Join Bishop Erik Pohlmeier for the annual Mass for the Precious Ones on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 3 p.m. at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, 101 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine. This special liturgy offers comfort and hope to families following a loss through miscarriage, a child loss in adulthood or following a healing program after an abortion. The Mass is open to all families who grieve their loss.
The Precious Ones Program began in 2017 after a mother reached out to the newly formed Office of Human Life and Dignity seeking guidance for her daughter, who had suffered a miscarriage. From that call grew a diocesan ministry dedicated to supporting families who experience the loss of a child before birth.
In 2024, Bishop Pohlmeier blessed and dedicated the Precious Ones Mausoleum at San Lorenzo Catholic Cemetery in St. Augustine. This sacred space serves as a final resting place for unborn children, reflecting the Church’s belief that every human life, no matter how brief, deserves dignity, prayer and remembrance. The mausoleum includes 20 vaults for communal caskets and offers families a peaceful place to visit and pray.
Families seeking healing and community are encouraged to connect with Red Bird Ministries, which offer retreats and resources for grieving parents. Learn more at www.redbird.love/staugustine.
“The burial of the dead is a corporal work of mercy,” teaches the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2300), reminding us that every life is sacred and entrusted to God’s eternal care.
For more information, contact Maureen Shilkunas, director of the Human Life & Dignity Office at (904) 562-6914 or email HLD@dosafl.com.
