Schedule: The 2026 Online Spring Support group will take place on Thursday evenings Feb. 26 through April 16, with the the exception of Holy Thursday (April 2). Please see the schedule below for exact dates and time.

Content: Each support group session will include prayer and a presentation by dynamic Catholic leaders who are either adult children of divorce or separation themselves, or experts in a relevant field. After the presentations, there will be either guided small group break-outs or large-group Q&A with the speaker. Small groups give participants a chance to process together what they just heard, share how they are progressing on personal healing, and share experiences with a supportive, compassionate group of peers and trained support group leaders. In between sessions, participants will be given guided journaling prompts to continue their reflection and prayer.

Topics and Speakers: Find the schedule below!

Online community: Participants will have access to our exclusive, private online community where they can interact between sessions, such as talking with other attendees, participating in topical discussions, and asking questions of the speakers. After the support group ends, participants will have FREE access to our larger moderated, online community for alumni, for ongoing support and encouragement. (This is a yearly value of $350 - included for free to support group participants!)

Access to recorded videos: The live support group presentations will be recorded and participants will have private access to them for three months. (Small group sessions are not recorded.)

Cost:
Early bird pricing ends Feb. 12, 2026.

• Before Feb. 12 - $174 (Ages 26+)

• Before Feb. 12 - $114 (Ages 18-25)

• After Feb. 12 - $199 (Ages 26+)

• After Feb. 12 - $139 (Ages 18-25)

Scholarships are available for those who financially need them! You can request one using this online form.

Second Session: How God Restores Life to the Broken-Hearted: "He has sent me . . . to place on those who mourn in Zion a diadem instead of ashes." (Is 61:1, 3)

How does God work to bring about redemption and victory in places of brokenness? Discover how He is waiting to reveal His glory through the tender gift of His mercy, which makes all things new. 

Thursday, March 5, 2026, 8:15-10:00 PM EST

Speaker: Sr. Beata Victoria, SV

Sister Beata Victoria, SV, is from Ontario, Canada. Before entering religious life, she worked in public relations and communications in Toronto and encountered adventure and beauty in outdoor recreation. Drawn by the Lord's invitation to proclaim the beauty of human life through a gift of her own life, she entered the Sisters of Life in 2017, and professed final vows in 2025. After serving in the community’s missions to women suffering after abortion and to vulnerable pregnant women, Sister Beata Victoria recently began studying clinical mental health counseling at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.

The Sisters of Life are a religious community of women founded in 1991 by John Cardinal O’Connor who take a fourth vow to protect and enhance the sacredness of human life. Immersed in Eucharistic prayer within a vibrant community life, their missions include caring for vulnerable pregnant women and their unborn children; inviting those wounded by abortion into the healing mercy of Jesus; fostering a culture of life through evangelization; retreat works; spiritual accompaniment of college students; and upholding the beauty of marriage and family life. 

Followed by small-group breakout session.

Third Session: Prayer and Healing: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Mt 7:7)

Like building a relationship, prayer is an art developed over time. During our time together, we will unpack some foundational aspects of prayer. The speaker will share parts of her healing journey to highlight ways of relating to God through the realities of being an ACOD, the impact family dynamics can have on prayer, and the life-giving ways our prayer can grow deeper—sometimes even more deeply than those from intact families—because of our unique wounds. Together, we will encounter God’s goodness and great love through Jesus’ teachings on prayer.

Thursday, March 12, 2026, 8:15-10:00 PM EST

Speaker: Emilie Toler

At the age of 16, following a major move and job change, Emilie Toler’s parents divorced. The reality of that loss and the ongoing dysfunction was something she avoided and hid from everyone. By the age of 18, close friends introduced her to the joy of prayer and holiness.
In 2018, Emilie responded to Jesus’ call to be His bride by entering religious life. Her formation was pivotal in teaching her how to pray and in bringing about transformative healing. Participation in Life-Giving Wounds was key in continuing to receive God’s love and healing.
In December 2025, she again followed God’s call—this time into the unknown—choosing to live totally for Him and to spread the message of the Marian apparition, Maria, Rosa Mystica.

Followed by small-group breakout session.

