Project Rachel / Project Joseph

Project Rachel~Project Joseph is the diocesan program to support and to provide healing to women and men who are suffering the emotional, psychological and spiritual pain of a decision to have an abortion.

The program, in partnership with the Project Rachel~Project Joseph ministry of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, offers both one-day and weekend healing retreats known as Unfailing Mercy.  Separate retreats are held for women and men.   The program also provides assistance in identifying additional pastoral, sacramental, and professional clinic resources when appropriate. 

Logos:  Into the emptiness of a life lost, there is a great sorrow in the heart of the mother and father.  Through Divine Mercy, however, we receive the forgiveness of our Lord, and he brings us peace.  He truly makes us a new creation.   

"Unfailing Mercy"  Retreats
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​What you can expect…
​
  • You will be met with care and compassion.
  • No judging, just gentle guidance from trained facilitators.
  • Strict confidentiality – This is a private retreat.
  • Hear stories of healing after abortion.
  • Scriptural stories of Christ’s healing love.
  • Peaceful retreat setting.
  • Small groups, limited to 10.
  • Resources for further study.
  • This is a ministry of the Catholic Church offered at no cost to women, men, and families of all faiths...and grandparents are welcome!
​Confidential:

​Local   
​     Website:   www.projectrachelkc.com
​     Call or Text:   (816) 591-3804 
     Email:   projectrachel@diocesekcsj.org
National
     Website:   www.hopeafterabortion.com
     Call:  1 (888) 456-HOPE  
Project Rachel healing sessions are facilitated with the assistance of materials from​ www.saveone.org .
Click for brochure
Podcast:  "I Am Forgiven" 
​07/13/2020, (20 mins)
Thanks to the caring hearts and hands of our St. James and St. Bernadette Parish Prayer Shawl Teams!

​They create these lovely prayer shawls for our Unfailing Mercy retreatants.  Truly, the women who receive these actually feel the love of Christ.  ​They are surprised… and so blessed… by this generosity and kindness!  ​ Many thanks!
​An Afternoon of Prayerful Remembrance & Intercession
Women, men, families, health care providers and all of us, directly or indirectly, have been impacted by abortion.  We gather to pray and to seek healing and forgiveness.
Service includes:
  • Personal testimonies
  • Intercessory prayer
  • Time for silent reflection
  • Opportunity for discussion
  • Sacrament of Reconciliation
This prayer service was developed by Theresa Bonopartis, working in cooperation with The Sisters of Life.  We are grateful that they share this prayer service with dioceses throughout the country, including ours.  Sponsored here in our diocese by the Project Rachel ministry of the Respect Life Office.  
Candlemas Of Innocents:  A Remembrance Of Lost Infants
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​The Candlemas of the Innocents offers an opportunity for parents who have lost a child in infancy, miscarriage or abortion to commemorate the lives of their children.  We also invite couples who are grieving due to infertility.  Everyone is welcome to join in this special service.  It is suggested that the service may include Confessions, the Rosary, and the Mass, but it can be adapted to fit the needs of each parish. 
 
This service may be held any time of year, but a fitting time to hold the service is in  February on a date near the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord/Candlemas.  If the service is held at a different time of year, it might simply be called a Mass of Remembrance of Lost Infants.  Parents have an opportunity to light a candle in honor of their child, a simple yet profound remembrance.  This healing Mass offers a special opportunity for God to bring his grace as parents entrust their child to his love and care. 

​For more information on bringing this service to your parish, please contact the Respect Life Office.
“In Ramah is heard the sound of moaning of bitter weeping!  Rachel mourns for her children, she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more.  Thus says the Lord:  Cease your cries of mourning, wipe the tears from your eyes.  The sorrow you have shown shall have its rewards...There is hope for your future."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Jeremiah 31:15-17

Program Materials


The pain that follows an abortion is so often unexpected.  It may come immediately afterwards, or it may take years to come to the surface.  If you or someone you care about are experiencing this aching in your heart, you know the profound guilt, the sorrow, the shame.  You know the great distress of this “choice” that you have made.  You may be able to get through the day and do what needs to be done, and everything may—from the outside—appear to be going along fine.   But down deep there is a quiet, relentless sadness that persists.  You feel unlovable and unforgivable.  

Ways we can help:
•    Unfailing Mercy 1-day & Weekend Retreats
•    Referrals to Priests & Deacons
•    Professional Counseling Referrals
•    Web-Based Healing Study
•    SaveOne Bible Study Support Group 
Pastoral Care
Prayers  
Books
  • No One Told Me I Could Cry:  A Teen’s Guide to Hope and Healing After Abortion --by Connie Nykiel.  This book is a great resource for young adults, as well as teens.
  • A Journey to Healing through Divine Mercy – by Theresa Bonopartis.  Bringing the full fruits of her own long and often painful process of      healing from having had an abortion, Theresa Bonopartis, foundress of the  "Entering Canaan" post-abortive healing ministries, offers a series of meditations for post-abortive mothers and fathers aimed to assist their own reconciliation with God, their families and friends, and themselves.  
  • After Abortion:  God Offers Forgiveness, Healing, and Hope —by Angela Burrin.  Originally created to offer hope and healing to women in prison, this booklet of hope based on God’s word is provided free of cost to the Project Rachel ministry by The Word Among Us Partners.  If you would like to have a supply for your parish, or if you are involved in prison ministry and would like a supply, please contact thoeppner@diocesekcsj.org or The Word Among Us directly at 1-800-775-9673.             

Additional Items

Leadership & Volunteer Opportunities
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It does not matter how effective we may be at providing pastoral care if we do not also have volunteers helping with such things as promoting and organizing events, managing supplies, and most importantly, praying both inside and outside of our parishes.  Every person must have the opportunity to share his or her unique gifts, limited only by the guidance of the Holy Spirit!  

Below are the current volunteer opportunities for the Project Rachel program. 

Leadership & Planning
Pastoral Care
  • Facilitate parish, school and group presentations on post-abortion syndrome or the availability of post-abortive healing 
  • Serve as diocesan resource for questions on post-abortive healing
  • Assist with the distribution of Project Rachel program materials 

Fundraising & Promotion
  • Participate as a member of a diocesan program fundraising, promotional or event-planning committee
  • Assist parishes with creating flyers for scheduled parish presentations
  • Assist the Respect Life Office with development of promotional materials (e.g. brochures, flyers, posters, etc.) for the Project Rachel program

Prayer & Worship
  • Start or join a parish prayer group.  Pastoral care leaders will periodically email or text updates and requests for prayers to parish prayer group leader(s).  These communications can then be sent to individual parish email/text list or shared at regularly-scheduled parish prayer group meetings.  
To learn more about these opportunities, or to sign-up today, please contact the Respect Life Office or email thoeppner@diocesekcsj.org .

Partners
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          Project Rachel - Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas  
          Rachel's Vineyard
          If Not For Grace
          Silent No More Awareness Campaign
Please prayerfully consider making a donation to the Project Rachel ministry.  Your gift will be used to sponsor retreatants, as well as for items such as books, prayer cards, rosaries and crucifixes.​  You may donate online or by sending a check made payable to:

          Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph
          Respect Life Office
          20 West Ninth Street
          Kansas City, MO  64105

Please note “Project Rachel” on the memo line of your check.  Thank you!


“Catholics must be committed to the defense of life in all its stages and in every condition”
                                                                                                                                                                                              St. Pope John Paul II, 1995
Respect Life Office ~ Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph  ~ 20 West Ninth Street ~ Kansas City, MO 64105 ~ ​(816) 756-1850 ~ francis@diocesekcsj.org