“For too long, mental illness — including within our Church — has been misunderstood and stigmatized. But with God’s grace and the help of modern science, we now better understand how mental illness can lead to suicidal thoughts, often through no fault of the individual. As Church, we are called to be a refuge of mercy, compassion and healing.”
Throughout the month of September, the St. Cloud Diocese joins others across the country in observing Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. In particular, the weekend of September 26/27 will be recognized as Suicide Healing and Remembrance Weekend.
All Area Catholic Communities are invited to mark this weekend as a special time of remembrance. Below are resources to be shared within Area Catholic Communities, or utilized in planning the ways in which faith communities will honor Suicide Healing and Remembrance Weekend.
Why Suicide Healing and Remembrance Weekend?
Recognizing the need for healing from having one’s life touched by suicide is becoming an increasingly important ministry of the Catholic Church. Individuals and families have found a Mass or prayer service for Suicide Healing and Remembrance to be deeply supportive and meaningful. An appropriate time to offer such a Mass would be during National Suicide Prevention Month (September), though there are other appropriate times as well, and no time is pastorally inappropriate given the wide reach of suicide’s impact in our communities.
There are many reasons the Church offers a Mass for Suicide Healing and Remembrance, including:
1. The Mass offers spiritual support through prayer and the reception of the Eucharist.
2. The Mass provides a sacred space to remember and honor loved ones who have
died by suicide.
3. A ritual, such as bringing forward a flower or lighting a candle, serves as a tangible
way to remember the deceased and symbolically commend them to God’s love and
mercy.
4. The Mass and rituals within it acknowledge the pain and loss experienced by those left
behind.
5. The Mass can provide healing and comfort for grieving individuals and families.
6. Community support, such as praying together, may ease the burden of grief and build solidarity among those impacted.
7. God’s compassion and care may be experienced, especially during difficult times, through communal gathering and prayer.
8. The Mass helps to reduce stigma by publicly addressing the realities of suicide.
9. Mass participation may open conversations about suicide and mental health.
10. The Mass emphasizes Christ’s love and mercy, offering hope and strength in faith
and community.
Liturgical Resources for Suicide Healing and Remembrance Weekend
There is more than one way that Area Catholic Communities (ACCs) can recognize Suicide Healing and Remembrance Weekend. It’s up to each community to thoughtfully discern what feels most meaningful and appropriate for your ACC. What matters most is that faith communities take time to acknowledge the reality of suicide and the many individuals within your communities who have been impacted by it.
Liturgical resources – including Prayers of the Faithful, sample ritual and additional background and ideas to aid in this discernment and planning – can be found on the Suicide Healing and Remembrance Liturgical guide.
Additional Resources
Additional examples and resources for recognizing Suicide Healing and Remembrance can be found at the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers website, particularly:
For those who would like to learn more about suicide and how you can support families who may be struggling with this type of loss, or who have loved ones facing mental health challenges, visit the Diocesan Mental Health Ministry website: https://stcdio.org/mental-health-ministry/