Seasons Of Hope Guidebook

Pastoral leaders will welcome this parish-proven, highly adaptable, and Christ-centered bereavement program. Created by nationally recognized hospice care and bereavement specialist, M. Donna MacLeod, following the death of her daughter nearly twenty years ago, Seasons of Hope offers twenty-four scripture-based sessions for those who are grieving. These are organized into four six-week seasons that are self-contained and non-sequential. All group sessions follow the same simple format and flow with a comforting blend of commentary, scripture, prayer, simple group exercises, faith-sharing, and Catholic tradition. Seasons of Hope is highly adaptable to fit the individual needs of the grieving in the parish. The comprehensive guidebook and four participant journals, one for each season, give you everything you need from beginning to end.

Pastoral leaders will welcome this parish-proven, highly adaptable, and Christ-centered program as part of a comprehensive system of care for those who grieve. Seasons of Hope consists of a comprehensive guidebook and four participant journals. The program offers twenty-four scripture-based sessions for grievers, organized into four six-week seasons. Each season is self-contained and non-sequential.

Seasons of Hope is a unique grief support program for Catholics that focuses on the spiritual side of grieving the death of a loved one. It invites those who mourn to accompany one another and to meet Christ through scripture, prayer, reflection, and simple activities that offer comfort and help to foster healing and spiritual growth. The updated Seasons of Hope Leader’s Guide and four journals can be used by a parish grief ministry. Individuals are also able to use the journals for personal reflection and prayer. You can start with any of the four journals, each of which covers a standalone “season” of six sessions that each have their own theme rooted in a passage from scripture. The Seasons of Hope program was created by author M. Donna MacLeod following the death of her daughter and has been used in thousands of parishes by tens of thousands of people since its original release in 2007. Updates to the new edition of the Leader’s Guide include: a new introduction; a new chapter about offering group sessions online; revised content and activities that meet the challenges and needs of the contemporary Church and culture; an updated resource list; access to online facilitator training materials; and information about caring for those living grief from losses such as suicide, overdose, miscarriage and other child loss, natural disasters, or homicide. The Leader’s Guide continues to include FAQs about creating and sustaining successful grief ministries in your parish. It also provides outlines and scripts for the six group sessions of each season. Those sessions include scripture, prayer, reflection, activities, and faith sharing. The Seasons of Hope Journals, which are perfect for individual and group use, have been revised with a new introduction and updated resource listings. The journals also include Bible references, reflections, prayers, and space for writing.

The five authors of Finding Healing in Times of Grief and Loss all speak to the ways that we can enter into the experience of grief and come through with hearts and spirits renewed by the cherished memories of the ones we’ve lost. Whether the passing of a dear one is recent or further in the past, peace is always possible. The words of wisdom contained in this book assure us that from our grief and loss can come deep comfort and healing.

This is a guidebook for those children and their families the RCIA journey.

Losing one’s partner, one’s soul mate, one’s spouse, “demands” the greatest inner strength one can apply. And it requires the help and wisdom of fellow grief-travelers such as those you will find in the five sections of this booklet.