Thursday, 31 January 2013 11:08

Talk about poverty Feb. 6 at SLC
The Blessed Sacrament Society of St. Vincent de Paul will host a presentation by Dave Saunders, principal of Price-Harris Communications Magnet Elementary School, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, in the Spiritual Life Center’s Marian meeting room.
Saunders will speak about portions of the book, Bridges Out of Poverty, written by Dr. Ruby Payne and Phil DeVol. Another topic will be the t“Getting Ahead” program that teaches people living in poverty how to use the “hidden rules of class” to build up financial, emotional, social and other resources. The program is an opportunity to discover ways to help the poor without being an enabler.
Following the presentation, the monthly Father Kapaun Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. in the chapel. Father John Hotze will give an update on the canonization progress of Father Emil Kapaun immediately after the Mass.
There is no charge for the event. Contact John Harris at (316) 208-6773 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

Capital punishment forum Feb. 2
Father of murdered daughter will speak at SLC
A forum on capital punishment which will include speakers, a murder victim’s family story, and a panel discussion on the death penalty will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.
Attending will be Father Patrick Delahanty, the executive director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky. Before becoming the CCK’s executive director, Fr. Kelahanty worked closely with the conference for a number of years, leading passage of legislation to prohibit the execution of people with mental retardation and limiting race as a factor in capital cases.
Robert Hessman will share his story at the forum.
“Four years before he was executed, we began to correspond with Gregg Braun who killed our daughter, Mary,” Hessman said. “At first, he was belligerent with us; but later he began to release his bitterness, eventually expressing regret and apologized for killing her. We didn’t find forgiveness just by saying, ‘We forgive’ and moving on. We found we needed to start each day with a prayer of forgiveness for Gregg.”
The cost is $10 and includes lunch. The event is sponsored by Respect Life and Social Justice Office.

‘Casserole Club’ meeting Feb. 7 at SLC
A new spiritual support group for Catholic adult family members of persons with mental illness has been formed.
The support group, called “The Casserole Club,” meets monthly on the first Thursday of the month. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 7, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Spiritual Life Center.
The meeting will open with prayer, scripture, and reflection. Thomas Pletcher, clinical director for ComCare of Sedgwick County will speak Feb. 7.
Anonymity and confidentiality are highly valued. There is no cost and no registration to attend.
For more information, please contact the Ministry with Persons with Disabilities at (316) 269-3900 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

After the Gift retreat for birth moms planned for March 8-10 at the SLC
After the Gift retreats provide healing and growth opportunities in a safe environment for women who have surrendered children for adoption to talk about their struggles and share their joys.
The retreat acknowledges the mother’s sacrifice of putting her child’s needs before her own, and recognizes the emptiness, loss, and grief she feels – but is difficult for others to understand.
Here are testimonials from women who have attended the retreat.
What was most helpful about your experience at the retreat?
“Realizing I’m not alone and I have people who barely know me that truly care for me. Everything was helpful, I truly enjoyed every minute.”
“Meeting other birthmoms and feeling so much love and support and understanding. I felt close to God through the scripture and activities.”
“Sharing with other birthmothers. Also, celebrating the birth of my child was amazing, since I didn’t get the chance to before--only mourn her loss.”
What would you tell another birthmother who might consider coming to the After the Gift retreat?
“This retreat has been an amazing blessing!! I felt such love, support and understanding from all the other birthmoms. I really grew in my relationship with God! I would definitely encourage any birthmother to attend! You will be truly blessed and enriched through God’s love.”
“You are NOT alone in this process. Allow a weekend to bond and share your beautiful decision of life for your child with women, from all walks of life, who have been there.”
“I came to this retreat as I have prayed for many years for something like this, to meet on common ground, for a sacrifice that we had all made.”
The next After the Gift Retreat is March 8-10 at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita. It starts on Friday night and goes through Sunday after lunch. For more information about the retreat or to register call Bonnie at (316) 269-3935.

Family of Origin Retreat planned for Feb. 8-10 at the Spiritual Life Center
An encore presentation of the “Family of Origin” Retreat will be held Feb. 8-10 at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.
While there are many things a person cannot change about the family he grew up in, there are numerous family system traits that are common to all families that we do have the power to change. These changes can make future generations families more emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically healthy.
Some common family system characteristics that attendees will learn about that can be changed include: roles and rules that affect families both positively and negatively; bonding and boundaries; cohesion and adaptability; inner healing of emotional wounds of anger, sadness, fear, shame, and the false self and wounds to our masculinity and femininity; addictions, enabling and codependency; achieving happiness, peace and joy and; forgiveness and healing of life’s hurts.
This retreat was created by Sharon Gagnon and a team of Catholic counselors from the Diocese of Wichita. Gagnon has done graduate studies in family life ministry and adult Christian community development. Father Ken Van Haverbeke, Christina Weber, Rachael Pearson, Cheri Oatsdean, and Tami Gates will be assisting.
To sign up, go to www.slcwichita.org or call the center at (316) 744-0167. Materials are involved with this retreat so we appreciate your registration as soon as possible.

Retreat for Mothers of Children with Disabilities April 6 at SLC
Dr. Nancy Thompson, a secular member of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, will lead a Retreat for Mothers of Children with Disabilities April 6.
The day of retreat, rest, reflection and renewal for mothers of children with a disability will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m Saturday, April 6, at the Spiritual Life Center. Mothers who have a child with a disability, regardless of type or severity, who are yearning for a day for spiritual nurturing are invited to attend.
Dr. Thompson, who holds a doctorate of ministry in applied ministries, shares a home and life with her adult son who has multiple disabilities and serious medical conditions. A retreat master, presenter, and author, Dr. Thompson currently serves as director of Programs and Diocesan Relations for the National Catholic Partnership on Disability.
Free care will be provided during the day of retreat at Resurrection Catholic School for the child with a disability and siblings. The school is near the Spiritual Life Center.
A registration form is available on-line at www.CatholicDioceseOfWichita.org. Click on Offices and Ministries and then on Persons with Disabilities. Or call the ministry office at (316) 269-3900.