"The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ [Jesus] will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little." 1 Peter 5:10
God walks with us through our sufferings, helping us to heal. Often, we need accompaniment to begin that healing process. Our office has various resources to help your marriage and family begin to heal from the cross you are bearing.
Infertility, Miscarriage & Infant Loss
Springs in the Desert accompanies those struggling with infertility by offering a place of respite and solidarity where they can know God’s love for them and discover His unique call to fruitfulness. Find Community through in-person and virtual retreats, book club, small groups, and seasonal prayer series. Read Reflections by contributing authors. Listen to Podcasts discussing struggles, lessons learned, and male perspectives of infertility.
Organic Conceptions helps couples to achieve optimal emotional health wherever they are on their journey - whether they have received a medical diagnosis, experienced miscarriage, have unexplained infertility, or are thinking of fertility treatments.
Restorative Reproductive Medicine treats infertility, abnormal bleeding, abnormal hormone conditions of the menstrual cycle through medical and surgical approaches that cooperate with or restore the normal physiology and anatomy of the human reproductive system. Natural Procreative Technology (also known as NaProTechnology) is a type of Restorative Reproductive Medicine.
Catholic Teaching on IVF video by Fr. Mike Schmitz
Reproductive Technology Church documents, fact sheets, articles and resources
Isaiah’s Promise provides support, information, friendship and hope to families who decide to carry to term after receiving a severe or fatal prenatal diagnosis.
Journey in Love: A Catholic Mother’s Prayers after Prenatal Diagnosis walks with you through the stages of grief, helps you to pray even when you feel you cannot, sheds new light on the comfort and grace of the Church’s traditional prayers, and provides meditations tied to the liturgical year. (free e-book)
Back In His Arms Again is a local ministry providing education, care, guidance and financial services for families who are experiencing the loss of a child. Find help with planning your baby’s services, grief counseling, and resources to keep your baby’s memory alive in your heart. Events include quarterly Memorial Masses to honor the lives of all babies lost (schedule).
Red Bird Ministries is a grief support ministry that focuses on bereaved families who have experienced child loss of any age and circumstance, including pregnancy loss through miscarriage and stillbirth, and after birth as an infant, child, adolescent, or adult.
The Garden of the Holy Innocents is available for any baby under 20 weeks gestation, or, any baby who has been cremated. In addition, families may request a memorial paver with their baby’s name engraved on it.
Cornerstone of Hope offers an Infant / Perinatal Loss Support Group, led by professional facilitator, focusing on the specific and unique needs that arise with the death of an infant through miscarriage, neo-natal loss, still birth or other loss.
Family Loss, Struggling & Healing
CatholicTherapists.com offers a referral base of qualified Catholic therapists.
Contact your parish priest for spiritual direction or counseling in family matters.
Seasons of Hope is a Catholic support group for the bereaved which explores mourning through scripture, prayer, reflection activities and faith sharing.
Cornerstone of Hope is a nonprofit Comprehensive Bereavement Support Center serving children, teens, and adults who have experienced the death of a loved one.
Red Bird Ministries offers grief support through online community, Spiritual Direction and small groups for those who have experienced child loss including: miscarriage, stillbirth, and after birth as an infant, child, adolescent, and adult child.
- Retrouvaille is a weekend experience for those struggling with their marriage to gain a new appreciation of each other and build new communication habits. The Retrouvaille experience also includes follow-up support. While Retrouvaille is not available in our diocese, there are opportunities in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the Diocese of Cleveland.
- Breakthrough is an online workshop that you can take from the comfort of your couch. This program is focused on strategies to overcome current relationship roadblocks and reestablish connection.
- Restore is designed for couples who struggle with communication, feeling disconnected, disillusionment, and would benefit from the added accountability and support that an online group offers.
- Catholic Therapist Directory
If you feel unsafe or threatened by your spouse, please reach out for help and safety by calling the CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence Hotline at 614-224-4663.
Pregnancy Decision Health Centers located in Central Ohio provides pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, extended care, post-abortive healing, and various other resources for women (and men) experiencing unplanned pregnancies. Hotline: 614-444-4411
Women’s Care Center provides free, confidential counseling, support and education to women facing unplanned pregnancies. Helpline: 1-877-908-2341
Birthright offers love, friendship, and support to women who are pregnant or think they may be pregnant. Helpline: 1-800-550-4900
OptionLine offers women information about their pregnancy options and connects them with pregnancy centers. Helpline: 1-800-712-4357. Text HELPLINE to 313131.
Bethesda Healing Ministry is a Catholic Christian Ministry of hospitality and healing. Through a community of love and acceptance, all men and women suffering the effects of an abortion are invited and supported. Call line: 614-309-2651 or 614-309-0157
Divorced Catholic Columbus, also known as Non Solum (Latin for "not alone"), is a community that provides support and fellowship to those who are divorced and separated.
Life-Giving Wounds is a ministry serving adult children of divorce, offering retreats, support groups, resources, and online ministry and outreach.
St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation offers free pastoral consultations with a Mercedarian friar, as well as podcasts and videos series on topics for Catholics affected by divorce and separation.
Restored Ministry offers content, coaching and community to help teens and young adults to heal from the trauma of their parents’ divorce or separation, so they can break the cycle of dysfunction and divorce.
The Office of Marriage and Family Life
Diocese of Columbus
197 E. Gay Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
[email protected]