The holidays may be a very painful and difficult time if you and your family have experienced the death of loved ones during the past few years. All around us, our culture celebrates while your heart is heavy, and even the tiniest thing can instantly touch off a tidal wave of sadness.

For help in coping during such an emotional time, come to the program “Handling Grief During the 2024 Holidays” at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville. Come by yourself or invite family members or friends to join you.

Speaker Paula Kosin is a certified grief educator, licensed counselor, and facilitator of the educational grief support groups at St. Thomas Church. She will discuss challenges the holidays can pose and share ideas on how to plan ahead, choose meaningful activities, and honor your loved one.

Kosin also is the author of the book, “Grieving: A Spiritual Process for Catholics,” a helpful combination of best practices for healthy grieving from the mental health field with a compassionate Christian spirituality. Her book will be available for purchase at this event.

The program, sponsored by the behavioral health ministry at St. Thomas the Apostle, is free but registration is requested to ensure adequate seating arrangements.

To register or for more information about “Handling Grief During the 2024 Holidays,” contact Annette Kubalanza, director of pastoral care at St. Thomas, (630) 355-8980, ext. 124, by Monday, Nov. 4.

The behavioral health ministry at St. Thomas strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness and to minister to the emotionally/mentally ill and their families and friends with confidentiality and respect. Support is offered through advocacy, prayer and education. For morinformation about the ministry, contact Susan Kearney, coordinator of the behavioral health ministry at (630) 355-8980, ext. 108.

St. Thomas the Apostle, a parish of the Diocese of Joliet, strives to bear the Good News of God’s unconditional love to all generations through worship, faith formation, witness, and service. Organized in 1984, the St. Thomas faith community numbers more than 3,000 households andover 9,000 registered members. Complete news and information on parish events, guest speakers and special programs is available at www.stapostle.org. For general parish information, please call (630) 355-8980.