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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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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. You may pray with us via the Click to Pray app or the Click to Pray website.
Prayer for Mental Health Ministry in the Church: 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.
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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 livingwith 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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Sign up for the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers Newsletter or Become a Member
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Become a member of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers
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March 13th, 2023 - Day of Prayer for Mental Health
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Pope's Prayer For Victims of Abuse
We pray for those who have suffered harm from members of the Church; may they find within the Church herself a concrete response to their pain and suffering.
This month Pope Francis asks us to pray for victims of abuse who have suffered harm from members of the Church. The mental health impacts caused by the trauma of abuse are wounds to the body of Christ. We pray that as a Church we will be compassionate listeners and have the courage to examine the difficult truths of the abuse that has occurred among us, by us, and to us. Bring to us the infinite grace of your Divine mercy so that we can be instruments to heal one another and safeguard against future harm.
Monthly Day of Prayer for Mental Health
(Click here to read the Monthly Day for Prayer for Mental Health on the Pope's Prayer Network)
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The Blog:
Mental Health Ministers Listen, Pray and Act
A parish based mental health ministry can help provide concrete responses to those who have suffered from abuses in our church. We know that abuse harms the whole person: mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. We also know how healing it is to be listened to when we are in pain. Such holy listening only occurs when someone sees the need and acts on it.
Pope Francis has said, “I urge you to work diligently and courageously to make known these wounds, to seek out those who suffer from them, and to recognize in these people the witness of our suffering Savior. … This is the road we all must travel: bishops, religious superiors, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, catechists and lay faithful. Each member of the Church, according to his or her status, is called to take responsibility for preventing cases of abuse and to work for justice and healing.”
Lay mental health ministers who participate in a parish mental health ministry can reach out and provide timefor prayerful listening and witnessing. Mental health ministers can be a pathway for those who have suffered to be heard. Then, mental health ministers can help the Church enact the concrete responses that the victims of abuse request. A parish based mental health ministry can help make our church into a true sanctuary, preventing cases of abuse and working for justice.
Margery Arnold, Catholic Mental Health Minister, Irvine, California
Board Member, Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers
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Bulletin Announcements for your Parish Bulletin
Use the attached sample below to help spread the word about mental health ministry in your parish for this month's prayer intention.
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2023 Prayer Intentions
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JANUARY For educators We pray that educators may be credible witnesses, teaching fraternity rather than competition and helping the youngest and most vulnerable above all.
FEBRUARY For parishes We pray that parishes, placing communion at the centre, may increasingly become communities of faith, fraternity and welcome towards those most in need.
MARCH For victims of abuse We pray for those who have suffered harm from members of the Church; may they find within the Church herself a concrete response to their pain and suffering.
APRIL For a culture of peace and non violence We pray for the spread of peace and non violence, by decreasing the use of weapons by States and citizens.
MAY For church movements and groups We pray that Church movements and groups may rediscover their mission of evangelisation each day, placing their own charisms at the service of needs in the world.
JUNE For the abolition of torture We pray that the international community may commit in a concrete way to ensuring the abolition of torture and guarantee support to victims and their families.
JULY For a Eucharistic life We pray that Catholics may place the celebration of the Eucharist at the heart of their lives, transforming human relationships in a very deep way and opening to the encounter with God and all their brothers and sisters.
AUGUST For World Youth Day We pray the World Youth Day in Lisbon will help young people to live and witness the Gospel in their own lives.
SEPTEMBER For people living on the margins We pray for those persons living on the margins of society, in inhumane life conditions; may they not be overlooked by institutions and never considered of lesser importance."
OCTOBER For the Synod We pray for the Church, that she may adopt listening and dialogue as a lifestyle at every level, and allow herself to be guided by the Holy Spirit towards the peripheries of the world.
NOVEMBER For the Pope We pray for the Holy Father; as he fulfils his mission, may he continue to accompany the flock entrusted to him, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
DECEMBER For persons with disabilities We pray that people living with disabilities may be at the centre of attention in society, and that institutions may offer inclusive programmes which value their active participation."
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Past Monthly Mental Health Day Prayers and Blogs
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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 - Mental Health Day Prayers - Blog
- June 2022 The Family - Mental Health Day Prayers - 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
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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
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Vatican News About Mental Health
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- Press release about November 2021 prayer intention for people who suffer from depression
- Vatican News shares Pope Francis' November 2021 intention
- Article from L'Osservatore Romano: L'Osservatore Romano - Mental Health - November 2021
- Some Saints Lived with Mental Illness - Vatican News, November 2021
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- Mental Health: A Personal Testimony of Assisting Depression, Vatican News, November 2021
- Pope Prays for those with mental illness and victims of suicide - October 10, 2021 Angelus
- Message of the Holy Father to the participants in the second National Conference for Mental Health - August 2021
- Moldavia, sostegno psicologico a chi fugge dalla guerra - Vatican News, April 2022
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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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