Touched By Mercy: Community Members Affected by Suicide Invited for Day of Reflection

We received the following press release from the Franciscan Life Process Center.

Lowell, Michigan, Feb. 6, 2024 – The Franciscan Life Process Center will host Touched By Mercy, an annual event for community members affected by suicide, on March 2.

Led by Sister Colleen Ann Nagle, a licensed therapist, the event invites all who have lost a loved one through suicide to join for a day of reflection, prayer and support from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Center’s Lowell location, 11650 Downes St. NE. Lunch will be provided, and both personal and group prayer will be available. The program may also include a formal Catholic Mass. Individuals from all faiths are welcome to attend.

“Touched by Mercy offers a supportive environment to spend time processing personal loss and grief with an understanding community,” Nagle said. “We hope every attendee leaves knowing there is such hope for them and their loved ones who have died.”

The event will begin with a conversation around trauma and the stages of grief, followed by a presentation from a Catholic priest on the comfort survivors can find in the current teaching on suicide. After quiet prayer and lunch, attendees will gather as a group and be invited to share personal stories.

“No one is required to share anything, but being able to reflect and process grief together can be very healing – that’s always the blessing of the day,” Nagle said. “I’ve found people are so consoling to one another. It’s like sitting in a room full of heroes.”

Nagle, executive director of the Franciscan Life Process Center, has hosted Touched by Mercy and presented on compassion for survivors of suicide for 14 years. During her 47 years as a nun, including more than four decades serving the West Michigan community, Nagle has been an educator, administrator, licensed therapist and consultant. She holds a master’s in counseling from Michigan State University, among other degrees.

Event registration costs $65. Individuals who are interested in attending are asked to register online by Feb. 24.

For anyone who is struggling, the Franciscan Life Process Center offers counseling services to all ages with therapists who are licensed in the state of Michigan and credentialed in their areas of expertise. More information can be found at LifeProcessCenter.org/counseling.