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After Abortion Healing and Reconciliation for Catholic Women (or Catholic-Friendly) Serving San Diego, and Escondido CA
Two women giving peace sign
Our retreats are recognized by the Catholic Diocese of San Diego

The Development of Rachel’s Hope

by Rosemary Benefield RN, MA & MPC
I graduated Mercy College of Nursing and became licensed in 1968. In 1992, after raising my family, I attended Trinity College of Graduate studies where I earned a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling and a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Counseling. After graduation I worked in the Pregnancy Counseling Office at Mercy Hospital in San Diego from Jan. 1992 to 1998 counseling women who were there to see if they were pregnant and some of these women had had an abortion and needed healing. I referred them to an Evangelical Post-Abortion Healing Workshop. However, many of the Catholic women I saw didn’t want to attend a program if it is not Catholic. So, my husband, Jim Benefield LMFT, and I wrote the manual “Rachel’s Hope After-Abortion Healing” with a participants workbook. Thus, in Sept. 1994 I had my first retreat and became founder and director of "Rachel's Hope After-Abortion Healing and Reconciliation retreats for Catholic Women and Men (or Catholic Friendly). I have specialized training in post-abortion healing from Psychiatrist Dr. Philip Ney “Hope Alive Group counseling for Pregnancy Losses and Child Abuse & Neglect” and Teri Riesser M.S. “Post-Abortion Counselor’s Training Seminar”. My husband passed away in May, 2013. I remarried in 2016 to Hugh Van Doren.

Why the Name Rachel’s Hope?

We have been asked why this healing program is called Rachel’s Hope. After all, the founder’s name is Rosemary, not Rachel. The name originates from the scripture reference Jeremiah 31:15-17. He says, “Rachel mourns her children; she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more. Thus says the Lord: Cease your cries of mourning. Wipe the tears from your eyes. The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward. There is hope for your future.” The name Rachel’s Hope embraces the sorrow that Rachel carries, and the hope that is there for her future.