Training assists in the expansion of grieving and healing ministries

Grief ministry workshop held Nov. 2, 2019 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon. (Photo by Dianna Knaus)

By Dianna Knaus

[Catholic Saskatoon News] – From Mourning to Dawn grief ministry for widows and widowers started in 2012 in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, and it is continuing to expand to other communities.

This year, facilitator workshops were made available to volunteers from Denzil, Wilkie, Cudworth, Humboldt and Saskatoon.

Most volunteer facilitators are former participants or persons who have mentored with the From Mourning to Dawn group at the Cathedral of the Holy Family.

The training – facilitated May 4, 2019 by Dr. Brian Chartier and Nov. 2, 2019 by Randy Robinson – better equipped and empowered both new and experienced facilitators to more confidently and effectively facilitate groups.

Grief sessions will be offered for these communities and the surrounding towns as required.

St. Augustine parish in Humboldt held a first session for bereaved spouses last fall and have now completed their second group. One session was held in Denzil in 2015.

Included in the training were facilitators from the “A Hand to Hold,” grief ministry for those experiencing miscarriage or infant loss, which has been established in Humboldt, as well as from the Sodalitas group for grieving persons that meets monthly at St. Mary parish in Saskatoon.

Funds from the Bishop James P. Mahoney Institute of the Family assisted in sponsoring the facilitator workshops, which were jointly organized by From Mourning to Dawn grief ministry for bereaved spouses, and the diocesan Transitions ministry for those who are separated and divorced.

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Randy Robinson facilitated the grief ministry workshop held Nov. 2, 2019 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon. (Photo by Dianna Knaus)

Grief ministry workshop held Nov. 2, 2019 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon. (Photo by Dianna Knaus)

Facilitator Randy Robinson leads the grief ministry workshop held Nov. 2, 2019 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon. (Photo by Dianna Knaus)

Grief ministry workshop held Nov. 2, 2019 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon. (Photo by Dianna Knaus)