After Divorce: A SmartCatholics Online Event
October 10-11 | Divorce is a source of pain and confusion for many Catholics. It shouldn’t be! You’re invited to the After Divorce Online Conference for answers, hope, & community. Together, we’re helping the divorced dream again!
October 10-11, 2020
Range of Catholic Experts
Live & Recorded Video
Questions? Leave a comment! →
You CAN be Catholic, divorced and happy.
On October 10-11, 2020, the After Divorce Online Conference launched a community around a range of expert speakers and guides for you.
It is presented by certified coach and retreat leader, Rose Sweet. Join us to grow your confidence in truth, affirm your faith in God, and revive your belief in a good life.
Let God in – and let the dreams begin!
Welcome Letter from Rose
What does it mean to be Catholic… and divorced?
Divorce is a hard road to travel. Among Catholics, it’s an even trickier topic to discuss. Too often, conversation around divorce is as bitter and acrid as the experience itself.
The After Divorce Online Community is here to change that.
We promise that clarity is possible – without forsaking charity.
We also promise that living by religious principles doesn’t mean we can’t live with hope and joy. Light and love are at the end of the tunnel.
Church teachings and the sacred truth of Scripture will lead the way in the talks and discussions After Divorce presents.
Hurting? Hear inspiring stories of happy and holy saints ‘after divorce’ to renew your hope. Hesitant? Get wisdom and guidance from pastors, counselors, and support group leaders.
You’ll learn about products and programs geared to specific concerns of persons going through divorce.
Discussion groups and coaching sessions will bring opportunities for everyone to be seen, heard, and understood.
All are welcome, whether newly divorced, years past a divorce, or concerned friends and family.
If divorce is affecting you or someone you love, register today for peace, purpose, and a practical path to the abundant life.
Looking forward to seeing you there,
Rose Sweet
Get access to advice and inspiration on a host of topics ranging from the practical to the theoretical, including such questions as:
- How do I trust anyone again?
- What effect will this have on my children?
- How do I bring my children safely through?
- Where is God in this situation?
- What steps do I take to start over?
- How do I pursue legal justice?
- Can I receive the sacraments?
- What do I do with my sexuality?
- How do I keep faith, hope, and charity alive?
- What are the best ways to support the divorced?
- What does forgiveness mean?
“. . .hope does not disappoint us.” (Rom. 5:5)
Support a Catholic mission
This event is supporting ‘Select to Give’
Select to Give was founded in 2014, by Select International Tours, Inc. as a not-for-profit 501 c (3) Foundation with the intent of helping Christians of the Holy Land and the Middle East stay in their homelands with freedom to worship, be educated and work in a safe and healthy environment.
They are a fabulous group and support Christians in the Holy Land! – Rose Sweet, Presenter
Is the focus on newly divorced or those who’ve been divorced for a number of years, or both? Will you be addressing survivors of abuse and their journey to freedom in Christ? Single parenting? Annulments? How to unite suffering with Christ? How to successfully raise kids in the Faith through and after divorce?
Hi Katherine; based on the comments we receive, we will try to cover as much as possible! There will not be a single focus as there are so many wounds associated with divorce. All that you listed will be included. Blessings!!
Discerning marriage after divorce. Once bitten…
We’re looking to help bring clarity and charity around these concerns. 🙂
Hi P – I am reminded of Professor Harold Hill’s song in The Music Man, “The Smarter But Wiser Girl for Me…” It’s a tough place to be, for sure, and we want to help you and others be in that place, listen to your heart, not check your brains at the door, and not go crazy. Good friends, help…right? xo
Those who are content and happy with being single and enjoying “me”for the first time in my life.
You bring up such a good point! Living alone can help one see where there was previous imbalance. 🙂
Most important for me is receiving holy communion after divorce and what is the process of annulment? Please give us links where we can get the correct traditional pre Vatican II answers. Thank.
Hi Ana. If you are not in the state of any grave unconfessed mortal sin, you may receive Holy Communion. Being civilly divorced, in itself, is not a reason to stay away from Jesus in the sacrament. However, it’s always a good idea to make a thorough examination of conscience, and make a good confession first. If you need further guidance, you can contact me at rosesweet.com.
When our event goes live, we will be providing lots of helpful information on Annulment ( Declaration of Nullity).Bless you!!
I’m a recent convert to the Catholic faith after 40 years of being an Evangelical Christian. Happily married 13 years to my second wife and now practicing celibacy until the annulment of my first marriage goes through and I can be confirmed and have our marriage convalidated. Becoming Catholic is one of the hardest and most complicated processes I’ve ever had to go through in my life. And it pains me that if my annulment doesn’t go through, I will never be able to be confirmed or take part in any sacraments and will need to live my life in a separate bedroom from my wife (or move out if we didn’t have children together, but we did).
While I went through the Exodus 90 program earlier this year (90 days of abstaining from sugar, caffeine, TV, movies, social media, and taking only cold showers) I had a group of men that I was doing it with. We were able to encourage each other and pick each other up when we fell or were feeling like giving in. I don’t think I could have done that on my own.
I have reached out my diocese for help or some kind of support group I can join of other men who are in the same boat as me with my marriage. The answer I got is that no such group exists here because most people these days don’t bother to live celibate lives while waiting for annulment. That is definitely not the answer I wanted to hear. I’m hoping this conference can help someone like me spiritually and emotionally, because it’s really taking its toll.
