Grief Support Group in the Archdiocese. The picture shows the graduates of Batch 8 with the core group of GSG headed by (3rd from left) Dr. Geraldine Ang-Rabanes, a doctor of psychiatry, with Fr. Orly Angelia as the spiritual director. The GSG was organized in February 2024 to make people aware that there is such a group that people can turn to for comfort and support during the times of grieving. The rest of the core group: (2nd from left) Benedicto Lim, Jr., (6th from left) Lito Gloriani, (1st and 2nd from right) Rhodale Gloriani and Sally Mae Santiago-Lim. After attending 8 group sessions of grief counseling, the graduates of Batch 8 attended a holy mass presided by Rev. Fr. Russell Bantiles, the newly-installed parish priest of St. Francis of Assisi in Maa. The graduates are: Ibyang Cardona Barsomo, Shimi Vicente, Liezel, and Weng Nuera. The venue for every session is the Triple Crown Ranch located in the diversion road just behind the Gasland gasoline station on afternoon of Mondays. (Rowena C. Nuera)
Appreciating the Grief Support Group in the Archdiocese
When my mother, Roberta Nuera, went to heaven on February 25, 2025 at the age of 84, I was totally devastated. I was engulfed with deep sorrow that I almost took my own life. For more than three months I isolated myself from the world. No social life and no church activities. I declined invitations. I just wanted to die and end my grief.
It was during those moments of abnormality and misery that I started to think of my mental health. I wanted to die. At the same time. I did not wish to have mental health problems because everything around me was very negative. I could not see any beauty in the world.
Then came this GSG or Grief Support Group. Fr. Orlando “Orly” Angelia, the former rector of the St. Francis Xavier College Seminary, invited me to join sessions on grief therapy. I was at first skeptical about it because I do not believe in sharing my grief to strangers. But when the pain became unbearable, I decided to try my luck with the GSG. Attending the eight sessions was an eye opener to me because I realized that I was not the only person in grief. Others are also fighting against depression.
I have six batchmates in the group. Each of us is into grief. However, each has different ways in coping and managing the loss of loved-ones. What is important in every session was that, no one was judgmental. We hear our stories with sympathy and understanding. We grieve with each other. No one would say to me, “Tama na Weng”, or “Move on na Weng”, or “Mora man ka ug dili bright oi”, or “You let go na of your mother”, or “Tigulang naman ka, makaya na nimo”.
Those words had never helped me to rise from my grief. On the contrary, those words had helped me to hide from the world and isolate myself. I am still in pain; I still cry whenever I miss my mother; I still would wish to die and join my mother in heaven. But the presence of the Grief Support Group motivates me not to take my own life for there is rainbow after each storm. The GSG is really a support group for those who are grieving over the loss of a loved-one.
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