Mater Dei to host retreat for adult children of divorced, separated parents

Summer is a time of joy for many – family picnics, time at the ballpark, spending time with family and friends.   
 
For the nearly one million adult children of divorced parents, summer can also be a time of hurt, anger and suffering.  
 
Mater Dei Church in Sioux City will assist Adult Children of Divorce (ACODs) turn redemptive suffering into resurrection joy as the parish hosts the Life-Giving Wounds (LWG) Retreat Sept. 5-7. 
 
LWG is a three-day retreat for young adults and adults with divorced or separated parents. It invites participants to move through the broken image of love that appeared to them in their parents’ relationship to their deepest identity found in God.
 
The retreat gives participants a greater understanding of the wound of divorce and the ways it affects their lives, offers advice about the difficulties concerning love and trust of others, and explains how the Catholic faith, spiritual practices and the sacraments are essential to self-knowledge and healing.
 
This retreat has something for any adult child of divorce or separation, no matter how much healing you have already received or need.
 
Topics covered include finding our identity, faith and our relationship with God, dating, the sacrament of marriage, loneliness, false guilt, forgiveness, family boundaries, Christian suffering and more.
 
The retreat will be led by Mater Dei Discipleship Director, Fred Shellabarger, and traveling team leader, Kara Morgan.

“Seeing firsthand the great value last year’s LGW Retreat had in the lives of participants; the healing they received demonstrated the value and impact of such an effort. Personally, my wife and I are both adult children of divorce and so I can speak without any qualifications or doubts, how effective this retreat is,” said Shellabarger.
 
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Sioux City is providing a mental health therapist for the entirety of the Life-Giving Wounds retreat. The therapist will be available to meet with the participants individually throughout the weekend, as well as any follow-up that may be included.  Follow-up may include assisting in referrals to mental health providers in the participant's hometown, check-ins and support.

The retreat begins Sept. 5 at 7 p.m.in the parish's Immaculate Conception Parish Center and concludes Sept. 7 at 3:30 p.m. This is a Catholic retreat, though any religious affiliation is welcome to attend. 

A block of rooms has been reserved with the Hampton Inn and Suites and the Courtyard Sioux City Downtown/Convention Center through Aug. 31.
 
The cost is $250/individual, which includes nearly all the meals and materials. Space is limited. Attendees must be 18 and older to attend. Scholarships are available. Contact Jeff Schoep, Parish Life Director, at [email protected] for more information.
 
Today, LWG has chapters in 22 states, two colleges, one seminary and one in Canada. Mater Dei is the only LWG Chapter in Iowa. The closest chapters are in the Diocese of Fargo (North Dakota) and Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.

Learn more at materdeisc.org/life-giving-wounds.