bereavement training Archives - Diocese of Venice

Bishop celebrates Mass for students in Fort Myers and Bradenton

Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated a Mass for the students at Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers on Nov. 15, 2024. The Mass was celebrated in the neighboring St. Cecilia Parish church to accommodate all of the students and faculty. Bishop Dewane also celebrated Mass for students at St. Joseph Catholic School in Bradenton on Nov. 19. These were the latest in a series of Masses Bishop Dewane celebrates at each of the 15 Diocese of Venice Catholic schools during the first semester of the academic year.

Students welcome Bishop to early Thanksgiving luncheon

The students at St. Mary Academy in Sarasota welcomed Bishop Frank J. Dewane to an early Thanksgiving luncheon on Nov. 19, 2024. Students, faculty and guests were treated to a choice of turkey with all the trimmings, ham, and pie. Bishop Dewane led everyone in prayer before the meal.

Holiday Bereavement Outreach coming to Naples and Venice in early December

The “There is Hope – Surviving the Holidays” bereavement outreach is being offered by the Office of Family Life from 3-4:30 p.m., Dec. 3, 2024, at St. Agnes Parish, Parish Center, 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples, and again 3-4:30 p.m., Dec. 6, at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Education Center, 1301 Center Road, Venice. Deacon Henry deMena will offer guidance for loved ones who are trying to cope with loss during the holidays, including suggestions on how to get through the holidays, such as early planning for any activities to help avoid surprises, making sure not to pretend that everything is the same or fine, or to not talk about the loved one, as this can be more painful for the bereaved. No registration is required. For details, contact Jim Gontis at gontis@dioceseofvenice.org.

Tee-Up Fore Kids! Fundraiser Dec. 5 in Fort Myers

Support Catholic Charities’ Children’s Center (formerly AFCAAM Center) serving children in the Dunbar Community of Fort Myers during a golf tournament. The Tee-Up Fore Kids! is Dec. 5, 2024, from 6-9 p.m. at Topgolf, 2021 Top Golf Way, Fort Myers. Tickets are $165 per player and $300 for two players and includes golf, food, drinks, raffles, and entertainment. To reserve your spot or for more information, call 239-344-4007, email, TeeUp4kids@ccdov.org or visit catholiccharitiesdov.org.

Faith & Wine Lee County Dec. 5

The Faith & Wine Lee County will have its first gathering of the season at 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at Resurrection of Our Lord Parish, 8121 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers. The speaker is Judy Hehr, and the title of her talk is, “It’s never too late to be (bankrupt, homeless, drug addicted, a drop out) …or who God created you to be.” Tickets are $28 and include a three-course dinner with wine followed by the presentation and the opportunity to connect with other faith-based women. For more information and to register online please visit faithandwineleecounty.com.

“There is Hope” Bereavement Outreach Training

The Office of Family Life is hosting a Bereavement training focusing on training parish bereavement volunteers and those who speak with the bereaved. Deacon Henry deMena will lead the training. Deacon deMena holds a master’s degree in counseling and has extensive training and experience in Bereavement. The sessions will be held Dec. 4 and 5, 2024, at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, 144 Spear St., Port Charlotte. For more information, contact Jim Gontis at gontis@dioceseofvenice.org.

Diocese of Venice Street Evangelization Training Sessions Dec. 7-8

The Basic Evangelization Training sessions that were postponed due to the hurricane have been rescheduled to December 7 and 8 and will be offered in both English and Spanish. Pope Francis stated that it is the responsibility of every Catholic to share their faith. Representatives from St. Paul Street Evangelization will lead the training in two locations on two consecutive days to provide ample opportunity to attend. Choose either 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 7, 2024, at St. Andrew Catholic School, 1509 SE 27th St., Cape Coral, or you can opt to attend 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 8, at St. Paul Parish Hall, 1330 E. Oak St., Arcadia. The training is $25, and this covers a light breakfast and lunch as well as all materials, including the handout book and evangelization supplies. Registration is required online at http://stpaulse.com/venice. For additional information, please contact Jim Gontis at 941-484-4754, or gontis@dioceseofvenice.org.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival in Port Charlotte on Dec. 7

Join St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Parish and Catholic School for an unforgettable day filled with Mexican-inspired food, beer, activities, and more during their Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival from 1 p.m. – 9 p.m., Dec. 7, 2024. The school is located at 21505 Augusta Ave, Port Charlotte. For more information visit www.stcbs.org/festival or contact Alicia Castello at 941-625-5533 ext. 213.

