The Archdiocesan Family Life Commission’s Separated, Divorced and Widowed (SDW) Ministry hosted its 4th monthly meeting which dealt with Dealing with Depression on July 14, 2023, with the Surviving Divorce Series: Hope and Healing for the Catholic Family. This program continues to help Separated and Divorced Roman Catholics deal with some of the most immediate challenges men and women experience during and after divorce.
Participants were asked to note their thoughts on these questions:
· What do you like about quiet time alone? What do you dislike about it?
· Do you think you are depressed? What do your close friends and family members think?
· Is there a fear related to your divorce that has overwhelmed or paralyzed you?
· Do you think you would benefit from counseling or medication? Why, or why not?
· Have you ever been to a point of despair or close to it? What helped you come out of it?
The Survey Feedback from the participants on the session was again very encouraging, highlights are as follows:
What impacted you the most from the session?
…the topic, the sharing; the way everyone shared honestly; the teaching and breakout rooms, where everyone learned from each other’s experiences; I experienced a lot of things they talked about; hearing everyone’s journey and knowing I am not alone; seeing and hearing what I am experiencing…helped with the feeling of isolation and that something is wrong with me; the professional way everyone else handled themselves. the sharing in the breakout rooms and the Lectio Divina.
What would you say is most helpful?
…the structure of the session, the way the breakout rooms were handled; the way they dealt with depression; the suggestion to get help for a particular situation; hearing different points of view in a safe space; …knowing help is there; being able to express my hurt without being put down or made to feel less than others; I thoroughly enjoy these sessions and this space of no judgement because everyone in on the same journey.
Are there any ways you think we can improve?
…continue with those sessions; I pray that we will have more in-person meetings to share, journey with each other and continue to build community; keep doing it; I like the idea of an in-person session, but I enjoy the breakout rooms. Hopefully this can be incorporated into the in-person session as well.
The next monthly meeting is on August 18, 2023, 6 – 8 p.m. The topic is: Learning to Forgive.
The link for this meeting is: Zoom link
Meeting ID: 853 2121 2220
Passcode: 879696
By Patricia Gafoor
