Skip to content
FREE SHIPPING ON ALL DOMESTIC ORDERS $35+
FREE SHIPPING ON ALL US ORDERS $35+
When a Loved One Dies by Suicide: Comfort, Hope, and Healing for Grieving Catholics - Paperback | Diverse Reads

When a Loved One Dies by Suicide: Comfort, Hope, and Healing for Grieving Catholics

Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
$11.95 - $11.95
$11.95
$13.99
$13.99 - $13.99
$13.99
Winner of a second-place award in the general interest category from the Association of Catholic Publishers and and honorable mention in grief and bereavement from the Catholic Media Association.

When someone you love dies by suicide, confusion, shame, and guilt often add to the emotional upheaval and spiritual turmoil in your life. When a Loved One Dies by Suicide was written by Catholics who have lost a loved one due to suicide. The contributors share their personal stories of loss, of learning to cope with the crushing grief, of finding comfort in faith and community, and of discovering hope as they began to move forward again.

Suicide, although common, too often is hidden in our culture and in the Catholic Church. When a Loved One Dies by Suicide dispels the misconceptions about what the Church teaches about suicide and offers a wealth of guidance and support to help you find your own path toward healing. The contributors include Deacon Ed Shoener, Bishop John P. Dolan, Msgr. Charles Pope, Leticia Adams, Tom and Fran Smith, and clinical experts in the field of mental health and suicide.

In this book, you will find:

  • encouragement with practical matters such as taking care of yourself emotionally, physically, and spiritually;
  • ways to let others know what you need and find a network of support;
  • guidance to tell your story when you’re ready to share it;
  • prayers of comfort and encouragement;
  • solace, hope, and healing from within the rich traditions and teachings of the Catholic Church; and
  • information for how to help others experiencing a similar loss, if and when you are drawn to do so.

ISBN-13: 9781646800131

Media Type: Paperback

Publisher: Ave Maria Press

Publication Date: 12-25-2020

Pages: 128

Product Dimensions: 5.00(w) x 7.00(h) x (d)

The Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers is a lay association whose members walk with people living with a mental illness and their families to help them find the support and services that they need. ACMHM members work to eliminate the stigma and discrimination that people living with a mental illness encounter in the Church and in the world. Members strive to strengthen mental health ministry in the Catholic Church by networking and sharing resources. Ed Shoener was ordained a permanent deacon in 2004 and serves at St. Peter’s Cathedral in the Diocese of Scranton. He is a founding member of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, the Catholic Institute of Mental Health Ministry at the University of San Diego, and the Scranton Mental Health Ministry. He serves on the boards of the Council on Mental Illness, National Catholic Partnership on Disability, and Pathways to Promise. He earned a graduate certificate in spiritual direction from the Aquinas Institute of Theology.Shoener is president of Shoener Environmental Consulting. He has a bachelor of science degree in environmental research management from Penn State University, where he also earned a master’s degree in environmental protection control.Shoener's family and friends founded The Katie Foundation after his daughter, Kathleen, died by suicide in 2016. The obituary he wrote for her went viral. The Shoeners live in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Most Rev. John P. Dolan is the bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix. Ordained to the priesthood in 1989, Dolan previously served as auxiliary bishop of San Diego from 2017 to 2022.He is the chaplain of the Lost Boys of Sudan, a member of the Catholic Institute for Mental Health Ministry, and a board member of Father Joe’s Villages, a ministry to the homeless. Dolan earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of San Diego and master’s degrees in divinity and theology from St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California. He is the author of Rose of Lima: A Nine-Day Study of Her Life, and Who is Like God? A Nine-Day Journey with St. Michael.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“I could not put this book down! The Holy Spirit is truly alive in it under the mantle of the Catholic Church and in the raw honesty coming forth from the testimonies of people who have had a loved one die by suicide. Having lost our son, Thomas, to suicide in 2014, When a Loved One Dies by Suicide spoke to my heart in a new way that transcends the tragedy of suicide. This book will help you, too, move from grief to grace.” —Anne Redlinger, Catholic Writer, San Diego, California

“It’s an honor to endorse this book. Finally, we have an excellent pastoral and theological resource for survivors and pastoral caregivers who minister to them. Every hospital and behavioral health department should have this book to assist with the healing process of those who are grieving because of suicide loss.” —Mike Garrido, Vice President, Mission Integration, Mercy Hospital, Miami, Florida

“My wife, Helene, and I lost our beloved son Ryan to suicide in 2011. This wonderful little book has greatly moved me, nine years later. When a Loved One Dies by Suicide conveys a message of spiritual clarity, reassurance, and hope through the eyes of parents and family members who have suffered the tragic loss of suicide. This book spoke to me, comforted me, and reassured me that as Helene and I continue to entrust ourselves to the loving hands of God, we are in those hands with Ryan.” —John J. O’Malley, Professor of Psychology Emeritus, University of Scranton

“I have lost two children to suicide, one in 2006 and another in 2011. For anyone grieving such heart-rending loss, this book will be a steady help and great source of comfort. Each of the shared stories in this book illustrates that—with faith and loving support—a transformation from a life of intense grief to one of hope and healing, of post-traumatic growth, is truly possible.” —Ann Marie McCrone, Grief Support Facilitator, St. Peter's Cathedral, Scranton, Pennsylvania

“When our family lost our son Zachary to suicide, we rediscovered the power of community, especially our Catholic community. The community embrace during those early months allowed us to find meaning in tragedy and helped us to move forward. This book is a welcome contribution to the faith journey that accompanies survivors of suicide loss and is a bright path forward for those turning to their faith during this terrible ordeal.” —Dan Misleh, Executive Director, Catholic Climate Covenant

“During the last twenty years I’ve accompanied many individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide. As a lay minister and as a psychotherapist, how I wish I’d had this book to put in their hands! This is a long overdue, compassionate, and practical resource for people of faith trying to make sense of losing a loved one to suicide. These pages are filled with deep wisdom, accurate Church teaching, and realistic suggestions based on the latest psychological research to help survivors cope and heal in the aftermath of suicide." —Roy Petitfils, Licensed Professional Counselor, Author of Helping Teens with Stress, Anxiety, and Depression