John Paul Care is stepping out into the deep, advertising its grief support group to the wider community, Catholic and non-Catholic, for the first time.
It will run Journey to Peace, a six week program to help people come to terms with grief, beginning February 13.
Co-ordinator Betty Thompson says the group’s main purpose is to help people understand their grief in a supportive environment.
“Some people come in the first few months of their partner passing away, [needing] support right from the start and feeling isolated in their own homes.”
All of the group’s facilitators have experienced their own loss, Ms Thompson said, and attendees seem to find the empathy and support of peers invaluable.
“Some people don’t actually stop and work through their grief, they just try and get over it. Sometimes it’s the second or third death when it catches up with them,” Ms Thompson said.
It is the first time the group has offered a more intensive, weekly program. John Paul Care has been offering monthly group meetings since 2004.
The group was begun as a non-denominational outreach but gradually incorporated prayer at the beginning and end of its meetings as most its attendees were Christians.
Journey to Peace will not incorporate prayer or religiosity of any kind unless it becomes obvious that attendees would appreciate it, Ms Thompson said.
There is no cost for the program but the John Paul Care Group are asking people to book and make a commitment to come.
For more information on Journey to Peace, contact Betty on 9457 4991 or 0438 858 212, or Geraldine on 9456 2985.