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Bereavement Ministers assist grieving families prepare the funeral mass to prayerfully and properly commemorate their loved one's life. Depending upon individual parish practices, this may include conveying sympathy on behalf of the parish; meeting with the family to guide them through the selection of readings, psalms, intercessions, and music; leading prayer at the vigil (wake) service; or communicating ongoing concern and support.

Bereavement Training provides an orientation to the ministry and is followed by hands-on training experiences guided by the parish Bereavement Minister or Coordinator.

AArchdiocese of Chicago, Vicariate 1 Deanery DEF Ministry Commission Presents…
Holiday Greetings in These Difficult Times
By Amy Florian, © 2020 Corgenius, Inc

Check the holiday card aisle in your favorite store. You’ll see “Happy Holidays!” and “Happy Hanukkah!” and “Merry Christmas!”  - all messages of light and joy. Yet the holidays are not "happy" or "merry" for families who coped with death during the year.
 
In 2020, the issues are even more complicated because, due to COVID, all of us are grieving in some way. As with those whose loved one died (whether of COVID or not), many have "primary losses" – a business failed, they were laid off or furloughed, a home burned in the wildfires or flooded in hurricanes, etc. These grieving people require particular sensitivity.
 
Even those without primary losses, though, are dealing with grief. Here's just a couple of examples:

• the inability to gather with friends and family
• loss of security and safety
• change in role as they learn to work remotely and/or become in-home tutors to kids who are schooling remotely
• shattering of plans and dreams for the spring, summer, and fall (including having to let go of many long-standing holiday traditions that can't happen this year).

• "This holiday season is unlike any other, to cap off a year unlike any other. Throughout this season and as we move into a new (and hopefully better) year, we wish you moments of peace amid the difficulties, connections with family and friends even if they can't be in person, the warmth of memories from holidays past, and wonderful glimpses of the joy that still lives under the surface."
• "This is sure to be a holiday season of intensely mixed emotions as you miss your dad with tears, remember him with smiles, and mourn that your family can't all be together. It’s a normal experience that every emotion is part of grief, especially in times like this. We carry you in our hearts throughout this difficult season and continue to be here for you as you move forward. We wish you peace, healing, and even moments of joy to sustain you."
• "The holidays can seem especially draining this year with all that is going on. It is doubly difficult because we all miss our usual means of support, the comfort of gathering with friends and family, and worship services that are part of our traditions. We are here for you through it all. We wish you endurance, strength, health, and as much happiness as these times can allow!"

These are only a few suggestions. You can adapt many more from my book A Friend Indeed: Help Those You Love When They Grieve or use these ideas to create your own. Regardless, don't gloss over the challenges of this holiday season for your friends, family, and colleagues. Instead, let them know you understand them, support them, and will be there to help see them through.

Amy Florian is a liturgy and bereavement consultant who is an expert is death, loss, grief, aging, and transition. She teaches care minister and bereavement minister training, offers inspirational and educational evenings, teaches at diocesan and parish events across the country, and is the author of the multi-award-winning book A Friend Indeed: Help Those You Love When They Grieve.

Bereavement Author: Amy Florian
Amy is a dynamic speaker, professor, author, and nationally-recognized bereavement consultant and grief coach helping people who are grieving a life-changing loss. Amy holds a Master’s Degree in Pastoral studies and a Fellow in Thanatology. (The highest level of certification in the field of death and grief studies)
 

"Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted” Matthew 5:4

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

CLICK HERE FOR PDF OF THIS FLYER

All of us have or will experience the tragic loss of a friend or loved one in our lives. It is at these times when we, as a Christian community, need to draw close to each other and our loving God for support and comfort. If you have been a recipient of the care and support shared by our Bereavement Ministry or just want to help others who may be suffering, this is your opportunity.

The Corporal works and the Spiritual works of mercy are at the core of who we are as Catholics Christian. They not only identify who we are as a people; charitable, caring, compassionate and generous, they also identify the behaviors which help us to live our lives as true disciples of Jesus Christ. An unknown author was quoted as saying “People see what we do, God sees why.”

BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY TRAINING – 2021

Date:               Saturday, June 5, 2021
Presenter:      Amy Florian
Via Zoom (Invitations will be sent after registration is complete)
Participants should contact their individual Parish Coordinator to register.

AGENDA

 8:45 – 9:00                 Log in and technical support
 9:00 – 9:15                 Welcoming – Details and logistics – Opening Prayer – Introduction
 9:15 – 10:15               “The Catholic View of Death & Communication Skills with Grieving People”
10:15 –10:30               Break
10:30 – 11:45              Continuation of “Communication Skills with Grieving People”
11:45 – 12:15              Lunch
12:15 – 1:15                “Planning the Funeral Rites”
 1:15 – 1:30                 Wrap up and Closing Prayer

Reservations: You MUST contact the Bereavement Ministry Coordinator at your parish prior to registering for this workshop at www.vic1chicago.org.

• Registration CLOSES Monday May 31, 2021 - No registrations after this date. 

• Questions: Contact Deacon Joe Yannotta or Diane Yannotta at jyannotta@stedna.org or dyannotta@comcast.net.

  Bereavement Trainer: Amy Florian

• Amy is a dynamic speaker, professor, author, and nationally-recognized bereavement consultant and grief coach helping people who are grieving a life-changing loss. Amy holds a Master’s Degree in Pastoral studies and a Fellow in Thanatology. (The highest level of certification in the field of death and grief studies)
  
  "Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted” Matthew 5:4

PRAYER FOR MOURNERS

Lord God,
you are attentive to the voice of our pleading.
Let us find in your Son comfort in our sadness,
certainty in our doubt,
and courage to live through this hour.
Make our faith strong through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

 https://www.usccb.org/resources/prayers-death-and-dying

David Kessler is an expert, author and speaker on grief and loss and the founder of
www.grief.com. Resources such as workshops, online grief courses and more are
available at https://www.davidkesslertraining.com/.

“Grief.com is dedicated to help everyone deal with the often unknown terrain that comes
along with all kinds of grief. Through education, information and other helpful resources
we hope to make the challenging road of grief a little easier.” www.grief.com.

Facebook Page: David Kessler