Bereavement

What it means to be a Bereavement Minister

Bereavement ministers provide comfort to parishioners who have recently lost a loved one.  They listen to the needs of the bereaved, and provide support through group meetings, one-on-one sessions, lectures, prayer services, and printed materials.  This is a wonderful ministry for parishioners who have completed their own grief journey and now want to assist others to reach a place of healing.

This ministry is also known as "Ministry of Consolation."

Group

Typical tasks and responsibilities:

• To respond to those who are experiencing the pain of grief due to death of a loved one.
• To provide an opportunity for the bereaved to find support for changes in their lives while working through the tasks of grief by sharing, reading reflection and journalizing in a faith based community.

Required training or skills (if applicable): Trained and commissioned by NCMB (National Catholic Ministry to the Bereaved), based on the Bishops' Order of Christian Funerals.

Approximate time commitment: As Announced; two group sessions per year (each session lasts 9 weeks, with one meeting per week).