Father James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., will serve as celebrant and keynote speaker for a special day of prayer and reflection focused on widows and widowers on Friday, February 14, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Forest Lake.
The keynote, Love Stronger Than Death: Grief, Healing, and Hope in the Light of Christ, draws from Scripture, Catholic theology, psychology, and pastoral experience to explore how grief shapes the human heart, mind, and body—and how faith opens a path toward hope, renewal, and ongoing vocation. The reflection will engage themes of suffering, resilience, discernment, and the role of widows and widowers in carrying forward God’s will (Voluntas Dei) in the context of faith journey and in society.
The event is open to the public and is especially intended for widows, widowers, pastoral ministers, caregivers, and anyone accompanying others through grief and loss.
Schedule
- 9:30 a.m. – Check-in / Registration
- 10:00 a.m. – Mass (Fr. Burns, celebrant)
- 10:45–12:00 p.m. – Keynote Address (in church)
- 12:10–1:00 p.m. – Dinner (restaurant style)
To register or for more information, please contact Cindy Casey at 651-249-8807 or Kathy Rubio at 651-982-2229 or krubio@stpeterfl.org