Fourth (States-of-Life) Session: Peace and Joy in the Single Life: "Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." (Jn 14:27)

For Christians who love God and want to follow Him, discerning and then entering into a vocation is often in their thoughts and prayers. It can be very difficult when this process is delayed for one reason or another, and this is especially true for adult children of divorce, many of whom struggle with trust in God. These delays can bring up anxiety, sadness, frustration, or fear. Our speaker will share some of her story of walking with the Lord through different seasons of life and offer a call to return to the peace of heart that God is calling all his children to enjoy.

Monday, March 16, 2026, 8:15-10:00 PM EST

Speaker: Celena Hoey

Celena Hoey has been working as a mental health therapist since 2005. She has worked at multiple sites and with diverse populations, including a residential home for children, a community mental health agency, a drug court, a foster care agency, and the homeless.  She has been working in private practice in Lutherville, Maryland for the past 5 years and is delighted to work mainly with those who wish to incorporate faith into their psychological healing.  Celena has been both a participant of the Life-Giving Wounds Ministry as well as a grateful volunteer.  She finds joy in everyday life, beauty, and her new puppy, Rocky. 

Followed by Q&A.

Fourth (States-of-Life) Session: Ministering to ACODs as a Consecrated Person: "Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all." (Lk 6:19)

Priests and those in consecrated life often have a unique opportunity of encountering and ministering to people who are suffering from family-of-origin wounds. But many priests/consecrated persons themselves carry wounds from their parents' divorce or separation. This session will touch on how the wounds of those in ministry can become places where those they minister to can encounter Jesus in his mercy, healing, and love. 

Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 8:15-10:00 PM EST

Speaker: Fr. Luke Leighton, CFR

Fr. Luke Leighton, CFR grew up in Red Bank, NJ. He had a conversion experience in high school that led him to receive the Sacraments of Initiation at 15 years old.  About a year later he felt invited by the Lord to share in his Priesthood. As a seminarian for the Diocese of Trenton, he attended Seton Hall University where his knowledge of the faith and the life of prayer grew. After college graduation, he entered the Franciscan Friar of the Renewal, and served in the friars’ mission of preaching the Gospel and attending to the needs of the poor in NYC for fifteen years. While living in the Bronx he served at the Saint Francis Youth Center, Saint Anthony’s Shelter for Renewal, and Cardinal Spellman High School. Fr. Luke was ordained a priest by His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in May of 2013. He completed the Institute for Priestly Formation’s Spiritual Direction Training Program in January 2020.  He was serving with his fellow friars in the Diocese of Oakland, California where they were establishing a new friary at the invitation of Bishop Michael Barber, SJ.  Fr. Luke arrived in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe in time for Holy Week 2024. In New Mexico he has enjoyed hiking and mountain biking in the Sandia Mountains and exploring the richness of the state's natural wonders.

Followed by Q&A.

Fourth (States-of-Life) Session: Developing a Marital Spirituality: "And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.’” (Lk 1:46-48)

Our presenters will share parts of their story and how their spirituality has developed as a couple in their 36 years of marriage. They will also touch upon some of the programs & practices that have helped keep them close and in tune with each other’s needs and steps towards healing. Additionally, they will discuss the Ignatian Spirituality concepts of Consolation & Desolation and share two sacred images that can invite Mary into your healing journey.

Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 8:15-10:00 PM EST

Speakers: Patty and Paul Karr

Patty Karr was 17 years old when her parents divorced. It took her 40 years to finally talk about the wounds from the divorce at her first Life Giving Wounds retreat in 2023. Paul Karr grew up in an intact family but with enough dysfunction to produce 3 divorces among his siblings. As a married couple, Patty and Paul have navigated being surrounded by divorce for 36 years. Since 2023 they have served with the Life-Giving Wounds Kansas City chapter, given the talk on Marriage, and traveled to Evansville, Indiana to help round out their retreat team in 2025. Patty is a professional organizer, and Paul is an engineer and community college instructor. They have 3 grown children, 5 grandchildren, and a dog.

Followed by Q&A.

Fifth Session: Healing Ourselves, Honoring Our Parents: "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you know how you should respond to each one." (Col 4:6)

It is often difficult to know how to relate with our parents when were in the midst of uncovering and healing deep emotional wounds stemming from divorce, marital conflict, or other childhood difficulties.  This talk will focus on giving ourselves space to heal while also honoring our parents and continuing to love them as best we can. 

