Bereavement Ministry

Purpose

" I came that you may have life - life abundant." St. Mary's Cathedral desires to honor its members' life and death, comfort its members who have lost a loved one, and minister to the families of our parishioners who have died. The mission of this ministry, now under the care of the Stephen Ministry Leadership Team but inclusive of the entire parish, is to take every opportunity to comfort and care for those who are grieving.

How St. Mary's Fulfills the Ministry

The Bereavement Outreach Ministry wants to minister to anyone in our parish who suffers the loss of a loved one and to the families of our beloved parishioners who have died. Unfortunately, we may not be aware of death in many cases, especially if the funeral does not occur at St. Mary's. Please contact the church office at 806-376-7204 or the Stephen Ministry Confidential Care Line at 806-350-2390 to make us aware of your loss. Leave your name and contact information, and the Bereavement ministry will begin outreach.

The bereavement ministry consists of the following outreach efforts:

1. Scheduling a Mass for the deceased


2. Providing the family a series of our booklets, "Journeying Through Grief," over the course of the first year after the death.


3. Grief Share - Our Journey From Mourning to Joy. Experiencing the death of a loved one can be a confusing time when you feel isolated and have many questions about things you've never faced before. Grief Share is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life's most difficult experiences. Grief Share seminars and support groups are led by people who understand what you are going through and want to help. You'll gain access to valuable Grief Share resources to help you recover from your loss and look forward to rebuilding your life. Grief Share is open to the public. Contact the church at 806-376-7204 to inquire about current or upcoming sessions of Grief Share/


4. Stephen Ministry - if you are a St. Mary's parishioner, you may request a Stephen Minister to walk with you on your grief journey. Please contact the Stephen Ministry Confidential Care Line at 806-350-2390 to inquire about receiving a Stephen Minister.

Our Understanding of Death and Grief

"Jesus wept" is the shortest verse in Scripture but one of the most powerful. Jesus wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus. He was deeply moved at the sorrow of the family and friends of Lazarus, and he wept with them, even though he knew that their sorrow would soon be turned to joy. Our faith assures us that we too will know the day when our sorrow is turned to joy, and we also know that Jesus weeps with us as we walk the path of grief.

At the death of a loved one, we are sad, of course, but more than that, death changes us. The place that person had in our life is now vacant, and how do we cope? The answer is not simple. Coping comes in many ways, and St. Mary's Bereavement Ministry desires to ensure that no one has to figure it out alone.