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St.Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church |
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Blessed are they who mourn, they shall be comforted. — Matthew.5:4 One of the most basic calls in the Judeo-Christian faith tradition is the call to minister to those members in the community who are hurting. God does not want human beings to be alone; that is why the people of Israel were called to become a nation, and that is why Jesus asks those who follow him to work for unity. Through history, places of worship have been centers of sanctuary and support. Grief is the emotional, physical, and spiritual response to the loss or anticipated loss of someone or something in whom or which one has been invested. Grief is a part of the human condition, a part of love. The more one loves, the more acute the pain will be at the separation from the beloved. The bereavement minister journeys both with those who are dying and their families. The minister provides support before and after the death of a loved one and assists with the planning of the funeral vigil and funeral Mass. Families are encouraged to take an active role in planning the funeral vigil and funeral Mass. The selection of scriptural readings, music, and those who might eulogize the deceased are some of the things that can be selected by the family. In the case of a prolonged illness, people who are facing death often times request that they be involved in the planning of their funeral services along with their family. The bereavement minister will assist you and answer any questions you have. If someone close to you is dying please contact the bereavement minister. The faith community of St. Maximilian is here to walk with you. You will want to ask a priest to visit the person who is ill and celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. You may request this sacrament at any time. A person need not be in immediate danger of dying in order to be anointed. The best time to make funeral arrangements is before they are needed. It may be helpful to make an appointment to speak to a funeral director. In this way you will know what options are available and the costs involved. You may also discover which choices are most common in your own community. The parish works closely with local directors and will be happy to provide you with the names of several. Contact the parish office immediately upon the death of a loved one. 818-991-3915. Funeral services are meant to help, comfort, and support the grieving person. The faith community also gathers to pray for the deceased. Any other benefit, such as building of community or evangelization, is secondary. The funeral vigil and Mass is meant to minister to those who are in pain. St. Maximilian Kolbe has rooms that can be made available to you after the funeral where the family may hold a reception. Speak to the bereavement minister or parish staff about your needs. There are many situations that can require special attention at the time of death. Some of these are; explaining death to a child, the death of a baby or young child, accidental death, suicide. The grieving process can also occur over other significant losses in one's life such as a divorce, permanent separation of a loved one, the loss of a job. Bereavement Ministry can help you through these instances as well. |
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