The Bereavement Ministry is utilizing a Catholic resource “Grieving with Great Hope” that offers hope and healing to anyone who is mourning the death of a loved one. Developed by Good Mourning Ministry, a Catholic bereavement apostolate, the sessions consist of the following components: prayer, DVD, sharing (if you choose) and fellowship. The facilitators are members of the parish. Our credentials are: we have “walked the walk” and know there is hope beyond loss. As noted in our handbook regarding facilitators: “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called”.
We strive to begin the healing process by recognizing it is an individual process as is grief itself. There is no specific time line to achieve your goal. “Grieving with Great Hope” provides a helpful starting point “in this fork in the road” of your life’s journey. Grief recovery is simply feeling better. It is the ability to find joy in life again. It is to treasure the memory of a loved one, to miss them and to live better because of the time in your life you spent with them and to reestablish healthy relationships.
“Grieving with Great Hope” is a free yearly 6 week program. In 2020 it will be held on consecutive Mondays beginning September 21st and concluding on October 26th from 9:30-12:00 in the Education Building. Each of the participants will be provided with a workbook. There will be notices in the Sunday bulletin prior to the first session and registration forms will be available at the Welcome Desk in the church. Also members of the ministry do attempt to contact a family member who has experienced a loss in the past year. However, if for some reason you have not been contacted or know someone who may benefit from our program, please do not hesitate to contact one of the facilitators listed below.