August 15, 2025
When Nancy Mecca’s husband Nick, of more than 30 years, died, she was so overwhelmed with grief, she didn’t think she could go on. Her world was turned upside down, and nothing seemed to make sense.
“I signed up for the New Day Bereavement Program and I can’t believe the difference it made,” she said. “After such a life-changing loss, I never imagined that one day I could feel joy or happiness again.”
As she looks back and reads what she wrote during the program, she realizes now that much healing had taken place. “I tell my friends who have just lost their husbands, ‘You may think you can’t even mention your husband’s name without being overcome by emotion, but this program will really help you,’” she said.
Carolyn Killian, Director of Bereavement of Catholic Cemeteries in the Diocese of Bridgeport, said, “New Day is so effective because it addresses the practical, physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of grief.”
Killian said New Day has distinguished itself for decades as a highly successful faith-based, small-group support program, which provides a structured pathway so people can have an opportunity “to find a place of healing and feelings of peace and comfort.”
“We have seen young people and old people in deep grief,” Killian said. “We’ve seen many, many parents who have lost children. There are so many people struggling to figure out how to go forward with incredible loss, and this offers a way to see where God is on their grief journey.”
The 9-week bereavement programs are offered by Catholic Cemeteries. For further information, call Killian at (203) 404-0023.
The New Day Bereavement Program has scheduled several sessions for Fall 2025. Additional programs will be announced soon. To check for updates and read more about the program, visit ctcemeteries.org/NewDay.
St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, Brookfield
Date: September 11- November 6
Time: Thursday afternoons, 2 – 3:30 pm
St. Michael the Archangel, Greenwich
Date: September 15 – November 17
Time: Monday evenings, 6:30 – 8 pm
St. Thomas More, Darien
Date: September 24 – November 19
Time: Wednesday afternoons, 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Church of the Assumption, Westport
Date: October 1 – December 3
Time: Wednesday afternoons, 2:00 – 3:30 pm
St. Mary Parish, Bethel
Date: October 14 – December 16
Time: Tuesday afternoons, 4:30 – 6 pm
St. Catherine of Siena & St. Agnes, Riverside
Date: October 15 – December 17
Time: Wednesday mornings, 10:00 – 11:30 am
St. Leo, Stamford
Date: Dates and time to be announced
Additional programs will be added as they are confirmed.
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