ava’s grace
Offering spiritual, emotional and practical support to families who suffer miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss.
Welcome to ava’s grace, a ministry of the Diocese of Fort Wayne—South Bend which offers spiritual, emotional and practical support to families who suffer miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss.
Each year in the United States, about 25,000 babies are stillborn, and approximately the same number of babies die during the first year of life. About 15-20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, resulting in the loss of more than half a million babies before 20 weeks gestation. Parents who experience the loss of a child at whatever stage of pregnancy or infancy are often overwhelmed by grief that is intense and isolating, and sometimes invalidated by others. We who believe that every human life is sacred from the moment of conception need to surround these grieving parents with spiritual, emotional and practical support at a time when they might feel very much alone. Such support is a sign of our solidarity in the body of Christ and a manifestation of God’s abiding love which accompanies us in our suffering and invites us to unite it with His own.
ava’s grace seeks to bring the rich resources of our faith to bear on the heart-breaking loss of a child. Its patrons are Saints Zélie and Louis Martin, the parents of St. Thérese of Lisieux, who lost three children in infancy and one in early childhood. This saintly couple, whose path to holiness passed by way of this painful cross, can inspire and intercede for other parents who have experienced a similar loss.
If you are here because you have lost a child before or after birth, your suffering saddens us deeply. We hope that you will find in ava’s grace the support, consolation, empathy and hope you will need for your journey through grief. In the resources section below, we have compiled a wealth of resources to help you navigate your way through this difficult time, ranging from information on Catholic funeral rites and burial services for miscarried, stillborn and newborn infants, to grief support groups and other services throughout the diocese as well as online, to many inspirational articles and blogposts from women and men who have journeyed through the loss of their littles ones with the support of their faith.
ava’s grace also sponsors annual Memorial Masses for those who have lost a child during the month of October, which is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in our nation as well as Respect Life month in our Church. We also host daylong retreats for couples who have suffered miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss, and we are developing a “companion” outreach in which women, men and couples can be matched with others who have shared a similar loss.
May Mary, who suffered the death of her beloved Son, comfort you in your sorrow, and may Christ, the Divine Healer, bind up your broken heart.
Saints Zélie and Louis Martin, pray for us.
Memorial Masses for those who have lost a child:
Annually, please join us for a special Memorial Mass to pray together with others who have suffered the loss of their children before or after birth, including through miscarriage and abortion. Take home a silk rose in honor of your child(ren). Siblings and grandparents are also welcome.
English Masses:
Tuesday, October 10, 5:30 PM at St. Thomas, Elkhart
Friday, October 13, 5:45 PM at St. John the Baptist, Fort Wayne
Spanish Masses:
Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Parish, Fort Wayne
Friday, October 27, 6:00 PM at St. Vincent, Elkhart
For more information, please contact Lisa Everett at 574-968-2439 or [email protected].
Annual Retreat for Couples
Saturday, March 16, 2024
If you have lost a baby before or after birth, you are not alone. Come join others who have suffered miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss for a daylong retreat, free of charge, to help face your grief in the context of fellowship and faith.The retreat will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Parish Center on the campus of Notre Dame. The retreat will include Mass for the feast of the Annunciation, a witness talk by John and Mary O’Callaghan, small group discussion, couple conversation, Eucharistic Adoration and a pilgrimage to the Grotto. Lunch will be provided. While this retreat is geared for couples, individuals are welcome as well. Sponsored by Marriage & Family Ministry. To register, contact Lisa Everett at [email protected] or by calling 574-234-0687.
Monthly support group for those who have lost a child
Open to anyone who has lost a baby before or after birth, whether recently or long ago
We meet the third Wednesday of each month from 7:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom.
For more information, please contact Lisa Everett at [email protected] or 574-968-2439.
