Archdiocese of Denver
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Adult Children of Divorce Ministry
A
s children, most victims of divorce were
told that their parents' breakup was
not their fault. However, they often blamed
themselves, prayed for their parents' recon-
ciliation and were disappointed when their
prayers seem to go unanswered. As adults,
they sometimes mask their pain with un-
healthy habits or situations and often, if they
are married, they often struggle because they
did not see healthy examples of how to honor
their own vows.
The Life-Giving Wounds Program is a
confidential retreat-centered way for adults
to reconcile the pain of their parents' divorce
and help get participants back to the Sacra-
ments they yearn for, especially Reconciliation
and the Eucharist. Oftentimes, these folks are
the "nones" who are Catholic but not prac-
ticing. The program assists them in healing
and finding good examples for the sake and
well-being of themselves and their children, if
they are married, as well as providing ongoing
support.
In addition to scheduled retreats, deacons
are working on programs to help the im-
mediate needs to those adult children who
struggle with their parent's divorce. For ad-
ditional information visit, archden.org/eflm/
family/#childrendivorce.
The Archdiocese would like to have a
parish partnership, where one parish offers
the Divorce Ministry Assistance and a neigh-
boring parish offers the Adult Children of
Divorce Ministry. Deacons will be the liaisons
for the two programs providing counseling
and spiritual direction.
Minor Children of Divorce Ministry
i
Deacon Don Weiss
dweiss53@q.com
970.226.1303
Deacon Patrick Smith
zempower@yahoo.com
303.594.7055
i
Deacon Charles Hahn
dcncharleshahn@gmail.com
303.867.9178 x 265
A
Catholic guide for kids entitled "When
Parents Divorce or Separate" will be
available in 2022. The key is to provide chil-
dren a safe place in which to work through
his or her grief while assisting them in de-
veloping foundational skills such as effective
communication, problem solving, anger
management and empathy. The children will
be better equipped to not only adjust to a
family break-up or remarriage, but also to
build other relationships in a healthy and
faith-filled way by drawing on their Catholic
faith.
