An Evening of Reflection

Welcome

The holidays can be some of the hardest times of year for families mourning a child. This evening of reflection allows grieving parents to enter into this season gently, with the assurance that the God who reveals himself as Emmanuel - God with us - is close to them in their suffering.

The evening aims to facilitate a sense of comfort and peace through a brief video reflection, time in adoration, and small group discussion.

Gathering Overview & Quick-Specs

  • Duration: 1 Hour 45 min

  • Recommended Timing: Advent (December)

  • Format: Fellowship and Refreshments, Video Reflection, Adoration with Journaling Prompts, Small Group Discussion.

  • Audience: Grieving parents who have lost a child at any age.

Event Format

Gathering & Fellowship

  • Check-In & Hospitality: Welcome attendees with refreshments, distribute adoration and journaling printouts, and direct parents to their tables.

  • Ambient Atmosphere: Play soft background music while participants settle in and connect.

Evening of Reflection

  • Welcome & Opening: Lead an opening prayer and explain housekeeping items (restrooms, refreshments).

  • Video: Living in the Longing by Elizabeth Leon (13:34)

  • Transition to Adoration Chapel (30 minutes)

    • Silent Reflection and Prayer: Allow attendees time to journal with the provided reflection questions in the presence of the Lord.

  • Small Group Discussion

    • Transition: head back to the gathering space.

    • Discuss Reflection Questions (30 minutes): Invite participants to share their reflections with those at their tables.

  • Closing: Conclude with a prayer of thanksgiving, share ongoing support resources (such as the RBM Community App), and offer final warm thanks.

Retreat Planning

Step 1: Planning & Prep

Go to Engagement &
Marketing Toolkit

Start here to prepare your pastor, parish staff, and volunteers before promoting the event:

  • Event Planning Checklist (PDF) — Complete timeline from 2-3 months out through post-event follow-up.

  • Create a Registration Form (optional) — create a registration form to help you plan refreshments and keep track of who plans to attend.

Step 2: Marketing & Promotional Templates

Everything you need to invite families and get the word out across your parish:

  • Customizable Event Flyer (Canva Template): Print-ready 8.5x11 flyer designed for church vestibules and bulletin boards.

  • Branded Bulletin Ad (Canva Template): A beautifully designed, editable template to insert into your parish bulletin.

  • Social Media Graphics & Banners (Canva Template): Sized for Facebook, Instagram, and parish digital bulletin boards.

  • Pulpit Announcement (PDF): Brief blurbs for weekly Mass announcements.

Step 3: Printables & Event Materials

Everything you need to invite families and get the word out across your parish:

  • Print Journaling Prompts (PDF) — Have a copy of the evening’s journaling prompts to provide to each attendee. You may optionally consider providing journaling resources for participants (e.g. small journals, paper and pens).

  • Adoration Guide (PDF) — Consider providing this one-page guide to adoration in a season of mourning to help those who may not be familiar with the practice.

  • Facilitator Slide Deck (Canva Template): This deck is embedded at the top of this page for your convenience and includes graphics, the evening’s talk, and reflection/small group discussion questions. 

  • Sign-In Sheet (PDF): Use this sheet to track who attends your retreat, and to gather information so you can keep in touch about upcoming grief support offerings. 

Step 4: Gathering & Event

Step 5: Follow-Up

  • Send a Follow-Up Email: Email the retreat attendees speaking from the heart, thanking them for their attendance. Share any relevant information about upcoming support opportunities.

Advent Evening of Reflection Engagement & Marketing Tool Hub

  • Event Planning Checklist

    Complete timeline from 2-3 months out through post-event follow-up.

    Download PDF

  • Pulpit Announcement

    A simple, printable script to help lectors or clergy share about your evening of reflection after masses.

    Download

  • Flyer/Social Media Graphic

    Our flyers are beautifully designed and are perfect for sharing your event details. The editable template is linked here, a plain PDF flyer is linked above.

    Customize

  • Branded Bulletin Ad

    Share event details in your parish bulletin with this editable branded template.

    Customize

  • Reflection Questions

    Share these one-page reflection questions with event attendees for their time of journaling before the Blessed Sacrament.

    Download

  • Adoration Guide

    A helpful guide to Adoration in a season of mourning, especially useful for those who are less familiar with the practice of Eucharistic Adoration.

    Download

  • Family Support Sign In Sheet

    These sign in sheets make it easy for grieving families to request prayerful support and follow-up care.

    Download

  • Prayer Cards

    Optional:
    We offer lovely prayer cards that families can use to pray together and keep as a reminder of the retreat.

    Purchase

  • Family Support Trifold

    Optional:
    Share RBM’s support offerings with retreatants through this beautiful and accessible trifold.

    Purchase

Frequently asked questions

  • This Advent Evening of Reflection is designed to foster a space of comfort, connection, and prayer for parents who have lost a child.

    It includes a brief video reflection, journaling before the Blessed Sacrament, and time for small group sharing.

  • Any parent who has lost a child at any age. This includes losses that happened recently and losses from many years ago — grief doesn't follow a timeline, and you're welcome whenever you're ready.

  • All grieving parents are welcome, including fathers. Grief touches the whole family, and this space is for anyone who has carried the loss of a child.

  • Facilitators hold small-group conversations with care and confidentiality. What's shared in discussion groups is meant to stay within that group.