"Losing my husband was an unbearable pain and I was consumed with grief. St. Alphonsus' Grieving with Great Hope became my lifeline, offering solace and a path toward healing. This group is a blend of prayer, practical learning and personal fellowship. Each session is a sacred space where we share our stories, our tears and our hopes. 

There is no judgement here, it’s a safe space to grieve. We learn about the journey of grieving, coping mechanisms, and share ways to honor our loved ones’ memories.

As weeks turned into months, I found myself beginning to heal. The pain is still great, but I am able to breathe through it. Grieving with Great Hope has given me hope and a way to connect with others who understand my heartache."

When my wife of 56 years unexpectedly died four months after a surgery, I was totally devastated. She had been through many surgeries over the years so I expected she would again recover as she always had. Even in the last month, when medical personnel told me that she was dying, I was convinced she would pull through. After her death I was caught up in the flurry of activity required for the funeral, burial etc. and will be forever grateful for the wonderful people at SAL and the funeral home who helped me though that entire process. 

In the letdown following that however, I realized how totally empty I felt. After dragging through several months of that I noticed SAL offering the Grieving with great Hope program and decided to try it. After about the third session, I decided to look for something different to do that felt productive and rewarding to me as well as being some help to others. It has really helped me for about six months now.

I may not do this for years, but I know I can find something else if I need to in the future. Without that Grieving program supplying the support and germ of an idea I needed to start anew I know I’d still be wallowing in the funk I was mired in.
There is no way I could ever thank that group for all their loving support.