News & Events

Pope Francis Prays for Those with Mental Illness and Victims of Suicide

"I would like to remember our brothers and sisters who suffer from mental illness, and also victims – often young people – of suicide. Let us pray for them and their families, so that they are never left alone, or discriminated against, but instead are welcomed and supported."

Angelus on World Mental Health Day, October 10, 2021

One in four people will be affected by a mental health problem at some point in their lives, yet the stigma surrounding mental health silences many and prevents faith communities from responding compassionately and effectively (The Sanctuary Course for Catholics).  May is Mental Health Awareness Month and May 15 is the Feast Day of St. Dymphna, patron saint of nervous and mental disorders.  Please consider one or more of the following means of providing outreach and promoting awareness in the month of May:

• Pray with Pope Francis on May 8  The Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers (CMHM) partners with the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network and Click to Pray to offer a Monthly Day of Prayer for Mental Health. Each 2nd Monday of the month, CMHM will offer prayers and a blog post, connected to the Pope's monthly prayer intention.  You may pray with us via the Click to Pray app or the Click to Pray website.

• On the feast day of St. Dymphna, May 15, join the Catholic Psychotherapy Association and parishes across the country in offering a Mass intention for those afflicted with mental health issues and for the mental health practitioners who support them.

  • Invite Mental Health Practitioners to attend the mass and receive a blessing. 
  • Host a Resource Fair following the mass or on another date in May. 
  • Find Worship and Liturgy Resources here:  

    • Prayers of the Faithful - National Catholic Partnership on Disability

    • Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers | Worship and Liturgy Resources (catholicmhm.org)

• Distribute St. Dymphna and St. John of the Cross Prayer Cards

  • ​​​​​​​Saint Dymphna and Saint John of God Prayer Cards | NCPD - National Catholic Partnership on Disability
  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​https://www.thekatiefoundation.org/storedonate.html

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Wear Green Ribbons to promote Mental Health Awareness

• Offer The Sanctuary Course for Catholics in your parish.  The course is available in English and Spanish on  Formed or at: https://sanctuarymentalhealth.org/catholics/. 

• Share information about Mental Health Ministry and consider developing a ministry in your parish.  Learn more at:  https://catholicmhm.org/  (Grant funding is available through the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers to develop lay Mental Health Ministries in parishes, to promote awareness, and to offer outreach.)

• Share the book When a Loved one Dies by Suicide by Bishop John Dolan and Deacon Ed Shoener. 

  • ​​​​​​​Or show the video series at your parish.  The series is available on Formed or at:  https://catholicmhm.org/whenalovedonediesbysuicide

• ​​​​​​​Offer Welcome and Hospitality.  Find guidance here: 

  • ​​​​​​​compassion-in-action.pdf (hhs.gov)
  • reachongoutwithhospitality.pdf (ecatholic.com)
  • How to Be Inclusive and Welcoming | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
  • Supporting People with Mental Illness in your Parish | NCPD - National Catholic Partnership on Disability

• Promote the diocesan initiative to facilitate Access to Mental Health Care

Worship Guide

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGUv8gOMByRuNm-tsrE0NQw/streams

FAITH
God speaks to us through his word.  Strengthen your  faith through prayer.

• Pray the Scriptures with Lectio Divina prior to each Mass.  Weekly reflections for Child Abuse Prevention Month are available HERE 

HOPE
Be a light of hope in the lives of others.

• Be Present to Others  

• Model Clear Boundaries

• Lighten the Load

Make a meal, run an errand, open a door, or say a prayer for a parent who is over-loaded.  Be aware of signs of stress and offer a small  gesture of hope and kindness to a parent today.


 

• Share Your Story of Hope & Healing
  Be a witness to others of the healing power of Christ.  Share your personal story of hope and healing.  Need inspiration?  Read Becca’s story HERE 

• Build Blessing Bags₁

• Participate in  the Mass for Healing and Reparation

•  Wrap ‘em in Love

• Share your Table

• Share Signs of a Safe Program

• Stand Up to Bullying and Abuse

• Shed Light on the Problem of Abuse

• Report Abuse HERE

• Show Respect , Responsibility, & Caring  Created in God’s image all persons are deserving of dignity and respect.   Strive to show respect, responsibility, and caring in all you do.  Learn more HERE

• Provide Safe, Stable, Nurturing  Relationships

• Be Trauma Sensitive

• Stop the Demand

• Holy Friday Fasting and Abstinence

• Fast from Social Media

 Pray A Prayer for the Healing of Victims of Abuse
 

 

• Abstain from Sexualized Media

• Fast from “Fast”

• Promise to Protect Pledge to Heal HERE 
• 2022 Fact Sheet HERE
• Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People HERE

 

Every home a safe haven… that is the goal of Safe Haven Sunday, a movement inspired by the United States’ Bishops 2015 Pastoral Response to Pornography, Create in Me a Clean Heart.¹  The US Bishops recognize that the impact of pornography is far reaching.  In the words of Archbishop Charles Chaput, “Pornography is a problem and is causing great confusion in our culture, marriages, homes and faith communities. Children are the most vulnerable; their brains are still developing and are most impressionable.^”2   
READ MORE 
(page 24 of the January / February 2023 WNC Magazine)

Join us at weekend Masses March 5, 2023 to pray together in support of parents, the protection of youth, and the building of safe havens within every domestic church.