Grief Resources

Grief Support Resources

~specially curated for grieving parents~

You will find that many of our resources listed are focused on the loss of a child. However, we invite and encourage anyone who is grieving a significant loss to explore these resources. We think you’ll find that many of them will speak to your grief no matter the loss you have experienced.

UPCOMING EVENT

Blessed are Those who Mourn

A Concert with Classical Pianist Mila Belakova
in Honor of Grief and Gratitude

As an introduction to the Diocese of Rapid City Grief Ministry, we invite you to an evening of remembrance for the loved ones you are grieving with adoration, candle-lighting, and a concert with classical pianist Mila Belakova.

Join us to remember your loved one by lighting a candle in their memory and praying in presence of our Lord, Jesus Christ with Eucharistic Adoration in the Cenacle at Terra Sancta Retreat Center beginning at 5:45, followed immediately by the concert.

The candle-lighting is open to anyone grieving a significant loss and registration is only required if you’d like to receive a personalized memorial candle.

Children’s Memorial Garden at Terra Sancta
Prayer Recommendations
Book Recommendations
Blog Articles
Listen: Find Playlists of Music and Podcasts
Organizations that Offer Additional Grief Support
Counselor Recommendations
Quotes of Faith and Comfort
PDF’s: Free Downloads that Address Your Questions about Grief
Artwork and Images
Pregnancy Loss Resources
Suicide Loss Resources
Parish Support Groups

Children’s Memorial Garden at Terra Sancta

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Children’s Memorial Garden

A holy place where families can celebrate and remember their children who have returned to God.

This is a beautiful, peaceful, meditative, inspiring, and holy place, where the veil between heaven and earth feels thinner. It is a place to feel the Lord’s comfort in your grief, and to hope in the joys of heaven.

Located at Terra Sancta Retreat Center in Rapid City.

Click Here to consider having a placard engraved with your child’s name included in the memorial.

Prayer Recommendations for Grieving Catholics

Prayers for Grief on Hallow

Hallow is a Catholic meditation, prayer, and sleep app. It offers a 14 day free trial. Click each of the images below for direct link to that prayer.

Child Loss and Grief

Extraordinary Grief

On Grief

Season of Grief

Chaplet of Rachel’s Tears

This beautiful prayer was written by our own Fr. Leo Hausmann, with an Imprimatur from Bishop Muhich.
For a custom made chaplet of prayer beads please contact our diocesan hermit at smcjacobsocarm@gmail.com

PDF: Chaplet of Rachel’s Tears

The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Mary by Our Lady of Kibeho

The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows dates back to the Middle Ages, but it gained new popularity following the Marian apparitions in Kibeho, which have been approved by the Catholic Church.

Click Here for a Written Guide to the Seven Sorrows Rosary

Click Here to pray a 7 Sorrow’s Rosary with Bri Edwards and Many Hail Marys at a Time

Litany of Waiting

This prayer by Fr. Mark Toups is from the book: Rejoice! An Advent Pilgrimage into the Heart of Scripture: Year A

It will help you pray through the waiting, uncertainty, sorrow, and suffering that comes with your extraordinary grief.

PDF: Litany of Waiting

Catholic Books for those who are Grieving

Recommended Book List

This link will take you to an Amazon list of books recommended by our Catholic Grief Ministry team. Some of these books will directly address grief, others address topics that can be closely associated with grief, such as understanding our interior movements, surrender and abandonment to divine providence, understanding of suffering, and trust in God’s love.

Faith-filled Blog Articles for a Grieving Heart

Lach’s Legacy Blog

These blog articles are written by Brianne Edwards, one of our Diocese of Rapid City grief advocates. Bri writes with vulnerability and gentleness, grounded in her Catholic faith, as she shares her experiences with grief after the unexpected loss of her son.

Also check out these articles written by Bri as guest blogs on other platforms.

Red Bird Ministries Blog

Reading stories or reflections in grief always helps our families to find comfort and see the heart of someone wrestling with grief. Take a look at our blog and dive into helpful content that will truly touch your heart.

Praying Through Ministries Blog

This is a Christian ministry equipping and emboldening men, women, and children with Biblical support and encouragement as they journey through the difficult seasons of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and Child Loss.

Listen: Playlists of Music and Podcasts

Spotify Music Playlist

This Spotify playlist assembled by our Catholic Grief Ministry team is designed to help you invite God’s grace into your grieving heart and soul.

