Deacon Martin Meyer has a message for those who have suffered physical, emotional or spiritual abuse:
You are not alone. And, there is help available to start a journey toward healing.
Deacon Martin Meyer
He is part of a ministry that, locally and nationally, offers pastoral and professional resources to those who have suffered abuse. It comes in the form of retreats called Grief to Grace. Deacon Meyer, along with professional therapist Marty Montgomery Jennings, talked about the retreats and what healing from abuse entails with Patrick Conley on the “Practicing Catholic” show debuting 9 p.m. April 29 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.
The first step in finding healing from abuse can be the hardest — telling somebody else about it.
“It’s such a difficult thing for someone to acknowledge that they have suffered in these ways,” said Montgomery Jennings, who offers her professional expertise at the retreats. “So, when someone has the courage to speak up, it’s so important to be supportive and caring, (and) encourage them to seek professional help so that they can face their pain and work their way through it.”
The retreats, including the next one in the Twin Cities May 20-26, take place in a group setting in which participants can share their stories and have access to professionals like Montgomery and Deacon Meyer, who has spent years of his diaconal ministry helping abuse victims. For those who serve at the retreat, and for those who want to help friends or family members who have suffered abuse, it’s important to be supportive, rather than look for ways to “fix” victims.
Marty Montgomery Jennings
“The key, I think, is to be present with them and walk with them on this journey,” Deacon Meyer said, “because so many of them struggle with having this deep shame for something that they were not even responsible for, something that was perpetrated.”
The best approach, he said, “is to really focus on kindness and compassion.” He likes to use a Scripture verse from the Beatitudes in the Gospels: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
The upcoming May retreat is full, but Deacon Meyer noted that another retreat will be offered Aug. 24-29. People interested in finding out more about that retreat and Grief to Grace as a ministry can visit grieftogracemn.org.
Tune in to Relevant Radio to hear the entire interview, where it also repeats at 1 p.m. April 30 and 2 p.m. May 1. Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with Jim Ennis from Catholic Rural Life, who shares ideas about creation care; and Father Francis Hoffman, known by many as Father Rocky, who talks about the beginning of his relationship with Relevant Radio.
Listen to their interviews after they have aired:
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