Facing Our Immortality

Hello everyone,

Peace and blessings to you, this is Denise.  Our next support group is this coming Monday, January 14th, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.  You can join us in person or online. Please look back HERE, on the website, for the presentation. Sr. Anne Marie Walsh will be leading us in prayer and discussion. Please invite a friend or family member.

In-Person:

Location: 2256 S. Logan Street,  Our Lady of Lourdes Classical School 6th Grade Classroom. Park by the gym. Our door opens directly into the courtyard.

Remote Participation Instructions:

You will need to call in and be able to access our website.

To join us remotely, please call UBER CONFERENCE before 6:30 pm at (720) 735-7025.  Sr. Anne Marie will guide us through the presentation live. To view the download, please link https://facingourimmortality.org.  

We are really looking forward to seeing you.

Sr. Anne, Denise and Richard

We are approaching the end of Advent and embarking on the joyous season of Christmas.  We have been preparing our hearts to welcome the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The greatest miracle, the greatest joy, the greatest gift of all, is given to us from God, the gift of His son Jesus.  Born into poverty to live amongst us, Jesus teaches us that only through Him will we know God, the Father of all creation. He is sent to save us from sin. It is through Jesus that we experience the immense love of God!  I pray that as you read this you feel joyful anticipation for Christmas Eve.  How could we feel anything else?

Well, many of us have been distracted this year, as always, by the commercialism of this most Holy moment in time. Also, many of us are sadly distracted by physical pain and/or emotional distress.  Some of us are overwhelmed by circumstances beyond our control and are having a difficult time feeling joy, and subsequently become even more distressed from the pressure to “be joyful”.  Just remember that you are loved beyond the depths of your imagination, and on Christmas, God sends His perfect Love to you!

I wanted to take this moment to highlight that Facing Our Immortality is expanding its mission.  We are going to be ministering to people with cancer or serious illnesses at Father Woody’s Haven of Hope.  This is a blessing.

It is difficult to imagine that an individual may be struggling with a diagnosis like cancer and be in a condition of homelessness.  If you have struggled with cancer pain or treatment side effects you know all too well how discomforting life can be.  People who have no home must place inside their mindset a posture of incredible strength because they endure so much agony.  They endure rejection, cold, heat, rain, snow, ice, hazards, hunger and incredible loneliness.  Imagine adding cancer to that mix of circumstances.

Prayer is essential for establishing a relationship with God, and in order to pray, one must have access to a quiet place where they can focus.  This is probably very difficult to do if you have no home or place to call your own. Father Woody’s has a beautiful little chapel that radiates a sense of calm, you can feel the Lord’s presence. It is in Father Woody’s chapel that we will complete our prayers and discussions.

The center itself provides critical resources for the homeless population and Margaret Pearson, Director of Operations, really understands the people in need.  She has a loving and trusting relationship with them and is dedicated to making their lives better. Thank you Margaret for giving us this opportunity. Every human being deserves to live a dignified life.

It is through this ministry that we pray for those in need to welcome Jesus into their hearts, to experience His never ending love and for them to begin to desire what God has in store for them.  To learn more about Father Woody’s Haven of Hope, please link here.

Mary Did You Know – Cee Lo Green Clip + lyrics

The Visit of the Shepherds

Luke Chapter 2, 15-20

15 When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. 18 All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. 19 And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

Merry Christmas to you from all of us at Facing Our Immortality!

Click to open:

Ministry Group December 10, 2018

Facing Our Immortality Conference Information.  I hope you can join us.

In Anticipation of Christmas

6:30 pm  Mountain Monday December 10th Lourdes school

Or

Join at https://www.uberconference.com/facingourimmortality

If you don’t want to join online, you can call and then upload the documents from the website.

Call/ No PIN 720-735-7025 and materials will be on our website at https://facingourimmortality.org/

Welcome everyone,

If you are not able to join us at Our Lady of Lourdes Classical School, you can participate in our support group online.

1. Uber Conference Facing Our Immortality Login  and type in your name and email. You will be able to talk online and view the discussion documents.
2. If you do not have access to your computer, you can call into Uber Conference at 720-735-7025.

Please be sure to follow along the format.  We look forward to talking with you soon.

With great sorrow we report that Karen Pope has passed away,  She went to her eternal home on October 29, 2018, leaving her family behind in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  Please visit her obituary by linking here.

We will be honoring her at our next group meeting, November 12, 2018, starting at 6:30 pm.  Please see insert below.  God rest the soul of our beloved and dear friend Karen Pope.  We will greatly miss her, she was a true reflection of the loving light of our dear Father, Lord Jesus Christ.  May God Grant Karen Eternal Rest. Amen.

Support GroupNovember 12, 2018Lourdes Classical School6th Grade Classroom2298 S Logan St, Denver, CO 80210

Link to uber conference: Facing Our Immortality

Hello all,

I had the pleasure of meeting with Jim Langley, Psy. D., of St. Raphael Counseling/Catholic Charities this past week.  I thought is was very important to establish a relationship with St. Raphael Counseling because, as you are probably very aware, oftentimes with cancer comes emotional/psychological distress.  This can be with patients or with caregivers/spouses/siblings and anyone who is otherwise affected by the arise of cancer.

Our ministry is directed towards the spiritual health of those affected by cancer but there is much crossover within the conversation. If you read my blog or had a chance to talk with me about my experiences since 2009 you would understand that I am a firm and ardent believer in the healing power of Christ and the love and grace He and our Blessed Mother, the angels and saints, and the Holy Spirit give us.  You would also learn I am also an ardent supporter of psychological counseling, especially when it comes to cancer.

