- Feb 5, 2002
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NEW YORK – For Deacon Ed Shoener, the overarching message of a new eight-part video series for Catholics who lost a loved one to suicide is one of accompaniment – that support in a time of grief can be found from within the Church.
“[The message] is that Christ is with you and is with your loved one who died by suicide and that you should never feel alone, and you’re not alone,” Shoener told Crux. “The church and Christ’s church will be present to you as you walk through this deep valley of grief.”
Shoener is the founder of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, who created the videos in partnership with Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries. The series is titled “When a Loved One Dies by Suicide,” and mirrors a book of the same name edited by Shoener and Bishop John Dolan of Phoenix.
Shoener said the videos are intended to bring the message of the book to those who are more comfortable watching a short film than reading a book, and/or to be a discussion resource for anybody looking to create a parish support group, which he argues there is a need for.
Continued below.
Ministry helps families of suicide victims
“[The message] is that Christ is with you and is with your loved one who died by suicide and that you should never feel alone, and you’re not alone,” Shoener told Crux. “The church and Christ’s church will be present to you as you walk through this deep valley of grief.”
Shoener is the founder of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, who created the videos in partnership with Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries. The series is titled “When a Loved One Dies by Suicide,” and mirrors a book of the same name edited by Shoener and Bishop John Dolan of Phoenix.
Shoener said the videos are intended to bring the message of the book to those who are more comfortable watching a short film than reading a book, and/or to be a discussion resource for anybody looking to create a parish support group, which he argues there is a need for.
Continued below.
Ministry helps families of suicide victims
