"Come to the Waters of Healing" is the theme for our archdiocesan Project Rachel ministry retreat. More than 600 women have participated over the years and found much hope and healing as they personally encounter the limitless love and mercy of God. Occasionally, calls come in from those who see the title and want to participate in a retreat experience, not realizing that the day is specifically designed for women who have experienced an abortion.

So, why does the Church offer a specific "post-abortion" healing retreat?

At its most basic level, the answer lies with the unique pain caused by abortion -- not only the procedure itself, but also the circumstances leading up to it, and the tangled web of grief and guilt that many women experience afterwards. Whether the abortion occurred 50 years ago, or three weeks ago, it can never be "undone."

Our culture upholds abortion as a fundamental right. Yet many women regret their abortions and are seeking peace, healing, and forgiveness. The "Come to the Waters of Healing" retreat offers a confidential and safe place, where women can find the peace which only God can give. They can share their stories and hopes with others who have also experienced the unique pain that abortion brings. They can experience the healing love of God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. They can prayerfully enter into the Scriptures where Christ's mercy is present. And they can leave with hearts and minds renewed to live out God's plan for their lives. That's certainly a lot to accomplish in one day, but God's grace is boundless. Here are some comments from women who have attended and found the experience to be transformative:

"That one day changed my life -- the weight is gone. I can walk with my head up, not down. I have never felt better in my life. I never realized how much that it was weighing on me."

"The retreat was a start in the process of forgiving myself; it was a 'first step' in the healing process; it made me feel God's love."

"The retreat was a watershed; it meant everything; I have this feeling inside that I've missed so many years feeling stuck where I was -- like I was in a fog for so many years. Now when I read the Gospels, I enjoy it and think 'you could have had this all your life.'"

"The retreat really helped restore my faith . . . [now] I truly feel the presence of God in a profound way."

"The priest was amazing in confession -- even though I had confessed before, now I understand that you have to believe that God has forgiven you, that God is a God of love and forgiveness. But I don't want to end there -- I want to continue to grow closer to God."

In order to fully understand the importance of a "post-abortion" retreat, it's important to reflect on the Scripture passage from which Project Rachel gets both its name and mission. In Jeremiah 33: 15-17, we encounter Rachel weeping because her "children are no more." In the midst of inconsolable pain and tears, Rachel could not heal herself. Only God could do that. That is exactly what God did for Rachel and also offers to women today who suffer from post-abortion pain when he says, "Cease your cries of mourning, wipe the tears from your eyes . . . There is hope for your future."

For more information, contact Project Rachel -- Archdiocese of Boston at 508-651-3100; help@projectrachelboston.com or www.projectrachelboston.com.