The Beginning Experience Ministry began as the dream of two individuals: a Catholic nun, Sister Josephine Stewart and her divorced friend, Jo Lamia. When they attended a Marriage Encounter Weekend in Texas in 1974, to try to gather some insight into the planning of an Engaged Encounter program, they didn’t think that they would discover the healing and forgiveness the divorced friend, Jo would realize by her writing down her feelings. With the help of the creator of Marriage Encounter, they developed the copyrighted program that is still used by all Beginning Experience teams throughout the USA, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore.

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Beginning Experience Logo ®

Our logo, made of six similar images, exemplifies a peer community of support by others, each of whom has experienced a similar loss.

The purple image with a white cross represents Christ walking beside us as we journey through grief to healing. The green color reflects the promise of new life.

Our tagline - Listen. Accompany. Heal.

• Listen - We provide a quiet space where you can share the pain of your loss.

• Accompany - We provide a quiet space.

• Heal - We offer a process for finding peace and meaning in life again.
  

The meaning of the emblem:

• The cross is a symbol of our identification as Christians with Christ's suffering and death.

• The anchor is an ancient symbol of hope

• The rising sun is a symbol of a new day
  

Beginning Experience Weekend ®

The weekend program helps divorced, separated, and widowed persons work through their grief, make a firm and gentle closure on the past and move into a new beginning.

Who Should Attend?

Participants should be beyond the initial feelings of anger and despair that normally follow the loss of a loved one or a marriage. They should be at the point of wanting to move forward toward a new beginning.

The program is Catholic and Christian based, but open to all denominations.

Peer Ministry

The program is presented by a team of people who have suffered the loss of a marital relationship themselves and are willing to share their own experience to help others. These trained facilitators lead participants through a program of presentations, personal private reflection, and small group sharing. A close sense of community develops in an atmosphere of care and concern for one another.

Weekend Schedule and Cost

The weekend begins at 7:00 on Friday night and closes Sunday afternoon at 4:30. Due to the structure of the weekend, it is imperative that you plan to be present for the entire weekend. There is no day commuting allowed. The weekend cost is $250, double occupancy, which includes the program, materials, lodging, five meals, beverages and a follow-up reunion event as well as three Continued Beginnings sessions. Payment arrangements and partial scholarships are available to cover costs.

Next Weekend:

March 8 - 10, 2024

Our registration form is online please click the purple link above to access our inquiry page. A member from the Orange County Team will contact you after you submit your form. If you have any troubles or questions please contact us through our email: beoc2015@gmail.com

Beginning Experience International Ministry, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) ministry, and all donations are fully tax deductible. Each local team is administered by an all-volunteer peer group. The ability to provide Beginning Experience programs and social activities is only possible with the help of our Beginning Experience ® participants and donations.

How are donations used?

Your donations are used to help with scholarships for those who cannot afford to attend the Weekend retreat. No one is ever denied the opportunity to attend a Beginning Experience® activity due to the lack of funds.

Donations can be in the form or cash or check, made payable to: Beginning Experience of Orange County (BEOC)

and mailed to:

Beginning Experience of Orange County

1927 W. Sloop Avenue

Anaheim, CA 92804

If you are interested in other USA locations or countries, visit Beginning Experience International ® website at www.beginningexperience.org, then click Find a Program.

If you are interested in the Orange County Weekends, and have any questions,

email us at beoc2015@gmail.com