"There is a tremendous need to help these folks," according to Capt. Jeffery Cox of the Massachusetts National Guard.

Cox, a clinical social worker with the Guard, offered his expertise and advice to the brothers of the Society in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to create a time of healing at the monastery specifically for members of the armed services who have spent long stretches away from home in war zones.

Cox has been deployed twice since 2003 and served in a combat stress company in Iraq in 2005-2006. He is a postulant for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and the Episcopal Church Province 1 Coordinator for Episcopal Relief and Development. He works full-time as a contractor for the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program, supporting seriously injured and wounded soldiers throughout New England.

The brothers reserved the first weekend in October at the monastery to offer a healing retreat for people returning from places of war.

"Retreat isn't a very good military word. It's a negative word in the military," said Cox. "But the kind of retreat the brothers offer is what many people need right now. It's a great tool for helping to make the transition home. I know because the monastery is where I went when I got home."

"Binding Up Our Wounds: A retreat for members of the armed services and veterans returning from war," will be offered to a limited number of participants October 4-7.

A Thursday-to-Sunday religious retreat may be too long for some people to attend, so the brothers are inviting the public to a special healing service at the monastery in Cambridge, 980 Memorial Drive, at 11 am on October 6.

For additional information, contact the monastery guesthouse at guesthouse@ssje.org, visit http://www.ssje.org/ or call 617-876-3037. Anyone wishing to participate in the weekend retreat should send an email to the monastery guesthouse explaining why this experience would be helpful to him or her.