Beacon of Christ's Light
Grief Support
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St. Gabriel The Archangel Catholic Church
Grief Support Ministry
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." -Psalm 34:18 -
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St. Gabriel’s closed 10-week Grief Support Group for the recently bereaved uses as its foundation a 9-video program entitled “Walking Through Grief”. Each 90-minute Grief Support Group meeting begins and ends with prayer and includes a Scripture Reflection from the Bible that deals with grief. Each “Walking Through Grief” video ranges from twenty to forty minutes, taking participants on a journey that begins with defining what grief is and ends with helping participants chart a course for healing. In the discussion segment of each meeting, participants are free to share their experiences or to say nothing at all. No one is asked to share if they do not want to. We also offer supplemental materials for use outside the group, including a resources list of books, articles, and other information for those in grief.
Each 10-week Grief Support Group is limited in size to 10 families. Spouses are considered as one, therefore no group will have more than 20 participants. This is so that the members of the group are comfortable sharing their stories with a smaller group whose bonds with one another are strengthened over the course of the ten weeks.
St.Gabriel’s Grief Support Groups are to be regarded by all participants as “safe spaces” where no one reveals anything shared within the group outside of the group. These Grief Support Groups are intended for adults 18 and older.
If you would like more information about St. Gabriel’s Grief Support groups or would like to sign up for our next 10-week support group starting in September 2022:
Contact
Linda Popolano
[email protected]
719-528-8407
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Our Goal
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One of the many goals of St.Gabriel’s Grief Support Groups is to foster bonds of fellowship among those who have walked alone in their grief. There is healing to be found in sharing one’s grief experience with others who understand because they have suffered through a similar experience.
Another goal of St. Gabriel’s Grief Support Groups is to find healing in serving others who are suffering. Just as Christ died to redeem us, there is redeeming power in serving others. We live in a society that denies death and asks us to minimize grieving. Often, God gives purpose to our grieving by allowing us to use it to serve others.
St.Gabriel’s Grief Support Groups are open to anyone regardless of parish affiliation or religion.
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Feedback
Below are two comments from the participants in our first 10-week Grief Support group held in Autumn 2021: -
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“Being able to talk to people who listen with compassion makes me feel less alone in my sorrow. No one is trying to tell anyone what to do, how to feel, or to respond to their grief. They just want to be there with me, and they let me be there with them. That gift of their presence is holy.”
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“I am a young widow who felt I wouldn’t belong in the group, but now I am very grateful to have made life-long friends. My young children have also benefitted from the love and support of the grief group.”
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Volunteer & SupportOur Ministry Needs You!
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Want to Help Our Grief Support Ministry?
A recent addition to St. Gabriel’s ministries, the first Grief Support Group, based on the Walking Through Grief program (www.walkingthroughgrief.com), was held in the autumn of 2021.
Our hope is to expand this ministry, for which we need volunteers who are willing to help facilitate or substitute facilitate 10-week Grief Support groups. Each group is limited to participants from no more than 10 families, to give group participants a chance to get to know one another and feel comfortable sharing.
Whether or not you have a background in this area, you are welcome to join the Grief Support Ministry. We have found that the best training for those interested in helping is to attend a 10-week session as an observer, also helping with setting up for each meeting and learning from Dcn. Dave, who is the clergy facilitator for Grief Support, and the team facilitating with him. Thus far, our groups have met on Saturday mornings from 9:30 am to 11:00 am, but we are also open to having future groups meet at other times, weekday evenings for instance when perhaps childcare can also be offered.
If you have experienced your own grief journey and have found significant healing through your faith, consider joining our ministry to help others still struggling with grief. If you have any questions or would like more information on how you can help with Grief Support, please contact:
Linda Popolano
Email: [email protected]
Phone the Office: 719-528-8407.
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