C
counselorforGod
Guest
I am looking for a good program to use for a Catholic grief support group for widows in a Catholic Parish setting. If anyone has experience with a program that has worked well please share. Thanks!
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Needing Suggestions for programs/curriculum for Catholic Grief Support Groups for Widows
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M
Miserissima
Guest
I’ve been told that after the first few weeks, after the numbness and shock wears off (a tiny bit), that the sympathy cards stop coming, the phone calls die down, and the widow/er is alone.
Ministry should be ongoing for at least a year with weekly or monthly check-ins.
There is also a vacuum in household duties / chores that should be done. A person working in bereavement ministry should be able to liase with the parish community to call upon another member to come by and clean gutters, bring a casserole, replace the belt in the vacuum cleaner, or just come by to pray the rosary.
It’s the “practical things” that widow/ers need. The comfort from talking may come when the care receiver is comfortable.
Remember, too, grief is different for each person. Some folks may want to be left alone. The ministry personnel probably won’t feel like he or she has the “right words” and may say something pat. But really, the best way to involve oneself in working through another’s grief is to just help out with walking the dog, taking out the trash, or sorting the mail. There is no need for a ministry worker to be a social worker.
Ministry should be ongoing for at least a year with weekly or monthly check-ins.
There is also a vacuum in household duties / chores that should be done. A person working in bereavement ministry should be able to liase with the parish community to call upon another member to come by and clean gutters, bring a casserole, replace the belt in the vacuum cleaner, or just come by to pray the rosary.
It’s the “practical things” that widow/ers need. The comfort from talking may come when the care receiver is comfortable.
Remember, too, grief is different for each person. Some folks may want to be left alone. The ministry personnel probably won’t feel like he or she has the “right words” and may say something pat. But really, the best way to involve oneself in working through another’s grief is to just help out with walking the dog, taking out the trash, or sorting the mail. There is no need for a ministry worker to be a social worker.
Y
YADA
Guest
You do not need to re-invent this wheel …
Check out Beginning Experience … Link:
beginningexperience.org/php5/index.php
Find a Team near you … there are weekly programs for those whose loss is recent and for those who are ready to move forward … and a weekend retreat. Explore the site
About grief … beginningexperience.org/php5/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=8&Itemid=23
Program locations in the United States [it is also available in some other countries] beginningexperience.org/locations2b.php?country=1
Weekly programs … beginningexperience.org/php5/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62&Itemid=14
Weekend Retreat … beginningexperience.org/php5/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=15
This is a peer based ministry for those who have suffered the loss of a spouse through separation, divorce or death … led by those who have suffered the same loss.
I have participated in this program and recommend it [my spouse passed away three years ago] …
Blessings for wanting to help people heal
Check out Beginning Experience … Link:
beginningexperience.org/php5/index.php
Find a Team near you … there are weekly programs for those whose loss is recent and for those who are ready to move forward … and a weekend retreat. Explore the site
About grief … beginningexperience.org/php5/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=8&Itemid=23
Program locations in the United States [it is also available in some other countries] beginningexperience.org/locations2b.php?country=1
Weekly programs … beginningexperience.org/php5/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62&Itemid=14
Weekend Retreat … beginningexperience.org/php5/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=15
This is a peer based ministry for those who have suffered the loss of a spouse through separation, divorce or death … led by those who have suffered the same loss.
I have participated in this program and recommend it [my spouse passed away three years ago] …
Blessings for wanting to help people heal
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