HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — The pain of abortion can be carried for years, but one program aims to provide a chance for healing.
The program, called Rachel’s Vineyard, is a retreat held around the world, providing safe spaces and support for individuals who have experienced an abortion, according to a past participant who asked to remain anonymous.
“As a CHamoru female, I was taught to compartmentalize my grief throughout my childhood. That was true, until a good friend told me about Rachel’s Vineyard. Abortion was more than a regretful and shameful act on my behalf. Abortion, to me, is the unforgiven grief I carried with me for 12 years. In 2023, attending Rachel’s Vineyard retreat took every ounce of courage. The staff, facilitators and participants were respectful, empathetic and supportive. More importantly, my relationship with the Lord was more substantial than I have ever felt before. I reconnected with my faith, our God and my unborn child, scripture, prayer and sharing. Healing with God and the participants of the group is an experience I will never forget,” the former participant said.
The program is named after the biblical figure Rachel, who, according to the Guam Catholic Pro-Life Committee, is a symbol of healing and renewal after loss.
The weekend retreat uses a holistic approach to healing, combining psychological, spiritual and emotional guidance to help participants find healing and forgiveness, the committee said in a press release.
“It’s a very intense … program where … anyone who has been impacted by abortion can attend this weekend to process their experience with regard to abortion,” Vince Pereda, counseling core member for Rachel’s Vineyard, said during a press conference.
A participant’s day is filled with group sessions, private reflection, prayer and rituals to commemorate lost pregnancies, he said.
“That’s intended to get to the core of why the individual underwent the abortion, what went on at the time that the abortion took place and how it impacted their lives subsequently,” Pereda explained.
Offering a safe space to explore these thoughts allows the participant to process emotions of guilt, grief and trauma associated with abortion – without any judgment, according to the organization.
The impact “empowers individuals to confront their pain, address unresolved emotions and move forward with a sense of peace and healing,” the committee said in the release.
The organization said it also helps communities become more aware of the emotional and psychological impact abortion has on individuals within the community, helping to “break the stigma surrounding abortion by fostering open conversations about healing and recovery.”
The Guam Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat is scheduled for April 12 to 14. For more information, contact 671-489-2752.