Making Sense of Suffering Podcasts

In this Spotify playlist of Catholic podcasts, we invite you to take a dive into some beautiful episodes that will help you make sense of suffering, trust God’s goodness, and find purpose in your pain.

Organizations that Offer Grief Support

Red Bird Ministries

Red Bird Ministries is a Catholic grief support ministry for bereaved parents. They offer a robust collection of resources including retreats, one-on-one comfort calls, spiritual direction, a community app to connect with other bereaved parents, a blog, a podcast, and more…

The Lourdes Center

The Lourdes Center is the grief ministry offered through the Diocese of Sioux Falls. They offer counseling, a variety of grief support groups and retreats, as well as Camp Sydney for grieving children.

Lach’s Legacy

Lach’s Legacy is a nonprofit based out of Rapid City with a mission to provide connection, comfort, and hope to families who have experienced the loss of a child, especially the unexpected loss of an infant.

Catholic Grief Counselors in the Diocese of Rapid City

Faith-filled Quotes of Comfort

Check out this PDF of Catholic Quotes for those who Grieve

Free PDF Downloads to Answer Questions about Grief

What are typical things I can expect while I’m grieving?
- PDF: What is Grief?
- PDF: Normal Grief Emotions & reactions
Just when I think I’m feeling better, I’m hit with really hard days again. Is this normal?
- PDF: Grief comes in waves
How do I know if I’m experiencing grief, depression, or anxiety?
- PDF: Grief, Depression and Anxiety
Help me to see the beauty that God can create from these ashes.
- PDF: Lessons in Loss
My baby wasn’t baptized yet. Will my baby go to heaven?
- PDF: Unbaptized Babies

Artwork and Images

Sacred Artwork to Inspire a Grieving Soul

Our Lady of the 7 Sorrows, Adriaen Isenbrandt (1520)

The First Mourning (Adam, Eve and Abel), William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1888)

Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pasquale Sarullo (1800s)

Mary Lamenting the Dead Christ (Pieta), Giovanni Battista Gaulli (1667)

Agony in the Garden, Frans Schwartz (1898)

Pieta, William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1876)

Let the Children Come to Me, Carl Christian Vogel von Vogelstein (1800s)

Gethsemene, Carl Bloch (1873)

Pregnancy Loss Resources

Red Bird Ministries has robust and beautiful resources on miscarriage and pregnancy loss. Click Here to see the Red Bird Ministries resources.
My baby died before he/she was named. Should I still consider giving him/her a name?
- PDF: Naming your saints

Suicide Loss

When a Loved One Dies by Suicide
- This film resource is based on the book, When A Loved One Dies By Suicide: Comfort, Hope, and Healing for Grieving Catholics, which was written by and for Catholics who have experienced suicide loss. You will hear from fellow Catholics—both clergy/religious and laity—as they share about their loved ones, their journey with grief, and the comfort and hope they have found in faith, community, and the Church.
Books (also found on the Recommended Book List above)
- After Suicide: There’s Hope for Them and for You
- When a Loved One Dies by Suicide: Comfort, Hope, and Healing for Grieving Catholics

Parish Support Groups

Blessed Sacrament, Rapid City
- When a loved one dies, we are wounded. Just as a wound does, we need to heal from within, to express our thoughts and feelings. A support group is a safe place where you can talk, cry, and share your anger, guilt, and fears with those who care and understand. Heal Your Grief is an eight-week non-denominational support group open to all Christian adults who have lost a loved one due to death. For more information contact George Wallace at 605-721-3811 or Dee Pickarts at 605-343-2038, email FamilyLife@diorc.org or Register Online here.Fall Sessions begin the Last Monday of September at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 4500 Jackson Blvd, Rapid City 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
  Winter Sessions begin the last Monday of January at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 4500 Jackson Blvd, Rapid City 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, Spearfish
- Seasons of Hope Support Group for the loss of a loved one. Contact the church office for more information 605-642-2306

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Grief Support Resources

~specially curated for grieving parents~

You will find that many of our resources listed are focused on the loss of a child. However, we invite and encourage anyone who is grieving a significant loss to explore these resources. We think you’ll find that many of them will speak to your grief no matter the loss you have experienced.

UPCOMING EVENT

Blessed are Those who Mourn

A Concert with Classical Pianist Mila Belakova in Honor of Grief and Gratitude

Table of Contents:

Children’s Memorial Garden at Terra Sancta

CMG Logo

CMG Garden

CMG Toddler

CMG Jesus