Beginning Experience, a peer ministry that has been offering hope and faith to separated, divorced and widowed people for almost 30 years, is sadly facing its ending here in Perth.
The ministry and vision of “working through grief, being healed, transformed and free to love again” have been faithfully offered through its programs since 1985, twice and sometimes three times a year.
Beginning Experience is dependent on peer volunteer commitment and, in recent times, participants who have completed a weekend have been unable to follow through with the commitment required to enable the weekend ministry to continue.
Because of the inspiration and dedication of Jenny Huembs, Margaret O’Brien, Fr Ken Keating and Our Lady of Grace Parish in North Beach with the financial generosity of the late Archbishop William Foley, Beginning Experience came to Perth in 1985.
Weekends were held at St Joseph’s Convent in Safety Bay (now Penola by the Sea) until 2007, when diminishing participant numbers led to the change to Epiphany Retreat Centre, Rossmoyne.
Training days, follow-up sessions and social events were held predominantly at North Beach, and in later years at Rossmoyne.
The loss of a partner through death, separation or divorce creates a jumble of emotions, and the Beginning Experience process of gently confronting these numerous emotions in a loving Christian environment with other wounded persons has led to healing and renewal of hope for a great number of people.
Deep friendships have been established as we have shared our vulnerabilities, our pains and our sorrows and so the spirit of Beginning Experience will continue in Perth even though its programs have come to an end.
A final Mass of thanksgiving and celebration will be held on October 26 at 11am at St Vincent Pallotti Chapel, 60 Fifth Ave, Rossmoyne.
An invitation is extended to all who have participated in any way in the Beginning Experience ministry here in Perth to come, reconnect and share memories.
Mass will be followed by a finger food lunch in the adjacent hall. (Please bring a plate to share.) For further information and confirmation of attendance, please email mauzk@bigpond.com, phone 0419 928 110 or 6161 9269.