August 22, 2024
Carolyn Killian, Director of Bereavement for the Diocese of Bridgeport, wrote the following tribute to the late Dominican Sister of Peace Mauryeen O’Brien, OP, a leader in the Catholic bereavement movement, whose work has helped thousands of people over the years. We are running this in honor of Sister Mauryeen on the first anniversary of her passing. She died at 92 after 74 years of serving God’s people.
I have read the “New Day Journal” dozens of times in my role as group facilitator, and I am always stuck with the brilliance of Sr. Mauryeen. She wrote a book that has helped thousands… but somehow manages to connect with each participant on a very personal level. More than 25,000 copies have been printed since it was first published.
Our small support groups journey together for nine weeks, looking at each loss, sharing, listening, and gaining insight with each conversation we have. And although this is a faith-based program, Sr. Mauryeen is very subtle in her approach.
My favorite question is presented in Week Eight, when Sr. Mauryeen asks the reader to “describe where you have been, what you think lies ahead and how you have experienced God with you.”
It is an amazing moment when those who have experienced such incredible pain are able to recognize the people who showed them kindness and compassion when their world was falling apart…and to come to the realization that God was working through every single person who offered them support.
Sr. Mauryeen recognizes the wisdom of allowing each participant to gain that insight on their own and to come to the awareness that God has been with them the whole time.
It has been an incredible blessing to be able to work with this program, and I am forever grateful to Sr. Mauryeen for providing this roadmap for each individual’s journey to a place of healing.
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