Disaster Relief continues in Diocese

Our Catholic Faith calls each of us to care for those in need and, at this time in particular, for those who are suffering in the wakes of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. To donate, please visit https://dioceseofvenice.org/disasterrelief/. Please know that donations will support charitable relief for the Diocese of Venice and assist in necessary recovery efforts, such as rebuilding and repairing our churches and schools. Your generosity and prayers for the people of the Diocese of Venice are deeply appreciated. Should you wish to donate via check rather than online, you may mail your donation to: Diocese of Venice in Florida/Disaster Relief, 1000 Pinebrook Road, Venice, Florida 34285. If you are in need of help, please visit Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice at catholiccharitiesdov.org.

The holidays can be a stressful time for everyone but more so for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. The rush of memories can make it feel as if the loss is happening all over again.

To help the bereaved, in early December 2023, the Office of Marriage & Family Life offered a series of events themed “There is Hope!” First was a multi-day retreat titled, “A Walk with Jesus for Grieving Parents,” then a workshop, “There is Hope: Surviving the Holidays.” Lastly was a two-day training session titled, “There is Hope: Giving Hope to the Grieving.”

These gatherings were led by Deacon Henry deMena, of the Diocese of Charleston and formally of the Diocese of Venice, who has extensive training experience as a bereavement counselor.

“There has been a need for these type of bereavement workshops throughout the Diocese and this was an initial effort to judge the demand,” said Carrie Harkey, Coordinator of the Office of Marriage & Family Life.

Deacon deMena said his work is to try to help the bereaved make sense out of what doesn’t make sense: grief.

Grieving parents

The retreat for grieving parents took place Dec. 1-3 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice.

“The main theme was walking with Jesus during our suffering as did the disciples on the walk to Emmaus,” Deacon deMena said of the retreat, which included 20 adults who were remembering 11 adult children who had died. “There was a mixture of prayer services, including a beautiful Adoration/Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, education, sharing and social activities. During an opening ceremony, candles were lit for each of the deceased to represent the Light of Christ.”

The retreat focused upon ensuring each parent understood that they were not alone in their grief, they are always accompanied by Jesus. Facilitators were also present to encourage sharing. The retreat concluded with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Holidays

One aspect of the grieving parents retreat is how to cope with loss during the holidays. Along this theme, Deacon deMena led two presentations on this topic for the public on Dec. 4 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Grove City and then Dec. 5 at St. William Parish in Naples.

“As humans we might feel God has abandoned us when trying to deal with the loss of a loved one,” Deacon deMena said. “It’s OK, because God has broad shoulders. He can handle you being upset with Him. The more you can pray and talk to the Lord, the easier it will be to help Him find you. God wants to share His love and comfort with us.”

The holidays are difficult because anxiety and stress levels are running high for everyone. Anything that can be done to reduce the effort and stress of the season is recommended.

Deacon deMena offered a variety of suggestions on how to get through the holidays, such as early planning for any activities to help avoid surprises, making sure not to pretend that everything is the same or fine, or to not talk about the loved one, as this can be more painful for the bereaved.

Training

The Bereavement Training workshop took place Dec. 6-7 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Venice. There, Deacon deMena spoke to more than 20, representing multiple Parishes, to facilitate establishing strong Parish-based bereavement groups. He provided participants with the tools needed to establish a structured program that follows a 6-week schedule, allowing participants to fully benefit from the process.

Ginny Nolan, of St. Peter Parish in Naples, was among a group of three who took part in the training, eager to expand the bereavement outreach at the Parish. “The information we learned and the process and program we will follow will help many people,” Nolan said. “This is exactly what is needed.”

Throughout each of the workshops and retreats, Deacon deMena said prayer and faith are keys to living with grief, stressing that grieving never really ends but is something that is coped with in a non-destructive way.

With the positive response and a clear need shown by the amount of participation from the bereavement retreat, workshops, and training, Harkey said that additional sessions will be planned throughout the Diocese in the not-too-distant future.

For more information, please contact Carrie Harkey at harkey@dioceseofvenice.org.

Tag: bereavement training

News briefs for the week of November 22, 2024

Bereavement workshops held in Diocese

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