Support for those in mourning

Introduction

I recommend this material for your use during these strangest of times.

I’m sure that they will bring a sense of comfort and consolation especially if you are mourning a loved one.

Usually when someone we love dies, families come together; to grieve, to mourn, to pray and to be a support to each other. Now we find ourselves separated, respecting social distancing, we can’t even exchange a warm hand, share a hug, or receive a reassuring gentle pat on the back!

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our ISC Geneva for making this possible, and I would like to end by “recalling Saint Paul’s words in the Letter to the Ephesians that we are called to a spirit of solidarity, that is, “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, to bear with one another in love” (Eph 4:1-2).”

Fr. Paul C Friel

Curé - St John XXIII Parish

May 2020

On grief and grieving

It may be a small consolation to recognise that there have been many kind and very wise people who have studied and written about our experiences of death and bereavement. Perhaps one of the best known is Elisabeth Kubler Ross, the Swiss American psychiatrist (1926 -2004).

Shortly before her death in 2004, she completed her work ‘On grief and grieving’. A book she co- wrote with David Kessler.

Here, we offer a very brief outline of what is sometimes called ‘The Stages of Grief”. We hope that knowing the pain and distress we are experiencing and that we witness in others is a well trodden path, might, in some small way offer a crumb of comfort.

It is important to remember that these are states and stages associated with our broken hearts; there is no right way to move through them, no right order. We offer this to help make some sense of what is too often, completely senseless.

We hope too, that these little prayers and reflections we offer may help you to find the words to speak to God, what is in your heart.

1. Denial

2. Anger

3. Bargaining

4. Depression

5. Acceptance

Resources

Here you can find some additional resources:

• Experiencing Loss during the Pandemic

• Do you want to speak to someone?

• A collection of some Prayers, quotes and pictures

• Music and Songs

• Pictures