EPCALM Joins Reunion of GriefShare Participants

Participants from various sessions of GriefShare, a 13-week grief recovery support group, recently gathered at the Fellowship Hall of the Union Church of Manila (UCM) in Makati City for an afternoon of fellowship, group sharing, devotion and other fun activities.  The reunion was organized by UCM, led by Liza Manayon, UCM Care Coordinator. 

Introduced in the Philippines by EPCALM through a series of Understanding Grief Conferences in Manila about 10 years ago, GriefShare is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief. The grief resource has been shared with three partner churches in Manila – UCM, Ellinwood Malate Church, and the National City United Church in Quezon City. It was the first gathering of attendees since the grief recovery program was adopted as a regular UCM ministry in 2015.

The reunion was highlighted by testimonial messages, group dynamics, and mediation/ devotion focused on the theme, “Healing Comes as We Help Others Heal.” Representing EPCALM at the reunion was Maria Cristina July (Crisan) Cruz, Co-Director of the Advocacy and Public Awareness Program.

Each weekly GriefShare group begins with a 30-minute video featuring respected experts on grief-related topics and helpful stories from people who have experienced loss. Their insights will help you manage your emotions, gain clarity, and find answers to your questions as you walk through the grief process. Cycle 1 for 2024 started both online and onsite at UCM on 3 April and will end on 4 September, to be followed by Cycle 2 until 27 November. Interested parties may contact the UCM Care Ministry or EPCALM Foundation.