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Partnership with the Pope's Worldwide Prayer NetworkMaking the connection between the
Pope's monthly prayer intention and mental health. -
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Prayer for Mental Health Ministry
We pray that mental health ministry becomes an integral ministry in the Church that is available in every Catholic parish and community. We pray for the elimination of the stigma and discrimination that people living with a mental illness encounter.
The Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers (CMHM) partners with the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network and Click to Pray to offer a Monthly Day of Prayer for Mental Health. Each 2nd Monday of the month, CMHM will offer prayers and a blog post, connected to the Pope's monthly prayer intention.
Please pray with us via the Click to Pray app or the Click to Pray website.
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Join the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers
Join for free. Get access to our newsletters, webinars, networking, mentoring, and ministry formation and training.
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June 9th, 2025: Day of Prayer for Mental Health
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Pope's Prayer is that the world might grow in Compassion.Let us pray that each one of us might find consolation in a
personal relationship with Jesus, and from his Heart, learn to have compassion on the world.
Pope Leo XIV asks us to pray this month that the world might grow in compassion. “He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted” (Isaiah 61:1).God wishes to make his compassion present to those who live with mental health challenges in and through us, his disciples. We are invited to make our own God’s compassionate gaze upon those who live with mental illness and work to relieve the suffering they endure because of stigma and fear.Pray that we always see in those who live with a mental illness the image and likeness of God and that they will find consolation and compassionate support.
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Prayer Announcements for your Parish Bulletin
Click on the button below to get an editable bulletin insert with the Monthly Mental Health Prayer.
Help spread the word about mental health ministry in your parish!
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Monthly Mental Health Blog on the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network
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Blog: Compassion and Mental HealthPress Summary: Compassion can help heal the wounds of stigma that those of us living with mental illness experience.
I live with a mental illness called generalized anxiety disorder. The compassion that I experience from my relationship with Jesus and my family, and friends helps me to know that I am not alone in my struggles.
I’ve lived with chronic anxiety since childhood. It became very challenging after difficult experiences during my graduate theology studies and first work experience following graduation. I quickly felt overwhelmed without a way out. The stigma and discrimination related to mental illness also contributed to my isolation. I would be standing in a room full of people but felt very much alone. I lay in bed at night while negative thoughts played like music on repeat in my mind for hours. The physical, mental and spiritual exhaustion was very real.
In those moments, it felt like God was distant or didn’t understand me. But I now know that this thought is a lie –for Jesus took on every human experience as he suffered on the Cross, even the incredible sense of painful isolation those of us with mental illness can experience when he said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
I realize now that I am not alone. Jesus is always there, to listen and to heal. In these moments, I can also begin to extend compassion to myself as I take steps to improve my mental health and well-being. As a community of believers, our Church must move towards a collective response of greater compassion for people who live with mental illness. A parish-based mental health ministry can be an important way to offer compassionate support.
Let us pray that we may each grow in greater union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as we seek to heal and be healed of the wounds of isolation, stigma, and rejection that all too often characterize the experience of those of us living with mental illness.
Julia Sauter
Glenmary Home Missioners
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
https://glenmary.org/
We extend our thanks to Julia Sauter for her blog contribution for this month’s prayer. Julia serves with Glenmary Home Missioners serving rural America as the Development Associate for Grants and Special Programs.
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The Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers supports Catholic parishes and dioceses in establishing mental health ministries. Mental health ministries provide vital spiritual accompaniment for people experiencing mental illness, as well as those who care for them.
We work to eliminate the stigma and discrimination that people living with a mental illness encounter in the Church and in human society.
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The mission of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network is to pray and act upon the challenges of humanity and the mission of the Church identified by the Pope in his monthly prayer intentions.
Click To Pray is a digital community of prayer where you can share the intentions of the Holy Father and pray together with others. The community builds bridges between generations, where we all pray as one.
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Watch the Monthly Pope Video
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Upcoming 2025 Prayer Intentions
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Pope's Prayer Intentions Booklet for 2025
JUNE - That the world might grow in compassion. Let us pray that each one of us might find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from his Heart, learn to have compassion on the world.
