“In his 2009 homily on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, Pope Benedict XVI soberly cautioned that ‘without the healing of souls, without the healing of man from within there can be no salvation for humanity. How essential then to the mission of the Church are the pastoral and apostolic activities that draw women and men burdened by the sin of abortion closer to God’s merciful heart. It is no exaggeration to say that the Church’s ministry of healing and reconciliation after abortion is at the heart of the Church’s mission at this time in her history.”

In light of this mission here in the Diocese of San Angelo, we offer confidential “Rachel’s Vineyard” retreats to those women and men who have had an abortion experience, which offers a weekend of hope and healing for women and men who are deeply in need of mercy and restoration. Given the need for ongoing healing and varying approaches to care for those who have experienced the psychological and spiritual woundedness of abortion, we are aware of the need to offer a more integrated approach to our ministry.

Under the direction of Bishop Michael J. Sis, we are currently placing our Rachel’s Vineyard retreats within a broader and overarching program called Project Rachel, sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. This program not only includes retreats, but also resources for professional counseling, funeral services for miscarriages, training for priests, and a vitally important prayer team that stands at the center of this spiritual work of healing.

In our diocese, we envision Project Rachel comprising of five integral teams:

1. A prayer team that stands at the heart of the ministry, offering Holy Hours, Rosaries, and Masses in intercession for those in need of healing

2. A retreat team that oversees facilitating the “Rachel’s Vineyard” retreats three to four times per year and offers periodic one-day mini-retreats to build a sense of community among those who have experienced an abortion

3. A team of priests who are available to meet with women and men in need of healing and the sacraments and who offer memorial services for children lost through abortion or miscarriage

4. A team of counselors who are ready to receive referrals from priests and retreat team members to meet with those who are in need of emotional care

5. A team of benefactors who support the mission of Project Rachel financially