For the past 18 years, New Hope for Widow/ers has held an annual retreat to provide support, encouragement and educational workshops to bereaved widows and widowers. This year, the two-day retreat will be held May 1 to 2 at Emmanuel Fellowship Baptist Church in Vernon.
Friday evening will feature guest speaker Ken Mather of Armstrong. Known for his stories of the B.C. ranching community and for his years as curator at the Historic O’Keefe Ranch, Mather is an entertaining cowboy poet, author and emcee of events.
“After being widowed in 2007, he chose to share his painful journey with others, rather than facing it alone,” said Karen Bouchard, with New Hope. “A former member of New Hope’s board of directors, Ken has now remarried, and actively supports the work of New Hope in the community.”
Refreshments and an opportunity to get to know fellow retreaters will follow his presentation.
Saturday, retreat participants attend a general session‚ “Understanding the Basic Needs of the Griever,” followed by an opportunity to share their individual stories of loss in a small group setting. At registration, three of the following six workshop topics are chosen: Transitioning to Living Single, Hoping and Coping in the First Year, Complicated Grief, Experiencing Grief as a Man, Christianity and the Griever, and Financial and Estate Needs. The day will include lunch and a candlelight ceremony of remembrance.
This year, the retreat offers a Saturday program for children aged six to 10, facilitated by Val Johnson, who has many years of experience with children in the Vernon school district as a teacher and counselor and served on the New Hope Board in her early years as a widow.
“This retreat is a valuable time to gain knowledge and understanding of the grief process as well as a way to be encouraged and strengthened through common shared experiences,” said Bouchard. “New Hope’s unique characteristic is that having experienced widowhood themselves, members and volunteers are able to offer empathy and care to those who are mourning the loss of a spouse. The retreat is organized by the volunteer board of directors and other members who come alongside the newly bereaved as “companions,” while the speakers and workshop leaders are experienced and knowledgeable in each of their particular topics.
“It takes courage to attend a retreat for grievers, but the overwhelming response from those who come is warm and positive. The goal is to create a safe place to share, learn, and connect with others who have also been widowed.”
The cost for the retreat is $75, and accommodation for out-of-town guests is not included. To receive a registration form and register, please call the New Hope office at 250-545-6004 or email newhope.bc.ca@gmail.com with your mailing address. You may learn more about New Hope on their website at www.newhope-grief.org.
