Bereavement Group

Those who have suffered understand suffering and therefore extend their hand.

Patti Smith, poet

Meets on the third Sunday of each month at 3 pm in Room 11 on the first floor of the St. Boniface Martyr school building, 12 Main Avenue, Sea Cliff.  

Anyone coping with the loss of a loved one is welcome to contact us.

The group is facilitated by two experienced grief counselors, Dr. David Meagher and Linda Rose. There are no fees, however pre-registration is required.  For information and registration, contact David Meagher at 516-676-0676 x131, davidkmeagher@gmail.com or Linda Rose lrosecsw@hotmail.com.


Grieving Through the Pandemic

To date in the United States alone, there have been over 111 million cases of diagnosed COVID-19 patients and more than 1.2 million COVID deaths recorded since the start of the pandemic. The pandemic has changed so much of how our society functions, including our day-to-day lives, how we care for the sick and the dying, how we grieve, and how we care for the bereaved.

If you have experienced any type of loss, COVID – related or otherwise, you need not grieve alone. Even long after loss, the felt grief may be still acute. There is a bereavement support group readily available to help you at St. Boniface Martyr. Every third Sunday of the month at 3 PM this group meets in a classroom in the school. There are no exclusions according to the causes of death, when the deaths occurred, or the nature of the relationships with the deceased.

The bereavement group is facilitated by two experienced grief support persons. Registration is simple – just contact David Meagher at 516-676-0676 x131, davidkmeagher@gmail.com or Linda Rose lrosecsw@hotmail.com.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and Children (RCIA)

Searching for something?

At different times we ask questions about what life is all about.  Where is God in my life?  Sometimes they feel a nudge or a push or that something is missing and want to find out more.  If you know anyone who is not a Catholic, but who would like to ask more questions about our faith, they can meet with someone from our parish R.C.I.A. Team.

Please call Fr. Bob at 676-0676 , or send email to stbonpastor@gmail.com.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and Children (commonly known as the R.C.I.A.) is the normal way in which adults and children become full, active, participating members of the Catholic Church.  Special rites are celebrated during the Sunday liturgies at various times throughout the year.  The R.C.I.A. involves the whole parish-in prayer as the rites are celebrated, in hospitality, as new members are welcomed, and in specific ministries such as sponsor and team member.

The R.C.I.A. is not merely a new way to prepare adults and children for baptism; baptism is only one step.  The goal of the process is full communion which means “full, conscious, and active participation”* in the Eucharist and in the whole life of the Catholic faith community.

The R.C.I.A. helps adults and children to grow in their relationship with God become familiar with Catholic teachings and practices, get acquainted with people in the parish, and get involved in service within the parish or the wider community.

Many persons who want to join the Catholic Church have already been baptized in another Christian Church.  They will not be rebaptized.  They will follow steps adapted to the particular needs and concerns of Christians from another faith tradition.  Explore those steps on the next page.

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