On September 11th and 12th, Deacon Ed Shoener from the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers visited our archdiocese. He met with priests and community members, shared his story, stressed the importance of mental health ministry in the church, and provided resources that are being used globally. The Mental Wellness Ministry Teams, Our Lady of Hope and St. Gregory the Great, gathered with Deacon Ed prior to the community event on September 11th to share their vision and mission for Mental Wellness Ministry. It was a wonderful opportunity to gather and ask questions as they prepare to launch support teams this fall.
September was Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and our pilot parishes organized Survivors of Suicide Loss Masses at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cincinnati and St. Philip, Morrow. Deacon Dave Shea shared a beautiful homily at both masses that gave comfort and peace to all who attended. He closed by saying, “This is our hope, as we fix our eyes on Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and receive the incredible gift of Himself in our Eucharist, trusting in His great love and mercy. If we can do that, we can celebrate the gifts our loved ones shared with us in their short lives. We hold on to the hope that the promises given to us by Christ are promises already being realized by our loved ones. And we also live in the hope that these same promises, the victory Christ won over death, will one day be our victory too.”
Currently, our office is working with three additional families of parishes to expand Mental Wellness Ministry in the northern part of the archdiocese. Through additional funding by the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers and support from Archbishop Schnurr, we are in the initial stages of planning. Mental Wellness Ministry provides comfort, healing, and accompaniment for those who have or care for loved ones with mental illness.
