Grief Ministry

“In the People of God, by the grace of his compassion granted in Jesus, many families prove by their deeds that death does not have the last word: this is a true act of faith. Every time a family in mourning – even terrible mourning – finds the strength to guard the faith and love that unite us to those we love, it has already prevented death from taking everything. The darkness of death should be confronted with a more intense work of love. ‘My God, lighten my darkness!’ is the invocation of evening prayer. …"

-Pope Francis, General Audience June 17, 2015

Part of our shared human experience is losing loved ones. Their passing, even in the most ideal and peaceful of circumstances, leaves a void and a pain to those who survive the deceased.  As Catholic Christians, we move through the stages of grief anchored in our faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the example of eternal life that we are invited to share through our baptism.

The Grief Ministry of the Archdiocese of New Orleans Office of Marriage and Family Life connects individuals with Catholic bereavement and grief ministry communities, as well as provides the local Church with events and resources to assist those processing or struggling with the death of a loved one.


For more information, please contact:
Mrs. Jewell Bayhi
Coordinator of Grief Ministries
(504) 330-5975
jbayhi@arch-no.org

All events listed below will be held at the Archdiocese of New Orleans Retreat Center

5500 St. Mary Street  Metairie, LA 70003

I AM BELOVED, NOT BROKEN

Join others who are grieving the loss of loved ones during Lent for five gatherings at the Archdiocese of New Orleans Retreat Center.

SURVIVING GRIEF

Saturday, May 21, 2022 
9:00 AM - 12 Noon  
This event is free of charge and the entire archdiocese is welcome.

HEALING OF THE HEART GRIEF RETREAT

Aug. 19-21, 2022      

GRIEF SESSIONS

For all that have lost loved ones

 Wednesday, April 20, 2022  |  6:30pm – 8:30pm   
St. Anselm Church |   306 St. Mary St.  Madisonville, LA 70447

Monday, April 25, 2022 at 6:00pm – 8:00pm (begins with Mass)         

 Our Lady of the Lake Church  312 Lafitte St. Mandeville, LA 70448

BEGINNING EXPERIENCE WEEKEND

Friday, April 8 - Sunday, April 10, 2022
Rosaryville Spirit Life Center | Ponchatoula, LA
The Beginning Experience Weekend on April 8-10, 2022, is a wonderful healing opportunity for those suffering a loss of a spouse either through death or separation/divorce. The weekend will take place at Rosaryville Spirit Life Center in Ponchatoula, Louisiana.

Those who have attended this weekend attest to the new hope they have received and the powerful safe and loving environment they found in the experience. Under the sponsorship of the Archdiocese of New Orleans Office of Marriage and Family Life, this international program has helped thousands navigate the road through grief.

Call Melanie Trimarco at (630)589-2813 for more information.
Click here to register for the Beginning Experience.

Grief is a normal reaction for children to the death of someone significant. When children experience the death of a person who has played a significant role in their life, it is normal for children to struggle, whether the relationship with that person was caring and loving, or contentious and difficult. The absence of a person takes time to fully accept and even then, children may continue to miss them in their own special way. In truth, children never "get over" a person's death, but they can learn to live with the reality.  Grieving children often feel alone and misunderstood.  Grieving children feel less alone when they are with other children who have experienced the death of a significant person and when they have loving, consistent adults in their lives. 

These statements are from the National Alliance for Children’s Grief of which Jewell Bayhi, our Coordinator of Grief Ministies, is a member. 

Children need as much from us in their Grief process or even more than adults do.

CHILDREN'S GRIEF MINISTRY EVENTS

Saturday, May 7, 2022         9:00am till 2:00pm     Broken Heart Day (for children ages 7 - 17)
Saturday, June 11, 2022      9:00am till 2:00pm     Broken Heart Day (for children ages 7 - 17)  

Saturday and Sunday Sept. 24 and 25, 2022   Retreat (for children ages 12 - 17)

Red Bird Ministries is a Catholic, pro-life/pro-family grief support ministry that focuses on bereaved families who have experienced child loss of any age and circumstance, including pregnancy loss through miscarriage and stillbirth, and after birth as an infant, child, adolescent, or adult. While we operate as Catholics our ministry serves anyone who has experienced the loss of a child.

Grieving Mother’s Retreat  September 16–18, 2022 |Lumen Christi Retreat Center  Houma, LA  Retreat reg. fee begins at $250.00  5 scholarships available.

Click here to register for this Retreat