Child loss memorial Masses offered in October, November and beyond

Criterion staff report

The loss of a loved one is difficult. But the loss of a child—born or unborn, infant or adult—carries the particularly heavy grief of a life lost too soon.

Parishes throughout central and southern Indiana offer memorial Masses for the loss of a child at various times throughout the year.

These Masses are also listed by the archdiocesan Office of Marriage and Family Life at marriageandfamily.archindy.org/grief. The office also lists resources for miscarriage loss at marriageandfamily.archindy.org/miscarriage.

If your parish offers a memorial Mass for the loss of children of any age, contact Gabriela Ross, director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life, at 317-592-4007 or gross@archindy.org to have it added to the online list.

Below are the Masses reported to The Criterion.

Batesville Deanery

All Saints Parish, St. Joseph Church, 7536 Church Ln., West Harrison, Dearborn County. Holy Innocents Mass, offered annually on Dec. 28, the feast of the Holy Innocents. This year’s Mass will take place at 5:45 p.m. on Dec. 28. For more information, call the parish office at 812-576-4302.

St. Joseph Church, 125 E. Broadway, Shelbyville. Bilingual Mass for Miscarriage and Child Loss, offered annually on or near July 12, the feast of St. Zelie Martin. She and her husband St. Louis Martin, the parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, are patron saints of miscarriage. For more information, contact the parish office at 317-398-8227.

St. Lawrence Church, 542 Walnut St., Lawrenceburg. Holy Innocents Mass, offered annually on Dec. 28, the feast of the Holy Innocents. This year’s Mass will take place at 5:45 p.m. on Dec. 28. For more information, call the parish office at 812-537-3992.

St. Mary Greensburg, 1331 E. Hunter Robbins Way, Greensburg. Mass for Miscarried Babies, offered annually in October. This year’s Mass will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 20. To have a baby’s name read aloud during the Mass—regardless of parish or attendance at the Mass—register the name by Oct. 16 at covenantresources.org/mass. For more information, call 812-212-3463 or e-mail contactus@covenantresources.org. For other miscarriage resources, go to covenantresources.org.

Indianapolis North Deanery

St. Joan of Arc Church, 4217 Central Ave., Indianapolis. Mass of Remembrance, offered annually in early November. This year’s Mass will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, with a special blessing at the end of the Mass.

Indianapolis South Deanery

Our Lady of the Greenwood Church, 335 S. Meridian St., Greenwood. Requiem Mass for Infants Who Died Before Baptism, offered annually during the week after All Souls Day. This year’s Mass will take place at 6 p.m. on Nov. 6. For more information, call the parish office at 317-888-2861.

New Albany Deanery

Holy Family Church, 129 W. Daisy Ln., New Albany. Mass for the Loss of a Child, offered annually on the Thursday after Mother’s Day for the loss of a child of any age for any reason—miscarriage, stillbirth, suicide, accident or sickness. The next Mass will take place on May 13, 2027. For the Mass time or more information, call the parish office at 812-944-8283. †