Bereavement Support Ministry

St. John the Baptist Parish maintains a Bereavement Support Ministry, organized in 1989. The ministry reaches out to those in the parish who have lost a loved one through death. Our hope is that no one has to go through this painful journey alone – that joy can return in time.

Because the death of a family member or friend confronts us with one of life's most difficult and painful challenges, St. John Bereavement Support Ministries offers the following:

Bereavement Meals

A meal for those attending the funeral, giving the family an opportunity to gather and share memories. (There is no cost for the bereavement dinner whether we serve 25 or 100. Donations may be offered and are greatly appreciated.) We currently have 8 teams of volunteers. If you feel called to help provide this service (once or twice a year normally), please contact Mary Wahl at marybwahl@gmail.com or Vicki Labhart at vickilabhart@gmail.com.

Companions on the Journey

Companions on the Journey offers a meal 3 times a year with a speaker who shares their personal experience and/or expertise in dealing with loss. There is no cost to the attendees for the meal. COJ also sends cards to parish members who have lost a loved one. We offer to meet with them if they'd like to talk and invite them to our dinners. Contact Kathy Borkowski for more information at kathy.borkowski@erafirst.com.

Our Parish also offers...

• Masses on the Commemoration of All Souls in November of each year to remember in a special way the loved ones who died in the previous year. Names of the deceased are chanted at Mass.
• A Book of Remembrance for people to write the names of their deceased relatives and friends.
• Hospital visitations to those who are ill.
• A shrine in the narthex of church, consisting of the obituary of the parish member who died, and a candle to encourage prayers from the entire parish community.
• A funeral preparation booklet to help readers plan the funeral rites of someone they love, and also help those who would like to plan their own funeral as a final gift to their loved ones.
 

Links

USCCB - https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/bereavement-and-funerals

Fr. Dusty's Talk on Anointing and Catholic Funeral Practices - YouTube

Redbird Ministries (Child Loss) - www.redbird.love