Parish Offers Care Programmes for the Divorced and Grieving

A parish in Johannesburg will host another round of Divorce Care and Grief Share programmes, each running for 13 weeks, as of February.

These programmes, offered by St John’s parish in North Riding, are aimed at those in need of divorce/separation or grief counselling and support.

The two separate programmes are run by facilitators who will help guide participants, surrounded by others “who understand what you are feeling and who will be able to offer you encouragement”, organisers said.

Evelyn, who asked that her surname not be mentioned, attended a previous Grief Share programme after the death of a loved one, and told The Southern Cross about her “journey through grief”.

She recalled feeling awkward at first, being in a room full of strangers, where loss and emptiness were the common denominator.

“The programme started with guidelines, which at the time seemed like too many. We focused on the many challenges of grief, trying to make sense of the grief journey, followed by reflection on our relationships, before stopping to ask why,” Evelyn explained.

“Then the guilt and anger reared their heads, leading to a discussion about complicating factors such as the trauma of difficult deaths, and the acknowledgment of being stuck and finding our new normal.”

After travelling through the lessons of grief, the programme was steered to the topic of heaven, which Evelyn describes as the highlight of her journey.

“A place so beautiful that is beyond imagination, provided me with the comfort of knowing my loved one is with Jesus in paradise, waiting for me to join him,” she said.

Evelyn said the strangers with whom she began this journey have now become her family: “I thank each and every one of them.”

Divorce Care, to help deal with divorce or separation, starts on February 7 at 19:00. Grief Share, for the loss of a loved one, begins on February 9 at 10:00. Each costs R200.

For more information, contact Arianna Wartmann on 071 138-8401.