Candlelight Service Remembers Children Who Have Died
For over 20 years, Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting has been held on the second Sunday in December at 7 pm, creating an international wave of warm candlelight in remembrance of children who have died.
2022 marks the 14th year that the Canadian Mental Health Association, Windsor-Essex County Branch (CMHA-WECB) has held a Candlelight Service in conjunction with this international event to bring bereaved parents and family members together to honour and remember their child. It also marks a return to an in-person service after two years online due to the pandemic.
The purpose of the Candlelight Vigil is to provide a meaningful opportunity to share in a time of heartfelt reflection and remembering. Families and friends are able to join together to honour their child’s life, in the company of others who can truly empathize,” says Mental Health Educator with CMHA-WECB, Sonia Comartin. “Whether newly bereaved or the death occurred some time ago, all are welcome to share in this time of hope and healing.”
“We are very pleased to hold this event in-person once again. Connecting online the last two years was appreciated by many, but we are really looking forward to being together to share and support one another. The program will consist of reflections, music, and messages of hope.”
“Our goal is to have a very special time of remembrance,” added Comartin. “We anticipate that many whose lives have been touched by a child of any age who has died, will attend. Michelle and Tim Berenz will share their story of their precious son Mark, who died in October 2017. Their daughter Aleah will also provide her thoughts from the perspective of a sibling. After Mark died, they learned “that the grief journey takes a great deal of hard work and time, and it is through expending this energy and accepting there are many unpredictable ups and downs, that the pain gradually softens, although life is forever changed.”
By being open to support, including from the CMHA-WECB Bereavement Program, they recognize and are very grateful for the positive difference that individuals and groups have made on this extremely difficult journey.
This free event consists of a service that sees families bring a photo of their loved one to place on the memory table, light a candle in honour of all those who have died, and walk in an outdoor candlelit procession.
The vigil will take place on Sunday, December 11, 2022 beginning at 6:30 pm at the Fogolar Furlan Club, 1800 North Service Road, Windsor. Once again, the event is being generously supported by Tim Hortons and the volunteer group, Remembering Our Children.
The vigil is an extension of CMHA-WECB’s Bereavement Program, which supports hundreds of children and adults annually who are coping with the loss of a loved one. The program provides support by way of educational seminars and webinars, peer group support and one-on-one therapy. The program relies heavily on community support for sustainability.
