Consolation Ministry

 Ministers of Consolation: 

Focus on providing bereaved parishioners and their families with hope and consolation following the loss of a loved one. Their role includes participating in the vigil for the deceased with the family and community through leading vigil prayers at the funeral home during the visitation, incorporating special moments of remembrance of deceased parishioners into the parish’s annual Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed mass held in November, acknowledging the loss of loved ones through sending bereavement and one year anniversary cards and being a resource for grief support materials and information on grief support services in the community.

We invite you to call the parish office at 905-668-3676 for further information on how you may receive assistance and support.

Below are two documents that you can download and read:

Brochure Ministry of Consolation (2025).pdf

Healing Rituals

Tips on Helping Yourself:

1. Give yourself permission to grieve. Don’t rush the process. Be patient with yourself.
2. Get plenty of rest. Your body needs it while recovering emotional distress.
3. Eat proper meals.
4. Plenty of exercise will help sadness.
5. Treat yourself occasionally – especially to things that will add beauty to your life like flowers, new clothing or something for your home.
6. Make sure you have someone or a group of people with whom you share your loss.
7. If possible, don’t make major changes or important decisions during the first year.
8. You will find comfort in continuing to talk about the person who has died.
9. Draw on the resources of your faith or belief system to sustain you at this time. 

The Mourners' Bill of Rights

You have the right to experience your own grief.
You have the right to talk about your grief.
You have the right to feel a multitude of emotions.
You have the right to be tolerant of your physical and emotional limits
You have the right to extreme "griefburst", sudden, powerful surges of grief.
You have the right to make use of healing rituals, including the funeral
You have the right to embrace your spirituality.
You have the right to search for meaning in life and death
You have the right to treasure your memories.
You have the right to move toward your grief and heal.