Mass to offer healing to women who lost child

According to Meg Bergh, associate director of the Family Life Office, those who have experienced the loss of a child prior to birth are often alone with their grief.

"For anyone who has lost a child, the grief process is endless," she said. "For those who have experienced a stillbirth or miscarriage, the grief is not acknowledged. You're supposed to move on."

Time to heal

Other women who have experienced miscarriage report that they were treated as if they had no right to grieve since the child hadn't been born.

"From the moment of conception, that bond is there between mother and child," Mrs. Bergh said. "Women who have experienced this loss need to feel understanding and acceptance."

Although Catholics believe that life begins at the moment of conception, there are no funeral rituals to assist people experiencing prenatal loss through their grieving process, Mrs. Bergh said. She hopes those who attend the healing Mass will be comforted and "take away a feeling of peace to help alleviate the pain."

Post-abortion feelings

Forgiveness in the Catholic tradition is not forgetting what happened, she explained. It is being transformed in heart and created anew. Healing and reconciliation are rooted in the Lord's unlimited mercy and love.

Whether they are grieving the loss of a child through abortion, miscarriage or stillbirth, Mrs. Bergh wants people to know that their child is with God. In Mark 10:14, Jesus says, "Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

(The Healing Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady Mercy Church in Colonie on March 30 at 7:30 p.m. Rev. Anthony Chiaramonte will preside. For more information, call the Family Life Office at 453-6677. For directions, visit www.olmparish.org or call 459-1272.)

(03-16-00) [[In-content Ad]]