For many families, a first‑trimester loss at home brings not only profound grief but also an overwhelming amount of uncertainty. In the midst of emotional and physical pain, parents often find themselves unsure of what practical steps are available to them or how to honor the dignity of their child’s life. Too often, couples share that they simply didn’t know where to turn or how to find the support they needed. Out of a desire to meet that need with compassion, clarity, and tangible help, our parish is forming a new ministry dedicated to accompanying families through the logistical and emotional realities of a first‑trimester loss at home.
This new ministry is lead by:
Brandi Glover, Natural Family Planning Resource
& her Husband, Dylan
bglover.spiceyourlife@gmail.com
And supported by:
Olivia Bailey, Communications & Media Coordinator
communications@stignatius-stmary.org
If you are a couple facing an impending miscarriage, you may contact Brandi directly. Your situation will be kept completely confidential. Her direct line is 603‑280‑4971, or you may call the parish office and use extension 230.
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Hello! We are Brandi and Dylan Glover — many of you know us from the second pew at the 9 AM Mass. We’re grateful to share a ministry that has grown from our own experience of losing a baby at 11 weeks in 2020. In the midst of grief, we found ourselves trying to navigate practical decisions we felt unprepared for, and we’ve since met many families who felt the same. That need for clarity, dignity, and support is what inspired this ministry. Stars of Heaven provides free aid kits for families experiencing a first‑trimester loss at home. These thoughtfully assembled kits, sourced from Heaven’s Gain, help families care for their loss in a dignified way. Kits are available through my teaching office and through the parish. Our parish has also designated a special resting place in the cemetery for these little ones, where remains can be buried with reverence.
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The name is inspired by the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast day holds deep meaning in our story. As the patroness of unborn children, she has been a source of comfort for us. Since beginning this ministry, we have been entrusted with the names of more than 40 babies, and we pray for them and their families each night. Please reach out if we can honor your baby as well.
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Communal burial services will be offered on a periodic schedule (likely every few months). While the schedule is still being finalized, families will not need to wait for support. After a kit is used, parents may arrange a confidential time with Brandi to have the kit retrieved, and the remains will be placed in our designated columbarium space until the next communal service. Families who prefer to keep their kit at home may do so and bring it to the service when the time arrives.
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There is no cost for the aid kits themselves. This ministry is supported entirely by donations, and thanks to the generosity of our parish community, we are able to provide every kit at no charge.
Families may, however, need to purchase the vault in which the kit is placed before burial. We are currently sourcing these at the most affordable price possible. The ministry will cover the cost of the communal memorial stone at the burial site, where families may choose to have their baby’s name listed; the engraving itself may carry a small cost for families who wish to add a name.
Families who prefer a private cemetery plot for their baby are welcome to choose that option; in that case, the family would purchase their own plot. Families will never be asked to pay for anything beyond these personal choices.