The Healing Journey

October 16, 2023

Dominican Sister of Peace Mauryeen O’Brien, OP was a leader in the Catholic bereavement movement, whose work has helped untold thousands of people over the years. Those who thought there was no hope found hope because of Sister, who died recently at 92 after 74 years serving God’s people.

She is most commonly known for creating the New Day bereavement program used in the Diocese of Bridgeport and hundreds of parishes nationwide to help those who have suffered a loss begin a healing journey.

Her obituary said in part: “She served in Divorce and Bereavement Ministries for over 30 years, was a retreat director, teacher, and administrator in schools in Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois.

Her work with the bereaved will live on through the five books she wrote on dealing with grief and loss and through the “New Day Program,” which is used nationally.” More than 25,000 copies have been printed.

“New Day” is based on a textbook written by psychologist J. William Worden, the foremost authority on grief. Sister Mauryeen., who had decades of experience as a grief counselor, put his work into a Catholic framework and developed “The New Day Journal: A Journey from Grief to Healing.” Sister was longtime coordinator for the bereaved at the Family Life Office of the Archdiocese of Hartford.

Her obituary said: “She earned a bachelor of science in education from Ohio Dominican University and a master of arts in English from University of Notre Dame. Sr. Mauryreen was beloved at Albertus Magnus College, where she served on the Board of Trustees for many years. In 2015, she was awarded an honorary doctorate.

In her tribute, Sr. Anne Kilbride, said: “In all her ministries, she relied on God’s grace as she helped others find their peace. She did this with a listening ear, speaking with kindness and gentleness even when it was difficult, recognizing these gifts were from her loving God.”

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