, but men, as well as siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members. Thorn originally founded Project Rachel inspired by a friend who had given up a child to adoption and another to abortion. The friend said: "I can live with the adoption; I can't live with the abortion." Project Rachel has grown to more than 140 dioceses in the world. For more information on Project Rachel Colorado call 720377-1351 or 855-377-1351; or email projectrachel@ccdenver. org. training sessions that included a half-day session led by Thorn, as well as breakouts conducted by clinicians and clergy. This group joins a network of some 125 individuals who received training in February 2012. "It was exciting to see the number of folks in training," Benes said. "The aim is to establish Project Rachel teams in each deanery." Team members will provide printed resources at parishes, make referrals to mental health professionals with post-abortive counseling expertise, and "bring the healing mercy of Christ through pastoral counseling and the sacraments." "Post-abortion ministry is at the core of who we are as Catholics," Thorn said to open the June 18 Denver training at Catholic Charities' headquarters at 4045 Pecos St. "It's not unique to us. This is a human response to a woman who has lost a child in a traumatic fashion." It is critical to reach the largest number of people possible, she said, to talk about the grief; the Julie Filby: 303-715-3123; julie. physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual aftermath; and to filby@archden.org; www.twitter. com/DCRegisterJulie provide unconditional love. pro-life veterans join Charities By JULiE FiLBy HOLY LAND November 5 - 14, 2013 ($3,592) HOLY LAND & JORDAN December 1 - 11, 2013 ($3,592) EGYPT January 20 - February 1, 2014 ($3,268) HOLY LAND February 14 - 23, 2014 ($3,350) HOLY LAND & MT. SINAI March 25 - April 5, 2014 ($3,695) FATIMA, LOURDES & BARCELONA April 6 - 15, 2014 ($3,049) HOLY LAND (EASTER PILGRIMAGE) April 8 - 21, 2014 ($3,650) Based on JFK New York departures www.holylandpilgrimages.org 1-800-566-7499 | info@holylandpilgrimages.org Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver welcomed two existing agencies to its spectrum of services July 1: Respect Life Resources and The Gabriel Project. Respect Life Resources, formerly known as the Respect Life Office for the archdiocese, champions Church teaching regarding the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. The Gabriel Project serves pregnant women by providing emotional, spiritual and material support. "We exist to defend and protect every human life whether it's the newly conceived embryo in the womb, the suffering elder in hospice or any other life stage in between," said Lynn Grandon, program director of Respect Life Resources. Formerly housed at the archdiocesan Pastoral Center in south Denver, the Respect Life Office was relocated to Catholic Charities' headquarters at 4045 RESpECT LIFE RESOuRCES THE GABRIEL pROJECT Lynn Grandon, program director Mimi Eckstein, executive director 4045 Pecos St., Denver 1341 Oneida St., Denver (office) 303-742-0828 lgrandon@ccdenver.org 4045 Pecos St., Denver (administration, donations) www.ccdenver.org 303-377-1577 meckstein@ccdenver.org Pecos St. in Denver. The office's purpose remains the same: to collaborate with parishes and other institutions to foster a culture of life. "We are excited by the opportunity to further integrate our work with the countless acts of charity already underway within (Catholic Charities)," Grandon said. Mimi Eckstein, executive director of The Gabriel Project, echoed the sentiment. "We are overjoyed at the opportunity to further integrate our www.gabrielhousedenver.org work with that of Catholic Charities," she said, "and to build upon the referral relationships already begun between our clients and the agency." The Gabriel Project currently operates four Gabriel House locations in northern Colorado: Denver, Aurora, Boulder and Lakewood. Eckstein will maintain a presence on-site at Denver's Gabriel House at 1341 Oneida St. as well as at Catholic Charities' Pecos St. building.

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