Grief as a Journey: 11-Week Support Group Offers Healing After Loss

In the quiet ache of losing someone dear, where words often fall short and nights grow long, finding a path forward can feel impossible. The Edmonton Eparchy invites you to “Grief as a Journey”, a compassionate 11-week Grief Support group designed for those navigating the pain of bereavement. Starting Tuesday, April 14, this program offers a safe space to process grief, build connections, and rediscover hope, rooted in Christian faith and community.

Why Join a Grief Support Group?

Grief is not a straight line; it’s a winding journey through emotions and experiences that can make one feel lost and misunderstood. Isolation can make our grief feel even heavier.

Here, you’ll find:

Structure:

Each 2-hour session (6:00 – 8:00 pm) includes insightful video presentations from an experienced grief counsellor and honest testimonies from those who have travelled the journey of grief. This is followed by a small-group discussion.

Learn about how grief unfolds, how it affects body, mind, and spirit, and practical ways to cope day by day.

Faith Integration: As Ukrainian Catholics, we draw strength from Holy Scripture and prayer. Sessions will always include these elements to help us process what we are experiencing through the eyes of faith.

Sessions honour the promise that God will always be with us, especially as we mourn loved ones.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4)

Community Healing: Share stories, listen without judgment, and offer encouragement.

Expressing our feelings to others who care lifts our burden, turning solitary suffering into shared resilience.

This is not therapy or counselling – it is peer-led support infused with Gospel mercy.

Program Details

Date: Tuesdays, April 14 – June 23, 2026 (11 weeks) | 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Location: Edmonton Eparchy Pastoral Centre, 9645 – 108 Ave, Edmonton, AB

Cost: $20 (covers all materials: workbook, videos, resources)

Format: In-person with bilingual support. Ukrainian-speaking team members will provide clarifications, translations of key points, and help with questions, so everyone participates fully.

Who It is For: Adults of any age who’ve lost a loved one. No prior faith commitment required; all are welcome in Christ’s love.

The Transformative Power of Grief Support

Participants often say:

“Knowing that others felt some of the same things that I was feeling really helped me realize that I was OK.” “I finally felt seen, not pitied, but understood.” “Being able to discuss these topics with others who have gone through what I was going through was so helpful to me in my personal journey.” “We became a family.”

In our Eparchy, this aligns with our call to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2).

You’ll leave with a better sense of your own grief, where you are on the journey mourning and sense of community with those who are journeying with you.

Bishop David reminds us: G rief honours love’s depth, but God’s love carries us through. This group embodies that truth.

Limited Spots – Register Today

Spaces fill quickly. Secure yours now:

📞 780-424-5496

📧 Mariana.slavych@eeparchy.com

One step toward community can illuminate your path. If you’re holding space for someone else, share this invitation. Together, we journey from loss toward light.

Edmonton Eparchy, walking with you in faith.