Grief is a process that each person experiences uniquely in his or her own way. There is no doubt that grief comes with pain, a pain that varies in different degrees for each person. Emotions vary as well. The most common reactions to the death of a loved one are: shock, denial, anger, guilt, sadness, and finally acceptance. These may be felt in sequence or all at once.
Throughout the Diocese of Orange, one can find bereavement and grief support ministries. There is a downloadable and printable version of the below listing here.
Local and national resources for grief of perinatal loss are listed separately.
Orange County Bereavement And Grief Support Groups
Parish Grief Support Groups
Anaheim Hills
San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church
- 5800 E Santa Ana Canyon Rd,
Anaheim, CA 92807 - Grief Share & Seasons of Hope
- 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month, 9:30 am-11:00 am in Conference Rm #1
- Contact: Parish Office at 714-974-1416
Brea
St. Angela Merici Catholic Church
- GriefShare 13-week session
- Contact: (714) 529-1821 *leave your name/number
Costa Mesa
St. Joachim Catholic Church
- 1964 Orange Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92627 - GriefShare 13-week session
- Contact the parish: 949-574-7400 or griefshare.org
Cypress
St. Irenaeus Catholic Church
- 5201 Evergreen
Cypress, CA 90630 - Grief Share Support Group 13-week sessions
- Contact: Jennifer Dagarag at [email protected] or griefshare.org
Garden Grove (Spanish)
Christ Cathedral Parish
- 13280 Chapman Avenue, Garden Grove, CA 92840
- Grief Workshops & Worship Services 3x per year
- Contact: Yanira Alvarado [email protected]
Huntington Beach
St. Bonaventure Catholic Church
- 16400 Springdale St.
Huntington Beach, CA 92649 - Thursdays 7-8:30 pm in Parish Conference Room
- Contact: Deacon John Davis at 562-355-1550 or Wendy Figueroa at 714-580-2677
Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic Church
- 20444 Magnolia St
Huntington Beach, CA 92646 - Every other Thursday
- Contact: 714-962-4451
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
- 8345 Talbert Ave
Huntington Beach, CA 92646 - Healing from Loss (9-week session)
- begins on August 26, 1:00-2:30 pm in Room C
- Contact: Nancy 714-724-1732 or Faye 714-376-2033
Irvine
St. John Neumann Catholic Church
- 5101 Alton Parkway
Irvine, CA 92604 - Tuesdays weekly at 9:30-11 am
- Contact: Jane Roschmann at 714-667-2341
St. Thomas More Catholic Church
- 51 Marketplace
Irvine, CA 92602 - Grief Share Support Group (13-week sessions) Tuesdays 10-11:30 am
- Register on www.griefshare.org
- Contact: KC Riley at 714-875-8126 or [email protected]
Laguna Niguel
St. Timothy Catholic Church
- 29102 Crown Valley Parkway
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 - Grief Share Support Groups Mondays 3:45-6 pm & Thursdays 5:45-8 pm
- Contact: Patty at [email protected] or griefshare.org
Lake Forest
Santiago de Compostela Catholic Church
- 21682 Lake Forest Drive
Lake Forest, CA 92630 - Grief Share Support Group Thursdays 5:30-7:30 pm
- Register on www.griefshare.org
- Contact: Kanoe Martin 949-309-1625
Mission Viejo
St. Kilian Catholic Church
- 26872 Estanciero Drive
Mission Viejo, CA 92691 - Bethany Bereavement Group – Sessions are held each Thursday at 1:30-3 pm
- Contact: 949-586-4440
Newport Beach
Our Lady Queen of Angels
- 2046 Mar Vista Dr., Newport Beach, CA 92660
- Seasons of Hope (6-week sessions)
- Contact Parish Office 949-644-0200 or www.olqa.org/SeasonsOfHope
Orange
La Purisima Catholic Church
- Bereavement Support Group non denominational
- (12 week sessions) Starting Nov.11, 2025 – Feb.24 2026
- Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:30pm
- Contact (714) 633- 5800
St. Norbert Catholic Church
- 300 E Taft Avenue
Orange, CA 92865 - GriefShare | 13-week sessions
- Fridays, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
- Contact: 714-637-4360 or griefshare.org
Placentia
St. Joseph Catholic Church
- 717 N. Bradford Avenue
Placentia, CA 92870 - Passages Grief Support Group meets Thursdays 7-9 pm
- Contact: Sandi Charlesworth at 714-293-1694
Rancho Santa Margarita
San Francisco Solano Church
- 22082 Antonio Parkway
RSM, CA 92688 - Every Monday at 6:30 pm (fall & spring)
- Sign up online
- Contact: Denise Fredenberg [email protected]
San Juan Capistrano
Mission Basilica Pastoral Center
- 31520 Camino Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 - Hope: A Ministry for Widows on Wednesdays
- Rooms B & C in Parish Pastoral Center
- Contact: Robin Griffin 949-234-1360
Santa Ana (Spanish)
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church
- 1100 S Center St.
