When grief enters our lives, it reshapes everything. The ordinary rhythm of days is broken, the future feels uncertain, and the absence of a loved one can feel heavier than words. Yet in these tender moments, the Church does not stand at a distance. She walks beside us.
“The essence of Christianity is having that relationship with Jesus Christ—knowing that He loved, suffered, died and rose again, and invites us to join in His resurrection,” said Father Ed Brienz, cemetery chaplain for the Diocese of Youngstown. “That’s the essence of grief support.”
In parishes, cemeteries and diocesan ministries, Catholics across the Mahoning Valley are discovering anew what it means for the Church to be a mother—one who consoles, one who remembers and one who offers hope.
A Ministry of Presence
For Father Brienz, the starting point of grief ministry is presence. “It’s far preferable when someone survives the death of a loved one that they’re at least acquainted with the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,” he said. “Otherwise, the tendency is for people to say, ‘My whole life has changed—what does it mean?’ Our mission is to walk with them so they know they are not alone.”
That mission is lived out daily in the diocesan cemeteries, managed by Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services. There, ministry extends beyond burial rites and groundskeeping. It is a ministry of hospitality and compassion.
“Even the guys who push the lawnmower are mission-oriented,” Father Brienz explained.
“Everybody has something to say when they come to the cemetery, and we love to hear it. Because grief is relational—every relationship is unique, like snowflakes—and we’re here to be companions on the journey.”
The cemeteries provide not only a place of rest for the dead but also a space for the living to continue their relationship with loved ones. “If you believe we’re called to help each other into heaven, why would you stop talking to someone just because they’ve died?” Father Brienz asked. “We continue to walk with families. That’s why we say the cemetery is not just a public utility—it’s a relationship of hospitality and compassion.”
The mission of compassion takes on practical form in programs designed to ensure dignity and care for every family. Precious Lives provides free burial for children under age 12, while the Mother Teresa Program ensures that no one is turned away because of financial hardship.
“No one gets turned away because of money,” Father Brienz said simply. “That’s non-negotiable.”
Cremation, which has become increasingly common, is also an area where cemetery staff gently guide families in living the faith. “The Church teaches that our bodies are dwelling places of God, not objects to be scattered or displayed,” Father Brienz explained. “So we offer dignified places of rest—whether in graves, mausoleums or niches—so families can honor the body, receive the prayers of committal and experience closure.”
In every case, the ministry is about more than logistics. It is about helping families see grief through the lens of the Gospel. “We are not meant to be alone in grief,” Father Brienz said. “Christ walked to Calvary, and the Church walks with us now.”
Seasons of Hope: A parish response
That same conviction animates parish-based ministries like Seasons of Hope, a Catholic grief support program, which is offered locally at St. Joseph Church (Divine Mercy Parish) in Massillon under the direction of Christie Ballor.
“This program provides four seasons, each with six sessions,” Ballor explained. “It’s centered on Jesus Christ, grounded in the teachings of the Church, and it explores mourning through Scripture, prayer, reflection and faith-sharing.”
For Ballor, the ministry grew out of her own grief. After her husband’s death in 2022, she thought she was managing well. “I had Jesus holding one hand and Mary holding the other,” she said. But the second anniversary of his passing brought an unexpected wave of sorrow. “It threw me completely. I realized I couldn’t handle this on my own. I needed to do what I would recommend anyone else do—I needed to reach out.”
Counseling gave her the courage to face her grief. Yet she also felt God calling her to something new. “There was no Catholic bereavement group in our area,” she recalled. “I felt God was saying, ‘It’s time for you to start one, because other people need this too.’ I resisted—I didn’t want to do it. But I kept picking up the book, and finally I said, ‘Yes, it’s time.’”
Ballor has now led four seasons of the program. Some participants have walked through all four and continue to return. “We support each other,” she said. “It’s been incredibly helpful for me, but also for those who attend. And new people continue to come—each bringing their own story, their own grief, their own need for God’s healing.”
For Ballor, the ministry is not about her story, but God’s. “Whenever I share my testimony, I say it’s His story that propels me. He gave me the grace to do this.”
Seasons of Hope has a presence at other diocesan parishes as well. Nora Valen, who directs the program at St. Paul Parish in North Canton, said that its strength lies in community. “There are other parishes in the area doing the same program,” she noted. “It’s a blessing to see how people can journey together, finding hope and healing in Christ.”
Together, these parish ministries embody the Church’s pastoral vision: to accompany the grieving, not just in the immediate aftermath of loss, but throughout the long journey that follows.
Walking toward heaven
At its heart, Catholic grief ministry is a sign of hope, rooted in eternity. It reminds us that death does not end our relationship with those we love, and that mourning, painful though it is, can become a path to deeper faith.
“There’s a joy in making the journey together, even though we know where we’re going,” Father Brienz reflected. “The greatest joy is in heaven, but in the meantime, we can be companions for each other. That’s why we’re here. To give hope.”
