In our life’s journey, we often encounter moments of profound pain and grief that can leave us feeling lost and alone. The loss of a child through abortion is one such instance that many women and men quietly carry in their hearts. Amid this silent suffering, a beacon of hope and healing exists in Project Rachel. This compassionate ministry reaches out to those who were involved in abortion, offering them a safe, confidential space of understanding and solace.

Project Rachel is a nationwide ministry with a network of specially trained priests, religious counselors and laypersons dedicated to providing pastoral care, support groups and referrals to licensed mental health professionals. Above all, it offers the assurance of God’s unfailing mercy and love, reminding us that forgiveness and renewal are always within our grasp.

For two women, Elizabeth and Barb, Project Rachel was an indispensable ministry after their abortions, helping them grieve the loss of their babies.

When pregnant at 18-years-old, Elizabeth placed her baby in adoptive care. She became pregnant again years later and had an abortion. As time passed, she found Project Rachel.

“It was meant to be,” said Elizabeth. “God knew I couldn’t handle anymore.”

In high school when she became pregnant, Barb traveled to New York to have her abortion.

“I left part of me in New York,” said Barb. “Emotionally and spiritually, I left part of me there. I became a different person after the abortion.”

Barb found Project Rachel as it was beginning in Cincinnati. Begun in Wisconsin in 1984, the ministry came to Cincinnati 10 years later through Mary Anne Boyd as part of the Respect Life Ministries with the archdiocese. Since its inception, the ministry has helped countless individuals find peace after abortion.

“I thought it was going to be a support group, and it ended up being so much more,” said Barb. “It took me a couple of retreats to experience healing because my denial was very strong. But I have Project Rachel to thank for my life today.”

“Project Rachel is a place for confidentiality, support, encouragement, peace of mind and unconditional love,” said Elizabeth. “Forgiving yourself is the hardest part, but it can be done.”

Its ministry offers a comforting presence filled with compassion, love and understanding. Through its support groups, retreats and counseling, individuals can discover the transformative power of forgiveness and nurture deeper, more meaningful relationships with God.

For Elizabeth and Barb, Project Rachel also helped them return to church.

“Project Rachel has wonderful priests [who] helped me realize that God loves me, and I am forgiven,” said Elizabeth.

Barb agreed, “I’m able to recognize today God’s grace, which I would have never recognized years ago. I now see God as a loving God, not a judgmental one, and I have a faith community that I never dreamt I would have.”

This article appeared in the October 2023 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.