What’s included?

The School of Grief was designed by Red Bird Ministries inviting you to join with other parents of loss as we explore what it means to grieve well. Each person’s grief is unique - but we don’t have to carry it alone. We hope you will prayerfully consider this opportunity to find accompaniment on your journey.

    • The small groups are limited to 10 individuals per facilitator.

    • Led by professionally trained group facilitator(s).

    • Small groups will be offered according to facilitators availability.

    • Please see schedule for next small group dates.

  • You will connect with other parents of loss while also learning about:

    1. The grieving process itself and how to recognize and befriend our own unique rhythm of grieving.

    2. Practical steps we can take in our daily lives to foster healing.

    3. How to cultivate a posture of acceptance and peace toward our grief.

    Support group participants will be guided and encouraged as they engage with different facets of their grief.

  • Find a safe community to take your grief.

    • Stay connected with other families of loss who are also taking The School of Grief small group course.

    • Find healing with and through the loving support of other Red Bird families who desire to walk their grief journey with Jesus.

8-Week Closed Small Groups

In order to ensure meaningful connections, we have limited our small groups to 10 individuals per facilitator. This way, each participant will have ample time to engage and connect with their designated group. Additionally, families can rest assured that they will begin and end with the same group. Join us for a truly enriching experience!

Professionally Led Groups

Professionally trained small group facilitators will guide you through your grieving process. Join small groups that focus on different facets of your grief. Take the first step towards healing with the support of compassionate professionals who understand what you're going through.

Peer-to-Peer Connection

Red Bird’s mission is founded on the principle that healing happens when we connect with others who understand our suffering. Closed small groups offer a unique opportunity for forming deep connections with other parents of loss so that we can invite a loving, understanding community into our sorrow.

The School of Grief

Red Bird Ministries invites you to join with other parents of loss as we explore what it means to grieve well. Over the course of this 8-week support group, you will connect with other parents of loss. Led by professionally trained facilitators, families of loss will learn:

  • About the grieving process

  • How to befriend our own unique rhythm of grieving

  • Practical Steps we can take to foster healing

  • How to cultivate a posture of acceptance and peace

  • Access to additional resources such as weekly journaling guides.

Sessions Begin June 3rd, 2025

This small group is for all parents of loss

$125.00 (8 Weekly Sessions)

8 Tuesdays starting June 3rd at 10:00 am CST

Meet the Facilitators

  • Anna Gowasack, M.S.

    DIRECTOR OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES

    When my husband and I lost our first and only child through miscarriage, I could not fathom how anything good could possibly come from this tragedy. Little did I know that my grief journey would lead me to my life's purpose. Through my masters' work in psychology, I began to understand that God was calling me to use my personal experience combined with my professional training to serve families suffering through the unimaginable. It is such an unfathomable privilege to partner with Red Bird in the beautiful and meaningful work of walking with families through child loss.

  • Edward Luersman, M.A., LPCC

    LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR

    Edward became a licensed counselor after a previous career in horticulture and a year at a Catholic seminary. He has specialized training in therapy for grief, infertility, pregnancy and infant loss, and couples work. He and his wife have personally experienced the pain of several years of primary infertility and one miscarriage. Edward's own walk with grief fuels his passion for helping others. Edward is the co-founder of Blessed Are They Grief Counseling, LLC, located in Cincinnati, OH. 

FAQs

  • We created the St. Louis and Zéliè Martin Scholarship Fund to help families who can’t financially afford to attend our support groups.

    If your family requests a scholarship for a support group, please fill out the application form below.

    Click Here to apply

  • Red Bird Ministries partners with grief experts who sometimes are also parents of loss. Your facilitator will be professionally trained and qualified and many also have personal loss.

  • You may schedule a comfort call, spiritual direction, or request a referral to a counselor at any time for no additional cost. Red Bird Ministries does not provided one on one counseling.

  • Refunds will be given via a gift card to be used in our benefit boutique, or towards another grief support opportunity. Refund will not be given once small group begins.