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The Diocese of Albany has launched a prayer ministry and support group for newly-separated or divorced Catholics, addressing a recent dip in services to that population.

A small group will meet for 10 weeks, starting this month, before the "Detours on the Journey" program is expected to expand across the Diocese. The goal is to "make sure [divorcees] understand that God loves them [and] they're still part of the Church, and basically teach them how to pray during this terrible time in their lives," said Deacon Jim O'Rourke, a coordinator of the group. "This [ministry] is what we need to do as a Church."

Deacon O'Rourke credits his vocation as a deacon to his own experiences with the Church after being both widowed and divorced.

"What pulled me through both was my faith and my prayer life," he recalled. "I didn't even realize it at the time, but I found myself deeper and deeper into prayer."

The deacon understands that children and finances often prevent divorced men and women from attending retreats, so the Diocese needs to meet them where they're at. At the same time, he noted, divorced Catholics need to realize that the Church doesn't shun them because of their circumstances.

"It's just the opposite: All are welcome," Deacon O'Rourke explained. "Our God is welcome to everyone and anything."

The deacon took charge of forming the group a year ago, when the diocesan Office of Evangelization, Catechesis and Family Life approached men studying for the diaconate about the idea. Many local parish groups for divorced Catholics had begun to fade, and parish leaders wanted help ministering to that population.

"Some people just aren't finding" faith-based support, said Mary Fay, associate director for marriage ministries for the Diocese.

With divorce, she said, "there's a sadness; there's a loss. There needs to be healing - and the Church is the perfect place to do it."

A child of divorce, Mrs. Fay said the end of a marriage is not a failure, but a post-stage to the sacrament of marriage. She said myths about the Church's views on divorce often drive people away from the pews: "We just want to make sure that [divorced Catholics] know that the door to the church is open to them, too."

Over the past six months, a team of eight people from the Diocese prepared to start the group by studying similar ministries in other dioceses. They reached out to parish leaders and studied guidelines from the North American Conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics.

The resulting support group has advertised in parish bulletins and schools; more groups, capped at 10 members, can be created if needed. The program will use a workbook on divorce featuring topics like anger, blame and guilt, loneliness, forgiveness and growth.

Deacon O'Rourke sees great things for the future of the ministry.

"I think this will have legs," he predicted. "I really believe in this, and I think it's something that will grow."[[In-content Ad]]

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