General Resources
Loss of a Spouse
Beginning Experience Weekend
This weekend program is intended for those suffering the loss of a love relationship as widowed, divorced or separated, who are ready to come to terms with that loss and move forward with their lives.
- Helps grieving persons focus on their experience and emerge from the darkness of grief into the light of a new beginning.
- Offers an opportunity, through God, for turning the pain of loss into a basis for positive growth.
- Founded by a Catholic nun and rooted in the Christian tradition, the ministry’s open, inclusive spirit serves those of all faiths.
Upcoming retreat date(s):
– May 2-4, 2025
– October 10-12, 2025
Catholic Widows & Widowers of North County (CWWNC)
We are a non-profit social group of friendly Catholic ladies and gentlemen. Every month, our members enjoy happy hours, dinners, hikes and lively conversation, and we invite you to join us!
Loss of a Child
The Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents
The mission of The Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents is based in the Catholic, Franciscan tradition of “All are Welcome. Their mission is to serve the spiritual needs of grieving parents whose children of any age have died by any cause; and help interested parents, as well as Clergy, Religious, Diocesan Staff, and/or Spiritual Directors bring this ministry to their own parishes or regions.
Red Bird Ministries
Red Bird was founded on helping parents address the profound healing that needs to happen while also honoring the memory of the child. Our unique value is in the attention given to protect the individual, the marriage, and other relationships from a spectrum of issues that can compound and lead to dysfunction.
Grief Support Guide
The Grief Support Guide provides nonprofit resources here in San Diego and nationally to help families experiencing the loss of a baby. It was developed as a collaboration between the County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency Maternal, Child, an Family Health Services (MCFHS) Branch with the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Program Community Action Team – Health Messages Taskforce.
Recommended Books
Loss from Suicide
Suicide awareness is a growing initiative in our culture and our Church. Suicide prevention and offering comfort to those grieving a loss from suicide can be difficult to navigate.
Please see our Suicide Awareness page for more information on grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide.
Support Groups around the Diocese
St. Brigid’s (San Diego)
Our Ministry of Consolation offers a seasonal bereavement group. Seasons of Hope is a Christ-centered grief support group for those in need of consolation after losing a loved one. Each series consists of six consecutive weekly meetings, with a new series offered four times a year. The six week series is a small group journey – as opposed to a drop-in group. Each session includes prayer, Scripture, faith-sharing, and fellowship facilitated by the bereavement ministry team. To pre-register or for more information, please contact Lee Hulburt.
Mission San Diego de Alcalá
Bereavement Ministry offers grief support groups twice a month via Zoom/video conference to provide a compassionate, faith based method to assist mourners through their healing journey. Facilitators use several sources of inspiration to explore mourning through scripture, prayer, reflection and faith sharing. For additional information on the Bereavement Ministry and the grief support groups, please contact Amy Guerrero via email or by phone at (619) 850-8547.
St. Anthony of Padua (National City)
Beginning again in September 2021, el Ministerio de Duelo de San Antonio de Padua meets every Wednesday (7:00-9:00 pm) over Zoom. If you or someone you love is looking for a grief group in Spanish, please contact their parish office. (619) 477-4520
Loss of a Spouse
Beginning Experience Weekend
This weekend program is intended for those suffering the loss of a love relationship as widowed, divorced or separated, who are ready to come to terms with that loss and move forward with their lives.
- Helps grieving persons focus on their experience and emerge from the darkness of grief into the light of a new beginning.
- Offers an opportunity, through God, for turning the pain of loss into a basis for positive growth.
- Founded by a Catholic nun and rooted in the Christian tradition, the ministry’s open, inclusive spirit serves those of all faiths.
For more information or to register for a weekend, please see Beginning Experience San Diego.
Catholic Widows & Widowers of North County (CWWNC)
We are a non-profit social group of friendly Catholic ladies and gentlemen. Every month, our members enjoy happy hours, dinners, hikes and lively conversation, and we invite you to join us!
Loss of a Child
The mission of The Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents is based in the Catholic, Franciscan tradition of “All are Welcome. Their mission is to serve the spiritual needs of grieving parents whose children of any age have died by any cause; and help interested parents, as well as Clergy, Religious, Diocesan Staff, and/or Spiritual Directors bring this ministry to their own parishes or regions.
Red Bird was founded on helping parents address the profound healing that needs to happen while also honoring the memory of the child. Our unique value is in the attention given to protect the individual, the marriage, and other relationships from a spectrum of issues that can compound and lead to dysfunction.
The Grief Support Guide provides nonprofit resources here in San Diego and nationally to help families experiencing the loss of a baby. It was developed as a collaboration between the County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency Maternal, Child, an Family Health Services (MCFHS) Branch with the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Program Community Action Team – Health Messages Taskforce.
For information on reproductive loss (infertility, miscarriage or post-abortion healing), please see our Reproductive Loss web page.
Loss from Suicide
Suicide awareness is a growing initiative in our culture and our Church. Suicide prevention and offering comfort to those grieving a loss from suicide can be difficult to navigate.
Please see our Suicide Awareness page for more information on grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide.
Support Groups around the Diocese
St. Brigid’s (San Diego)
Our Ministry of Consolation offers a seasonal bereavement group. Seasons of Hope is a Christ-centered grief support group for those in need of consolation after losing a loved one. Each series consists of six consecutive weekly meetings, with a new series offered four times a year. The six week series is a small group journey – as opposed to a drop-in group. Each session includes prayer, Scripture, faith-sharing, and fellowship facilitated by the bereavement ministry team. To pre-register or for more information, please contact Lee Hulburt.
Mission San Diego de Alcalá
Bereavement Ministry offers grief support groups twice a month via Zoom/video conference to provide a compassionate, faith based method to assist mourners through their healing journey. Facilitators use several sources of inspiration to explore mourning through scripture, prayer, reflection and faith sharing. For additional information on the Bereavement Ministry and the grief support groups, please contact Amy Guerrero via email or by phone at (619) 850-8547.
St. Anthony of Padua (National City)
Beginning again in September 2021, el Ministerio de Duelo de San Antonio de Padua meets every Wednesday (7:00-9:00 pm) over Zoom. If you or someone you love is looking for a grief group in Spanish, please contact their parish office. (619) 477-4520
Contact Information
Staff
- Director: John Prust
- Associate Director: Janelle Peregoy
- Associate Director: Wendy Baez
- Administrative Assistant: Vivian Toscano