A GRASP Testimonial by Denise Hanson, RN
Recently, I was approached by Marshall University and the WVDHHR Office of Drug Control Policy about GRASP.
They are just as eager to spread the word of our meetings as we are.
August 31st Marshall University held a Virtual Day of Hope virtual webinar. I was invited to go live and tell my son’s story, my story and about GRASP. At the end of the day, we had a memorial in which I shared a video made to remember so many lost to Overdose or Substance Use Disorder.
Below is a youtube link to this memorial. Just hold you finger on the link and select Youtube to start it. My son Greg, is on banner 5. At the end is a picture of Greg on Lake Erie. A picture I took while we were walleye fishing. The next picture of Chinese lanterns forming a cross in the sky was from Greg’s 1st angel birthday. About 35 family and friends gathered at his favorite place, Summersville lake to celebrate his 27th birthday and release the lanterns over the lake at dusk.
Marshall University has also created a web page “The Moveable Project” to share the gift of story telling in order to bring healing. They asked I make a video for them to share on this page. Again the focus is to talk of recovery, but in my instance GRASP which is about grief recovery is part of the topic.
Below is the link to the page.
If you scroll down, you will see my name, under a “quote” I said, then hit the arrow to see the video. God has pushed me to share what happened to Greg July 21, 2016, and I said I would if he opened the doors. He has.
Home | Movable: Narratives of Recovery and Place
https://www.movableproject.org/
Home | Movable: Narratives of Recovery and Place
https://www.movableproject.org/
September is recovery month and the Office of Drug Control Policy asked I make another video. In this video, there are 4 GRASP members and myself talking of how GRASP has helped us in our grief journey to heal. It will be shown on Facebook under Help&Hope for WV, Quality Insights and Healthy Connections, #WVrecoverymonth2020, #recoverymonth2020
Everyday this month is a topic to help people either go into recovery or help those in recovery how to get their licenses’ re-instated after a DUI or drug related DUI, how to register to vote, governmental advocacy 101 on helping to lobby to change laws to improve the lives of those in recovery, just a multitude of topics.
Please feel free to share these videos to the WVIS fb page or your webpage.
Thanks,
Denise Hanson, RN
GRASP Charleston Chapter Founder
New Edition of the History of WVIS available
The West Virginia Institute for Spirituality is pleased to announce a new edition of The History of WVIS. This book is now available for purchase and your reading pleasure. Throughout the chapters, you will see our growth and progress from 2010-2019.
As you review the second decade of WVIS history, first, join us in giving thanks for God’s Providential development of the Institute, second, for Christina St. Clair, who compiled, integrated, and creatively crafted a testimony to God’s faithfulness to the anawim. Third, ponder the people blessed through participation, but more importantly, BLESS those who have given of their own gifts to bless others.
The donation for this book is $35.00 plus shipping (media rate is $4.50).
Also available, the history of WVIS from 1999-2009 written by Ginny Masters the donation for this book is $20.00 plus shipping (media rate is $2.00).
You may request your book through email at wvislorena@aol.com, wviscr@aol.com or call WVIS 304.345.0926.
Reflection Booklets
Print copies of these reflection booklets may be obtained by contacting
The West Virginia Institute for Spirituality
(WVIS Phone: 304.345.0926)
Mary: Vision of Hope Prayers and Reflections Booklet (click here)
31 reflections for you to pray anytime.
Blessed Are …Living the Beatitudes
Designed to challenge you to make the Beatitudes a way of life.
9-12-2020 Blessed Are … Living the Beatitudes (Click here) 
Reflections and Prayers for West Virginia
Reflections and Prayers for West Virginia (click here)
Advent Reflections
WVIS Advent Booklet – Revised for Perpetual Use (click here)
Lent Reflections
WVIS Lenten Reflection Booklet – Final Revision (click here)
A Prayer For Time of Pandemic
A PRAYER IN TIME OF PANDEMIC
Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages curing every disease and illness. At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love. Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care. Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another. Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders. Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow. Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with you in your eternal peace. Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know your peace. Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace. Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks. May they know your peace, as they work together to achieve it on earth. Whether we are home or abroad, surrounded by many people suffering from this illness or only a few, Jesus Christ, stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace. Jesus Christ, heal us. AMEN. Kerry Weber – www.americamagazine.org
Almost Heaven Retreats 2021
Please see the flyer and registration form for our Annual Almost Heaven Retreats., May 27 – July 11, 2021.
