The Diocese of Tucson, responding to Pope John Paul's wish that a ministry to divorced and separated Catholics be established, formed in 1986 the Diocesan Council for Ministry to Divorced and Separated Catholics. Since that time the Council has promoted parish groups and programs and acted as a liaison between the Bishop of Tucson, and the clergy of the Diocese of Tucson.

Members of the Council represent programs and parishes within the Diocese of Tucson. To further our goals as stated in the document " The Church As Healer" Council members are asked to:

1. Act as a parish contact person to answer inquiries from the divorced and separated and other interested persons, and to keep the Pastor of that parish informed of the work of the council.

2. See that announcements for the Annual Bishop's Mass, Annual Retreat for the Divorced and Separated are published in their parish bulletin.

3. Attend periodic council meetings and assist in input to our Council web page.

4. Serve as a Diocesan Council committee, i.e. Publicity, Annual Retreat, Bishop's Annual Mass, Parish Outreach Groups, Annulment Workshops and Other Programs.

If you are interested in this Ministry, and are a practicing Catholic please send email to: thomasm98@gmail.com.

Each year, a Mass is said by the Bishop for the Divorced and separated in the diocese. This Mass is always at a different church and the Bishop gives the homily. He also commissions the members of the Diocesan Council who will serve for the coming year. The Mass is well attended and is followed by a reception where literature concerning divorce recovering and annulment matters are presented. The following churches have hosted this Mass in the past:

* 1988 - St. Cyril

* 1989 - St. Pius X

* 1990 - SS. Peter & Paul

* 1991 - St John

* 1992 - Sacred Heart

* 1993 - St Elizabeth's

* 1994 - Our Mother of Sorrows

* 1995 - Our Lady of the Mts.-Sierra Vista

* 1996 - St Augustine's

* 1997 - Santa Cruz

* 1998 - St Monica

* 1999 - St. Joseph

* 2000 - St Margaret

* 2001 - * 2002 - St. Francis Cabrini

* 2003 - St. Odilia? (October 19)

Every spring the Diocesan Council for Ministry to Divorced and Separated and the Department of Parish Life & Ministry, co-sponsor an annual retreat. In the past this has taken place at St Cyril's,Picture Rocks Retreat House, or St Pius Parish.

A retreat master is chosen each year and allowed to prepare a retreat program for those attending. The retreat consist of registration, conferences, small group sharing lunch and Mass. The conferences usually deal with issues and topics that impact on persons who have gone through the process of divorce and separation. There is a question and answer period, when such questions as annulments, church status, etc. can be asked. The retreat master is usually a Catholic Priest but a professional counselor has been used.

The date and time of the retreat is announced in parish bulletins and in Pathways several weeks before the actual retreat. Registration is usually by phone and we usually have around 60 participants.

listen.accompany.heal

Peer grief support for separated, divorced, and widowed persons.

Mission & Vision

Beginning Experience® Vision Statement

…a grieving people, healed, transformed, and free again to love themselves, others, and God.

Beginning Experience® Mission Statement

Beginning Experience® International Ministry programs and peer ministers serve those grieving the loss of a spousal relationship so they can move forward in life loving God, themselves, and others.

Beginning Experience® Philosophy Statement

When a spousal relationship ends and people suffer the varied and difficult aspects of grief, we believe that they:

• participate in the mystery of Jesus’ suffering, dying, and resurrection;
• can effectively be accompanied by those who have experienced a spousal loss;
• can become peer ministers trained to accompany; and
• are offered an opportunity to find new meaning in life by Beginning Experience® Ministry.

Catholic Divorce Ministry is the ministry of the North American Conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics, Inc. (NACSDC), working since 1974 to create a network of support for families experiencing separation and divorce.  CDM speaks to the Church with the united, collective voice of separated and divorced Catholics.  Through our Central Office, conferences, member groups, ministry leadership training, resources, and liaisons with church and civic organizations, CDM has substantially improved the entire family’s experience of divorce by addressing the religious, emotional, financial, and parenting issues relative to separation, divorce, and remarriage.  

Click the link below for more detailed information.

What is an Annulment?

An annulment is a declaration by an ecclesiastical tribunal that a marriage between two parties was not valid according to the laws governing marriage in the Catholic Church. It is a statement that the bond of marriage was not formed at the time of consent, or at the time the vows were stated at the wedding. It is the time of consent that determines whether or not the marriage is valid. The process of determining whether or not this bond was formed is an investigation which requires witnesses, evidence, and other testimony. Because the time of consent is the determining factor of the validity of the marriage, the evidence must focus on that time and the time surrounding the moment of consent.

Click the link below for more detailed information.