The goal of a parish bereavement ministry is that no member of the faith
community grieves alone. The compassion of God embraces all, the sick and
poor, the active and inactive, the known and unknown.
The outreach of our St.Theresa Bereavement Ministry strives to be the
compassionate, loving, comfort of God here and now. From the moment a
call comes in to the parish, whether to a priest or the office, the
Bereavement Ministry becomes involved.
A bereavement minister is assigned to contact the family, to work with
them, the pastor and funeral director to meet any situations of need that
might arise. Assistance with all planning and arrangements for the liturgy,
wake and reception is available.
Ministering to the grieved is the responsibility of the entire parish, and
this ministry works at involving many other parish ministries for the
Funeral Liturgy such as the Ministers of Music, Lectors, Extraordinary
Ministers of Holy Communion, Sacristans, Altar Servers, and Hospitality
(ushers).
Great effort is expended to personalize the Liturgy for the family such
as writing petitions particular to the deceased, placement of funeral
flower arrangements throughout the church, encouraging family members
to place the pall on the casket and to carry up religious items dear to the
deceased such as a bible, rosary, or crucifix, and placing them either on
the casket or table with cremated remains or on a special side table with
a photo.
After the Mass, the assigned minister goes to the cemetery for burial.
Our Follow-up Minister keeps in touch with family members by phone,
card and a letter, inviting the family to attend our All Souls Mass in
November to light a candle and remember their loved one.
The Ministry is also responsible for sponsoring Living Will seminars each
year and a Getting Through the Holidays Workshop in December. An
eight-week faith-based grief support group is offered in Spring, Fall and
Winter.
|
|
