GRIEF SUPPORT MINISTRY
The death of a loved one is unlike any other loss. Whether the death was sudden and tragic, or one with warning and preparation, the reality of death leaves most of us in a state of shock, confusion and sadness. Please join us on Thursdays, January 14 and 28, February 11 and 25, March 11 and 25 at 7:30p.m. at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 4001 Stoneridge Drive, Pleasanton. These meetings are open to all, regardless of religious orientation. Please call Mary at 925-846-5377 if you have any questions.
ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH GRIEF
The Grief Support Ministry of St. Michael and St. Charles is here to help you. We are compassionate listeners, who will share your thought and memories, pray with you, and recommend additional support services if you need them. In addition to quarterly Masses, we offer one-on-one counseling in your home or at the Rectory. There is no charge for our services. To reach us, please call the Rectory at 447-1585 ext. 0 and leave your name and phone number. One of our members will call you back and arrange a meeting.
WHAT TO DO WHEN A LOVED ONE DIES
You are entitled to arrange for a funeral Mass at this church and to have the services of our priests, deacons, and Grief Support Ministry. Please call the Rectory as soon as possible to let us know your situation: 447-1585, ext. 0. Though a Mortuary may tell you that "it handles everything", this is not quite true. Our clergy want to make plans for liturgies directly with you. A member of the Grief Support Ministry will phone you once the death has been reported, and this person will offer to help you with the details of a Mass or other service. Grief Support can provide greeters at Masses, and can make a personalized program with enough advance notice.
PLAN YOU OWN FUNERAL LITURGY
Would you like to spare your family from wondering what sort of funeral you would like? The Grief Support Ministry has volunteers who can sit down with you and go over the options you have in choosing Scripture readings, music, and other things. Just call the Rectory at 447-1585 extension 0, and leave your name and phone number. A member will call you to schedule an appointment, without any cost to you
Have You Noticed
In the vestibule of the church is a display of Care Notes, short messages on a variety of topics to help bereaved people. You are invited to take any you would like to read and either return them when you have finished or give them to someone else who might benefit from them. The Grief Support ministry provides these free of charge as a service to our community.
DID YOU KNOW
Holy Angels/St. Michael Cemetery
As an extension of your church community, Holy Angels Catholic Funeral, Cremation and Cemetery Service is here to serve you.
The Diocese of Oakland has made available to all, low cost funeral services through Holy Angels Funeral & Cremation Centers? You do not have to leave Livermore and go to Hayward to use these services. These services are offered here in Livermore. For more information regarding these services, please call Jayne at 510-537-6600 or leave a message at 925-455-9696.
Whether you choose a traditional burial or cremation, you can be assured that Holy Angels will respect you and your family’s wishes with dignity following sacred traditions and honored values.
We offer the convenience of arranging as well as prearranging your Funeral and Cremation Services through Holy Angels located at St. Michael Cemetery.
Holy Angels follows the Order of Christian Funerals guidelines by providing funeral service plans that contain the following services: The Vigil, The Funeral Liturgy and the Rite of Committal. The Order of Christian funerals strongly prefers that cremation take place after the full funeral liturgy with the body present. However, when this is not possible, all the traditional rites that are celebrated with a body present may also be celebrated in the presence of cremated remains.
There is help with planning a loved one’s funeral. Here at St. Michael Church along with the ministry of priests, deacons, and Grief Support, you have the aid of the booklet, “Through Death to Life”. This resource will help you in selecting the various reading options, special personalized prayers and family participation available in the funeral mass or memorial service. With the guidance of our music ministry appropriate funeral liturgy music can also be selected. In addition, the Grief Support Ministry can help you through the various details and with at least three days notice can provide a funeral program for use at the funeral mass . We can also assign Grief Support ministers to serve as greeters at the liturgy or as servers at a reception. Once you contact the rectory a Grief Support Minister will call you. Mortuaries usually do not arrange the specifics of a funeral mass or memorial service. It is necessary that you contact the Rectory to arrange a funeral mass or memorial service. If you would like information regarding the Catholic Funeral and Cemetery services, please call Jayne at 455-9696.
We look forward to serving you and your family as one contact point for your Funeral, Cremation and Burial needs.
If you already have a pre-need arrangement or insurance policy and would like to use our services, or have questions regarding the Catholic Funeral Services, please call Jayne Archer at (925) 455-9696
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Our Grief Support Ministry not only helps families plan funerals when someone has died, but will also help people who wish to pre-plan their own funeral. If you would like to spare your family the task of deciding how to honor you at a Mass of the Resurrection, call us. Our service is free. In English, call Barbara at 455-0944; in Spanish, call Socorro at 447-5628.
Mass for a loved one
Have you ever wanted to have a mass said for a loved one or an announcement of an upcoming anniversary, and not exactly known how to go about it? Or how about a "mass card" for living or deceased? If you are interested in a particular date and time for a mass to be offered on a Sunday, it may require 6 months to a year advanced notice. If you are interested in a mass being offered any day such as a morning mass, sometimes that can take from 6-9 months. You can come in person to the rectory and see Anita between the hours of 9:00-5:00 Monday-Friday. Or Monday-Thursday from 5:00-7:30 PM. You can also call between those hours, at 447-1585. Usually there will be a $10 $15 donation. A wonderful way to honor your loved ones.
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