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Bereavement Ministry Offers Essential Support For Those Who Are Grieving
When a loved one passes away, we are often blessed with immediate support. People attend the wake and funeral, and are usually there for us with meals, flowers and words of support. But it’s the weeks and months after losing a loved one that can be the most difficult. People move on with their lives, and the sadness and isolation can become overwhelming for the bereaved. In particular, the holidays, birthdays and anniversaries can really be difficult. Our Queen of the Holy Rosary Bereavement Ministry is there to support the bereaved for “the long haul.”
For about a year after a death, the ministry members continue offering support in the form of prayer cards and encouraging words, all of which are mailed. An interpretation from Psalm 91:11 is an example of one such card, “For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.”
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Patty Miller has led this ministry for about four years. She is thankful for the 25 or so members who assist by acting as “writers,” sending cards and words of encouragement to bereaved families. Parish involvement is very important to Patty, and she lends her time and talents to several ministries. But this ministry really stands out to her as one that is very important, even though it is quite simple.
“This ministry is one we could continue during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Patty says. “There was so little we could do, because we couldn’t gather, but this is one we could continue.”
When Patty is alerted that a parishioner has passed away, she chooses a ministry member and provides all the information to the person so they can mail personalized cards and letters to the family for 10 to 12 months. Most ministry members have one to three families towhom they are sending cards. All the necessary supplies are provided to the ministry members.
Sometimes, the writers don’t know the family at all. However, Patty remembers a time she was writing to a mother who had lost her daughter. Patty knew the daughter, so this made it all the more special and meaningful. It was a beautiful way to support the mother in her time of great loss.
Sheila Bielak, who serves as a writer for the Bereavement Ministry, feels blessed to be a part of this ministry.
“I love that we are able to share with the bereaved that they and their loved one are not forgotten, and that our parish community remembers them and prays for them,” Sheila says.
Patty Miller leads the Bereavement Ministry.
Pam Carter and Stacy Krieg both received cards from the Bereavement Ministry. They add how important this ministry was for them in their loss and time of grief.
“The loss of a loved one is overwhelming,” Pam says. “You see the lives of those around you continuing as if nothing has changed, but yours has undeniably changed. This is why I’m so grateful for the notes of encouragement and the reminder of God’s love that I received from the Bereavement Ministry. For me, it was a gentle acknowledgment that my loss mattered.”
“The bereavement cards that I received from Queen were extremely important to me,” Stacy says. “First, it told me that people cared about what I was going through. Additionally, I have them all over my home now. I love seeing the prayer on the card.”
When All Souls’ Day arrives in November, Patty hopes to be able to use the reception after Mass to have the Bereavement Ministry writers meet those to whom they have been writing. This ministry can provide comfort when it’s needed most, and Patty encourages anyone to get involved. There are no meetings and the ministry work can be done from home, with a limited investment of time.