Thursday, March 26, 2026, 8:15-10:00 PM EST

Speaker: Dr. Andrew Sodergren

Dr. Andrew Sodergren, Psy.D., is a Catholic psychologist and Director of Psychological Services for the Ruah Woods Institute, a Theology of the Body (TOB) education and healing ministry based in Cincinnati, OH.  He holds Masters and Doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from Divine Mercy University as well as a Masters degree in theology from the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family where he went on to teach as an Adjunct Professor for 13 years. Dr. Sodergren speaks and writes  for professional and lay audiences on the integration of the Catholic faith and psychology. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Catholic Psychotherapy Association.  He and his wife Ellie have been married 26 years and have 5 children.

Followed by small-group breakout session.

Sixth Session: Walking with Aging Parents and the Loss of a Parent as an ACOD: "But this I will call to mind; therefore I will hope: The Lord’s acts of mercy are not exhausted, his compassion is not spent." (Lam 3:21-22)

This talk is a deeply personal and pastoral reflection on walking with aging parents and grieving the loss of a parent as an adult child of divorce. Drawing from Scripture, attachment theory, and lived experience, our speakers explore how early family instability, mental illness, and parentification shape our capacity for trust, grief, and hope across the lifespan. Grounded in Lamentations 3:21–22, this talk offers language for complex, often unnamed griefs and invites listeners to encounter God’s mercy not as denial of pain, but as a faithful presence that holds the whole story.

Thursday, April 9, 2026, 8:15-10:00 PM EST

Speakers: Kelly Breaux and Barbara Duszak

Kelly Breaux was born and raised in Louisiana and currently resides in Breaux Bridge. Kelly is the President and founder of Red Bird Ministries, a national nonprofit dedicated to accompanying families after the death of a child, and is a recognized leader in trauma-informed pastoral care. She is currently completing her undergraduate degree in Christian Counseling at Liberty University. Married to her husband, Ryan, for 23 years, she brings more than two decades of lived experience following the loss of four children—two after birth and two in utero—which profoundly shapes her vocational work. She is also an ACOD and has walked through caregiving for one parent and the death of both of her parents. For more than seven years, she has worked exclusively within the loss community, personally accompanying over 500 families, helping establish grief support in more than 37 communities, and training over 100 leaders nationwide to serve grieving families with fidelity, compassion, and hope.

Barbara Duszak is a millennial ACOD and revert to Catholicism. She has had a varied career in education, small business operations, and marketing. She has been a member of the LGW community for just over a year and has experienced many graces through it. She is encouraged and hopeful for her fellow community members' continued healing.

Followed by small-group breakout session.

Seventh Session: Re-discovering Our True Identity: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own." (1 Pt 2:9)

One day we were a happy family of five.  The next day it was just my mom and me in a new house and in a new town.  Where do I belong now? Why do I have to be the adult? If my parents’ love wasn’t “real,” what does that make me?  God, why did You allow this to happen, where are You? These are just some of the questions that highlight how our parents’ divorce can shake our stability and negatively impact our identity and relationship with God. This talk will touch on Jesus’ promises to us and the importance of surrendering to God’s Will in our lives.

Thursday, April 16, 2026, 8:15-10:00 PM EST

Speaker: Deacon Aaron Petersen

Deacon Aaron Petersen is a dean of students at Hillsdale College, a position he has held since 2001.  He is a deacon for the Diocese of Lansing, in Michigan and was ordained on May 16, 2009. Deacon Aaron currently serves at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Hillsdale, MI.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Hillsdale College in 1996, a master’s degree in education from Aquinas College in 2000, and a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University New Orleans in 2009.  His wife, Kathy, is a pediatric nurse practitioner. They were married in 1996 and have eight children and four grandchildren.

Deacon Aaron is an ACOD and is involved with Life-Giving Wounds (LGW) chapters in Michigan. He has a zeal to help others understand the gift of Paschal Mystery in their lives and to grow in holiness through their wounds.  He provides spiritual and relationship guidance and coaching for individuals, couples, and groups. He considers St. Francis DeSales a great friend in Heaven and recommends his works for those desiring to improve their relationships with God, self, and other significant people in their lives.  He knows that the wounds and residual effects of divorce can profoundly affect an ACOD’s ability to grow in these areas, so he sees LGW as a great gift from our Lord for divine healing.

