Our Mission Statement
In God’s Hands is a parish ministry that provides support to families who are experiencing, or have experienced, loss of a child through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant
death.We recognize the uniqueness of the loss of an unborn child or infant, and provide comfort to families through prayer, confidential family-to-family support, liturgy
and sacraments,and practical information. In a culture which debates the value of life, we recognize and respect that precious life begins at conception, and that the loss
of that life is real,painful, and deserving of healing and comfort. We seek to support others through our own losses of children and connections to loss.
My soul is deprived of peace, I have forgotten what happiness is; I tell myself my future is lost, all that I hope for from the LORD, But I will call this to mind, as my reason to have hope: The favors of the LORD are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent; They are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness. My portion is the LORD, says my soul; therefore I will hope in him. -
Lamentations 3:17-18, 21-24
Lamentations 3:17-18, 21-24
HOW WE CAN HELP...
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PRAYER
We are always praying for families affected by the death of a child. Please contact our ministry to request prayer for yourself or a loved one, even if you wish to be prayed for anonymously. Our volunteers regularly pray for families, and we pass prayer requests to our parish priests and parish Prayer Line ministry as well. LITURGIES & REMEMBRANCES In God’s Hands dedicates a weekend mass annually to the babies in our parish and community who have been lost through a miscarriage, stillbirth, or early death. This liturgy is typically held in October, National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, near the feast of St. Gerard Majella. If you are interested in participating in a more private service, please let us know. Our priests can also provide the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick over ill infants, mothers who are suffering a miscarriage or perinatal loss, and families experiencing emotional distress over their loss. HELP AROUND THE HOME Household duties can sometimes be too stressful to handle alone during a time of grief. We can help to connect you to our parish’s Dinners to the Doorstep which can provide meals when needed.
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FAMILY TO FAMILY SUPPORT
Our volunteers have all experienced loss of a child or children. We would be happy to personally minister to you and your family, to respect your privacy. Contact us to be matched with a family who has experienced a similar loss. It’s up to you and your family how you’d like support, whether via phone or email, or meeting in person. Our volunteers are trained to listen to your story and share their own experiences, as well as to help connect you to helpful local resources. We are passionate about providing support to all family members, and have some volunteers who specifically minister to grandparents. We hope your relationship with your family will continue—we are here to support you through any infertility or pregnancy anxieties, too. RESOURCES & INFORMATION We can provide you with some inspirational Christian
literature on experiencing the loss of an unborn or infant child, as well as literature about the grief process. If you desire to be connected to local resources for grief counseling or support groups, we can let you know of local professionals who focus on perinatal and grief issues. We have volunteers who are trained to assess whether counseling and additional emotional support may be beneficial to your family.
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Ministry Founders: Brian and Cayce Farina | Phone: 484-206-7975 | Email: ingodshands@stvparish.org