The Northwest Valley Near-Death Experience support group will resume its monthly meetings in December in the West Valley.

Father Nathan Castle, O.P., returns as the featured speaker at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, during the group meeting at Rio Vista Recreation Center, 8866 W. Thunderbird Road, in Peoria.

Castle, O.P. is the author of the “Afterlife, Interrupted” book series. For 27 years, his ministry has been helping souls move from a therapeutic transitional afterlife plane to the next more expansive, joyful one, according to a press release. During the Dec. 17 meeting, Castle will share stories of this ministry among other afterlife experiences, and debut his latest book “Afterlife, Interrupted Book Three: Please Let Me Explain.”

His book emphasizes the power of these life-altering examples to make readers more conscious, connected, and loving. It dispels misconceptions about deceased loved ones being stuck and provides support for those navigating grief.

Castle was a featured speaker at the International Association of Near-Death Studies (IANDS) Conference in Washington, D.C. this past fall and IANDS group meetings around the U.S. He has a podcast: “The Joyful Friar” where he details the stories in his book and interviews NDE experts.

NW Valley IANDS meetings represent a local support group affiliated with the International Association of Near-Death Studies, of Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1978, IANDS is a non-sectarian organization committed to providing a safe space and supporting people who have had near-death experiences or other spiritually transformative experiences.

A $5 per person offering on Dec. 17 is suggested to help cover the venue fee.