| Workshop will Bring Focus to Parishes’ Responses to Mental Health |
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By Colleen Rowan CHARLESTON—An upcoming workshop will highlight what parishes can do in response to mental health. “Hearts Made Whole: Parish Responses to Mental Health” will be held July 19 at Blessed John XXIII Pastoral Center in Charleston from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The workshop is being sponsored by the diocesan departments of Social Ministry and Faith Formation, Catholic Charities West Virginia’s Parish Social Ministries Office and the Catholic Conference of West Virginia. Michelle Tomshack, executive director of the Department of Faith Formation, said that the workshop will bring awareness to mental illness and give practical applications for ministry with families living with mental illness. “This workshop is a great opportunity for all of us in the diocese to hear of ways to reach out to persons and families suffering with mental illnesses,” Tomshack said. “I hope every parish is represented at this workshop. Our parish communities can learn caring, loving ways to bring Christ’s healing touch to those who most need to experience Christ through our parish communities.” Parish priests and deacons and those involved in parish leadership, such as pastoral associates, catechists, youth ministers and those involved in adult faith formation as well as parishioners are encouraged to attend, Tomshack said. The workshop will feature Rev. Mr. Tom Lambert, co-chair of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability’s Council on Mental Illness and founding member and co-chair of the Chicago Archdiocesan Commission on Mental Illness, who will give the keynote address entitled “A Church Enriched by People with Mental Illness and Their Families.” Rita Sebastian Lambert, founding member and co-chair of the Chicago Archdiocesan Commission on Mental Illness, will present “Spiritual Companioning a Person with a Mental Illness”; and Connie Rakitan, co-chair of the Chicago Archdiocesan Commission on Mental Illness and founding member and co-chair of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability’s Council on Mental Illness, will present “What is Mental Illness (and what it isn’t) and How it Affects the Person and the Families” along with the Lamberts. The three speakers will also lead breakout sessions. The cost is $20 per person or $50 per group of three or more from the same parish. For more information or to register, visit www.catholiccharitieswv.org or contact Mary Haftman-Dailer at mhdailer@ccwv.org.
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