Santa Ana, CA 9704 - Ministerio de Consolación para Familiares en Duelo
2do Jueves de cada Mes 7- 8:30 PM Oficina Parroquial 2do piso - Contacto: Nelly Terrones a 714-478-5797
Yorba Linda
St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church
- 19767 Yorba Linda Blvd.
Yorba Linda, CA 92886 - 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month in St. Elizabeth Room, 10-11 am
- Contact: Peggy Squires at 714-270-2312
Santa Clara de Asis
- 22005 Avenida de la Paz
Yorba Linda, CA 92887 - EMBRACE Grief & Loss Support Group
- 2nd & 4th Thursdays of the month at 9-10 am in the Parish Conference Room
- Contact: 714-970-7885
Other Grief Support Groups In Orange County
Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)
- Bereavement support groups for families who have lost a child. Online (virtual) groups for adults, 1st Wednesday evening monthly
- Grupos de apoyo para el duelo para families que han perdido un hijo. Grupos en línea (virtual) disponible para adultos que hablan Ingles o Español. Primer miercoles de cada mes por la tarde.
- Contact: [email protected] or 714-509-8521
Compassionate Friends
- Grief support for the loss of a child. Siblings over the age of 16 and grandparents also welcome.
- www.compassionatefriends.org
Hoag Family Cancer Center
- 1 Hoag Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92663 - Facing Forward
- Thursdays 3-4:30 pm
- For more information, call: 949-722-6237
Lakeview Senior Center
- 20 Lake Rd Irvine, CA 92604
- Meets every 1st Wednesday of the month
- 7:00-8:45 pm
- Contact 949-724-6900
Mariposa Women and Family Center
- 1845 W Orangewwod Ave
Orange, CA 92868 - Various Grief Groups for All Ages
- For more information on dates/times/registration 714-547-6494, www.mariposacenter.org
Mission Hospital Laguna Beach
- 31872 Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651 - Living Life Again Support Group
- 11-week course / 3 times per year
- For more information on dates/ locations call: 949-499-7133
Empty Arms Support Group-Saddleback Church
- 1 Saddleback Pkwy.
Lake Forest, CA 92630 - For families who have suffered the loss of a child from miscarriage or stillbirth. Meets Sundays. For more information, call 949-609-8370 or [email protected]
St. Jude Community Services
- 130 Bastanchury Rd.
Fullerton, CA 92835 - Healing Hearts After Loss
- Online and in-person options
- For more information, call 714-446-7035
VITAS Healthcare Grief Support Groups
- Open to all Orange County residents. Groups take place in the cities of Anaheim, Fullerton, Laguna Woods, Mission Viejo, Cypress, Aliso Viejo & Irvine. Registration and more detailed information including dates and locations can be found at their website: www.vitas.com
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
- Orange County Center
2021 East 4th Street, Ste 204
Santa Ana, CA 92705 - Survivors After Suicide Attempt Support Group
- 8-week program for adults only.
- For more information or to register, call 714-547-0885
- Suicide Bereavement Support Group
- 8-week program for anyone who has lost someone to suicide
- For more information, call 714-546-0885
- https://crisiscare.org/support-groups
With Hope Foundation
- Suicide Bereavement Support Groups
- In Person & Online
- https://www.withhopefoundation.org/suicide-bereavement-support
Other Resources
- National Alliance on Children’s Grief: Resource Library on Childhood Grief
- Printable Grief Brochures from O’Connor Mortuary
- Red Bird Ministries: Catholic Grief Support for loss of a child
- The Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents: Catholic Grief Support
- “Buttons and the Butterfly: A story of Comfort when someone you love has died” by Judy Foy
- Center for Loss & Life Transitions (Dr. Alan Wolfet)
- The Dougy Center – Children, Teens, Young Adults & Parents/Caregivers Grief Resources