People interested in becoming bereavement support volunteers are invited to attend a training course in Galway in the New Year.
Two training courses for Bethany Bereavement Support Groups - parish based groups which minister to the bereaved - will take place at Esker Retreat House, Athenry over two residential weekends. These are February 13 to15 for part one of the course and March 27 to 29 for part two. The other course will take place from October 2 to 4 and November 20 to 22.
The support groups began in Dublin more than 20 years ago and are now in 90 parishes in the Dublin Archdiocese. They began in the west last year and seven parish groups have been trained this year.
A spokesperson for the Bethany Bereavement Support Groups says it does not offer bereavement counselling but bereavement support.
“A group of at least six people would be needed to run it effectively in a parish. These are selected, or approved, by the priest(s ) of the parish. They are interviewed by two of the core group.
“They work in complete co-operation with the priest(s ) of the parish. They offer whatever support the individual bereaved requests. They offer home visits. They offer group sessions for the bereaved. They can be of assistance with the liturgy at the time of a death. They can organise input for the parish on aspects of bereavement that are important to everyone.”
The core group for the West of Ireland Bethany Bereavement Support Groups consists of Sr Mary Glennon, Craughwell, Fr Tony King, Athenry, Mary Egan, Eyrecourt, Donna O’Donoghue, Athenry, Kathleen Heavey, Oranmore, Maude Prendergast, Athenry, Sr Margaret Buckley, Mountbellew and Fr Johnny Doherty, Esker.
