Working through grief to a better place is hard work.  There is no "getting over" the death of a loved one—only acceptance and, finally, peace.

St. John's Bereavement Ministry offers the bereaved a safe place to tell their story and a helping hand along the difficult path toward healing.

The Bereavement Ministry provides support to bereaved individuals at the time of loss and afterward. A member of our ministry reaches out to our bereaved and offers consolation and help. Throughout the first year, we send out several mailings, including newsletters and an invitation to the parish’s annual Memorial Mass, which is celebrated each fall.

Monthly Support Meetings

We also offer a monthly meeting to support adult parishioners and community members who are grieving. We welcome people of all faiths.

We are a peer ministry. Members who take turns leading the meetings are not professional grief counselors. Although we have attended training sessions to learn the basics of the grief process, most of what we have learned has come from our own personal experiences with the death of a loved one.

We meet in the Stevenson Center on the St. John Chrysostom campus from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The Stevenson Center is located in the basement of the Parish House. Park in our rear parking lot and enter down the driveway (to your right as you are facing the rear of the chuch).

Our meetings are very informal. The group leader offers a brief discussion starter for sharing. Attendees are most welcome to participate as listeners only.

We look forward to welcoming you at any time.


NOTE: As of March 13, 2020, our in-person Bereavement Support meetings have been suspended while we move to an online platform. If you would like an invitation to an online meeting, please email mchollet@sjcparish.org. Thank you.

2020 Bereavement Support Meeting Schedule

• Jan. 28

• Feb. 25

• March 24

• April 28

• May 26

• June 23

• July 28

• August - Off

• Sept. 22

• Oct. 27

• Nov. 24

• Dec. 15

Contact: