Cancer Support Ministry Offers Valuable Place for Understanding and Support

Many of us have been impacted in some way by cancer. Whether we have supported a loved one who fighting against cancer, or if we have received a cancer diagnosis ourselves, it is lifechanging. Understanding this wide-ranging impact, a group here at Saint Michael Parish is here to stand with those affected by cancer. The Cancer Support Ministry, which meets weekly, is for those currently fighting cancer and their family members and caregivers. The ministry is also open to those who are in remission.

Ministry leader Kenny Broussard is a cancer survivor himself. Diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma in 2014, he has been in remission since August 2018. For many years, Kenny co-facilitated this ministry with Marlene Lopp — unfortunately, Marlene passed away on July 19, 2021.

When Kenny was fighting cancer, he never even thought of seeking out a support group. He knows this ministry would have helped him during those dark times.

“We want to provide a safe place for people to talk and hash it out,” he says. “Sometimes, it can be hard to talk to family because they don’t know what you are going through.”

The group meets in a hybrid format, between in-person and Zoom. The meetings are structured like those in a faith-sharing group — at the beginning, members focus on a spiritual reading, video, or discussion, then they discuss their health updates or share anything else that is on their hearts. They meet for six weeks and take one month off. The meeting times vary, but this is their structure throughout the year.

“I think people have the misconception that we whine about cancer together,” Kenny says. “That couldn’t be further from the truth. We are here to support each other while learning more about our faith and growing together.”

Kenny Broussard leads the Cancer Support Ministry.

Recently, a volunteer started hosting tai chi sessions for the group on Saturdays at 2 p.m. This has been a way for group members to add some stretching and light exercise to their lives.

Over the years, Kenny has seen husbands and wives attend group meetings together. They come in lost, with a lack of communication. Often, they both walk away better able to talk about a cancer diagnosis. Kenny wants those impacted by cancer to know this group is available to them. It’s an opportunity to be with others who have an understanding of what you may be going through.

“We meet people where they are at, so we can practice our faith together and be there for one another,” Kenny says.

Especially being a man, Kenny knows this group would have been so good for him when he was going through cancer. He often didn’t have the right words to talk about his feelings.

“Just having people I could relate to would have helped quite a bit,” he says.

The group relies on the intercession of Mary and St. Peregrine, the patron saint of those with cancer. Kenny gets a lot of great feedback from group members on what a blessing the group has been.

“We have people come who are afraid, joyful, and everything in between,” Kenny says. “We don’t answer what we can’t answer, and we don’t ask why. We take what we can and learn from it. That’s the main thing.”

There are many cancer support groups out there — but the SMP group is unique in that members can openly talk about their Catholic faith. Kenny has had people from all over the United States ask to join the meetings via Zoom.

Anyone who is or has been directly impacted by cancer is invited to join the Cancer Support Ministry. For more information, please contact Kenny Broussard at kdsi4@msn.com or 360-561-8228.

Kenny Broussard leads the Cancer Support Ministry.