Whoa, Eric! What a powerful witness you have shared. In an age where most of us want a faith that is easy, you have taken up a manly cross! I know many who have been in your situation; once they were convinced of the abundant graces that would be gained by convalidation–on both of you–they went for it. As a woman, I can attest to the huge growth in trust that will happen in your beloved’s heart when she watches you take the high road (Via Dolorosa), “carry your cross, fall three times, and undergo crucifixion”. That makes every woman fall more deeply in love, feel safer, and be more willing to give her life for you. Don’t you dare stop..and know that you are in my prayers. Proud of you.
You DO meed to be assured that you have approached annulment correctly, with the best testimony needed, and that your witnesses can adequately attest to your grounds. Not all parish guides (even priests) are necessarily properly equipped to guide you if the case is difficult. For a free consult, use my contact form. https://rosesweet.com/contact/
Great idea.
Looking to not hurt my divorced and anticipating-divorce friends. I hope to gain empathy as well as point them towards God through the hurt.
Hi Nicole. What a beautiful friend you are. I trust you’ll find some good info when the event goes live. In the meantime, this is some of what I have learned in many years in this ministry, including hearing the “confessions” through the intimate revelations in the annulment process.
1 – Even the person in a marriage may not have known what was in the heart of the other. I’ve learned to never judge or make assumptions even when we THINK we know.
2 – Even when the other spouse seems completely incapable and shut down (and “gone”), encourage your friends to do whatever they can to remain open to reconciliation. That could simply mean proceeding with civil divorce if absolutely necessary,but keeping the heart open to the possibility of the future. Of course at some point they may have to close the door, but they can then stand before God and answer, YES I gave it every shot I could and did my part.
3 – The best thing we can do is LISTEN first. We may not be (and, um, usually aren’t! LOL) the ones to provide the best solutions. If your friend is rushing, ask how you can help them slow down. If they are stuck, ask how you ca help them move froward. If the answer is “nothing”, you at least have let them know you love and care and are there for them.
4 – If they are moving into sin, tell them you love them too much to stay quiet, but don’t harangue or shame them. Stand firm and even be willing to lose the friendship or endure a rift for a time to call them to go higher.
5 – Offer to pay for a few good Catholic coaching sessions. 🙂 Take their kids and give them a day off.
6 – Pray for them and everyone in the family. Bless you.
Tell us how to help the children of all ages torn by divorce– littles, first confession kids, Confirmation teens, single adults, parents (and in-law parents) and grandparents.
Great question. Our speakers, Lynn and Anne will be addressing some of these as both are adult children of divorce. The biggest wounds to kids are fear of abandonment, inability to trust, fear they have to navigate their own life now, becoming a caretaker of the parent, and projecting the parental weakness (now exposed) onto God. You can imagine how these, becoming habitual ways of seeing self and others and the world, can impede healthy relationships and future marriages. Some will fear and avoid marriage and commitment. Some will take a neediness and constant fear of abandonment into it with them. Some will rush into it, hoping to correct their childhood experience of “family.” It’s a horrible mess.
BUT..that is what Jesus came for. To give us hope, to guide, to teach, to heal and strengthen us and to invites us into intimate union with HIM. As Catholics, we know all hope is NOT lost. But we have to be intentional about avoiding the focus on Mom and Dad’s marriage, and point them back to how loved they are by God, how HE can be trusted, and how to help them navigate through wounded emotions and damaged thinking. Therapy coaching, spiritual direction..we ALL need it!
I will be moving the weekend of Oct 10, 11th and want to be able to access the retreat. Which plan would be best for me to access when I am available?
You will be able to watch a selection of the talks in the week ahead of the event. If you wish to have all the replays, you can purchase the $25 – that gets you into the group and all the replays included. If you opt for the $10 plan, you can start a 30 day free trial of the ondemand video library to watch the replays whenever you wish. Hope this helps!
Hello: I am registered for this event. I will be able to attend the live sessions on Oct. 10 but I won’t be available for the live sessions on Oct. 11. Will these live sessions be recorded to watch afterwards? I believe I am registered for the free conference but I am considering joining. Will there be any talks about incest/sexual abuse and the emotional/psychological consequences of that during and after divorce?
Hi Carole, the live talks will be recorded, and available as replays afterwards. The Q&As are group chats, and won’t be recorded. Specific questions like yours are welcome to be shared with the speakers – we don’t have any talks specifically on that issue.
Thank you, Dominic. I have begun watching the presentations. I am glad to know that I will still be able to watch the live replays. Thank you! God bless.
Hi Carole, thanks for joining us! Yes, we’ll add the replays to the library, and you can then start your 30day free trial to watch them. Or, if you purchase the $25 pass, I’ll send you a code to get the whole collection for free.
Hi Carole; yes, as Dominic indicated, you are welcome to bring that up in a group chat or one of the live sessions with Q & A. Sadly, it’s a real issue and more common than most would like to admit. If you need some specific support and direction in that area, you can always contact me: rose@rosesweet.com.
Thank you, Rose. I appreciate being able to contact you personally. I am having a hard time letting go of certain things that happened. I am grateful for this conference and for all the information and support you will all be bringing in these presentations. Thank you and God bless.
((( hug )))