Grief Care Ministry
GRIEF CARE MINISTRY
Ministry of Consolation
Contact: Dn. John Norris
Ministry of Consolation Coordinator
415-614-5504 norrisj@sfarchdiocese.org
The Ministry of Consolation/Grief Care Program is based in our Catholic tradition promoting an awareness of grief as a normal life process, calling the faithful to a ―ministry of consolation‖ to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one.
―The Church calls each member of Christ’s Body – priest, deacon, layperson—to participate in the ministry of consolation: to care for the dying, to pray for the dead, to comfort those who mourn.
Order of Christian Funerals; Catholic Book Publishing Co., New Jersey, 1998
Ministry of Consolation: Archdiocese of San Francisco
Training for Ministers to the Bereaved:
Training Includes:
Order of Christian Funerals
The Grief Process
Listening/Communication Skills
Caring for the Minister
Planning Your Program
Support Groups
Reasons for Training:
To promote awareness of grief and the needs of grieving people
To prepare comforters/ministers with the tools and education needed to be present to the bereaved
To develop parish-based grief care programs tailored to local needs and to use the gifts and talents of parish members and staff
To support on-going parish grief care programs through continuing education and resources
To care for grieving people by sponsoring support groups
Contact John Norris for training: 415-614-5504 norrisj@sfarchdiocese.org
Parish Support Groups
San Francisco County
St. Dominic
2390 Bust Street 94115
Structured 8 Week Group: Evenings
Contact: Deacon Chuck McNeil 415-567-7824
St. Gabriel
2559 40th Avenue 94116
1st & 3rd Tuesdays 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Contact: Parish Center 415-731-6161
St. Mary’s Cathedral
1111 Gough Street 94109
3rd Wednesdays of the Month: 10:30am – 12:00pm
Contact: Deacon Christoph Sandoval 415-567-2020
Marin County
St. Anthony, Novato
1000 Cambridge Street 94947
Drop-In-Group: Once a Month: Morning
Contact: Parish Center 415-883-2177
St. Hilary, Tiburon
761 Hilary Drive 94920
Structured 8 Week Group: Early Afternoon
Contact: Parish Center 415-435-1122
Our Lady of Loretto, Novato
1806 Novato Blvd. 94947
Structured 8 Week Group: Late Afternoon
Contact: Sr. Jeanette 415-897-2171
San Mateo County
Our Lady of Mercy, Daly City
1 Elmwood Drive 94015
Structured 8 Week Group: Evenings
Contact: Parish Center 650-755-2727
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Redwood City
300 Fulton Street 94062
Weekly Ongoing Group: Thursday Evenings 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Contact: Parish Center 650-366-3802
St. Bartholomew, San Mateo
300 Alameda de las Pulgas 94402
2nd & 4th Thursdays 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Contact: Parish Center 650-347-0701
St. Gregory, San Mateo
2715 Hacienda Street 94403
Young Widow/Widower Group
Structured 8 Week Group: Evenings(once a year)
Contact: 415-614-5504
St. Pius, Redwood City
1100 Woodside Road 94061
Structured 8 Week Group: Monday 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Contact: Parish Center 650-361-0655 or grief_help@hotmail.com
St. Robert, San Bruno
349 Oak Avenue 94066
Twice a Month: Saturday 3:00pm – 4:35pm
Contact: Sr. Patricia O’Sullivan 650-589-0104
Transforming Grief Retreats
Transforming Grief is a day of spiritual retreat for those who are grieving the death of a loved one. Come together with others who are grieving from 9:30am – 2:00pm. Experience prayer, gain a greater understanding of the grief process, and share with others.
Ministry of Consolation Coordinator
415-614-5504 norrisj@sfarchdiocese.org
2011 Retreat:
St. Robert, San Bruno
349 Oak Avenue 94066
Saturday, October 29th
Contact: Dn. John Norris for registration
2012 Retreats will be posted the week of October 10, 2011.
Holiday Helps For Those Grieving
2011
Holidays are times we look forward to being with family and friends. They hold many memories for us. This is a reality that hurts as we miss absent loved ones who have died.
Handling the holidays is not deciding how to eliminate the pain of missing the people we love who are no longer physically present to us. It is more about letting the memories come and go, learning how to live with the hurt without being consumed by it.
In this workshop you will be able to:
· acknowledge the difficulty of this season as one who is grieving.
· gain some new tools and insights from others for working your way through the holidays.
· join others for support, connection and prayer.
San Francisco
St. Mary’s Cathedral St. Gabriel Church
1111 Gough St.(&Geary Blvd.) 2559 40th Avenue
415-567-2020 415-731-6161
Wednesday, November 16 Tuesday, November 15
10:3am – 12:00pm 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Marin County
St. Anselm Church: Ross Our Lady of Loretto Church: Novato
97 Shady Lane 1806 Novato Blvd.
415-453-2342 415-897-2171
Thursday, November 10 Wednesday, November 16t
3:30pm – 5:00pm 4:30pm – 6:00pm
San Mateo County
St. Bartholomew Church: San Mateo St. Pius Church: Redwood City
300 Alameda de las Pulgas 1100 Woodside Road
650-347-0701 650-361-1411
Thursday, November 10 Tuesday, November 22 7:00pm – 8:30pm
6:00pm – 7:30pm and
Thursday, December 15 7:00pm – 8:30pm
St. Robert Church: San Bruno Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Redwood City
1380 Crystal Springs Road 347 Grand Street
650-589-2800 650-366-3802
Saturdays: Nov. 19, Dec. 7 & 17 Thursday: Dec. 15, 6:0pm – 8:00pm
3:00pm – 4:15pm with Candle Lighting Ceremony
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