Bereavement Facilitator Training Course

Registration for the Fall Session is now CLOSED. The six sessions Fall Training will begin Wednesday evenings from 7pm-9pm on zoom starting September 25- October 30, 2024. 

The Office for Family Life Ministry offers a Bereavement Ministry Support Training Course at multiple times throughout the year. We will still be offering this class ONLINE and there will be added content related to grieving and grief support during in light of the pandemic. This six-session parish focused program is designed for those who wish to become facilitators for existing parish bereavement support groups or for those who wish to begin a bereavement support ministry at their parish or online. The course is not limited to those who wish to facilitate a support group, however it can also benefit those who minister to the bereaved in parishes in other ways as well. The program serves to increase enthusiasm and education for this ministry.

Topics include:

• Overview of Loss, Grief & Mourning and current theories
• Grief in special circumstances, including grief during 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 impacts of covid 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 must be in compliance with Safe Environment Protocol including background check. 

Class size is limited. Sessions will be held on consecutive Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm to 9:00pm starting September 25th, 2024.

Registration information and payment can be completed below. The fee is $85 per participant. Payment can be by check or credit card. If mailing a check, registration is not complete until the check is received. If a parish is sponsoring multiple participants, please register each participant separately, although one check can be sent to the Office for Family Life Ministry for the group. Please include a note with all names. Registrations can be transferred to another participant or to future dates. Any cancelled registrations will be subject to processing fees deducted from refunded payments.

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