[StBernard] Compassionate Friends of St. Bernard will hold candle lighting service Dec. 8: Club Salute

Westley Annis westley at da-parish.com
Sun Dec 1 21:55:16 EST 2013


Compassionate Friends of St. Bernard will hold candle lighting service Dec.
8: Club Salute

Print Earl Hodges By Earl Hodges
on November 28, 2013 at 6:17 AM, updated November 28, 2013 at 6:26 AM

The St. Bernard Chapter of The Compassionate Friends will join other
chapters worldwide Dec. 8 when they participate in the annual Compassionate
Friends' worldwide candle lighting service to honor the memory of deceased
children. Participants are asked to gather at 6:30 p.m. at the Children's
Memory Garden, in front of the St. Bernard Parish government complex, 8201
W. Judge Perez Drive, in Chalmette. The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m.

The event, which is often called the largest mass candle lighting event in
the world, began in 1997 as a way to remember deceased children.

"The death of a child is devastating and it's important for the family that
the child always be remembered," said Liz Lemoine, founder of the St.
Bernard Chapter of The Compassionate Friends. "That's why members of the St.
Bernard Chapter always participate in the annual worldwide event which is
designed to honor the memories of all children who have died regardless of
age or cause of death."

Candles will be provided. Participants are asked to bring a photo or memory
of their loved one to hold during the candle lighting.

There are more than 650 Compassionate Friends Chapters in the United States.
The worldwide candle lighting event is a time when for 24 hours there will
be a wave of light all over the world to remember deceased children, Lemoine
said.

"The holiday season is an extremely difficult time of year for families
grieving the death of a child," Lemoine said. "The candle lighting is our
symbolic way of showing the love we continue to carry for our children."

The event is open to the community.

"We invite all bereaved parents, grandparents, siblings and friends to join
us in the remembrance of a child gone too soon," Lemoine said. "We all want
our children to be remembered. And by sharing them with others we find
healing for ourselves."

Everyone is also welcome to post a message in the The Compassionate Friends
Remembrance Book. The national Compassionate Friends website is
www.compassionatefriends.org.

The St. Bernard Chapter of The Compassionate Friends meets the second
Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Bernard Parish government
complex, 8201 West Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette.

For information about the candle lighting service or the St. Bernard Chapter
of The Compassionate Friends contact Lemoine at 504.421.3986.

Earl Hodges writes about clubs in St. Bernard Parish. He can be contacted at
earlhodges at msn.com or 504.887.4731.



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