New Beginnings support group for divorced, separated and widowed divorce support group illinois

New Beginnings is a self-help group where people support people who are going through the difficult experience of death, divorce, or loss of a significant relationship.

Our focus is on the spiritual, emotional, and physical growth of our members and to provide an atmosphere where we feel safe in social situations.

New Beginnings is sponsored by
St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Naperville, IL.

Come and Join Us!

We meet at St. Raphael's every Tuesday at 7:30pm to hear a speaker or to meet in small groups. We also sponsor weekly social activities where members meet for fun and camaraderie. Come to a meeting to see what we're all about! It might be the best thing you could do for your recovery.

March 3

Linda Pfeifer community liaison from Linden Oaks at Edwards Hospital, will speak on Self-Awareness. Linda has been to New Beginnings many times in the past and has been well-received. She has an inter-active style that gets the audience really involved with her subject

March 24

Joan Guest will give a talk entitled “Recovery”. She is a licensed clinical social worker from Samaritan Interfaith Counseling Center. Joan holds a Master’s degree in social work and a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. She is now pursuing certification in Relationship Therapy.

April 7, 21, and May 5

Karen McNicholas will be offering a three-part relationship series.

Spiritual Thoughts

Thoughts submitted by Cindy Soderquist

It’s SPRING!!!!! Hallelujah!! (Almost) I never thought it would get here!! As those of us who sometimes suffer from S.A.D. (Seasonal Affected Disorder) can attest, the winter doldrums can’t be over with soon enough. Our recent speaker, Dan Dock, spoke about dealing with life’s changes and ways to sort things out. He encouraged us to challenge any negative self-perceptions and seek new ways to value ourselves.

It brings to mind a character from the older era of Saturday Night Live. Remember Stuart Smalley? Daily Affirmations? Sometimes I do that for myself. I look in the mirror and say, “ I’m smart enough, I’m good enough and gosh darn it! People like me!” Whew! I know it sounds kind of silly, but sometimes we need to just be silly. And Springtime is the perfect time to look at ourselves in a new way.

Rebirth is a continuous process. One life succeeds the previous one. One heart becomes reunited with the many hearts who await it. Renewal cleanses and enables the heart and soul and mind to find a wealth of new experiences.

In the Springtime of the year, rebirth is the theme. The spirits awaken from their long winter’s rest. The nap is over, the dullness is escaped once again. Your heart renews itself also. The hopes and dreams are revived. Life continues afresh.

Enjoy this time of the year. Look at all things through new eyes. Allow yourself new hope as you feel the darkness of winter being pushed aside by the swirling colors. The flowers are the swirling colors. They part the dullness and blackness and become prominent. One by one, they bloom until the earth is a riot of beautiful color. Allow yourselves to jump into this color, this new world, and become refreshed

Copyright 1999 Catherine M. Kasper. This information may be freely disseminated in whole or in part
provided there is no charge for the information and provided this note is attached.