For Immediate Release
Contact: Christine Valentine-Owsik • (215) 230-8095 •
HUNTINGTON, Indiana, December 17, 2014 – Divorce and separation are painful realities for so many Catholics. These life-altering events often bring frustration, pain, and self-doubt, sometimes made worse because of feeling isolated from the Church and the faith.
Two Catholic writers who have each been divorced share their unique prayer-approaches and reflections in Catholic Prayer Book for the Separated and Divorced (Our Sunday Visitor, 2014). At a time when Pope Francis is calling for renewed focus on pastoral challenges to the family – particularly for those who are divorced and remarried – this book strikes a welcome chord.
The pocket-sized prayer book is written in five parts. The first part addresses the stages of grief and loss. Part two offers special prayers for children, both for biological and step-children, and the issues they face in the splintering of their families. The third part includes familiar and comforting traditional prayers of the Church, including Marian prayers, the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and more. In part four, readers discover prayers for their own personal journey – prayers for patience, healing, trust, and letting go. The final part includes prayers for the intercession of patron saints who have gone through difficult marriages and divorce. Readers can turn directly to a section or prayer that they need most at a given moment, or use the book as a daily devotional.
“Divorce is so common -- and people think you should just ‘get over it.’ But for a Catholic, it represents more than the end of a relationship. It’s a wrenching spiritual event that impacts the very fabric of your faith. And yet, it is that same faith that allows us to find peace and, hopefully, forgiveness. May this book help those who are in the midst of that painful journey,” said co-author Woodeene Koenig-Bricker.
“Divorce—and the emotional challenges that accompany it—was the most difficult experience of my life. Through prayer intentionally focused on my circumstances, I found my way out of the turmoil. It is my hope that this book will help others do the same,” said David Dziena.
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For an interview with Woodeene Koenig-Bricker or David Dziena, please contact Christine Valentine-Owsik at: (215) 230-8095 or
ABOUT OUR SUNDAY VISITOR
The world’s largest English-language Catholic publisher, Our Sunday Visitor serves millions of Catholics globally through its publishing, offertory, and communication services. Established in 1912, Our Sunday Visitor publishes a wide range of books including Bibles, biographies of the saints, books by Pope Francis, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, children’s books, devotionals, bible studies, inspirational works, and curriculum. Our Sunday Visitor is a not-for-profit organization, returning a portion of net earnings back to the Catholic community through the Our Sunday Visitor Institute. For more information, visit www.osv.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Woodeene Koenig-Bricker is an author and editor with more than 20 years’ experience writing for the Catholic press. She was the founding editor of Catholic Parent magazine, and is the author of seven books on saints and spirituality including 365 Saints and Facing Adversity with Grace.
David Dziena holds an M. A. in Pastoral Theology from St. Joseph College and has worked in catechetical ministry for over 20 years. He is the Parish Acquisitions Editor at Our Sunday Visitor. David is also a contributing writer of Faith Fusion: Knowing, Loving, and Serving Christ in the Catholic Church.