Consolation Ministries

Ministry to the Bereaved

The Office of Family Life Ministry provides support and encouragement to those individuals who have lost a loved one through death. Support groups are available throughout the diocese for persons in the initial stages of grief.

Click here for a list of support groups for the bereaved.

Lazarus Ministry

is designed to provide immediate support to a family following the death of a loved one. Parishioners trained for Lazarus Ministry may form several teams. Each team can be responsible for providing a different type of outreach.

First responders call the family with condolences on behalf of the parish community and make arrangements for a non-intrusive home visit by a two member team. In some instances, assistance is requested in planning and selecting readings for the funeral liturgy and/or help with the wake, reception or interment.

On-going support is provided during the subsequent weeks following the funeral.

Ministry to Separated or Divorced

The Office of Family Life Ministry provides support and encouragement to "hurting" members of the Church community. The Church shows concern and embraces all her members by offering support groups throughout the diocese. In addition, the Family Life Office, with assistance from the Tribunal, sponsors informative programs dealing with the process of securing church annulments.

On a parish level, the Office of Family Life Ministry has been involved in the selection and training of facilitators for small support groups. The groups serve as a beacon of hope and source of strength for those overwhelmed with the pain and fear associated with the dissolution of a marriage relationship. The groups provide the setting for hurting people to verbalize and share their anxieties and feelings with others who are in similar circumstances. The groups meet weekly for a period of six to eight weeks.

Click here for information about the support groups for divorced and separated.

Rainbows for Children

Rainbows is a peer support group for children (ages 4 - 14) experiencing a significant loss, illness or other painful transition within their family. With the assistance of a facilitator children will learn to put their feelings into words and begin the process of working through their grief.

Click here for a list of support groups for Rainbows for Children.

Beginning Experience Weekend

Beginning Experience is an international ministry for divorced, separated and widowed individuals. It is an invitational process that is intended to facilitate the resolution of grief, promote healing and thereby free people to live and love themselves, others and God.

Annulment Information Evenings

These are held twice a year during which time staff members of the Diocesan Tribunal present accurate and detailed information on the annulment process.

Click here to Family Life Events for the next information session.

For additional information on annulments, please visit the Tribunal.

Groups for Widows and Widowers (WOW)

A number of WOW's groups are located within the diocese. They each have their own set of officers but receive support and direction from the Family Life Office. They generally run social activities each month for their members and invited guests.

Click here for a list of support groups for widows and widowers.

Catholic Infertility Support Group

A support group for married couples experiencing the pain of infertilty or the inability to maintain a pregnancy is currently offered through the Family Life Office/Diocese of Metuchen.

The meetings will be held on the third Saturday of the month from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway, NJ.

For more information and to pre-register, please contact Robert & Amy Sherlock at (908) 500 - 1695 or amysherlock@gmail.com.