A Newsletter for Incarnate Word's Grief Support Ministry
Welcome to the Incarnate Word Grief Support Ministry Newsletter! Through this newsletter, our hope is to connect our parishioners and friends of the parish with education, resources, news of events, and prayer as you continue on your grief journey. Please consider this an open group/newsletter and pass along this email and information to anyone you believe would benefit from the support of the grief support news & resources.
Let us Pray...
Lord Jesus, in our sorrow and confusion, draw near to us and hold our grieving hearts in Your tender mercy.
When our faith feels fragile, strengthen us with the quiet assurance that You have conquered death and remain with us always.
Help us to trust that our loved one rests in Your eternal embrace, and that nothing—not even death—can separate us from Your love.
Increase our faith, O God, and lead us gently from grief into hope.
Amen.
Education - Faith in the Season of Loss
Grief has a profound way of stripping away the comfortable routines of our spiritual lives, leaving us standing in what St. John of the Cross called the "dark night of the soul." When we experience the deep pain of losing a loved one, it is entirely natural for our faith to feel tested, disoriented, or even entirely absent. We may find ourselves asking difficult questions, wrestling with God's silence, or feeling a sense of anger and abandonment that we never expected. It is vital to recognize that these feelings do not represent a failure of faith; rather, they are a deeply human response to a broken heart.
Our Catholic tradition reminds us that faith is not a static state of emotional certainty, but a dynamic relationship. Even Christ on the cross cried out, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” In the raw honesty of grief, our faith is often being dismantled so that it can be rebuilt into something deeper, truer, and more resilient. The simplistic answers that once sustained us may no longer suffice, forcing us into a maturity that can hold both profound sorrow and enduring hope at the same time. Grief does not end our spiritual journey—it drastically alters the terrain.
As we navigate this heavy season, the invitation is not to force a false sense of peace, but to bring your authentic pain directly to the altar. If your faith feels shaky right now, do not run away from the Lord in shame; instead, let your questions become your prayer. Sit in the quiet of the Adoration chapel, weep openly during the liturgy, or simply sit in the pews and allow the prayers of the community to carry you when you cannot find the words yourself. Bring your doubts, your anger, and your weariness to Christ, who is intimately acquainted with grief, and allow His grace to sustain you one breath at a time.
Seasons of Hope - Fall Session
Seasons of Hope is a 6-week small group session that the Grief Support Ministry facilities twice a year. Our next session will be this Fall. All who have lost a loved one are invited to attend this unique program that focuses on the spiritual side of grieving through scripture, prayer, reflection, and simple activities.
For more information contact Deacon Ron Reuther at deaconronreuther@yahoo.com or 636-675-1364 or Gini Collins at gcollins@incarnate-word.org.
Grieve and Pray as a Community
As part of a community, we journey with each other through the process of grief, from the early moments following a death through the years that pass. As part of the Grief Support Ministry, we want you to know members of our community who have recently died (Link to Parish Funerals) and ask for your prayers for their loved ones (Link to Prayer Intentions Portal) who are grieving. Consider reaching out to those who have recently experienced the death of a loved one with a card, a kind word, or a moment of prayer.
Resources
Past Articles:
- "The Grieving Process" - See July 2025 Grief Support Ministry Flocknote Article
- "Common Myths About Grief" - See August 2025 Grief Support Ministry Flocknote Article
- "You and Your Emotions" - See September 2025 Grief Support Ministry Flocknote Article
- "Getting to Sleep" - See October 2025 Grief Support Ministry Flocknote Article
Are you looking for an up-to-date list of bereavement programs across the St. Louis area? "FindHelp" offers a comprehensive list of resources to support grieving families, catering to all ages and stages of grief. Explore the options here: https://www.findhelp.org/care/bereavement--saint-louis-mo?postal=63141