Bereavement Support

     The Bereavement Support Ministries assist in the healing process by comforting those who mourn and providing an outreach in the name of the parish community. Members of this committee offer a parish presence to those in our communities who are suffering the loss of a loved one.
     Ten-Week Bereavement Support Groups are offered 2-3 times per year to enable individuals to work through the steps of grieving. In addition, ongoing support follows with monthly sessions in �Moving Forward� to address growth through the difficult changes that result from the death of a loved one. The Bereavement Team plans the annual November 2 Memorial Mass especially for all families who have experienced a loss in the past year. Members of this ministry are compassionate people with good listening skills who have experienced the death of a loved one. This ministry responds to those suffering loss and is based on the premise that �grief shared is grief diminished.� Members of this ministry find their belief in the Resurrection is strengthened through participation in this ministry.

Time Commitment: The Support Groups meet for 1� hours over a period of ten weeks. The parish offers 2-3 support groups per year. Facilitators for each group attend all meetings, a total time commitment of 15 hours per group. Group Facilitators are trained by the Archdiocesan Family Life Office and help to implement the �New Day� process.