New Baby Loss & Miscarriage Ministry
Our goal is to provide a place of love and care for those affected by miscarriage, stillbirth and other types of baby loss. We hope to provide support and a place for moms to come together as they grieve and try to understand this unbearable loss.
We have three focus areas:
1) Providing Practical Guidance for Moms During & Immediately Following a Loss
2) Coming Alongside Grieving Moms & Families
3) Remembering and Praying for our Babies
Navigating Physical Loss & Healthcare Settings
We encourage you to speak openly with your healthcare providers. Ask questions and express your wishes for you and your child. You may wish to review the practical guidance provided by Catholic Miscarriage Support. This site has information about what to expect with different types of losses, how to provide end of life care
if applicable, what your options may be for collecting the child for burial, and more. Its goal is to address questions you need answered immediately. This site is not exhaustive; it does not include information or guidance about all possible situations and is not fully vetted or maintained by our group.
Support from Our Priests
Please know that you can reach out to the parish office at 630-232-0124 to notify them that you or a loved one are experiencing or have experienced the loss of a baby. The parish staff can relay your needs to our priests in an emergency 24/7. The parish office can also help connect you to additional resources that may be helpful.
Arranging a Special Blessing, Funeral or Burial
There are many ways to honor your baby. Some ways include having a special blessing, a funeral or burial. A funeral may not be necessary but it may be an option. Some families choose to have a very private and/or informal funeral with only the parents and priest but other family and friends can be included as well. To arrange a funeral, please contact Collette McKenna at ols@stpetergeneva.org.
Here is some information that may be helpful:
- Malone Funeral Home (https://www.malonefh.com) is owned and run by St. Peter parishioners. They are sensitive to the needs of families experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss. They can help you determine a plan for burying your baby. If cost is a concern, please let the Malone team know and they may be able to help.
- Resurrection Cemetery is located at 37W210 Fabyan Parkway, Geneva, 60134. Resurrection is owned and maintained by the Rockford Diocese and has a special place where you may lay your child to rest, often at no cost. Collette McKenna and/or Malone Funeral Home can provide additional information. There is a special blessing for parents who have suffered a miscarriage that is included at the end of this document.
Support for Moms
Many members of our Mom’s group grieved in silence and solitude following their personal losses. Sometimes it can be helpful to have someone to talk with who has been in your shoes. We connect moms to walk 1:1 with you on your grief journey, pray for you and connect you with other resources if/when that is helpful. Our volunteer moms aren’t trained therapists or spiritual advisors but they are invested in helping moms wherever they are at. If you are interested in
participating, please contact us.
Hope & Healing Boxes & Meal Trains
We have a small box to give each family that experiences the loss of a baby. The box contains some special resources to help with prayer, grief, and remembering your baby. One of the resources in the box is a book called “Grieving Together: A Couple’s Journey Through Miscarriage.” It is written by Laura Kelly Fanucci and Franco David Fanucci, a Catholic couple who have helpful suggestions for mothers, fathers, and siblings. We would be honored to bring you a box
in your time of need.
If some meals would be helpful for your family please click the link below. We will reach out to the Mom’s group asking for volunteers to prepare and deliver a meal. Your name and reason for the request can be kept anonymous, if desired.
Attend an Annual Remembrance Mass
The Catholic Church has a beautiful tradition of praying for babies who have passed away before birth and asking for hope and healing for their families and loved ones. We are looking into scheduling a remembrance mass at St. Peter. More information is forthcoming. There is a beautiful annual mass of remembrance at St. Patrick Parish in Yorkville, IL. This year’s mass will be held on October 18, 2025 at 10 AM. All are welcome to attend.
Ministries For Healing
The St. Peter Respect Life Committee maintains a special place in our church (to the left of the baptismal font) to help our parish pray for and support those who are pregnant, grieving the loss of a child, waiting to become pregnant or adopt, and more. The display has different colored roses representing different types of intentions. We encourage you to visit the display and consider sharing your intention(s) by filling out a card and placing it in the box. A group of ‘prayer warriors’ at our parish will pray for your intention. Prayer intentions may be submitted anonymously. If you would like to become a ‘prayer warrior’ you can reach out to Mary Kay Rogers at marykay@cgtekinc.com.
St. Peter Church has a bereavement group that has several sessions per year. Each session meets once a week for 6 consecutive weeks. The group is welcoming and understanding of those grieving the loss of a baby. Reach out to Collette McKenna for more information at ols@stpetergeneva.org. There are also frequent announcements about the bereavement group in the bulletin.
Faith, Hope, & Works Blog
