Bereavement & Grief Support

Ministry/Office for Family Life/Office for Family Life Topics/Pastoral Care/Bereavement & Grief Support

Grief is a process that each person experiences uniquely in his or her own way. There is no doubt that grief comes with pain, a pain that varies in different degrees for each person. Emotions vary as well. The most common reactions to the death of a loved one are: shock, denial, anger, guilt, sadness, and finally acceptance. These may be felt in sequence or all at once.

Throughout the Diocese of Orange, one can find bereavement and grief support ministries. There is a downloadable and printable version of the below listing here.

Orange County Bereavement And Grief Support Groups

Parish Grief Support Groups

Anaheim Hills
San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church
  • 5800 E Santa Ana Canyon Rd,
    Anaheim, CA 92807
  • 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month, 9:30 am-11:00 am in Conference Rm #1
  • Contact: Elizabeth Bicknell at 714-279-9180
Buena Park
St. Pius V Catholic Church
  • 7691 Orangethorpe Avenue
    Buena Park, CA 90621
  • 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month – 7:30 p.m. in Nativity Room
  • Contact: John Alba at 714-522-2193
Costa Mesa
St. Joachim Catholic Church
  • 1964 Orange Avenue
    Costa Mesa, CA 92627
  • Contact: Elsa at 714-790-9861
Cypress
St. Irenaeus Catholic Church
  • 5201 Evergreen
    Cypress, CA 90630
  • Grief Share Support Group
  • Contact: Jennifer Dagarag at [email protected]
Fullerton
St. Mary’s Catholic Church
  • 400 W Commonwealth
    Fullerton, CA 92832
  • Grief Share Support Group, Tuesdays 7-9 pm
  • Contact: Deacon Tony Mercado at 714-525-2500
Huntington Beach
St. Bonaventure Catholic Church
  • 16400 Springdale St.
    Huntington Beach, CA 92649
  • Grief Support – weekly sessions on Thursdays 7 p.m.
  • Contact: Louise Dow at 714-846-3359
Irvine
St. John Neumann Catholic Church
  • 5101 Alton Parkway
    Irvine, CA 92604
  • Tuesdays weekly at 9:30 a.m.
  • Contact: Jane Roschmann at 714-667-2341
St. Thomas More Catholic Church
  • 51 Marketplace
    Irvine, CA 92602
  • Grief Share Support Groups Mondays 7-8:30 pm OR Tuesdays 10-11:30 am
  • Register on www.griefshare.org
Laguna Niguel
St. Timothy Catholic Church
  • 29102 Crown Valley Parkway
    Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
  • Grief Share Support Groups Mondays 4-5:30 pm in the Upper Room
  • Contact: Patty at [email protected]
Lake Forest
Santiago de Compostela Catholic Church
Mission Viejo
St. Kilian Catholic Church
  • 26872 Estanciero Drive
    Mission Viejo, CA 92691
  • Bethany Bereavement Group – Sessions are held each Thursday at 1 p.m.
  • Contact: 949-586-4440
Newport Beach
Our Lady Queen of Angels
  • 2046 Mar Vista Dr., Newport Beach, CA 92660
  • Grief Share Support Group meets for 13 weeks beginning on Tuesday, September 13 at 6:30pm in the Ministry Center
  • Submit interest form at olqa.org/GriefShare
Placentia
St. Joseph Catholic Church
  • 717 N. Bradford Avenue
    Placentia, CA 92870
  • Passages Grief Support Group
  • Contact: Teresa Thompson 714-996-1846 or text 714-458-6191
San Juan Capistrano
Mission Basilica Pastoral Center
  • 31520 Camino Capistrano
    San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
  • Widows group on Tuesdays starting Nov. 9
  • Contact: 949-234-1360
Yorba Linda
St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church
  • 19767 Yorba Linda Blvd.
    Yorba Linda, CA 92886
  • 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month in St. Elizabeth Room
  • Contact: Peggy Squires at 714-270-2312

Other Grief Support Groups In Orange County

Compassionate Friends
  • Grief support for the loss of a child. Siblings over the age of 16 and grandparents also welcome.
Christ Lutheran Church
  • 820 W Imperial Hwy, Brea
  • Meets every 1st Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.
    or in Buena Park on the 3rd Tuesday of each month
  • Contact: Yolanda & George 714-335-4763
Compassionate Friends
  • Grief support for the loss of a child
Lakeview Senior Center
  • 20 Lake Rd
    Irvine, CA 92614
  • Meets every 1st Wednesday of each month 7-8:45 p.m.
  • For information, call 714-504-7042
Hoag Family Cancer Center
  • 1 Hoag Dr
    Newport Beach, CA 92663
  • Facing Forward
  • Meets virtually, Thursdays 3-4:30 pm
  • For more information, call: 949-764-8358
Mariposa Women and Family Center
Mission Hospital Laguna Beach
  • 31872 Coast Hwy
    Laguna Beach, CA 92651
  • Living Life Again Support Group
  • 11-week course / 3 times per year
  • For more information on dates/ locations call: 949-499-7133
Saddleback Church
  • 1 Saddleback Pkwy.
    Lake Forest, CA 92630
  • Grief Share – 13 week program
  • Contact: Elaine, 949-609-8392, [email protected]
  • Empty Arms Support Group
  • For families who have suffered the loss of a child from miscarriage or stillbirth.
  • Meets Sundays.
  • For more information, call Karen Hacker at 949-395-5355 or email [email protected]
St. Jude Community Services
  • 130 Bastanchury Rd.
    Fullerton, CA 92835
  • Healing Hearts After Loss
  • Online and in-person options
  • For more information, call 877-459-3627
VITAS Healthcare Grief Support Groups
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
  • Orange County Center
    2021 East 4th Street, Ste 204
    Santa Ana, CA 92705
  • Survivors After Suicide Attempt Support Group
  • 8-week program for adults only.
  • For more information or to register, call 714-547-0885
  • Suicide Bereavement Support Group
  • 8-week program for anyone who has lost someone to suicide
  • For more information, call 714-546-0885
SOS (Survivors of Suicide) Orange County
  • First Baptist Church of Garden Grove
    12761 Euclid St
    Garden Grove, CA 92840
  • Support for any adult survivor of a loved one who has died by suicide.
  • Meets 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month 1:30-3:30pm
  • Contact: Jeri Livingstone at 714-539-1429 or [email protected]
  • Website: www.survivorsofsuicide.us
With Hope Foundation
  • Suicide Bereavement Support Groups
  • Online Meetings: 1st & 3rd Mondays
  • In-person Meetings: 2nd & 4th Mondays
  • Contact: Heather Cram at 714-524-1996

Other Resources