Followed by small-group breakout session.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Who should attend this support group?

The Life-Giving Wounds support group is for any adult (18+) whose parents are divorced or separated. This includes people whose parents divorced, separated, received a declaration of nullity (annulment), dissolved a cohabitation, or were never married and are no longer together. While these situations have important differences, the retreat content speaks to the common wound of losing the love of your parents together. The two situations not addressed by the retreat are the loss of a parent through death or being placed for adoption.

How is this support group different from the Life-Giving Wounds retreat?

Past participants of the Life-Giving Wounds retreat will notice that some of the topics in the support group are similar to those discussed on the retreat. But the support group presentations will go deeper into the topic, address new themes, offer more advice, and give new perspectives from new presenters. For first-time attendees, it is okay if you haven’t attended the retreat - you will still be able to get a lot out of the content and experience! Finally, the support group does not include any printed materials like the retreat does.

Is the support group professional therapy?

No, Life-Giving Wounds support groups should not be confused with a traditional, psychological support group led by a licensed counselor or psychologist. Life-Giving Wounds ministry is not psychological counseling. Instead, we provide trained, peer-based leaders who offer spiritual and practical guidance, advice, support, and community, grounded in virtue. Our ministry complements professional therapy groups, and we encourage professional therapy whenever it is beneficial to do so. Life-Giving Wounds is proud to work closely with many psychologists and counselors who both advise us in our ministry and from time-to-time help out in other various capacities, such as offering presentations. For a resource about seeking therapy, please see our blog article “Seeking Therapy as an Adult Child of Divorce”.

Will the support group sessions be recorded?

Yes. Due to high demand, the presentations will be video recorded and made available to registered attendees for three months after the session through a secure portal. Only the presentations are recorded, not the small group sessions.

Can I receive a refund after I register?

You may request a refund on your registration up until 7 days before the start of the support group. Within 7 days of the support group, there will be no refund issued, unless there is a wait list and someone able to take your spot.

Want even more information?

Please see our “about support groups” page.

The Life-Giving Wounds support group is for any adult (18+) whose parents are divorced or separated. This includes people whose parents divorced, separated, received a declaration of nullity (annulment), dissolved a cohabitation, or were never married and are no longer together. While these situations have important differences, the retreat content speaks to the common wound of losing the love of your parents together. The two situations not addressed by the retreat are the loss of a parent through death or being placed for adoption.

How is this support group different from the Life-Giving Wounds retreat?

Past participants of the Life-Giving Wounds retreat will notice that some of the topics in the support group are similar to those discussed on the retreat. But the support group presentations will go deeper into the topic, address new themes, offer more advice, and give new perspectives from new presenters. For first-time attendees, it is okay if you haven’t attended the retreat - you will still be able to get a lot out of the content and experience! Finally, the support group does not include any printed materials like the retreat does.

Is the support group professional therapy?

No, Life-Giving Wounds support groups should not be confused with a traditional, psychological support group led by a licensed counselor or psychologist. Life-Giving Wounds ministry is not psychological counseling. Instead, we provide trained, peer-based leaders who offer spiritual and practical guidance, advice, support, and community, grounded in virtue. Our ministry complements professional therapy groups, and we encourage professional therapy whenever it is beneficial to do so. Life-Giving Wounds is proud to work closely with many psychologists and counselors who both advise us in our ministry and from time-to-time help out in other various capacities, such as offering presentations. For a resource about seeking therapy, please see our blog article “Seeking Therapy as an Adult Child of Divorce”.

Will the support group sessions be recorded?

Yes. Due to high demand, the presentations will be video recorded and made available to registered attendees for three months after the session through a secure portal. Only the presentations are recorded, not the small group sessions.

Can I receive a refund after I register?

You may request a refund on your registration up until 7 days before the start of the support group. Within 7 days of the support group, there will be no refund issued, unless there is a wait list and someone able to take your spot.

Want even more information?

Please see our “about support groups” page.