For Immediate Release
October 26, 2021
Archdiocese of Baltimore and Baltimore City Police Partner Up
BALTIMORE, MD – In partnership with the Baltimore City Police Department and various other Baltimore City nonprofits and businesses, the Archdiocese of Baltimore has begun a new Grief Ministry to support City families who have lost a loved one to violence. The ministry includes a variety of ways to volunteer, including praying weekly for victims, sending sympathy notes to families, and providing care packages of food and other necessities to families who have experienced a recent loss.
“The Baltimore Police Department is proud to partner with the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Grief Ministry in this invaluable work in assisting families who have lost someone to violence,” said Commissioner Michael Harrison. “We know that these efforts will not only support families during their time of trauma and grief, but the care provided by the Archdiocese and the volunteers helps creates a pathway to healing and peace to our communities.”
“So many throughout the City and beyond lament the terrible grief and trauma experienced by far too many families in our communities. None of us can stop this violence alone, but through this ministry we can at least bring people together to let these families know that we care deeply about their loss,” said Mary Ellen Russell, Director of Community Affairs for the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
In addition to the Baltimore City Police Department team of Homicide Survivor Advocates, partners include Roberta’s House, ShareBaby, Harris Teeter, and parishes throughout the City and beyond. The Catholic Community of South Baltimore has donated space at Holy Cross Church in Federal Hill for a food pantry to support the weekly care packages.
Parishes from within and without the City have donated shipments of food, ShareBaby has stocked the pantry with diapers, Harris Teeter has donated reusable grocery bags, and volunteers sign up weekly to put together the care packages and drop off perishable items to the pantry. The care packages are delivered by the police department, or by volunteers accompanied by staff of Roberta’s House. Dozens of volunteers also write sympathy notes to families who lost a loved one in the past month, or who are observing the one-year anniversary of the death of a family member.
Watch this video to learn more about the Grief Ministry. To volunteer, go to archbalt.org/grief-ministry.
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Media Contact
Christian Kendzierski
ck@archbalt.org
410-547-5378 (office)
917-882-1358 (cell)