Hope & Remembrance Mass to bring peace to grieving parents
The grief that comes from losing a child lasts a lifetime. Recognizing that parents facing child loss need support, the Archdiocese of Newark’s Office of Family Life Ministries each year offers a sacred and compassionate space where parents and families can find comfort, support, and healing as they bring the pain of their loss before God.
This year’s Mass of Hope and Remembrance will be celebrated on Thursday, June 4 at 7 p.m., at Saint Thomas the Apostle Church in Bloomfield, NJ.
Now in its 35th year, the liturgy allows parents and families to honor children of any age who have lost their lives. Organizers explained that the name of each child will be read aloud during the Mass “as a sacred sign that every life is cherished, remembered, and held in prayer.”
“Rooted in the Christian promise of Christ’s love and resurrection,” they continued, “the liturgy acknowledges the profound and lasting nature of loss while reminding grieving parents that they are not alone on their journey.”
Family members and friends of the bereaved are also welcome to attend in support and prayer. After Mass, a bereaved parent will offer a witness about their experience. There will also be a reception for attendees.
A growing number of participants
The office organizes the event with H.O.P.E. (Helping Other Parents Endure) support groups from area parishes in Bloomfield and River Edge. The Mass was originally organized to help members of the two groups, explained Lauren Tamara, the Family Life Office’s coordinator for loss and healing. Participation has grown over the ensuing decades with bereaved parents from across the archdiocese attending the gathering.
More than 100 deceased children were remembered during last year’s Mass.
Mary Davis, a H.O.P.E. facilitator for more than 30 years, has attended all but one Hope & Remembrance Mass since the tradition began. She said that the internet and social media have helped increase awareness about the liturgy. “Word of mouth from past participants has also helped us attract those who have experienced unfathomable loss,” she said.
“This Mass has always been a beautiful presentation that brings peace and compassion to the bereaved,” Davis said.
Linda Guziejewski co-facilitates a H.O.P.E. support group in Bloomfield with her husband, Stan. She encountered the group after attending the annual liturgy, and said that it has helped her endure her own grief. “Although I feel my sadness, I also feel close to my daughter,” Guziejewski said. “The readings and music touch the hearts of all who attend.”
She added that her many years as a facilitator have been “helpful and rewarding in the grieving process.”
The 35th Annual Mass of Hope & Remembrance will be held on Thursday, June 4 at 7 p.m. at Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish in Bloomfield, NJ.
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