Naperville's St. Thomas the Apostle offers online program for coping with death of a loved one

Responding to the needs experienced by those struggling with the death of a loved one, especially now that COVID-19 has drastically increased the number of people mourning such losses, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church will offer a free online "Grief to Growth" support group for adults. The group will meet from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on six consecutive Mondays, beginning March 7.

The group's size is limited to eight members and is for adults who have lost a parent, spouse, adult child, sibling or friend.

"We request that group members commit to attending all six meetings so we all can participate in building a wonderful sense of community," said Paula Kosin, a parishioner and a licensed clinical professional counselor who will facilitate the "Grief to Growth" sessions.

"The death of a loved one can be devastating," she noted, "but - through God's grace and the support of others - over a period of time healing and growth can occur."

Kosin explained the group, sponsored by the behavioral health ministry at St. Thomas Church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville, will be a place to "share your story, honor your loved one's memory, learn healthy strategies to survive the sadness, and move forward in a safe, confidential and supportive setting."

Registration is required by Wednesday, March 2, for the "Grief to Growth" support group.

Participants also must have an email address, Wi-Fi, a personal computer or iPad/tablet, and familiarity with the basics of joining a Zoom meeting.

To register or for more information about the group, contact Susan Kearney, coordinator of St. Thomas' behavioral health ministry, at sdkearney@comcast.net or (630) 355-8980, ext. 108. When registering, please include the correct spelling of the participant's first and last name, phone number and email address. Information about joining the Zoom meetings will be provided to participants prior to each session.

St. Thomas the Apostle, a parish of the Diocese of Joliet, strives to bear the Good News of God's unconditional love to all generations through worship, faith formation, witness and service. Organized in 1984, the St. Thomas faith community numbers more than 3,400 households of more than 10,750 people. Complete news and information on parish events, guest speakers and special programs is available at www.stapostle.org. For general parish information, please call (630) 355-8980.