“We [bishops] understand the pain of those for whom divorce seemed the only recourse.
“We urge them to make frequent use of the sacraments, especially the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation…
“We encourage divorced persons who wish to marry in the Catholic Church to seek counsel about the options that exist to remedy their situation, including the suitability of a declaration of nullity when there is no longer any hope of reconciliation of the spouses.”
–U.S. Catholic Bishops, Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan
OFFERINGS THROUGHOUT THE DIOCESE OF ST. PETERSBURG:
Our Lady of the Rosary – 2348 Collier Parkway, Land O Lakes, FL 34639
https://ladyrosary.org/cdsg
St. Mark the Evangelist – 9724 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa, FL 33647
https://stmarktampa.org/divorced-catholics
St. Paul – 12708 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa Florida 33618
Providing Caring support for both men and women experiencing separation or divorce
Meets every Friday at 7:30 in the Parish Center
Contact: Don Hemke, 813-205-1735, dhemke@cfjblaw.com
St Raphael – 1376 Snell Isle Blvd. NE, St. Petersburg, FL. 33704
https://www.st-raphaels.com/divorced-blended-families
St. Timothy – 17512 Lakeshore Road, Lutz, FL 33558
https://sainttims.org/surviving-divorce/
RESOURCES:
Divorce FAQs
WEBINARS/PODCASTS:
For Parish Leaders and Potential Ministers: Beginning Again, Accompanying Those Who Have Marriage Loss with Mercy
On May 12, 2021, the Catholic Apostolate Center co-sponsored this webinar with Beginning Experience International Ministry. The webinar discussed how the loss of a marriage through divorce, separation, or death brings with it tremendous challenges for those who experience it. This webinar included presentations from Melanie Trimarco, Marriage Grief Author of And I Love You So: A Story of Love and Loss, Deacon Sean Dooley, Author of Caregiver: A Journey of Hope Through Suffering, Fr. Dan Krettek, Spiritual Director, Maria Rojas, Board Member and Michelle Barrentine, Executive Director from Beginning Experience International Ministry. The panel shared the most important things that are key to accompanying with mercy those from your community going through a time of loss.
For Parish Leaders: How to Support, Give Hope, and Offer Healing to Divorced Catholics by Rev. Robert R. Cannon (Ave Maria Press Webinar – aired May 26, 2021)
For Parish Leaders: Divorced. Catholic. Now What? What the Church Needs to Do Better by Patty Breen (Ave Maria Press Webinar)
Patty Breen, a lay minister who has worked in parish ministry for ten years and began ministering to divorced Catholics for the last three to four years, addresses how the Church can better support and encourage divorced and civilly remarried Catholics, bust common myths about annulments, and explain the difference between civil divorce and annulment. She also offers practical resources to use in your parish and shares some helpful and not-so-helpful things to say to someone going through a divorce.
Surviving Divorce interview by Abby from SPIRIT FM – aired January 31, 2019
PROGRAMS/PROCESSES/ORGANIZATIONS:
Beginning Experience – The purpose of the Beginning Experience ministry is to facilitate the grief resolution process for separated, divorced and widowed persons, and children of these losses, thereby enabling them to again love themselves, others and God. We accomplish the purpose by offering quality, copyrighted, grief resolution programs presented by trained peer ministers. These programs are designed to move grieving people through a transformational process to a new beginning in their lives.
Divorced Catholic – Our mission is to help get you started–and keep you going–on the path to recovery, rebuilding, and renewal from divorce by providing you with information, resources, and encouragement.
Journey of Hope Program / El program viaje de esperanza – In-person or online parish program.
Surviving Divorce: Help and Healing for the Catholic Family
SUPPORT FOR ADULT CHILDREN OF DIVORCE AND SEPARATION
Life-Giving Wounds – Support for Adult Children of divorce and separation.