The Bereavement Ministry is a ministry of consolation to offer God's healing love through emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual comfort. Through each other, this ministry offers strength, compassion, peace and love manifesting the glory of God within us. This Ministry is a source of blessing as we reach out to our brothers & sisters experiencing a loss.
"Blessed are they who mourn;
they shall be consoled" Mt. 5:3
The spiritual health of a parish is directly proportional to the ways in which it reaches out to those in need. The primary mission of this ministry is to offer compassion and support through the serving of a meal following the funeral Mass to those who grieve a loved one. Members of this committee can serve in numerous ways: provide food for the meal, assist in telephoning for donations, or assist in preparing, serving, and cleaning up after the meal. Teams of 6 to 7 people are called upon to serve at each funeral. Due to the brief period of time between the death of a person and the funeral Mass, people in this ministry should be prepared to serve on short notice. Depending on the number of deaths in a year's time, teams will serve only a few times a year.
We also offer Grief Support groups to help who have suffered the loss of a loved one through this difficult time in their lives.
Phone Callers: Names and phone numbers of willing parishioners are provided to the phone callers who request food donations for the meals.
Team Leaders: Team Leaders are responsible for coordinating the Bereavement meals. They contact the calling team, put together a team from the list of volunteers, purchase non-donated food items, and oversee the preparation, serving and clean up of the meal.
Donating Food: If you would like to contribute towards the meal, your name will be placed on a rotating schedule.
Cooking/Baking: Some items are prepared at home and brought to the church the day of the funeral. Sometimes meals are prepared either in Brennan Auditorium or the PAC the day of the funeral using donated ingredients.
Set-up & Serving the Meal: Prior to the meal, tables are decorated and serving stations set up. Following the Funeral Mass, the Meal is served to the family and friends of the deceased.
Clean Up: After the guests leave, everything must be cleaned and put away.
Support Group: As we carefully expand our grief support network, we will need additional facilitators who have experienced loss in their own lives and can help others through their grieving.
"Why do you seek the living among the dead?" Words spoken by an angel to Mary Magdalene