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PRAYING
THROUGH
GRIEF
AND LOSS
St. Athanasius parish is
committed to supporting people through times of grief and loss. Praying through Grief and Loss is a prayer group that provides
time and space to recognize the reality of grief, in a safe and nurturing environment. Through prayer, reading from the
Psalms and quiet song, we acknowledge our vulnerability before God and allow ourselves to be touched by grace. The group will
meet three times this year, for 3 sessions on Thursdays from 7:30-9:00p.m. in the Nazareth Institute.
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Catholic & non-Catholic
is welcome to join in prayer. Readings are taken from
both Hebrew & Christian Scriptures and grief is seen through the eyes of the Judeo-Christian faith tradition.
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| "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want... |
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| "he makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul."Ps 23 |
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THE MARTHA & MARY
MONTHLY
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
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This group is for anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one. The
group meets once a month on the first Wednesday of each month, 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Nazareth Institute located in the Convent, the corner of 62
Street & Bay Parkway.
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"Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus were friends of Jesus. So when Lazarus was very sick, his two sisters
sent a message to Jesus saying, 'Lord, your friend Lazarus is very sick.' Jesus was with his disciples and when he got this
message he said to them, 'This sickness is not going to end in death.' By the time he got to their town, Lazarus was already
dead and had been buried in his tomb for four days. Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would
not have died.' Jesus said to Martha, 'Your brother will rise again.' Then Martha went to get her sister Mary. She said,
'Lord, if you had been there my brother would not have died.' When Jesus saw her crying, he was filled will grief and he began
to cry. When the others saw Jesus crying they said, 'See how much he loved Lazarus!' Then Jesus asked, 'Where
is Lazarus buried?' They said, 'Come and see.' Lazarus was buried in a cave and there was a large stone in front
of it. When Jesus came to the tomb, he was once again filled with grief and anguish and said, 'Roll the stone away.'
So they took the stone away. Then he shouted, 'Lazarus, come out of the tomb!' Lazarus came out. His hands and
feet were wrapped in pieces of white cloth. So Jesus said, 'Untie him and let him go,'" (John 11:1-45)
A JEWISH PRAYER
OF REMEMBRANCE
In the rising of the sun and its going down,
WE REMEMBER THEM!
In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,
WE REMEMBER THEM!
In the opening of the buds and rebirth of spring,
WE REMEMBER THEM!
In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer,
WE REMEMBER THEM!
In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn,
WE REMEMBER THEM!
In the beginning of the year and when it ends,
WE REMEMBER THEM!
When we are weary and in need of strength,
WE REMEMBER THEM!
When we are lost and sick at heart,
WE REMEMBER THEM!
When we have joys we yearn to share,
WE REMEMBER THEM!
So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are now a part of
us, as
WE REMEMBER THEM!
The Photo Album of My Mind
by Jeanne Losey, Indiana
The photo album of my mind
holds treasured thoughts of you,
and I can almost see againt he things we used to do.
I hear your voice, I see your smile, I feel you close to me.
The photo album of my mind shows how we used to be.
Time may have changed us through the years,
but I will always find,
you're just as I remember in the album of my mind.
And, as I turn page after page,
such precious scences I see,
the photo album of my mind is very dear to me.
It holds the pictures of our past, like reels of film unwind.
i cherish all those photos in the album of my mind.
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THE LAZARUS
STRUCTURED
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
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| "Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.'" John 11:32 |
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This group provides education and sharing to facilitate
the healing of grief in a more structured group format. A commitment to each
meeting is needed. Journal writing is an integral part of the structured group, although the participant is not expected to
share the contents of his/her personal journal. The group meets from 7:30
to 9:30p.m. in the Nazareth Institute located in the Convent, the corner of 62 Street &
Bay Parkway.
This group meets
over a two year period.
Lazarus I, II, III and IV meets on Mondays.
Lazarus I
What is grief & mourning?
Communication with family & friends.
Pain, sadness, confrontation & escape.
Caring for ourselves & controlling stress.
Anger
Guilt
Reconciliation
Closing Session & Remembrance Prayer Service
Lazarus II: GRIEF IN THE FAMILY CONTEXT
(Participation in Lazarus I is essential to involve oneself
in Lazarus II.)
What is grief?
The family context of grief.
How culture frames grief.
Roles & Relationships
How gender frames grief.
Our experience of grief.
Anticipated loss & grief. Clossing Session & Prayer.
Lazarus III: LIVING WITH LOSS
(Participation in Lazarus I & II is essential to
involve oneself in Lazarus III.)
How other cultures grieve.
American attitudes of death.
The tasks of grief.
Psychological manifestations of grief.
What can be expected when we grieve?
What mourning accomplishes.
Using literature to heal.
Closing Session & Prayer.
"Lord, if only you had been there!"
(Jn 11:1-44)
Lazarus IV: YOU HAVE BEFRIENDED THE DARKNESS, NOW YOU
MUST WELCOME THE LIGHT Based on the work of Sr. Joyce Rupp, OSM
(Participation in Lazarus I, II & III is essential
to involve oneself in
Lazarus IV.)
Lazarus IV completes the Lazarus series with a more reflective format. A commitment to 4 meetings is
needed. No matter how dark it gets, God doesn't desert us. We all need darkness, but we need to now move out of
the darkness into the light by trusting God. Here we will identify our darkness, befriend our struggles and welcome
the light as we reclaim the value of living after journeying through bereavement and grief.
The image of Darkness.
Types of Darkness.
The image of Light.
Closing Session & Prayer. (The Parable of the Lost Coin, Lk 15:8-9)
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Have patience with all things, but mostly with yourself. Do not lose courage considering your
own imperfections, but gradually begin remedying them. Every day begin the task anew.
~ Saint Francis de Sales
Into your hands Lord we entrust our loved one. Hear our prayers for your child whom you have called from this life to yourself. Grant your
own light, happiness and peace. Let this your servant pass
in safety through gates of death, and live for ever with all your saints.
Guard him/her from all harm and on that great day of resurrection raise him/her with all your saints.
FROM THE ORDER OF
CHRISTIAN FUNERALS.
These groups are facilitated
by our Pastoral Associate, John Fruner. John holds a B.A. in Religion, a B.S.
in Human Services, an M.S. in Human Services, an M.A. in Theology and an M.S.Ws (Master of Clinical Social Work) while
currently working on an M.S.Ed. leading to a Doctorate in Education.
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