Archdiocese Hosts Divorce Survival Guide to Provide Healing, Clarity on Church's Teaching

(CHRISM NEWS/ CHRIS POTRATZ) The Archdiocese of Omaha is sponsoring a 12-week program aimed at offering healing, hope, and faith to local Catholics who have experienced divorce. The program is called “The Catholic’s Divorce Survival Guide,” and will begin on January 15 at 7:00pm at St. Wenceslaus Church, 15353 Pacific Street.

Although the Archdiocese will also be hosting a similar program called “Divorce Care,” the Survival Guide at St. Wenceslaus Church is taught from an explicitly Catholic perspective, whereas the Divorce Care class is not, said Kay Buhrman, Coordinator Family Life Span, and Bereavement.

Kay Buhrman said the Catholic’s Divorce Survival Guide class has been offered roughly three times a year since 2012, and her office has been very successful in hosting the class throughout the Omaha area, saying, “We try to move it from parish to parish each time, and take a different church, depending on where I can get facilitators. We try to move it so people can get to it more effectively, as far as demographics.”

Buhrman said that all of the facilitators who are tasked to offer this program must first be prepared to teach the course, saying, “I like to have all the facilitators go through this course, or other courses, before they do any type of training, be it for divorce or whatever I may need them to facilitate.”

Buhrman also noted that any secondary facilitators who may assist with the course, and have not been through formal training, must meet with her personally to discuss their own dedication to providing clarity on Catholic teaching.

“It may be the case where my lead facilitator might need a partner. If those partners have not been through any training, I will take them to dinner to see where they are in their own specific situation to make sure that there ready to go out and be a facilitator. It’s also important that they understand the teachings of the Catholic Church, and are completely on board with what the Church says, because we don’t want misinformation getting out, because there are so many misconceptions especially in regard to annulment – so we want to make sure they in fact understand that.” Buhrman said.

Deacon Mike Leick, from St. Pius X Church, will be facilitating the class starting on January 15. He said that he has taught the class before, and will continue to do so, due to the overwhelming spiritual benefit that attendees receive from the lessons.

“The reason I like the program, and continue to work with it, is that it gives a clear Catholic message about marriage,” Deacon Leick said. “It helps people understand that they may not like where they are, but they come understand what the Sacrament is, and as a divorced Catholic, what their situation is so that they can draw themselves closer to God.”

Offering encouragement to those who may be hesitant to come to the class, Deacon Leick said, “I have been through a divorce myself, and whether you want to admit it or not, it causes pain. You can either live with the pain, or you can look for ways to heal the symptoms. This class, the information provided, gives the opportunity to reflect and then to discuss your own personal situation with people who have common feelings – it provides that method of healing the pain.”

Although the class is fast approaching, Kay Buhrman said that it is never too late for anyone to sign up for the program – even if you decide to attend after the January 15 start date.

“It’s not too late ever – we take people in these classes when they come,” Buhrman said. “Just because you come in week 5 – if you are hurting and you need that help we believe that you should be able to jump in at any time. You can always take the ones you missed again. People come when they are hurting and it takes a lot of courage to call, and to get in. I always tell people the hardest thing you have to do is walk in the door the first night, after that it will be better – you will be with people who understand.”

Cost of the program is $20 for new participants. Registration is required. To register, contact Kay Buhrman at 402.551.9003, ext. 1304.

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