New Day Program

Bereavement Group

Saint Luke Parish offers in-person bereavement workshops that normally begin in March, September, and December each year. The New Day process consists of 10 facilitated meetings. For more information, or to enroll in the next session, contact the parish office.

A Journey for People Coping with the Loss of a Loved One

Saint Luke Parish offers a bereavement workshop for people coping with the loss of a loved one. Three workshops are offered each year, in the spring, autumn, and winter.  Participants meet for two hours, once a week for 10 consecutive weeks. Anyone who is grieving the death of a loved one is encouraged to enroll and participate at no cost.

Grief is the process by which we adapt to any significant loss in our lives and it requires honest work to make the journey to a new and hope-filled day. This workshop uses The New Day Journal and process developed by Sr. Mauryeen O’Brien, OP. During each meeting, participants work through an element of the grieving process using prayer, reflection and sharing. The New Day Journal is the main tool of the process and there is some homework involved. Each week the Journal presents a set of questions for reflection whereby participants are encouraged to reflect and write out their thoughts. The journals are not handed in or graded but the participants are encouraged to share their answers with the group if and when they can muster the will to do so. Each participant must work through the grieving process in his or her own way. The facilitators and other participants are present to support them. Everything that is shared by participants during the meetings is held confidential. 

The workshop facilitators are not licensed grief counselors and cannot offer counseling services. They have worked through their own grief of having lost loved ones, and they have received training from the Archdiocese of Hartford Office of Family Life. They accompany participants on their grief journey and will offer referrals if a participant’s needs are beyond the scope that can be addressed by the workshop.

The feedback from past participants has been positive and all have progressed in their grieving process. While the sponsor Parish and facilitators are Catholic Christians, anyone who is at ease with Christian Scripture and prayer is welcome and can participate fully.