The Compassionate Care Ministry is our effort to meet the needs of those who are walking through grief and mourning following the death of a loved one. It’s a highly personal and emotional time and we have ways to comfort, console, and support each other. If you've recently lost a loved one, we invite you to use one of the resources below or attend one of our events.

Supportive Mailings 

Compassionate Care offers a series of supportive mailings touching on common concerns as you move through the first year of transition following the death of a loved one. If you've lost a loved one in the past year, we'd like you to receive this ongoing resource. Contact Janet Schrippa to learn more and register. 

Informal Gatherings / Sharing Grace

Grief isn't a smooth or linear process. Sometimes we experience difficult spots. Perhaps there’s an event or milestone that triggers a need to talk with others who understand. Sharing Grace is an opportunity to gather with others who are facing similar situations. Join us at a local restaurant or here on campus. These gatherings are not structured with a formal agenda, rather it’s an opportunity to be embraced by people who ‘get it’, to respond to the needs of the group that day. Come once or a few times, this is an ‘as needed’ opportunity.

Sharing Grace meets the first Saturday of each month (with the exception of holiday weekends) at noon at Jason's Deli on Spring Forest Rd. We sit at the tables just inside the door. No need to RSVP or register, just come along to chat with folks who understand grief and loss.

Structured Grief Support Groups

We work with Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic parish to support the Seasons of Hope, a six-session Catholic grief program. This is offered several times a year, for six sessions. The next session begins on Monday, October 14 and will run through November 18. Meetings are from 6:45 - 8:30 pm in the Fallon Center at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. You may attend more than one series. You can get more information and register with Our Lady of Lourdes Parish by calling 919-861-4600. 

There are also numerous free grief support groups available through Transitions Life Care. To learn more about their programs, click on this link Transitions Lifecare Grief Support. Their services are not limited to families who used the agency for hospice care.

Memorial Prayer Service / Mass

Twice a year we gather as a community to remember our loved ones who've died through a worship experience. During the Easter Season and in November we designate a Mass or Vespers and create a liturgy that brings us together to honor and remember those who have passed. These are poignant and powerful gatherings, meant for anyone who has suffered a loss. Look for announcements in our Latest News and Calendar.

Resource Lending Library

For some people who are grieving, reading supportive and spiritual material is comforting. We've built a small resource lending library here at the parish. You’re welcome to come to take a look. Contact Janet Schrippa for more information. 

For even more resources, you can visit your local library, ask your funeral home, hospice, bookstores, look for resources online, or lean on a friend's personal library. If you find a book or resource that is particularly helpful, please share the title with us by contacting Janet Schrippa.