The LORD himself goes before you
and will be with you;
He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
-- Deuteronomy 31:8
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Mental Health Ministry: Deacon Ed Shoener Visit and Presentation
Deacon Ed Shoener visited the parish on Sunday, October 19th to present Why Should Churches Get Involved in Mental Health Ministry?
This moving presentation was open to all in the Sacramento community. Deacon Ed Shoener is a founding member of the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers and serves as a permanent deacon at St. Peter Cathedral in Scranton, PA. After losing his daughter to suicide, Deacon Shoener has become a powerful international voice for hope and healing.
Click link right to be taken to a video recording of this presentation.
In God’s Image:
Supporting Mental Wellness Together through
Accompaniment, Education, and Advocacy
A Mental Health Ministry is an essential expression of the Catholic Church’s mission to care for the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. Many individuals and families are quietly struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, or the weight of everyday stress.
By creating a space where mental health is acknowledged with compassion and dignity, we are seeking to reduce stigma and offer meaningful support rooted in faith.
Our mental health ministry not only connects parishioners to resources and trained professionals but also builds a community of accompaniment, prayer, and hope.
It reminds us that we are never alone and that God’s healing grace can be experienced through both spiritual guidance and human connection.
Mental Health Corner
November
Deacon Ed Shoener is the co-founder of the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, an
organization that, among its many forms of outreach, partners with the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network and
ClicktoPray. Each month, on the second Monday, the association hosts a Day of Prayer in connection with the
Pope’s Monthly Prayer Intention. This month, on Monday, November 10, we unite in prayer about suicide — an
intention that deeply resonates within our parish community.
May we be able to give those among us who struggle with suicidal thoughts the necessary psychological and spiritual support to heal their emotional and spiritual wounds.
May they find our parishes places of welcome, listening, and understanding.
May we know how to be close to them
so that we can accompany them without fear and judgement but with compassion and wisdom.
Let us pray that those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts might find the support, care and love they need in their community, and be open to the beauty of life.
ClickToPray Link: https://clicktopray.org/campaigns/340
Pope's Prayer for collaboration between different religious traditions — September/October
Let us pray that believers in different religious traditions might work together to defend and promote peace, justice and human fraternity.
This month, the Pope’s prayer is for collaboration between different religious traditions.
Mental illness is part of the human condition, and people from all religious traditions are affected.
Religious traditions are coming to a more complete understanding of mental illness and see that mental health care is a gift from God that can help all people find healing and hope.
Pope Leo XIV has said, “religion, at its core, is ... a wellspring of healing”.
Pray that all religious traditions will work together to eliminate stigma and promote the healing that comes with
good mental health care.
The Link between Homelessness and Mental Health — August
Access to affordable housing is a critical social determinant of health, and a person’s access to housing can affect - and is affected by - mental health. Experiencing housing instability may contribute to stress, anxiety or other mental health symptoms. The symptoms of a serious mental health condition can also lead to housing instability. Moreover, it’s well-documented that people with mental illness experience housing discrimination throughout the rental process. People with mental illness are overrepresented in the unhoused population, as about 1 in 5 people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. have a serious mental health condition. Homelessness has a profoundly negative impact on mental health, and children are especially susceptible to the psychological effects of homelessness and housing instability. - NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Health https://www.nami.org/advocacy/policy-priorities/supportingcommunity-inclusion-and-non-discrimination/social-determinantsof-health-housing/
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