Bereavement Support
Our Grief Support Group meets at 11 AM on the third Wednesday of each month September through June. If you are interested in attending, please contact Sue Emanuel at 518-724-0200.

Miscarriage Ministry

If you have recently lost a child to miscarriage or still-birth, there is a ministry and support network to serve you. The Albany Diocese and several parishes, including our sister parish, Blessed Sacrament offer spiritual support, lists of resources, information on funeral and memorial services, cemetery support and other options for those who have suffered a loss of an unborn child. 

Losses such as these fall on the Pro-Life continuum from conception to death. There is often confusion or misinformation on what can be done with the remains. It can be difficult to easily find timely and appropriate information. The Blessed Sacrament parish webpage offers a comprehensive page for families: blessedsacramentalbany.org/programs/miscarriage ministry. 

The program is also looking for volunteers who may want to help, from helping with funerals or memorials or providing a meal for the recently bereaved. The Evangelist had a three-page article on how other parishes, the diocesan cemeteries and funeral homes are helping families who have experienced a miscarriage, available at the Evangelist website: evangelist.org/news/2024/jun/26/hope-for-healing/.

If you or someone you know has recently suffered a miscarriage, please seek out and/or share these resources.

Homebound Visitation
Volunteers visit and bring Holy Communion to shut-in parishioners. If you would like to be added to our list for home visits or would like to volunteer for this ministry, contact the parish office at [email protected] or 518-482-4497.

Lazarus Ministry
This group of volunteers assists at funeral liturgies. They support the family and friends of the deceased by:

• Greeting family members / distribute program
• Placing the pall over casket
• Carrying Offertory gifts
• Serving as lector
• Incensing
• Livestreaming