SURREY—Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, had consoling words for about 50 people at Gardens of Gethsemani as he celebrated Mass on the eve of Infant Loss Awareness Day.
“All of us join in prayer for you, dear parents, relatives, and friends who mourn, sometimes even after many years, the loss of your child,” he said.
“God’s intention for us is to put an end to our sadness. He wants all people to live happily. Therefore, his plan is to ‘swallow up death forever’ and to ‘wipe away the tears from all faces.'”
Those grieving the death of a child before birth or as an infant were invited to write the names of their children on candles in the chapel.
Among the 50 participants were members of Elizabeth Ministry, an international organization that provides hope to people facing challenges in relationship, sexuality, and childbearing. Three local chapters are at St. Matthew’s Parish (Surrey), St. Nicholas Parish (Langley) and Dormition of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church (Richmond).
