Our Mission Supports Yours
As a supportive grief professional or member of the clergy serving the needs of bereaved mothers and grandmothers, it's very likely that you appreciate the value of solid, supplemental programs grounded in the Peace that surpasses all understanding. Such programs deeply embrace the cardinal virtues of faith, hope and love as vital partners in your clients' path to recovery and integration.
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Sacred Sorrows offers retreats, workshops and online resources that support your efforts, and co-exist in tandem with your goals to help grieving women.
Our programs bring about transformation through
experiential invitations into the beauty of nature, contemplation and prayer, journaling and creative expression, scriptural meditations, spiritual exercises, gentle small group sharing, rest, and more.
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The invitation to find hope and meaning through encounters with the mystery of grace is offered to all women who discover Sacred Sorrows, regardless of their faith traditions or inclinations. We welcome all those you serve as they seek healing and peace.
Our founder
Rita Morton has 25 years of concurrent experience in two vastly different worlds. As the director of marketing and sales for a manufacturing company for 22 years, Rita was responsible for all North American professional and collegiate sports markets. As the co-founder of a national women’s ministry for the past five years, (and a leader in women's ministries since 2000), she facilitates faith-based study groups, writes and presents retreats; creates courses and related marketing materials, and develops leadership training programs. Her gift for fashioning experiential and expressive retreats that offer women the opportunity for powerful encounters with God has equipped her with the skills necessary to bring forth Sacred Sorrows.
Unfortunately, in June 2019, Rita became uniquely qualified to help grieving mothers when she suffered the sudden loss of her eldest son Chad. This experience made way for a profound transformation that was wholly informed by her deep spirituality. After participating in a 30-day silent retreat based on the wisdom tradition of the Spiritual Exercises, Rita’s intense grief was integrated in such a powerful way that she later discerned her call to help other grieving women attain this same kind of healing. Sacred Sorrows launched as a non-profit organization in the spring of 2021.
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Our advisors
Fr. John Auther, S.J.
Jesuit Retreat Center, Los Altos, CA
Fr. Stephan Bauer, O.S.C.
Crosier Village, Phoenix, AZ
Mrs. Kay Kandas
Magis Women, Scottsdale, AZ
Ms. Mindy Malik, Ph.D.
Prayerful Journeys, New Orleans, LA
Fr. Chi Ngo, S.J.
Jesuit Retreat Center, Los Altos, CA
Mr. Matthew Rivaldi, MBA
Working Business, San Diego, CA
Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D.
The Magis Center, Garden Grove, CA
Mr. David Sylvester, MTS, MA
Bloomington, IN
Our team
Mrs. Karen Wegrzyn
Director of Administration and Development
Sturgis, MI
Mr. Nicholas Koenig
Director of Analytics
San Francisco, CA
Mrs. Sharon Casagrande, CPA
Director of Finance
Gilbert, AZ
Mrs. Dawn Bittorf
Director of Merchandising
Gilbert, AZ