To Bring Comfort and Consolation: Bereavement Ministry

In 2012 I was invited by the Parish Pastoral Council in Newcastle, Co Down to help establish a Bereavement Ministry in the Parish.

As I set about preparing a training course for the ministry, I was unable to find exactly the course structure I was looking for in existing materials and so I designed my own course.

The course was delivered over ten modules and this book captures much of the essence of the journey the trainees undertook.

I have divided it into five sections:

- The Human Experience of Grief. (drawing on my own experiences and what some of the leading experts in grief have written)

- The Liturgy of Mourning. (as used in the Catholic Church)

- Grief in the Scriptures. (setting elements of section 1 within a scriptural context)

- A selection of suggested Scripture readings with reflections and some sample prayers of intercession. (These are intended to be used by ordained and lay ministers for their personal reflection and in preparing funeral homilies. They may also be of solace to grieving people.)

- A selection of prose, poems and prayers.

This book is directed primarily to those involved in bereavement ministry. I offer my thinking and experience to support them in their work. I draw on the thoughts and experiences of those with whom I have been privileged to work, as colleagues, as clients or parishioners, and in doing so I thank them for their sharing and trust.

Whilst most of what I have written is from a Roman Catholic perspective, particularly the section on the Liturgy of Mourning, I hope that people of other faith communities (and of none) will find my thoughts of some benefit. The prose, poems and prayers are ones that have meant something to me and I share them that they may strike a chord with readers too.