By Eileen Connelly, OSU

ARCHDIOCESE —Members of the deaf community who have experienced an abortion will have the opportunity to find healing and hope when, for the first time, an upcoming Project Rachel retreat in the archdiocese will be opened to the hearing impaired.

Established in 1984 in Milwaukee by Victoria Thorn, Project Rachel is the Catholic Church’s healing ministry to those who have been involved in an abortion. Today, Project Rachel programs can be found in some 140 dioceses throughout the United States.

Serving as an interpreter for the weekend is Elizabeth*, a long-time Project Rachel volunteer. Elizabeth, who is post-abortive, became involved in Project Rachel in 1995, shortly after it was established in Cincinnati. "After attending my first retreat I realized I needed to continue on my healing journey," she said. "I needed to share my story (witness) with those I could relate to and not be judged as I did it."

Through the years Elizabeth has remained active in Project Rachel, from serving as a support person to sharing her story in many different venues, including area parishes and schools. She has also counseled women over the phone and attends retreats regularly. "I try to go to as many as I can because I know others need a good support system just as I did when I first started on my healing journey," she said. "When I can’t attend a retreat, I pray for those attending that weekend."

As a volunteer it has been particularly important to Elizabeth to reach out to young people. She was just starting college when she became pregnant. With her first pregnancy, she placed the child up for adoption; with her second, she had an abortion. "I lost a lot of time in my young adult life that I can’t get back," Elizabeth said. "I talk in the schools because those teenage years are important, influential years and any decision you make at that time can impact the rest of your life, good or bad."

Her background includes serving as an educational interpreter as well as doing freelance work in the community through which an agency sends Elizabeth to different locations to interpret. While she has spoken to many groups about her abortion experience, Elizabeth has never interpreted a witness for a post-abortive person.

"I’m not sure if other interpreters have done this, but because of my own journey, I did not feel I was ready to interpret a witness yet without becoming too emotional and recalling the details of my own experience," she said. "Now that I have been with the organization for a while and am further along in my healing journey, I feel I can be a very good interpreter for this cause if there is a need."

Prior to the retreat, Elizabeth will be coordinating with Father Bill Wysong of St. Rita School for the Deaf, who also knows sign language and will serve on the weekend.
Project Rachel retreats began on a Friday evening with a simple, intimate gathering and a witness from one of the team members. Those present then break into small groups to get to know one another better. Saturday features more witnesses and a priest usually arrives to spend the day, Elizabeth said. He too does a witness and talk. A healing service and Mass follow in the evening. Free time is also available for participants to be alone to reflect about what they have heard or to share with another person. The retreat concludes on Sunday with some activities and one last witness.

Elizabeth has witnessed firsthand the difference participating in a Project Rachel retreat can make in the lives of post-abortive women. "They are truly forgiven and can start healing. They tend to walk in with their faces looking at the floor. Seeing hope on the faces of those leaving the retreat is amazing. This hope gives them the strength to continue with their lives, which is what makes this weekend so wonderful."

She believes it is critical to have an interpreter available, "so the deaf person(s) feel included and does not miss out on anything. We hope it will be more welcoming for the deaf person(s), if they know an interpreter is provided and if they know my background as well."

Elizabeth said she has found her ministry as an interpreter to be a rewarding way to be of service to others and is looking forward to the retreat as an opportunity to help deaf women find healing.

"I hope that breaking down any communication barriers will get them that needed help and, in return, will help them to have a happy life and a renewed faith by strengthening them spiritually and drawing them back to the church and God."

Mary Anne Boyd, archdiocesan respect life coordinator, is grateful for Elizabeth’s willingness to share her gifts and experience with retreat participants. "It’s always been my desire to open it to the deaf community," she said. "In working with deaf women, we’ve found a number have aborted babies because they don’t want to give birth to a deaf child. The fact that we have a volunteer who is willing and able to be there for the whole weekend to interpret is a blessing. It’s wonderful that she’s willing to do this."

The retreat is scheduled for March 6-8. For more information about Project Rachel retreats and support groups, please call 513-784-0531.

*The volunteer’s name has been changed for reasons of confidentiality.