Bereavement Ministry 

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Grief Speaks

Samaritan's Hope - Offering Care to Suicide Loss Survivors

You Can NOT Be Replaced

Grief Hurts.  When we've lost someone we love, it can feel as though we've lost a part of ourselves.  Sometimes we wonder if we will ever feel whole again.  The pain of grief can be emotional, spiritual and sometimes even physical.  Some people cry a lot, others not at all, and many cry now and then.  It is all normal, and it is all okay.  Feeling sad is a natural response to losing someone who was an important part of our life.  Many people experience a lack of energy and sadness while grieving.  Some describe being "in a fog" and finding it difficult to perform simple tasks.  Some people want to be around their friends and family, and others prefer to be left alone.  Grief looks different with each person who experiences it.

Parish-Based Grief Support Groups

Many of our parishes offer peer grief support groups for persons who have experienced a loss.  It can be very helpful to share your grief with others who understand and share your faith.  Our faith is a great source of hope and comfort at a time of loss.  We believe in Eternal Life and Christ's promise: "I am the Resurrection and the Life, he who believes in me, though he dies, yet he shall live."  John 11;25 

RAINBOWS Ministry for Children

The Rainbows (www.rainbows.org) program fosters emotional healing among children, teens and adults grieving a loss from a life-altering crisis. It is available to parishes, schools, religious education and youth programs in the diocese.  Organized according to guidelines formulated by the international RAINBOWS organization, coordinators and facilitators must be trained prior to offering the program.  Questions? Contact 609-403-7175
 

You can find parish-faith-based support groups listed by county and parish HERE (updated 4-2023)

In addition, there are some community-based organizations that can help HERE.

Parish Counseling Services is short term counseling for parishoners through their local parish - click here to read more.

Take Care of Yourself

It is important to try to take care of ourselves while we are mourning a loss.  We might forget to eat or maybe aren't getting enough sleep.  Others find they are eating much more than usual, or sleeping all day long.  Try to be aware of any of these tendencies, and don't ignore them.  Keep connected to people in your life who understand what you are going through.  Don't hesitate to ask them fof help with day to day tasks, which can seem overwhelming, especially in the early stages of grief.  If you don't feel well, it is always a good idea to see a medical doctor to make sure that there is nothing else going on, in addition to the grieving process.  Your doctor may be able to offer advice or suggestions to help you cope with grief.

• Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255
• or, go to your nearest Hospital Emergency Room
• or, call 9-1-1 for immediate assistance.

Faith Alive:  Seeing the Blessings of Grief Ministry

An excerpt from “Overcoming Grief: Ten Suggestions” by Arnaldo Pangrazzi