Seasons for Growth is an educational ministry supporting people through grief, loss and change within their lives, and has been available in New Zealand for more than 20 years. With Covid-19 affecting the world, and causing increasing anxiety within communities, there is even more of a need for this programme.
Seasons for Growth in Levin schools
Rev. Sandra Williams of the Levin Uniting Parish first encountered the programmes around 15 years ago in Taranaki. In 2020, she launched a Seasons for Growth project in Levin, in collaboration with Katrin Eickhorst, Seasons for Growth trainer/coordinator for the Archdiocese of Wellington. Rev William’s vision is “that all adults, young people and children whose lives are impacted by change, loss and grief, know they do not need to walk that journey alone, and that the impact of their grief does not stop them from living full and active lives, and becoming the best they can be”.
Ms Eickhorst trains Seasons for Growth companions for delivery of this educational programme. They are typically social workers or learning support coordinators, qualified educators engaging with tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) with disability and additional learning needs, and their parents and whanau, across several schools. Some of them met for a photo and korero about their work.
They witness that Covid affects young people alongside other huge losses. Some whanau face family breakup, job loss, substance abuse, violence, death and suicide. Seasons for Growth in schools offers a safe and supportive setting where they learn that change is normal. Enjoyable, age-appropriate activities teach them strategies to make better choices. Whanau appreciate the “support and see the positive impact”.
Seasons for Growth for adults in the region
Rev. Williams has met with several agencies and community organisations to promote the adult programmes in the area, and two agencies requested it for their staff and volunteers. Ms Eickhorst recently trained local parish representatives as companions for the adult programmes, including local clergy.
Fr Raymond Soriano from Our Lady of Kāpiti parish is a trained companion for both programmes. He says, “I always long for opportunities to develop my understanding of the different seasons affecting people’s lives, to walk with them
. . . journeying towards wholeness”. Seasons for Growth “answered that longing to be equipped, and hopefully continues to empower, as it has”.
Also trained in both programmes are Rev. Williams (Levin Uniting Church) and Rev. Hannah Rowan (Anglican Diocese of Wellington).
Fr Dennis Nacorda from St Joseph’s parish, Levin, regards grief ministry as integral to pastoral ministry. “In our particular setting, as a restored parish,” having “gone through difficult times during this pandemic, there is an unspoken, yet highly-felt, grief (by loss and separation) in the community. The parish community needs every support as we journey forward.”
Participants have said: “It was such a relief to know I wasn’t going mad, I was grieving, and that that is normal.”
For further info please contact: Katrin Eickhorst, 021 374 405, [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/Seasons-for-Growth-ADW
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