JULY - For formation in discernment. Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.
AUGUST - For mutual coexistence. Let us pray that societies where coexistence seems more difficult might not succumb to the temptation of confrontation for ethnic, political, religious or ideological reasons.
SEPTEMBER - For our relationship with all of creation. Let us pray that, inspired by Saint Francis, we might experience our interdependence with all creatures who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.
OCTOBER - For collaboration between different religious traditions. Let us pray that believers in different religious traditions might work together to defend and promote peace, justice and human fraternity.
NOVEMBER - For the prevention of suicide. 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.
DECEMBER - For Christians in areas of conflict. Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation and hope.
To Read the Pope's Prayer Intentions for 2026 Click HereNote: October 2026 will be for Mental Health Ministry. Let us pray that the mental health ministry be established throughout the Church, helping to overcome the stigma and discrimination of persons with mental illnesses.
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Past Monthly Mental Health Day Prayers and Blogs
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January 2024 - For the Gift of Diversity in the Church
February 2024 - For the Terminally Ill
March 2024 - For the New Martyrs
April 2024 - For the Role of Women
May 2024 - For the Formation of Religious and Seminarians
June 2024 - For those Fleeing their Own Countries
July 2024 - For the Pastoral Care of the Sick
August 2024 - For Political Leaders
September 2024 - Climate action is needed to protect mental health
October 2024 - For A Shared Mission
November 2024 - For those who have lost a child
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January 2023 Educators - Mental Health Day Prayers
February 2023 Parishes - Mental Health Day Prayers
March 2023 Victims of Abuse - Mental Health Day Prayers
April 2023 - Culture of Peace and Non Violence
May 2023 - Church Movements and Groups
June 2023 - Abolition of Torture
July 2023 - For a Eucharistic Life
August 2023 - For World Youth Day
September 2023 - For People Living on the Margins
October 2023 - For the Synod
November 2023 - For the Pope
December 2023 - For Persons with Disabilities
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- December 2022 Volunteer Organizations - Mental Health Day Prayers - Blog
- November 2022 Children Who Suffer - Mental Health Day Prayers - Blog
- October 2022 A Church Open to Everyone - Mental Health Day Prayers - Blog
- September 2022 Abolition of the Death Penalty - Mental Health Day Prayers - Blog
- August 2022 Small Business - Mental Health Day Prayers - Blog
- July 2022 The Elderly - Blog
- June 2022 The Family - Blog
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Just as Christ took all our suffering upon Himself, the Catholic Church sees Christ in those who live with mental illness and has consistently prayed for and ministered to them. Pope Francis lifted up these important efforts in November 2021 by offering his monthly prayer intention on behalf of those experiencing depression and burnout.
- Vatican News Article about November 2021 Prayer Intention
The Pope Video - People who suffer from depression
- People who suffer from depression - script
- Press Release-People who suffer from depression
- People who suffer from depression infographic
- Survivors of Suicide Need Our Loving Support, Click to Pray, November 2021
- Mental Health Ministry: Pastoral Care for People Suffering from Mental Health Challenges, Click to Pray, November 2021
- Some Saints Lived with Mental Illness - Vatican News, November 2021
- Mental Health: A Personal Testimony of Assisting Depression, Bishop John Dolan, Vatican News, November 2021
- L'Ossservatore Romano - Oggi in primo piano - Le persone che soffrono di depressione, esaurimento e malattie mentali al centro dell’intenzione di preghiera del Papa per il mese di novembre
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Pope Francis Prays for Those with Mental Illness and Victims of Suicide
"I would like to remember our brothers and sisters who suffer from mental illness, and also victims – often young people – of suicide. Let us pray for them and their families, so that they are never left alone, or discriminated against, but instead are welcomed and supported."
Angelus on World Mental Health Day, October 10, 2021
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Join the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers
Join for free. Get access to our newsletters, webinars, networking, mentoring, and ministry formation and training.
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