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 A large number of Catholic marriages end in
divorce. It is a tumultuous experience that
creates a major upheaval in the family unit and
in turn, affects the entire parish community.
Bi-Monthy Support
Group
The Ministry to the Separated and Divorced
offers outreach, support and a caring presence
during this difficult and stressful time. This
Archdiocesan program informs and educates
persons about the grieving process, personal
coping skills, and Church teachings as well as
information regarding annulments. In the form of
an ongoing, bi-monthly support group within a
Catholic environment. Each group meets for an
hour and a half. During each group session the
participants have the opportunity to vent,
receive support related to any ongoing crisis
and or to participate in the topic of discussion
for that day.
Some of the topics covered during group sessions
are:
- Loss and the grieving process
- Group dynamics and process
- Domestic violence
- Parenting during a divorce
- Catholic teaching on divorce, and
annulments
The support group’s goals are to foster:
- A supportive atmosphere that will enable the
participants to recognize and activate their own
talents, capabilities and untapped potential
- Personal growth, self-knowledge, and
spiritual development
- Improved self-confidence and self-esteem
For locations of support groups, see
below.
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Separated and/or
Divorced? Here's what you need to know about
receiving Communion:
It is a common mistake to think that a divorced
person can never receive Holy Communion.
A divorce, by itself, is not a bar to Holy
Communion. A person is not excommunicated
simply because they have been divorced. That
was true in the past (which may be the source of
this mistaken belief), but the Church eliminated
that rule long ago.
So, a divorced person who has not remarried is
just like any other Catholic, and may present
themselves for Holy Communion if they are
"properly disposed" -- namely, they are not
conscious of grave sin and have fasted for one
hour (See
http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/intercom.shtml).
It is still true, however, that a Catholic may
not receive Holy Communion if they are divorced
and remarried. People in this situation should
still attend and participate actively in the
Mass, but they should not present themselves for
Holy Communion. Instead, they should make a
"spiritual communion" with the Lord and pray for
unity with Him. They should also consult with a
priest to discuss how they can restore
themselves to full Communion. (See Catechism
1650).
The ministry also offers Group Leadership
Trainings.
Group Leadership Trainings are offered to
prepare caring, participants to assume
leadership positions in this, our Ministry.
People from all ethnicities, cultures and
neighborhoods with personal experience of
divorce or sensitivity to divorce issues are
encouraged to apply, as are professional
counselors or social workers.
Group facilitators are trained: They must
complete an intensive 32-hour group leadership
training. Comprised of easily understood
material and hands on experiential exercises. It
provides step-by-step instruction and all the
knowledge and skills needed to implement the
Archdiocesan support group program in local
parish communities.
Participants will also learn:
- Communication skills
- Listening skills
- Relaxation and meditation skills
Note:
In the future you will find information
regarding upcoming training programs
attached to this space.
Volunteering in our this ministry offers
opportunities to:
- Turn your hard learned life experience,
talents and skills into service to others.
- Be a vital part of the Church community by
connecting with people in need.
- Find companionship, friendship, and a sense of
purpose and mission.
- Reinforce your Catholic values and way of
life.
- Make a real difference in people’s lives by
helping others to love themselves again, trust
again, and believe again.
- Share the loving and healing power of Jesus
with others.
- Experience a deep sense of satisfaction that
comes from helping others.
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Ongoing Support
Groups
The support groups are currently being formed.
Please call the contact(s) listed below to check
availability.
MANHATTAN
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI PARISH
135 West 31st Street
PARISH OF ST PAUL THE APOSTLE
415 West 59th Street
BRONX
St. Benedict
Church
2969 Otis Avenue (enter via convent on
Edison Avenue upstairs)
Group meets every last Monday of the month
from 7 p.m.to 8:15 p.m.
For more information, contact Sheryl @917-697-5091
or Carol-Jo @718-863-2226
STATEN ISLAND
CHURCH OF ST. PAUL
145 Clinton Avenue
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Group meets every 2nd and 4th Friday from
7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information,
call Margaret, at (718) 447-4103, or David,
at (718) 979-7263.
CHURCH OF ST. CHARLES
644 Clawson Street
CHURCH OF THE HOLY CHILD
4747 Amboy Road
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Group meets every 2nd and 4th Friday from
7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information,
call Angela, at (718) 317-9385, or Joni, at
(718) 967-0174.
WESTCHESTER
Ossining
St. Augustine Church
381 North Highland Avenue (enter via
the Parish House)
Group meets on the 2nd Wednesday of
the month
from 7p.m. to 8:15p.m.
For more information, contact Iride@914-943-7123
or Sheryl @917-697-5091
Bronxville
St. Joseph Church
15 Cedar Street(enter via back door by
parking lot)
Group meets the 2nd Monday of the
month
From 7p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
For more information, contact Sheryl
@917-697-5091
ROCKLAND
CHURCH OF ST. MARGARET
33 North Magnolia Street, Pearl River
-
Group meets every other Wednesday from 7
p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information call
Barbara, at (845) 735-9636, or Marjorie, at
(914) 741-2894.
PUTNAM
CHURCH OF ST. JAMES THE APOSTLE
16 Gleneida Avenue, Carmel
DUTCHESS
OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL CHURCH
11 Mt. Carmel Place, Poughkeepsie
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Group meets every other Wednesday from 7:30
p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information call
Kathy, at (845) 562-3012, or Jerry, at (845)
800-2454.
ORANGE
CHURCH OF ST. JOSEPH
149 Cottage Street, Middle Town
CHURCH OF ST. PATRICK
26 Hunter Street, Highland Mills
ULSTER
CHURCH OF ST. CATHERINE LABOURE
Tuytenbridge Road, Lake Katrine
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Retrouvaille
Our office also supports the efforts of Retrouvaille (which means "rediscovery").
Retrouvaille is a weekend program with
follow-ups, for couples whose marriage is in
serious difficulty or trouble and in jeopardy of ending (due to past
or present addiction, adultery, or other grave
issues), and who want to make it work.
The program offers the chance to rediscover
yourself, your spouse, and a loving relationship
in your marriage. It has a proven track record
in successfully saving marriages. It is a
Catholic program open to people of all faiths.
Retrouvaille weekends are held in the New
York metropolitan area, in New Jersey, on Long
Island, and
in Connecticut. For more information,
please visit
the Retrouvaille
website.
Retrouvaille weekends in northern New Jersey:
For
more information, please call
Marie
Ryan, Family Life Office - Diocese of Paterson,
NJ, at (973) 777-8818.
To
register, please contact Pat & Roger today, at
(201) 251-1031.
Retrouvaille weekends
in Newark, NJ:
For
more information, or to register today, please
call
John
& Karen Panariello, at (732) 276-7695.
For additional information about weekends in New
Jersey,
please contact
Fr.
Claude Lenehan, OFM - Holy Cross Friary, Bronx,
NY, at (718) 378-1170.
Retrouvaille weekends on Long
Island include:
For more information on these weekends or to register,
please call (800) 470-2230,
or click
here to email Lisa & Neil DeStefano
today.
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Beginning
Experience
"A weekend away for a lifetime of change."
Designed for those who are Widowed, Separated,
or Divorced. Help for the heartache of
finding yourself alone again.
Click
here to download a brochure.
Out of darkness,
the light shall shine.
(2 Corinthians 4: 6)
Carmen Noschese
Separated/Divorced
Coordinator
 carmen.noschese@archny.org
646.794.3194
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