AIDS Ministry

The main focus for AIDS Ministry continues to be support of the "Strength for the Journey" retreats in East Tennessee near Johnson City in May and October. Publicity and funding are the primary concerns. The retreats are well attended and are helpful for people living with HIV/AIDS, who often have been hurt by rejection from religion. The Province IV AIDS Retreat continues to grow. We had more than 250 participants in 2000. I attend planning meetings in Atlanta, several times a year and attend the retreat. The brochures are distributed throughout the diocese, state and province.

Last year I suggested that we include the Labyrinth as part of the retreat at Kanuga. The committee agreed, and it was such a powerful tool for prayer, grieving, meditation, etc., that it will be there again this June. Caroline Munday of Knoxville took her Labyrinth, and spent the weekend with it in the gym at Kanuga. It was a time spent in tears as she helped people deal with their pain and sorrow. I plan to rent a van this year, to take a few people who had no transportation and wanted to attend the retreat last year. As an individual thing,I continue to visit with several people living with HIV/AIDS, since there is no longer a central agency to work with in Knoxville.

Respectfully submitted by Liz Johnson