Build up interest locally and secure permission and funding from the relevant local leader(s) to run a Life-Giving Wounds retreat and/or support group. (We require receiving diocesan approval first if this is for a parish or diocese, and recommend starting with an initial launch retreat, as the support groups work best as follow-up accompaniment after the retreat. However, we are flexible to meet your needs if you want to start first with a support group.)

Select dates and book a venue for the first retreat or support group.

Establish contract with Life-Giving Wounds and provide an initial deposit to secure dates; remainder of cost due at end of the event.

Begin to Recruit and vet volunteers to help facilitate the retreat or support group; these should be faithful Catholics who are adult children of divorce or separation. It is especially important to try to find a coordinator, chaplain, and team counselor.

Select whether you will do leadership training prior to or after the initial launch retreat or support group (the most popular is after the launch retreat and these ten steps are based on that order). Leadership training is done in cohorts of multiple chapters and involves 4 two-hour sessions online over Zoom. We usually run two cohorts a year in the Winter/Spring time and Summer). Get access also to bi-monthly coordinator e-newsletter and the Leader’s Only store and download section of our website for further resources. Order printed Leader’s Guides OR download the Leader’s Guide e-book for free and distribute to your team.

Create a landing page for the ministry, a registration page for the initial event, and begin on-site logistics for the support group or retreat (e.g., set up and run registration page, coordinate food, tech needs, etc.). As part of the pre-retreat logistics, secure lodging and transportation needs for Life-Giving Wounds traveling retreat team to assist with the initial launch retreat.

Develop an outreach team and market the retreat or support group in local channels (Catholic newspaper, radio, parish bulletins, social media, ask leaders to make personal invites, have alumni in your area give witness talks about major events, etc.), 4 to 6 months prior to the event dates.

Order retreat guides and journals for the retreat participants OR order the LGW book, support group workbook, and journals for support group participants through the main LGW store (not the Leader’s store). Receive in-person training on the retreat itself (led by our traveling retreat team), if partnering with us to run the initial retreat.

After the event, pay the balance of the contract and remaining travel expenses, if any. Schedule a follow-up phone call with Life-Giving Wounds to evaluate the retreat/support group and plan how to move forward with the post-launch event logistics in step ten.

Keep the momentum going by recruiting and vetting further volunteers from the initial launch retreat/support group. Schedule and attend the leadership training in conjunction with the national ministry if you chose the after-retreat option. Decide on the date of your next retreat and develop a timeline for implementing a support group before or after the second retreat. And finally, stay in touch with the national ministry, we’ll do at the very least a yearly check-in call and meeting with the coordinator.