Bereavement & Grief Support

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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.

Local and national resources for grief of perinatal loss are listed separately.

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
  • Grief Share & Seasons of Hope
  • 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month, 9:30 am-11:00 am in Conference Rm #1
  • Contact: Parish Office at 714-974-1416
Costa Mesa
St. Joachim Catholic Church
Cypress
St. Irenaeus Catholic Church
Garden Grove (Spanish)
Christ Cathedral Parish
  • 13280 Chapman Avenue, Garden Grove, CA 92840
  • Grief Workshops & Worship Services 3x per year
  • Contact: Janielle Alvarado ministeriodeduelo@yahoo.com
Huntington Beach
St. Bonaventure Catholic Church
  • 16400 Springdale St.
    Huntington Beach, CA 92649
  •  Thursdays 7-8:30 pm in Parish Conference Room
  • Contact: Deacon John Davis at 562-355-1550 or Wendy Figueroa at 714-580-2677 wrfig@yahoo.com
Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic Church
  • 20444 Magnolia St
    Huntington Beach, CA 92646
  • Every other Thursday
  • Contact: 714-962-4451
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
  • 8345 Talbert Ave
    Huntington Beach, CA 92646
  • Healing from Loss (9-week session)
  • Contact: Nancy 714-724-1732 or Faye 714-376-2033
Irvine
St. John Neumann Catholic Church
  • 5101 Alton Parkway
    Irvine, CA 92604
  • Tuesdays weekly at 9:30-11 am
  • Contact: Jane Roschmann at 714-667-2341
St. Thomas More Catholic Church
  • 51 Marketplace
    Irvine, CA 92602
  • Grief Share Support Group (13-week sessions) Tuesdays 10-11:30 am, August 20-November 12, 2024 & January 14-April 8, 2025
  • Register on www.griefshare.org
  • Contact: KC Riley at 714-875-8126 or kc@rileyweb.net
Laguna Niguel
St. Timothy Catholic Church
  • 29102 Crown Valley Parkway
    Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
  • Grief Share Support Groups Mondays 3:45-6 pm & Thursdays 5:45-8 pm
  • Contact: Patty at patty.mouton@alzoc.org
Lake Forest
Santiago de Compostela Catholic Church
  • 21682 Lake Forest Drive
    Lake Forest, CA 92630
  • Grief Share Support Group Thursdays 5:30-7:30 pm
  • Register on www.griefshare.org
  • Contact: Kanoe Martin 949-309-1625
Mission Viejo
St. Kilian Catholic Church
  • 26872 Estanciero Drive
    Mission Viejo, CA 92691
  • Bethany Bereavement Group – Sessions are held each Thursday at 1:30-3 pm
  • Contact: 949-586-4440
Newport Beach
Our Lady Queen of Angels
  • 2046 Mar Vista Dr., Newport Beach, CA 92660
  • Seasons of Hope (6-week sessions)
  • Contact Parish Office 949-644-0200 or www.olqa.org/SeasonsOfHope
Orange
St. Norbert Catholic Church
  • 300 E Taft Avenue
    Orange, CA 92865
  • Contact: 714-637-4360 or griefshare.org
Placentia
St. Joseph Catholic Church
  • 717 N. Bradford Avenue
    Placentia, CA 92870
  • Passages Grief Support Group meets Thursdays 7-9 pm
  • Contact: Sandi Charlesworth at 714-293-1694
Rancho Santa Margarita
San Francisco Solano Church
San Juan Capistrano
Mission Basilica Pastoral Center
  • 31520 Camino Capistrano
    San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
  • Hope: A Ministry for Widows on Wednesdays
  • Rooms B & C in Parish Pastoral Center
  • Contact: Robin Griffin 949-234-1360
Santa Ana (Spanish)
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church
  • 1100 S Center St.
    Santa Ana, CA 9704
  • Ministerio de Consolación para Familiares en Duelo
    3er Jueves de cada Mes 7- 8:30 PM Salon Parroquial 2do piso
  • Contacto: Nelly Terrones a 714-478-5797
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, 10-11 am
  • Contact: Peggy Squires at 714-270-2312
Santa Clara de Asis
  • 22005 Avenida de la Paz
    Yorba Linda, CA 92887
  • EMBRACE Grief & Loss Support Group
  • 2nd & 4th Thursdays of the month at 9-10 am in the Parish Conference Room
  • Contact: 714-970-7885

Other Grief Support Groups In Orange County

Compassionate Friends
Hoag Family Cancer Center
  • 1 Hoag Dr
    Newport Beach, CA 92663
  • Facing Forward
  • 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, elaineq@saddleback.com
  • Empty Arms Support Group: For families who have suffered the loss of a child from miscarriage or stillbirth. Meets Sundays. For more information, call 949-609-8370
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

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