July 23 reception to celebrate local author's book on grieving

Local author Paula Kosin, whose recently-released book “Grieving: a Spiritual Process for Catholics” suggests a new approach to coping with loss, will be the guest at a “book launch” reception at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 23, in the Lighthouse Room of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville.

During the program, Kosin will introduce her book, published by the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Liturgy Training Publications, and read excerpts from it. A question-and-answer session will follow and Kosin will sign copies of “Grieving” that will be available for purchase at $14.95 during the reception. A portion of the book sales will be donated to St. Thomas’ behavioral health ministry.

Kosin comes well-prepared to offer her insights because she is a licensed clinical professional counselor. A member of St. Thomas Church and a grief group facilitator there in recent years, she also is a hospice vigil volunteer and a certified grief educator.

Kosin describes her book as “offering a refreshing approach to grief support that includes current best practices for ‘healthy grieving’ from the mental health field blended with the wisdom of contemporary Catholic Christian spirituality.” She says, “Its tone is compassionate, reassuring, informative, practical and hopeful.”

Beneficial for adults of every age and also designed to be used by grief support groups, “this book is a must-have for all those who need comfort, who want to support the mourner, or who want to

understand the grieving process,” concludes Kosin. It will appeal to individuals; church staff; chaplains; campus ministers; medical and mental health professionals; funeral directors; police, fire and first responders; and hospice staff and volunteers.

The “book launch” program is free but registration is requested to ensure adequate seating arrangements. Please register, preferably by Wednesday, July 19, by contacting Susan Kearney, coordinator of St. Thomas’ behavioral health ministry at sdkearney@comcast.net or at (630) 355-8980, x 108. Be sure to provide your name and email address so a reminder can be sent to you.

St. Thomas the Apostle, a parish of the Diocese of Joliet, strives to bear the Good News of God’s unconditional love to all generations through worship, faith formation, witness and service. Organized in 1984, the St. Thomas faith community numbers more than 3,400 households of more than 10,750 people. Complete news and information on parish events, guest speakers and special programs is available at www.stapostle.org. For general parish information, please call (630) 355-8980.