Mark your calendar and plan to attend an evening with Deacon Ed Shoener, President of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers. Last summer, our office along with Catholic Charities of Southwest Ohio received a grant to begin working with two Mental Wellness Ministry pilot parishes in the archdiocese. The grant was awarded by the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, and it has truly been a blessing to serve these communities. I meet monthly with the teams at St. Gregory the Great Family of Parishes (Immaculate Heart of Mary, Guardian Angels, and St. John Fisher) and Our Lady of Hope (St. Francis de Sales, Lebanon and St. Philip, Morrow) to plan events and discuss the needs of each parish family. The teams have been completing required training and are preparing to offer support groups and educational opportunities this fall. I have been overwhelmed by the level of commitment of our teams. Their dedication to planning and collaborating with existing ministries to reach those who feel isolated, alone, and abandoned must be commended. In a recent article, I shared events celebrated by both teams during Mental Health Awareness Month.
This ministry was born out of the pain of loss but is bringing so much healing to those with mental illness, caregivers, and survivors of suicide loss. Please plan to attend one of two evenings to learn more about Mental Wellness Ministry. Deacon Ed Shoener, President of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, will be presenting a workshop entitled, “Bridging the Gap: How Faith and Action Can Support Mental Health and Well-Being” on September 11th at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cincinnati and September 12th at St. John the Baptist, Tipp City. I hope to see you there!
Please contact Lisa Averion, laverion@catholicaoc.org to learn more.
