15 Comments
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Amy Wolff's avatar

Congrats Jolene! So excited for your new chapter on this amazing journey you have choosen.

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Jolene Park's avatar

Thank you, Amy❤️

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Josh Luton's avatar

Congratulations, Jolene. I was at Duke for my M.Div. 2010-2013, and it was an incredible place to be and study, the community was great. My life has taken some twists and turns since then re: that path, but have fond memories of my time there. Wishing you the best and excited for your new journey.

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Jolene Park's avatar

Oh wow! That's so cool. Thanks so much for commenting. I continue to hear so many wonderful things about the university and the program from current students and alumni. It's great to hear the community is so wonderful—that's a big part of my desire to be there as well!

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Dana Leigh Lyons's avatar

Such beautiful, wonderful news, Jolene! When I read the headline, my first thought was: YES. Of course! ❤️

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Jolene Park's avatar

Aw, thank you, Dana. I’ve always appreciated your kind and generous support.❤️

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Molly Gorney's avatar

Jolene! I found you through Holly and Laura on the HOME podcast and have followed you ever since through all the gray area drinking and the work you did with Aiden Donnelly Rowley. This is AMAZING! I am someone who has deconstructed a lot of my trauma from organized religion and am in the process of reclaiming a lot of it in my healing and I love gorgeous rituals of the Catholic Church, saints, lost gnostic gospels, rosaries, sacred prayer and alters and Mother Mary and Mary Magdalen. So I just LOVE this for a woman like you. Congratulations and I look forward to seeing how this goes for you 🤍✨

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Jolene Park's avatar

Hi Molly, thank you so much for taking the time to write, and thanks for being here all these years. While I don’t know how it will all take shape - I’m excited to see where things unfold. You put words to what I’m sitting with. I know there are many in the alcohol free space who have trauma from or deconstructed out of organized (Christian) religion. And yet, there are good pieces to reclaim, gorgeous ancient rituals to remember, or learn for the first time, and wonderful traditions (like praying the divine hours, practicing a weekly Sabbath, etc that truly nourish our body, mind and spirit) that have been lost. We don’t have to throw the baby out with the bath water, so to speak. Just like the unspoken elephant in the room with gray area drinking, I think there is an unspoken need/want for some to reclaim, return to, and remember the ancient Christian tradition, origins from long ago. I’m excited to explore and learn more.

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Heather Lowe's avatar

Oh my God. Literally. So happy for you! Namaste!

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Tawny Lara's avatar

Jolene!!!! 🎉

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Cindy S.'s avatar

Wow Jolene; this is truly impressive and I’m sure your entire community is thrilled for you to have this experience. I have no doubt you will add so much to their program. I’m excited for all the learning you will do and share with all of us who benefit so much from your knowledge and experience. What an honor to be accepted into this program at such a prestigious university.

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Kimberly Wilson's avatar

Amazing!!! I’m so happy for you. You were one of the first voices I heard and followed when I became sober curious in 2017. My life is better for your work. I know you’ll continue to do even bigger and more impactful work with this experience.

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SunnyBee's avatar

That is fantastic and.....makes perfect sense from what I have learned about you over the years (here). Very happy for you.

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Jan Burch's avatar

Congratulations Jolene I am so excited for you. Your journey has and will continue to amaze you and others. Peace and love! Jan

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Caroline Beidler, MSW's avatar

Wow! Big congrats 🎉 excited where God is leading you ⭐️

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