Catholic Outlook Magazine | Lent & Easter | 2024 Issue

BY ANTONY LAWES
CAUTION: This story contains references to suicide and
grief.
As we prepare ourselves for Holy Week, there are some in our
community who understand better than most the suffering that
Jesus endured, but also how out of darkness and tragedy can
come some form of personal resurrection.
Tony and Barbara* are one such couple.
Members of the Diocese for more than 40 years, their youngest
son died by suicide 15 years ago. Since then they have been
on a long spiritual journey back from the deep despair and
abandonment they felt at the time of his death, to a point now
where they feel more than ever supported by, and involved in,
their Catholic faith.
Nevertheless they say this journey is ongoing: nothing can
make up for the loss they have suffered; and they are still
pushing the Church for better spiritual support for loved ones
affected by suicide.
This is part of their mission to make sure that in the future
other families in the same situation don’t suffer as they did.
They have also set up a bursary that funds a PhD student in the
field of schizophrenia research, which their son suffered from.
Tony says this journey has made him more able to question
God and be angry at God, but also be a more compassionate
person, and someone ultimately strengthened by his faith.
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