Bereavement Facilitator Training Course

Registration for the Spring session is now OPEN. The six sessions of Spring Training will begin Wednesday evenings from 7 pm-9 pm on Zoom/Teams starting February 12- March 26, 2025 (No class on March 5, Ash Wednesday). 

The Office for Family Life Ministry offers a Bereavement Ministry Support Training Course at various times throughout the year. This course will be offered online and will include additional content focused on grief support in the context of the post-pandemic.

This six-session program is designed for individuals who want to become facilitators for existing parish bereavement support groups or who wish to start a bereavement support ministry at their parish or online. However, the course is not limited to those who wish to facilitate a support group; it can also benefit anyone who ministers to the bereaved in parishes in different capacities.

The program aims to enhance enthusiasm and provide education for this important ministry.

 Topics include:

• Overview of Loss, Grief & Mourning and current theories
• Grief in special circumstances, including grief during the pandemic
• Assessing the need for referral
• Importance of bereavement ministry for the parish
• Reaching out to those on the peripheries, especially those feeling lost and alone
• Counseling skills: How to listen and ask questions that facilitate healing
• How to start up & facilitate a parish-based bereavement support group
• The effects of COVID-19 and the post-COVID period on grief and ministry.

 Upon successful completion of the program, participants can become parish Bereavement Support Group Facilitators with their written Pastor’s approval. Pre-registration and approval of your Pastor is required. All participants in the Archdiocese of Newark must be in compliance with the Safe Environment Protocol including background checks. (Those outside of Newark should check with their own diocese for compliance with Protecting God's Children)

Class size is limited. Sessions will be held on consecutive Wednesday evenings from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm starting February 12, 2025 (except Ash Wednesday).

Please complete your registration and payment using the information below. The fee is $85 per participant, and payment can be made by either check or credit card. If you are mailing a check, please note that your registration will not be considered complete until the check is received.

If a parish is sponsoring multiple participants, please register each participant separately; however, one check can be sent to the Office for Family Life Ministry for the entire group. Be sure to include a note listing all participant names.

Registrations may be transferred to another participant or to future dates. Please be aware that any canceled registrations will incur processing fees that will be deducted from the refunded payments.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office for Family Life Ministry at 973-497-4327 or [email protected].