St Rita welcomes those who have been affected by divorce. Our community is here to help you heal and strengthen your relationship with Our Lord.
In addition to our pastoral care, St Rita hosts Surviving Divorce support groups hosted by fellow parishioners who have been through divorce. We can also connect you to other resources of the greater Archdiocese or Catholic community to best fit the support you need.
If you are affected by divorce, you may feel lonely, sad, angry, guilty, afraid, confused, or concerned for your children and others.These and many other feelings are natural, common, and part of the grief and healing process.
Please contact the parish office to talk to one of our priests for individual support 737-2915 during the day or 468-7179 after hours, weekends, and holidays.
The SURVIVING DIVORCE series was written and co-produced by Rose Sweet, an expert on pastoral issues of divorce and a frequent guest on national radio and television programs. It's designed primarily as a 12-week PARISH PROGRAM but the DVDs are also available for individual purchase and use from Ascension Press.
To register for St Rita’s Surviving Divorce group, please call the parish office at(504) 737-2915 or email the parish office.
The fall 2018 season will be Monday’s starting Sept 10th at 7PM
Please also see the Surviving Divorce website for more information on divorce from fellow Catholics answers to common questions and words of encouragement.
https://www.nolacatholic.org/struggling
Beginning Experience - A weekend for those who have experienced the pain of divorce or the loss of a spouse. Learn more at https://beginningexperience.org/ .
Retrouvaille - A retreat designed for couples who are struggling in their marriage. Often couples attending a Retrouvaille retreat are very close to a divorce and may even have begun to lose hope. The Retrouvaille retreat offers hope and a path towards recovery and healing. Learn more at https://www.helpourmarriage.org/.
Annulment Writing Workshop - Offered regularly for persons wishing to apply for an annulment, persons wishing to respond to an annulment, and/or persons called as witnesses in an annulment case. The goal of the workshop is to encourage healing, as well as a more efficient annulment process, by walking with those involved in a case and assisting in the preparation of the necessary documents. For more information please call the Office of Marriage and Family Life at 504-861-6243 or visit https://www.nolacatholic.org/annulments to register.
Please also see the Archdiocese annulment workshop information.
Divorce, it’s causes, and its aftermath can often take a staggering toll on your mental health. We encourage you to seek assistance above and beyond the care our parish offers.
Archdiocese of New Orleans Catholic Counseling Service - provides faith-based counseling for married couples, families (children as young as 13), and individuals. The Catholic Counseling Service can be reached at 504-861-6245 or by email at ccs@arch-no.org. See more information at https://www.nolacatholic.org/catholic-counseling-service
National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFEhttp://www.thehotline.org/ (US CCB)
Please seek the help you need. No matter how dark the days may seem, you are loved on this earth and by your Heavenly Father.
Please take time to view this message from Pope Francis about divorced Catholics who remarried:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSePiBR6jR0
He notes that the church has a teacher’s gaze, but a mother’s heart. “Divorced people are not excommunicated from the Church, and they should never be treated as such. They are always a part of the Church.” ~ Pope Francis