tvc.dsj.org | April 16, 2019
COMMUNITY
7
Catholic Cemeteries: Parishes Offer Consolation Groups for Those Who Grieve A Loss
By Kathy Fanger
“Death leaves a heartache no one can
heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”
-From an Irish headstone
When someone we love has died,
we begin a journey that is often fright-
ening, painful and sometimes lonely.
No words, written or spoken, can take
away the pain we feel. Emotions may
change hour-by-hour, day-by-day and
often on special occasions. Sometimes,
we even find ourselves questioning
your faith. To begin to heal, it is helpful
to learn about and understand the grief
process and how it may affect us today,
tomorrow and forever.
Every person grieves differently and
there is no time line for grief. Whether
you are in your first year or 10 th year
since your loved one’s death, you will
never ‘get over’ your grief, but instead,
learn to live with it. If you allow your-
self the time and compassion to mourn,
and truly work through your grief, you
will heal. You will go on to find contin-
ued meaning in living and loving, and
being grateful to God for the one you
loved who changed your life forever.
Members of the community should
console the mourners with words of faith
and support and with acts of kindness…
(OCF, #10)
Many parishes in our Diocese offer
Grief/Consolation Support Groups led
by trained parish staff and volunteers.
Their role is to be a compassionate listen-
er to the grievers, assuring them, “You
are not alone. We are here to accompany
you in your journey.” They offer a sacred
space for grievers to share their feelings
and stories. Grievers may speak or sim-
ply be quiet and listen. Yet it is often in
speaking about a loved one and the per-
sonal realities of grief that the healing
process begins. Strength and hope are
found through prayer, scripture, practi-
cal coping strategies and the bonds that
form among group members. Groups
are safe, supportive and confidential.
All are reminded that God loves them
and journeys with them, promising that
they will see their loved ones again in
the kingdom of heaven.
Catholic Cemeteries’ mission em-
braces the Corporal and Spiritual
Works of Mercy: to comfort the sor-
rowful, visit the sick and dying, and
Parishes offering ongoing Grief/Consolation meetings:
SOLACE-Soul + Grief – O’Connor Hospital Chapel-Main Entrance
(650) 428-3730 Candee Lucas, M.A.
Queen of Apostles
Saint Athanasius
Saint Christopher
Saint Joseph of Cupertino
Saint Joseph of Mountain View
Saint Thomas Aquinas
Saint John the Baptist
Saint Victor
(408) 242-3543
(408) 241-1201
(408) 948-1819
(408) 269-2226
(408) 252-7653
(650) 967-3831
(650) 494-6488
(408) 252-2526
(408) 928-1632
Parishes offering 5-6 week Grief Support sessions several times/year:
Sacred Heart, Saratoga
(408) 867-3634 Nancy Crowley
Church of the Transfiguration (408) 978-6117 Kathy Myers
Holy Family
(408) 978-6117 Kathy Myers
Santa Teresa
(408) 978-6117 Kathy Myers
bury the dead. We offer an extensive
12 hour training series for parish staff
and volunteers 2-3 times each year on
6 consecutive evenings. Our offerings
include Retreat Days for Grievers, Hav-
ing Faith During Difficult Times, Con-
solation of Grief during the Holidays,
Christmastime Afternoon of Remem-
Thoughts on Climate Change And Earth Day
By Walt Lundin, member,
Stewards of Our Common Home
Diocese of San Jose
We are in peril. As Earth’s citizens,
as stewards of our common home now
under great stress, we must speak until
we are heard. Make the 2020 election an
election of change. We must have lead-
ers and legislators who will support
the strongest and most comprehensive
defensive measures against climate
change. To continue to reverse earlier
controls could be fatal to the world we
know. The cure is in the ballot box.
April 22, 1972 was the first Earth
Day. In July President Nixon signed
bills establishing the Environmental
Protection Agency, the Clean Water
Act and the Endangered Species Acts.
In 2015 we received Laudato Si’.
The latest report on climate change
is ominous. We are failing to limit
emissions of CO 2 and methane. Unless
we have vigorous and comprehensive
measures we face conditions almost
unbearable. We once praised and
thanked God for “the earth and its full-
ness”; now we’re fearful for the earth
and its foulness.
What can we do? Suggestions:
1. Drive less. Bike, carpool, walk.
Start with 10 miles a week?
2. Clean cars, if feasible. Ditto for
solar.
3. More meatless meals; more plant-
rich diet.
Are you connected with the Diocese of San Jose?
Kathy Fanger
Shirley Ruzzo – one on one
Deolinda Avila
Loretta Pfaff
Larry Compagnoni
Natalie Canata
Lorraine Dabney
Cory Mollat
Sister Sara Michael King
4. Lower thermostats, do a cold
wash and air dry when possible.
5. Energy-efficient bulbs.
6. Plastics: Boo!
7. If you have access to dirt, grow
something.
8. Keep on top of what’s happening
by visiting and signing up at:
www.communityclimate.org.
Good news and bad are before us.
The worst news: The window of op-
portunity is shrinking. Maybe about
12 years left before it’s so broke we
can’t fix it. Then what? Uninhabitable
temperatures, millions of climate refu-
gees, huge loss of farmland; resultant
hunger, wars over water and other ne-
cessities, millions of premature deaths.
We will need faith, prayer, knowl-
brance, All Souls and Monthly Me-
morial Masses. For more information
contact Kathy Fanger at (650) 428-3730
x508 or [email protected].
edge, determination, endurance, ex-
pertise and what else (?) to save this
little blue globe.
Invitations to join:
1. Regenerative Agriculture: To en-
rich soil, increase crop yield, increase
bioidiversity, resist climate change and
treat Mother Earth gently. Contact Alrie
Middlebrook at [email protected].
2. Stewards of Our Common Home
(Stewards of OCH) whose Mission is:
In response to Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’,
we educate and motivate the Catholics
of our diocese, and all our neighbors,
of our moral responsibility to take im-
mediate action to address the “social
and environmental crisis” of climate
change. Contact Marita Grudzen:
[email protected].
CAREGIVER-ELDERCARE
IN-HOME CARE AGENCY
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