Combat veterans often struggle with their wartime memories. (Catholic Sun File Photo)
Combat veterans often struggle with their wartime memories. An Oct. 3-5 workshop at the Franciscan Renewal Center aims to help them cope with the trauma they experienced and still often struggle with.  (Catholic Sun file photo)

A world-renowned Anglican priest will visit the Franciscan Renewal Center in Paradise Valley to conduct a residential Healing of Memories Workshop for Veterans Oct. 3-5. The workshop is free of charge for veterans and includes all meals and two nights lodging.

The workshop has been conducted nine times for over 140 veterans in Minnesota and Arizona. Veterans who have attended say that it was a major step in their healing from the psychological and spiritual wounds of their combat experiences. Transportation will be provided to veterans who need it. Partial funding for the workshop has been provided by a grant from the Arizona Department of Veteran Services.

The Healing of Memories Workshop was created by Fr. Michael Lapsley, an Anglican missionary priest, who in 1990 suffered the loss of his hands and the sight in one eye from a letter bomb that was sent to him in Zimbabwe by a supporter of the pro-apartheid government in South Africa. After a long recovery from the bombing, Fr. Lapsley decided to dedicate his life to helping victims of emotional, psychological and spiritual wounds inflicted by war, human rights abuses and other traumatic circumstances.

The weekend workshop begins with a 6 p.m. dinner Oct. 3 and ends at 2 pm Oct.5.
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More info:

Contact Mike Wold at (651) 687-9767 or email: michael_w_wold@msn.com. Space is limited to the first 24 veterans who register.
To make a donation, contact The Franciscan Renewal Center at (480) 948-7460, ext.132.

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