Saying Goodbye, part of Mariposa International, is returning to Belfast with a very special baby loss remembrance and support service on Sunday June 14.

This is part of a series of services held across UK, Ireland and the USA.  Mariposa International’s core objective is to support people who have lost babies at any stage of pregnancy, at birth, or in infancy.

The organisation was founded in 2012 by Zoe and Andy Clark-Coates who saw a critical lack of support for people who, like them, had gone through baby loss. With more 258,000 babies being lost yearly in the UK alone, the charity needed to be able to offer not only a comprehensive package of befriending and support but also national baby loss remembrance services – called Saying Goodbye Services – for people to join together and remember the children they had lost. 

Fourteen years on, more than 250 services have taken place at Cathedrals and Minsters across the UK, US, and France, and 2026 will see 20+ services being held. 

The service on June 14 will be held in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, at 3.30pm.

This service is for anyone who has either personally lost a baby at any stage of pregnancy, at birth, or in early years, or who has been affected by family members’ or friends’ loss.  Whether the loss was recent or 80 years ago, everyone is welcome to attend.

The services have been extended to welcome anyone who is grieving the fact that they haven’t had children. This may be due to circumstance, infertility, or for other reasons – but all are welcome. Babies and children are also invited to come with their families, as the Saying Goodbye service is a family event for all. 

To read more on the charity, please visit the Saying Goodbye website.