To meet the needs of those separated and divorced, the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Family Ministries Office has provided trainings to assist church parishes in the development of current support groups.

Separated/Divorced Support Groups
If you would like to attend a support group in our diocese, we have a list of those currently active in our diocese. Click here for more information.

If you are interested in assisting your church parish with the development of a support group, please contact our office at (985)850-3129 or email Cathy at cklingman@htdiocese.org  

Beginning Experience 
Beginning Experience in New Orleans
P. O. Box 74345
Metairie, LA 70033-4345
Beth Orgeron
President/Team Coordinator

B.E. Dates:
February 10-12, 2012
June 8-10, 2012
October 19-21, 2012
all at Lumen Christi Retreat Center, Schriever LA 70395

Separated  -  Divorced  -  Widowed
From heartache to hope for those who find themselves alone again.

Beginning Experience
"A weekend away for a lifetime of change"

The pain of loss - The loss of a loved one through separation, divorce, or death is one of life's most traumatic experiences. It can result in nearly unbearable feelings of loneliness and grief. Many people who have suffered this loss feel left out by their church, uneasy around married friends, unsure of themselves and uncertain about their futures.
 
Hope for a New Beginning
The Beginning Experience Weekend program helps grieving single-again persons emerge from the darkness of grief into the light of a new beginning, and move into the future with renewed hope. The program helps deal with the natural grief process and offers an opportunity, through God, for turning the pain of loss into an experience of positive growth. Founded by a Catholic nun and rooted in the Christian Tradition, the ministry's open, ecumenical spirit serves those of all faiths.
 
 
Who Should Attend
Beginning Experience weekend is designed to be a time of closure on the past and renewed hope for the future. Those who come should be beyond the initial feelings of anger and despair which usually follow the loss of a loved one. They should be at the point of wanting a new beginning and ready to work to make that desire a reality.
Once the applicatin for theweekend is received, someone is available to help each person determine his or her readiness for the program.

The results
Those who've attended the weekend program report:
- increased health and self respect
- New skills to deal with the pain of loss
- Healthier family relationships
- Renewed energy to be more effective parents, return to their church, and improve the standard of living for themselves and their families.

The invitation
Whether you choose to attend the Beginning Experience weekend only, or in addition to other support for the single again, the program's invitational process offers the opportunity to move toward a new beginning in life. It's quality and effectiveness are well documented.
- Developed by respected professionals in grief psychology, ministry, education and organizational process, the program is both psychologically and spiritually sound.
- The ministry has been honored by the North American conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics and the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers, participated in the International Conference for the World Federation for Mental Health in Ireland, and addressed the Austrailian govenment's Year of the Family Congress.
-To ensure the intergrity of the copyrighted program, the Beginning Experience International Ministry Center periodically certifies 120 peer ministry teams worldwide to present the program.
 
Phone: 504-352-9264
Email: disneygirl1202@gmail.com
 
Copyright 2007 by Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux RegisterTerms