Wednesday, 19 September 2012 14:22

12-Step Journey begins anew on Sept. 27
‘Adult children” from dysfunctional families encouraged to attend recovery program
A nationally-recognized program designed to help heal and renew adults who grew up in emotionally repressive or dysfunctional families—sometimes known as “adult children” – is being offered starting Sept. 27 at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.
The Twelve Steps—A Spiritual Journey, is a seven-month program where participants meet for two hours each week with a team of trained facilitators. The ultimate goal of this Christ-centered, Scripture-based program is to restore the fruits of the Holy Spirit in one’s life, including joy, peace, gentleness, goodness and faith.
“As someone who has been both a participant and a facilitator in the Twelve Step Program, I want to extend an invitation for interested people to join us,” said John Mertes, who joins Rachel Hughey, Pamela Perryman, and Steve Batt as facilitators for the program.
“The Twelve Steps has been widely praised for its effectiveness and is based on the lessons of Scripture while emphasizing self-understanding and the unchanging love that God has for each of us.”
The opening Twelve Step session is set for Thursday, Sept. 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Spiritual Life Center, 7100 E. 45 St. N. in Wichita. A total of 30 sessions will be offered over the next seven months.
Program facilitator Pamela Perryman said the first three sessions typically involve participants getting to know the process and each other. The program is closed to new members after the first three meetings. “Everything we discuss is held in the strictest confidence,“ Perryman said. “As time goes on, a unique bond of trust develops in the group.”
The Twelve Steps is open to anyone who has experienced an incident or situation during their formative years resulting in emotional wounds that are not yet healed. This could include growing up in a household where there was physical or emotional abuse, alcoholism, drug abuse or some other dysfunction.
Characteristics of so-called adult children of a dysfunctional family include: feelings of low self-esteem that cause harsh self-judgment, a tendency to isolate one’s self and a feeling of uneasiness around other people—especially authority figures. Other characteristics include living life as a victim and being attracted to other victims in love and friendship, a tendency to be impulsive where action is taken before considering alternative behaviors or possible consequences and unresolved anger and resentment toward authority of all kinds.
People who have gone through the program say that while it is sometimes painful to confront unresolved issues, the result is a rekindling of hope that things can and will get better in life and in the relationships they have today with other people. There is also a growth and trust in their relationship with God.
Want to attend?
Anyone interested in the Twelve Steps—A Spiritual Journey can call the Spiritual Life Center at (316) 744-0167 and ask for a brochure or talk with someone about the program. There is no cost for the program, but a freewill offering is taken and a helpful workbook sells for $20.

Journey through Theology of the Body begins at SLC in October
Christopher West’s “Into the Heart: A Journey through the Theology of the Body” series will be held at the Spiritual Life Center on Mondays beginning Oct. 8.
The eight week 16-part video series is based on John Paul II’s revolutionary Theology of the Body and incorporates a completely updated translation of John Paul II’s original text along with the “hidden talks” of the Theology of the Body, only recently discovered in the Vatican archives.
The format for the series will be videos and small group discussion. Building upon the introductory course to the Theology of the Body, “Into the Heart” will move you deeper into this life-changing message, enabling those attending to apply and integrate it into every aspect of their lives. The course will give the tools needed to develop the sacramental worldview that is so crucial to living an authentic human sexuality.
Priests, religious, singles, and married couples are all welcome to participate in discussing the videos for this series. Sharon Gagnon, who has studied with Christopher West at the Theology of the Body Institute in Pennsylvania, will be the facilitator.
Want to attend?
The class will meet from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. for eight Mondays. Two videos will be covered at each meeting. Cost for this series is $60 which includes a workbook. Reservations can be made on line at www.slcwichita.org or by calling (316) 744-0167.

Fr. Van Haverbeke to lead men’s retreat at the end of September
Father Ken Van Haverbeke will lead a preached retreat for Catholic men Sept. 28-30. The donation-based retreat is part of a continued effort of the Spiritual Life Center to make retreats affordable to everyone.
The retreat is based on Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s book “To Whom Shall We Go?” Retreatants will look at the pivotal moments of St. Peter’s life and apply his experiences to their own.
“One of my favorite shows is the Red Green Show on PBS.  In the show, there is a Man’s Prayer: ‘I’m a man. But I can change. If I have to. I guess,’” said Fr. Van Haverbeke. “I am excited to lead a man’s retreat where “men can be men” and learn to be more manly in the footsteps of Saint Peter and Jesus.“
The only required cost for the retreat is $29.75 which covers all the meals. An offering of $40 per night is suggested, but any donation will be accepted. Reservations can be made on line at www.slcwichita.org or by calling (316) 744-0167.

Respect Life Social Justice Conference Sept. 29 at the Spiritual Life Center
A Respect Life Social Justice Conference will be held Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Spiritual Life Center.
This year’s conference – open to all in the diocese – will offer a variety of learning opportunities to lead those attending to engage more fully in self-giving love. The day will begin with Mass at 8:30 a.m. celebrated by Bishop Michael Jackels.
Fr. John Lanzrath will be the keynote speaker. His topic will be, “That is not just!” “One nation under God with liberty and justice for all.” “Just wage.”
He will talk about how we use the word “just” and “justice” in our everyday language. He will also discuss how, in the midst of many social justice issues that press upon us as individuals, as families, as communities, as a country, we do well to reflect upon what the Catholic Church teaches regarding the virtue of justice.
Bonnie Toombs director of the diocesan Respect Life Social Justice office, will be speaking on how we as faithful citizens can protect the God given right of religious freedom.
Becky Knapp a Certified FertilityCare Practitioner will be presenting on NaPro Technology: A Better Answer to Infertility. The church’s beautiful and consistent teaching provides couples with answers that bring joy in maintaining openness to love and life and respect for the dignity of the human person. New advances in women’s health help find real answers to the question of diagnosis and treatment of infertility.
Tom Racunas director of the diocesan Ministry With Persons With Disabilities, will talk about the need to recognize disabilities as a respect life and social justice issue.
Want to attend?
The Respect Life Social Justice Conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Spiritual Life Center, Wichita. The cost of $15 includes lunch and all conference materials. Registration forms can be found at www.respectlifesocialjustice.org.