Experiencing and living through a parents’ divorce is traumatic. The negative effects last a lifetime often endured silently. Most people never seek healing or even recognize the many ways in which this damaging experience has affected them. Oftentimes, individuals are only aware of brokenness and loneliness, feeling unable to move forward on a path of healing.
Attending the three-day retreat is a great way to start this journey of healing. The retreat focuses on discovering your identity as a child of God, although it also focuses on overcoming the effects of parental divorce, forgiving your parents, and connecting with others from this background.
A Life-Giving Wounds retreat hopes to be a significant turning point in your ongoing healing journey. With the help of our merciful Father, we hope to help retreatants see how their life-draining wounds can be transformed into life-giving resources of faith, hope, love, and joy, even in the deepest suffering.
This retreat has something for any adult child of divorce or separation, no matter how much healing you have received or need.
On this three day (Friday evening – Sunday afternoon) retreat you will experience:
Presentations by trained retreat leaders
Guided small group discussions with peers
Guided, silent journaling sessions
Prayer, Mass, Adoration, and Reconciliation
This is a Catholic, though any religious affiliation is welcome to attend.
September 5-7, 2025
Mater Dei Immaculate Conception Parish Center
1212 Morningside Ave
Sioux City, IA 51106
Accommodations have been blocked at
Hampton Inn and Suites
5555 Sergeant Road
Sioux City, IA 51106
To book rooms, please call 712-587-6984 and ask for the Life-Giving Wounds block or click on the link at the bottom of the page.
or click on this text to hear Fred Shellabarger's interview on Siouxland Catholic Radio. This year's retreat is similar to the March 2024 retreat discussed in this episode of Faith in Action.