SEEN Events Offer Grieving Parents Avenues to Healing
Story by Shelley Wolf
Families who have experienced infertility, the loss of an unborn child or a stillbirth often suffer in silence. But there is hope and healing for the invisible pain of child loss.
“SEEN,” which stands for “Supporting Everyone Experiencing Neonatal Loss,” is a series of events intended to acknowledge the life lost and to provide spiritual support for grieving families.
There are two upcoming spring events: Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m. sponsored by St. Paul VI Parish at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 2819 Whitney Ave., Hamden, and Friday, May 8 at 6 p.m. sponsored by Immaculate Conception Parish at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, 74 West Main St., Waterbury.
“Parents love that baby with all their heart from the first moment,” says Valerie St. Jean, associate director of adult and family life ministries for the Archdiocese of Hartford. “When a parent loses a baby, the sadness is almost too much. And the loss is not recognized.”
“The name ‘SEEN’ is important because very often, nobody knows what happened. The parents hold it inside,” she explains. “But we’re here to affirm the dignity of the life lost. As Catholics, we believe that life begins at conception, and every soul has meaning and purpose.”
SEEN events allow parents to come forward to acknowledge their loss, meet other parents, gain spiritual nourishment and find ways to begin healing. The Basilica event will offer both spiritual and practical resources for coping with the loss of a child, whether the loss was due to a miscarriage or occurred after birth.
The evening at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church is a Holy Hour and reception, which will include adoration, prayer teams, guided prayer, support and resources.
The evening event at the Basilica will include Mass, adoration, the veneration of relics, and a reception with resource materials. It will also feature a ministry of presence, including prayer, reconciliation, and counselors as well as art and journaling therapies.
“These events offer those suffering a safe place to grieve and to process their emotions, to be comforted and guided by spiritual support through our Catholic teachings,” St. Jean stresses.
“There will be prayer, adoration and other ways for people to experience the presence, love and mercy of Jesus. Expanding upon other resources and forms of prayer, can help people process their grief in different ways. The Basilica has done an amazing job of finding resources to help people,” she adds.
The SEEN concept was started as a grassroots effort in 2020 by interested parishioners at Blessed Michael McGivney Parish in New Haven and has been quietly circulating to other parishes around the archdiocese in slightly different formats to reach more Catholics.
While the events are parish-driven, the Archdiocese of Hartford’s Office of Faith Formation and Parish Life is offering its support and guidance, recognizing SEEN events as creative forms of support to reach the hearts of those who are suffering.
SEEN events are free, with many resources and services being donated, including music, food and materials. All interested families are welcome to attend.