The Almost Heaven Retreats will be offered on site as well as through Zoom.
Welcome to God’s peace and quiet reflection!
2021 AlmostHeavenRetreats WVIS Brochure
Upcoming Programs and Retreats at WVIS Here
G.R.A.S.P. (Grief Recovery After Substance Passing)
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
6-8 pm
West Virginia Institute for Spirituality
Cenacle Hall
Denise Hanson, RN, Facilitator
304-380-6186
Almost Heaven Retreats (2021) – 2021 Almost Heaven Retreats WVIS Brochure
The Almost Heaven Retreats will be offered on site and via Zoom.
The directed retreat is a silent time in which the retreatant is guided through a prayer experience by a personal spiritual director. The retreatant meets daily with the director to reflect upon the prayer experience and to discern in the light of the experience how to proceed. The material for prayer is Scripture. If you have never made a directed retreat, a Friday evening through Sunday morning is a recommended introduction. A weekend retreat is helpful in preparing retreatants to make longer retreats such as a 3 to 8 day retreat, or the thirty day experience. If you would like more information or the opportunity to talk more about this, call (304) 345-0926. Our facility accommodates only 15 retreatants at a time. Our meals always include a vegan option and the facility is air conditioned.
Sister Carole Riley, CDP, Ph.D.
Executive Director West Virginia Institute for Spirituality
Continuing Professional Development October 2020: Flyer Continuing_Professional_Development-2020 October
December 11-12, 2020 Advent Retreat via Zoom 2020 Advent Flyer
January 16-19, 2020 Intensive Workshop: Methods of Directing the 19th Annotation Retreat in Everyday Life 2020 Retreat in Everyday Life 19th Annotation (flyer with registration
WVIS Newsletters – 2019 – 2020
WVIS 2020 – 3
Winter-Spring 2020 Edition of the WVIS Newsletter: WVIS_Newsletter
Newsletter #3 2019: WVIS Newsletter Number 3, 2019…
The Spring-Summer Edition of the WVIS Newsletter: WVIS Spring-Summer 2019 Newsletter
The Winter Edition of the WVIS Newsletter : WVIS Winter 2019 Newsletter (click here to read the newsletter)
The Summer-Fall Edition of the WVIS Newsletter: WVIS Summer-Fall 2019 Newsletter
Sister Carole Riley CDP, Ph.D. Programs
Have you attended one of Sr. Carole Riley’s workshops and wished you had taped her presentation?
Now, many of her recorded programs are available for purchase. Click below to see which programs are available.
Sister Carole Riley, CDP, Ph. D. Programs
YOU Can Help WVIS
Part-time help needed: cooking, cleaning, maintenance.
If interested contact Sr. Carole Riley
**Volunteer your time at WVIS:
filing, housekeeping, cook a meal, answer the phone, weed the garden
**Purchase Gift cards from:
Walmart, Kroger, Sam’s Club, Amazon for house and retreatant needs.
**Monetary donations: coming soon you will be able to use your credit card to send a donation to WVIS.
**k-cups for Keurig: regular and decaf coffee, herbal teas
Do you shop online? If so, your online shopping can benefit WVIS. Here’s how:
1. www.igive.com/button/
Add the i.give button to your browser – register and indicate you wish your shopping to help the West Virginia Institute for Spirituality. There are many stores on the igive site. A percentage of your purchase will be sent to WVIS by those participating stores.
2. You can shop smile.amazon.com, which is the exact same as Amazon.com.
However, when you go to smile.amazon.com, they will donate 0.5% of all of your purchases to a charity of your choice. This is not tax deductible, but also not an additional expense.
