Through these programs individuals that are suffering from the emotional, psychological and/or spiritual difficulties following abortion can experience God's love, mercy and healing. Each program uses a combination of activities that include scripture meditations, spiritual exercises and sharing. Several exercises are designed to treat the complicated grief that often follows an abortion. The program also provides the opportunity to interact with professional counselors and have group support from those who have already gone through the program.

It's normal to grieve a pregnancy loss, including the loss of a child by abortion. It can form a hole in one's heart, a hole so deep that sometimes it seems nothing can fill the emptiness.

Pope John Paul II addressed women who have had an abortion with tender compassion and a profound understanding of their needs:

The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You will come to understand that nothing is definitively lost and you will also be able to ask forgiveness from your child, who is now living in the Lord. The Gospel of Life, no. 99

Project Rachel is the Catholic Church's ministry to those who have been involved in abortion. In addition to referring for Sacramental Reconciliation, the ministry provides an integrated network of services, including pastoral counseling, retreats and referrals to licensed mental health professionals.

For more information and resources, please contact Jayne at or follow the links below to the National Project Rachel Web site.