Thursday, 19 January 2012 14:22

‘Healing Your Family of Origin’ retreat March 2-4 at the SLC
The ‘Healing Your Family of Origin’ retreat planned for March 2-4 at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita is designed to help repair the brokenness within families.
Sharon Gagnon, who will lead this retreat, said human beings were created to be fruitful and flourish, to love and to be loved.
“Because of our fallen nature, however, we experience suffering – sometimes at the hands of those who were placed in our lives to show us love and help us grow. Because of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ, we are offered the opportunity to heal, experience redemption, and to love more fully, by extending and receiving mercy and forgiveness.”
Gagnon added that the retreat will help those attending understand the influences, interrelationships, and events that have led or can lead a family on a path of pain.
The weekend is recommended for anyone who wants to heal their brokenness and begin the journey down the road to emotional health. The presentations will especially benefit those who grew up with parents or grandparents with extreme forms of dysfunction or secrets in their family including divorce, alcohol, drugs, pornography, abuse, incest, or rape.
Gagnon has a master’s degree in education from the University of Kansas and has done graduate work in Family Life Ministry and Adult Christian Community Development.
Also on the team to assist her are several Catholic counselors from the Diocese of Wichita including Chris Ebberwein, Linda Fitzgerald, Susan Jones, Cheri Oatsdean, and Rachel Pearson. Father Ken Van Haverbeke, Paul Beyer, and Tami Gates from the Spiritual Life Center staff will also be helping with the retreat.
The retreat is March 2-4 at the Spiritual Life Center, Wichita. The costs, if registering by Feb. 20, are $80 for single occupancy, $70 per person for double occupancy, and $55 for commuters. For more information or to register go to www.slcwichita.org.

Brown Baggin’ it With Jesus begins Feb. 24
WICHITA – The annual Lenten faith formation series, “Brown Baggin’ it With Jesus,” begins Feb. 24. 
The series continues on the Fridays of Lent from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. at the Spiritual Life Center, 7100 E. 45 St. N.
Father Ken VanHaverbeke leads the popular lunchtime series to help adult Catholics learn more about their faith.  “Most Catholics have a fourth grade remembrance or understanding of their Catholic Faith,” he said. “Series such as Brown Baggin’ It allows adults to remember what they either forgot, or never were taught!”
This year’s series will focus on the Old Testament. “Without an understanding of the Old Testament, the Good News of the New Testament is not fully realized,” Fr. Van Haverbeke said.
Catholics and non-Catholics are invited. Don’t forget to bring a brown bag lunch, or call ahead to (316) 744-0167 to reserve a box or hot lunch.  No reservations are necessary.
For more about the center go to www.slcwichita.org.

Catholic Men’s Conference set for March 10 at the SLC
A Catholic Men’s Conference will be held March 10 at the Spiritual Life Center, Wichita. The conference will feature a variety of speakers and topics intended to strengthen the faith of men.
Speakers this year include:
• Fr. John Hotze, “What Fr. Kapaun Teaches Us About Manhood”
• Timothy Putnam, president and cofounder of NFP Aware, “The Most Important Decision”
• Tony Brandt and Chris Stewart, “Manhood in the Old Testament,” “Manhood in the New Testament,” and “St. Joseph: Manhood Today and Beyond”
The $20 fee includes the conference, lunch, and snacks. To register, call (316) 744-0167 or visit www.slcwichita.org.

Second ‘After the Gift’ retreat scheduled
Next birthmom retreat set for Feb. 3-5
Because of the success of the recent After the Gift retreat for birthmothers, another is being scheduled for February at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.
Bonnie Toombs, director of the diocesan Respect Life and Social Justice office, said some of the women who attend the retreat in September had been waiting years for a chance to openly talk about their experience and pain of placing their child for adoption.
“All of those attending left feeling supported by the new connections made with other women, and they left with a renewed sense of support from the diocese,” she said.
Carolyn Utter, who made a presentation at the first After the Gift retreat last August, urged birth moms to attend. “Everybody’s story is different but all the emotions are the same, that of loss,” she said.
Those who are hesitant about participating in the weekend should trust that the retreat will have a lot to offer, she said.
“The bonding with the women who have shared the same experience, I think, will be very valuable. I’m hoping there will be tremendous healing. Birth mothers have chosen to do a good thing, a very sacrificial thing, Carolyn said, adding that part of the reason for the weekend is to acknowledge that gift, that sacrifice.
The culture has changed, she said, and what was secretive decades ago has evolved into “open adoptions.” The retreat is an attempt, a long-needed one, she said, for the Church to let women know that it is there to help them.
The next After the Gift retreat is scheduled for Feb. 3-5 at the Spiritual Life Center. Those interested may contact Bonnie Toombs at (316) 269-3935 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
“If you are a Birthmom and feel you need to talk with another Birthmom or a counselor before the February weekend please call the above number,” Toombs said. “We are here to help support you.”