A PRAYER RETREAT

Welcome

Behold and Be Held is a 2-hour retreat plus 1-hour of fellowship designed to offer intentional, prayerful care for the hearts of parents grieving the loss of a child in pregnancy and infancy.

The event consists of a series of video testimonies and song reflections, followed by a reading of children’s names amidst a candle-lighting ceremony.

Gathering Overview & Quick-Specs

  • Duration: 3 Hours (1 Hour Fellowship + 2 Hours of Content)

  • Recommended Timing: October Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month (October)

  • Format: Fellowship and Refreshments, Video Testimonies and Discussion, Candle Lighting and Reading of Children’s Names

  • Audience: Grieving parents who lost a child through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death.

Retreat Format

Gathering & Fellowship

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

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

Be Hold & Beheld Retreat

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

  • Talk 1: Wrestle with Grief

    • Video: The Wrestle with Grief by Kelly Breaux (29:55)

    • Song + Journaling: Play In The Middle by Blanca (4:21) while retreatants journal with provided reflection questions and hosts monitor for 1-on-1 care needs.

    • Moment of Silence: Allow a few minutes of silence after the song so that retreatants have a full 10 minutes of journaling time.

  • Talk 2: Learning to Lament

    • Video: Learning to Lament by Elizabeth Leon (24:06)

    • Song + Journaling: Play In the Twinkling of An Eye by Full of Eyes (8:22) while retreatants journal, using provided reflection questions.

    • Moment of Silence: Allow a few minutes of silence after the song so that retreatants have a full 10 minutes of journaling time.

  • Closing & Reading of Names

    • Setup: Transition with soft instrumental music; explain the ceremony.

    • Prayer & Name Reading: Lead an opening prayer, then read each child's name slowly and reverently while parents light their candles as their child’s/children’s name(s) are read.

    • 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 — Be sure to require registrants to share their baby’s name for the Remembrance Ritual at the end of the retreat. Be sure to provide guidance for those who may not have named their baby yet, letting them know they may simply submit “Baby [Last Name]” (e.g. “Baby Johnson”).

  • Download Retreat Agenda & Facilitator's Guide (PDF) — A step-by-step agenda and facilitation outline for running the Behold and Be Held perinatal loss retreat, with timing guidance that scales to your expected attendance.

Step 2: Marketing & Promotional Templates

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

Step 3: Printables & Event Materials

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

  • Download Participant Guides (PDF) — Key retreat resources to provide for each participant. Includes an editable schedule along with discussion questions for each talk.

  • Facilitator Slide Deck (Canva Template): This deck includes an editable schedule, speaker bios, reflection questions, and retreat songs for easy access and display. 

  • 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. 

  • Candles: Ensure that you have enough candles to give one to each retreatant when they sign-in. 

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.

Behold and Be Held Retreat Engagement & Marketing Tool Hub

  • Event Planning Checklist

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

    Download PDF

  • Bulletin Ad + Pulpit Announcement

    Share about your mini retreat after masses and in the parish bulletin

    Download

  • Flyer

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

    Customize

  • Social Media Flyer

    Our social media graphics can be used on various platforms including bulletins, websites, social pages, Flock Note, & more.

    Customize

  • Family Support Sign In Sheet

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

    Download

  • Child's Name Sign Up Sheet

    A printable sign-in sheet for parishes to collect children's names to be read aloud during the candle lighting ceremony.

    Click Here

  • 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

  • Behold and Be Held is an annual perinatal loss mini-retreat offering intentional, prayerful care for parents grieving the loss of a child in pregnancy or infancy. The gathering includes video testimonies, song reflections, and a closing candle-lighting ceremony where each child's name is spoken aloud and remembered.

  • Any parent who has lost a child through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. 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.