Beginning Experience program helps divorced, widowed

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
August 25, 2005

Beginning Experience opportunities are available in the Diocese of Sioux City as a support group for separated, newly divorced or widowed persons.

Support is available for people experiencing the loss of a marriage either through death or divorce in two different formats. There are Beginning Experience weekends that continue to be offered three times a year with the next one being Oct. 21-23.

There are also Beginning Experience Levels sessions that are a weekly support group opportunity being offered in two locations this fall. Trained facilitators lead discussions on how to cope with being alone, being a single parent and overcoming hurt feelings. The program meets weekly for 10 weeks.

According to Delores McCuddin, leader for the Sioux City BE Levels, the levels is kind of a continuation of the weekend.

"On the weekend, it is three days or two and half days of intense working with people," said McCuddin. "The levels are spread out over two ten-week and one 12-week period. So we have levels one, two and three."

Level one is getting to know the people and what their problem is - working together, explained McCuddin. Level two is rebuilding their life and level three is "happiness is an inside job."

"We are trying to build them up as we go along and help them get through the grief and the sorrows and problems they have either through divorce or being widowed," said McCuddin. "The levels is not so intense. We only do it for two hours once a week - spread it out."

There are speakers that come in to speak to the participants. During the first level one session, people come in and talk about their experiences. Then there is a question and answer period.

For level two and three, there are videos show with questions and answers following. They also have time together for sharing.

"We find that that is one of the biggest helps - sharing with other people that are just like you and realizing that there are other people out there that have the same problems, the same hurts that you do," said McCuddin.

She has noticed that people who participate in the program are able to go on with their life and are happier. McCuddin continued that the people facilitating the session this time in Sioux City, starting Sept. 8, have successfully gone through the program themselves.

"You can see such an improvement," said McCuddin. "It is just unbelievable. In most all of them, we can see a change half-way through."

McCuddin commented that there are a lot of people out there who are suffering and "think they are the only ones that are going through these problems. It is good to get with other people and realize that other people have had the same problem - whether it is loneliness, trying to get through an abusive marriage or an alcoholic marriage. It is just nice to know that other people are going through this and that you are not all alone."

She thinks that "God works in this program very well. I think people find that even if they maybe haven't been going to church on a regular basis that it brings them back to God and makes them realize that they can find help with God's help."

There are two locations that will have Beginning Experience Levels programs starting soon. One section will start Sept. 8 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church in Sioux City. For more information or to pre-register for this session, contact Delores at (712) 239-5601 or Angela at (712) 258-8631. Another section will begin on Oct. 1 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at American Reformed Church in Orange City. For more information on this session or to pre-register contact Brian at (712) 756-4524 or Diann at (712) 949-2817.