A comprehensive list of local resources for those experiencing loss in miscarriage. Resources in this post are primarily options available within the Archdiocese of St. Louis. This post will be updated frequently to reflect the most up-to-date information.
Naming and Commendation Rite
A rite co-developed by the Archdiocese of St. Louis’s Respect Life Apostolate and the Office of Sacred Worship designed to meet the needs of parents whose child(ren) died before birth because of miscarriage, accident, or abortion. The ritual emphasizes the Church’s respect for the sacredness of all human life from the moment of conception – regardless of a child’s age or stage of development, acknowledging that all life, even the lives of those who are never born, impacts families and individuals.
The Respect Life Apostolate has information on its site, including upcoming dates.
Sympathy Cards
Our office developed miscarriage sympathy cards with a beautiful, original watercolor image of a Forget-Me-Not. The Forget-Me-Not flower is a powerful symbol for those impacted by miscarriage and infant loss. These miscarriage sympathy cards are available to you to send to anyone you know experiencing miscarriage. Order them here.
Chapel at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Brentwood
They have a beautiful chapel of Our Lady dedicated to babies born and unborn in which you can put your child’s name and date in their book.
Annual Memorial Mass and Memorial Wall
The Church of the Magdalene in South City, hosts an annual memorial Mass for infants lost to miscarriage on the third Sunday in September. You can also have your child’s name inscribed on a plaque on their Deceased Children’s Memorial Wall.
Blessing of Parents after a Miscarriage or Stillbirth
This blessing from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is provided to assist the parents in their grief and console them with the blessing of God.
Compassion Ministry
As part of the Grief Ministry offered through the Catholic Renewal Center of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, there is a monthly support group and individual support specifically for those experiencing the loss of a child.
Reproductive and Child Loss Ministry
Immaculate Conception at Dardenne Catholic Parish offers support for those who are experiencing or have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death, life-limiting prenatal diagnosis, infertility, loss of a young child, or abortion. Not required to be a parishioner of ICD to participate.
Made for Heaven
St. Joseph Parish in Imperial hosts a grief support group for women who have experienced miscarriage or infant loss. Meetings will be on the second Monday of the month. For more information contact Andrea Lang at andrew_andrea@msn.com. Not required to be a parishioner of St. Joseph to participate.
Mercy HeartPrints
Mercy HeartPrints is offered to provide support to families who experience the loss of a baby at any time during pregnancy or the newborn period, including neonatal death, stillbirth, miscarriage, or ectopic pregnancy. It is designed to provide one-to-one support during hospitalization at Mercy Hospital and after discharge. The support staff are trained in perinatal grief and provide support and comfort to bereaved families. They are available to work with families as long as needed to provide support through the grief process. A support group is also available.
Creighton Model Fertility Care System + NaPro Technology
Creighton Model FertilityCare System is a method of NFP that is the fundamental basis of NaPro Technology. Through charting and research of the biomarkers tracked with Creighton, NaPro Technology has been able to identify and develop medical protocols related to miscarriage. To start charting with Creighton Model, go here.
“Recurrent miscarriage, which affects 3-5% of couples, can be extremely difficult for couples to face. Instead of feeling joy at each new pregnancy, couples often feel intense anxiety. While approximately 15-20% of all pregnancies may end in a miscarriage, the risk increases to 20-30% once a patient has had two miscarriages in a row. After three miscarriages, the risk of another miscarriage can be as high as 45%.
There is hope, however, for couples suffering the devastation of multiple pregnancy losses. With proper diagnostic testing and treatment, 70-75% of couples with recurrent miscarriage can achieve and maintain a healthy pregnancy.”
-Dr. Gavin Puthoff, Veritas Fertility and Surgery
Kutis Funeral Home
Kutis Funeral Homes will transport any remains from the hospital, prepare your child for burial, and transport the casket to the cemetery free of charge.
Catholic Cemeteries
Mercy South Hospital, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, and SSM Health St. Clare Hospital have a communal grave at Resurrection Cemetery in Affton, MO.
Mercy Hospital St. Louis has a communal grave at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis, MO.
Covenant Resources Miscarriage Ministry
Covenant Resources Miscarriage Ministry is a ministry that helps couples to navigate the practical aspects of burial of your child after miscarriage through bringing awareness to burial options.
Grieving Together
Grieving Together: A Couple’s Journey Through Miscarriage by Laura Kelly Fanucci and Franco David Fanucci is a book written by a couple for couples. It draws on Catholic tradition and teaching in guiding you through: the experience of miscarriage, responding to grief, community support, and the path forward after loss.
Red Bird Ministries
Red Bird Ministries is a Catholic organization that systematically guides individuals and couples through the complexity and trauma that happens with the loss of a child from pregnancy through adulthood. They seek to partner, equip and train parishes to provide the tools and resources needed to support families who have experienced the loss of a child from pregnancy through adulthood.
Catholic Miscarriage Support
A website designed with answers to the sensitive and practical concerns couples have about burial of their baby after loss while remaining attentive to the spiritual needs as well.
If you come across a helpful miscarriage resource not listed here, let us know at stlnfp@archstl.org. If you or someone at your parish starts a group, we would be happy to list here for others to find!
We pray you know the Church sees you in this grieving process and that you know you are deeply loved by a Good Father.