LIVING MINISTRY/ CCRS

MODULE OUTLINES

BEREAVEMENT

Aim

The purpose of this module is to familiarise participants with the bereavement process and to equip them to work in Bereavement Ministry in the Catholic Parish.

Learning Outcomes

Participants should :

• Understand the religious context of life and death within the Catholic Church.
• Become familiar with the grieving process.
• Reflect on their own personal fellings about death.
• Develop skills to listen, befriend and facilitate groups.
• Recognise boundaries, endings and the need to refer on for proffesional help.
• Appreciate the needs of the bereaved and link with the other groups within the Catholic Parish.

Recognise the need for ongoing formation and training in this ministry.


Learning Process

This will include:

• reflection on personal experience
• related input to deepen understanding
  the gathering of information through reading and listening group discussion
  

Syllabus Outline
The course will include:

• The meaning and significance of death and resurrection within the Catholic Church.
• The relationship of the bereavement ministry with the clergy, pastoral team and the other groups within the Catholic Parish.
• Study of the process of grief and the factors affecting grief.
• Basic principles of communicating with and supporting bereaved people.
• Reflection on scripture and Church documents along with other selected texts which focus on various aspects of bereavement.
  
  
  Assessment for CCRS Students
  
  Participants will be credited with this module upon satisfying both of the following conditions:
  
  Attendance for at least 80% of the ten hours' contact time
  
  Successful completion of an Assignment based on some aspect of the content of this module and related to one or more of the identified learning outcomes.

Recommended Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church
1994, Geoffrey Chapman

Faulkener, Ann (1995) Working With Bereaved People, Churchill Livingstone

Lake, Tony (1984) Living With Grief Sheldon Press

Lendrum, Susan & Syme, Gabrielle (1992) Gift of Tears Routledge

Lewis CS (1966) A Grief Observed Faber

Parkes, Colin Murray (1996) Bereavement Studies of Grief in Adult Life Penguin Group

Rando T (1988) How to Go On Living When Someone You Love Dies Lexington Books

Spall, B & Callis (1997) Loss, Bereavement and Grief Stanley Thornes Publishers Ltd

Sample Assignment Titles