Bereavement Ministry
Eleven years of caring and compassionate service to those in grief.
St. Theresa's Bereavement Support Group, "Remembering ...The Journey of Grief with Faith" began years ago in February, 2002, in the shadows of the horrific attack on the Twin Towers of what came to be called simply "9/11". As a nation we were all mourning and searching for meaning. And as a parish we sought to place our losses and pain in the wider context of Catholic Christian Faith.
Over the years people with varying types of losses have come to us: young parents agaonizing over the stillbirth of a long awaited child, parents mourning the estrangement from an adult child, people surprised at the depth of their pain at a loss that seems "natural", widows and widowers, parents mourning children and adult children feeling "orphaned" at the loss of a parent; and together we have worked to understand, support and heal each other in the light of our shared faith.
Grief can seem lonely and painful and long; but we do onot need to suffer through it alone. Come join us and learn how the support and caring of a faith community can heal. A frequently heard comment has been: "I don't know why but I always feel better when I've been to a meeting!"
The first meeting will take place in the Conference Center behind the church at St. Theresa's on Tuesday, September 18th at 7:15pm. The facilitator is Maryclare Collings, MA, RN, a retired psychothereapist and the visiting priest is Fr. Thomas J. Powers, Ms. Collings holds a bachelor's degree in English and a bachelor of science in nursing. She has a master's degree in counseling psychology from Boston College. She has extensive experience working in community mental health centers and private practice as a psychotherapist. Fr. Powers began theological formation at Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge and holds the M.Div. in Pastoral Ministry from Blessed John XXIII National Seminary, Weston. Fr. Powers has extensive pastoral care experience in parish, home and health care settings.
Eleven years of caring and compassionate service to those in grief.
St. Theresa's Bereavement Support Group, "Remembering ...The Journey of Grief with Faith" began years ago in February, 2002, in the shadows of the horrific attack on the Twin Towers of what came to be called simply "9/11". As a nation we were all mourning and searching for meaning. And as a parish we sought to place our losses and pain in the wider context of Catholic Christian Faith.
Over the years people with varying types of losses have come to us: young parents agaonizing over the stillbirth of a long awaited child, parents mourning the estrangement from an adult child, people surprised at the depth of their pain at a loss that seems "natural", widows and widowers, parents mourning children and adult children feeling "orphaned" at the loss of a parent; and together we have worked to understand, support and heal each other in the light of our shared faith.
Grief can seem lonely and painful and long; but we do onot need to suffer through it alone. Come join us and learn how the support and caring of a faith community can heal. A frequently heard comment has been: "I don't know why but I always feel better when I've been to a meeting!"
The first meeting will take place in the Conference Center behind the church at St. Theresa's on Tuesday, September 18th at 7:15pm. The facilitator is Maryclare Collings, MA, RN, a retired psychothereapist and the visiting priest is Fr. Thomas J. Powers, Ms. Collings holds a bachelor's degree in English and a bachelor of science in nursing. She has a master's degree in counseling psychology from Boston College. She has extensive experience working in community mental health centers and private practice as a psychotherapist. Fr. Powers began theological formation at Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge and holds the M.Div. in Pastoral Ministry from Blessed John XXIII National Seminary, Weston. Fr. Powers has extensive pastoral care experience in parish, home and health care settings.
