Emmaus Companions Newsletter - March 15, 2024
Hello Everyone,
It seems as though Lent just bgegan and now here we stand, with Holy Week and Easter just a little over a week away. As these Lenten days wind down it can be helpful for those of us who live with mental health challenges, or who provide care and support for loved ones who do, to recall the ways that Christ draws near to us, and accompanies us in and through our most difficult experiences.
To this end, our Emmaus Support mental health ministry is very excited to be hosting a special Mental Health Way of the Cross at Holy Trinity parish next Friday, March 22 at 7:00pm. In addition to this, St. Vincent de Paul parish in Weyburn has asked permission to offer this same service at the same date and time. It has been a scramble to pray about, write. and edit a new form of this ancient devotion, but it has truly felt like a work of the Holy Spirit bearing fruit and giving voice to the experiences of all who live with or support loved ones with mental health challenges.
This is especially poignant as our diocesan family has itself experienced the recent loss of a dear staff member who struggled with mental illness for many years. As we grieve, it is a reminder to all of us how important it is for the Church to be a part of conversations around mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and other vital supports.
Peace and God Bless,
Deacon Eric
"While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him...they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them." - Luke 24:15-16;28-29
Emmaus Support Group:
If you care for a loved one with mental health challenges and feel you could benefit from the support and prayers of peers with a similar lived experience, use the link below to find out how to register for our next meeting.
From The Emmaus Support Blog:
Building Resiliency and Finding Grace in the Dark
It can be a challenge to be aware of God’s presence, activity, and nearness, even on our best days. For those grappling with a mental health challenge, whether it’s an acute, situational issue or a chronic, long-term condition, confidence in God’s nearness and care can be fleeting. Feelings of isolation and uncertainty that accompany mental health struggles are often exacerbated by the additional fear that God has abandoned us in our most pressing time of need.
Impact of Faith on Mental Health | EWTN News In Depth December 8, 2023
Studies show that faith can improve mental health. Catholic psychologist Melinda Moore unpacks how faith helps us find resilience, help, and healing in mental illness. Hosted by Montse Alvarado, EWTN News In Depth welcomes guests in a discussion of current events in the Church, politics, and culture, all through the lens of the Catholic faith. This show is about finding out who we are as people and as Catholics, and how we can confidently live our faith in the world. It is produced by EWTN News.
What to Expect When It Comes to Grief and Suicide Loss
by Dr. Melanie Badali, RPsych
Grief can make you feel lonely and lead you to isolate from others. Connecting with people who have experienced a similar loss can provide a sense of understanding and solidarity. Support groups, both in-person and online, can offer a space for sharing coping strategies and mutual support.
Grief can make you feel lonely and lead you to isolate from others. Connecting with people who have experienced a similar loss can provide a sense of understanding and solidarity. Support groups, both in-person and online, can offer a space for sharing coping strategies and mutual support.
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