Cancer is a family illness, for all of us, and my experience was and is no exception.  Real problems can arise, not due to intentional ill will or lack of love, but because our new circumstance create an unavoidable need for some form of change.  Change is difficult for everyone, and especially if the patient needs more help.  Many times families, friends and patients are able to adjust to the “new normal” with minor bumps along the way.  That is not the case for everyone, especially when someone is called home to our Heavenly Father.

We as patients experience so many losses, financial, job, purpose, hobbies, etc.  The manner in which we go through our daily lives, for no matter how long we are blessed with living in this beautiful world of God’s creation, needs adjustment.  Having the opportunity to speak with a psychologist to address specific issues can be invaluable.

I have had psychological counseling off and on, even prior to my cancer diagnosis, due to depression.  I am an avid supporter of psychological services and would love it if the medical oncology community would include psychological screening and treatment as part of their standard treatment protocol.  I know I am not alone in this view.

Here is a link to St. Raphael Counseling https://www.straphaelcounseling.com/.  I find this providential because my confirmation name is Raphael.  Here is a link about St. Raphael, whose feast day is September 29th.

It is my hope, our hope, that with the ongoing monthly support group and intermittent specialty retreats offered by Facing Our Immortality, that we can be not only a means of connecting and renewing our spiritual connection with the Holy Trinity, but also be able to properly refer out into the community for your special needs.

Please don’t forget about the upcoming Men’s Retreat at Mother Cabrini Shrine, we still have openings for patients and non-patients alike.  Maybe there is someone in your like who is in need of this unique retreat.

We will be having our monthly support group on October 8th at Our Lady of Lourdes, starting at 6:30 pm. Please contact me if you will want to participate, either in person or remotely.

Please open this additional link for a beautiful video, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael (Sept. 29. Feast of the Archangels)

Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Denise Archuleta

We are starting our monthly Facing Our Immortality Cancer Ministry Support Groups on August 13, 2018.

They will occur each month, on the second Monday of the month, for now.  We have been doing quite a bit of planning to ensure that this is a safe and loving environment for people who have been affected by cancer.  We are open to patients, survivors, caregivers, spouses and surviving spouses.  Sr. Anne Marie has created a lovely workbook that walks us through prayer and spiritual exercise that brings us closer to God.  It is in facing our immortality that we release ourselves of our fears.

Location: Our Lady Of Lourdes Classic School 6th grade classroom,                                2256 S. Logan St. –Denver, CO  80210
Time: 6:30 pm for 60-90 minutes.  Please call Denise to RSVP at 206-779-0691
Here is the link to the support group Facebook page

Please join our Men’s Cancer Retreat October 5-7, 2018 at Mother Cabrini Shrine.

“Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while…” Mk.  6:31.  Jesus spoke these words to his disciples and He speaks these words into the lives of those, who in the midst of serving what can seem like overwhelming needs, have no time for their own rest, meals, quiet, prayer. Jesus promises to restore our strength, and renew us in His love, if we come to Him. “Come to Me all you who labor and I will give you rest.”  

The Facing Our Immortality Men’s Cancer Retreat, Oct 5-7, 2018, is designed especially for men with cancer, those who are cancer survivors, caregivers and surviving spouses. If you are feeling the need for spiritual strengthening and refreshment, please see below:

This is a special time for men to gather and be in communion with one another around the effects of cancer. The retreat will focus on suffering (specific to cancer), your relationship with the Lord and understanding God’s plan in the midst of suffering. You will gain a better understanding of the relationship between you, our Blessed Mother and Jesus in seeking spiritual relief from this experience. We will offer the sacraments of reconciliation, anointing of the sick and mass, as well as ongoing prayer to enrich your ability to listen to the Holy Spirit. It is a time to ask God questions and find a way back to peace in the midst your circumstances.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

• CHECK-IN from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• DINNER is at 5:00 pm
• FIRST SESSION begins at 6:30 pm

SUNDAY OCTOBER  7, 2018

• RETREAT CONCLUDES at 3:30 pm

Please complete this registration form to attend: Men’s Cancer Retreat Registration Form.

For more information you can also link to our Men’s Cancer Retreat Facebook Event Page.

Special note: due to the limited space, we will require payment in advance.  Thank you for your understanding.

Peace and God Bless you!

Facing Our Immortality Cancer Ministry

Article by Aleteia writer Grace Stark: What happened when 9 women joined together to look immortality in the face

“A Catholic retreat in Colorado is helping women healing from cancer a chance to reflect on the deeper realities of life and death.”

We were privileged to receive the attention of Grace Stark, writer with Aleteia Magazine, an inspiring Catholic journal that covers news, culture, spirituality and the Catholic lifestyle.  Grace had contacted us prior to the retreat but we did not want to alter the experience for the retreatants in any way by telling them that someone may want to interview them about the retreat.  It was our first major retreat in Colorado and it was important that the experiences be pure.

After the retreat Grace provided us with a survey, which was sent to the retreatants.  Grace took time to interview Sr. Anne Marie Walsh and I about the retreat and from the surveys and interviews, Grace has put together an inspiring story about what we all encountered in Christ at Mother Cabrini Shrine.

Please take a moment to read her article about our retreat.  We are currently scheduling the next retreat for men and firming up the local cancer support group in Denver, Colorado.  Peace and Blessings to you all.

Denise Archuleta