Our Mission is to provide an environment where people living with mental illness can meet, share their experiences and their Catholic faith with others, and to grow spiritually closer in their relationship with God.

It also supports the parents, family members, and friends of those who are supporting a loved one who is experiencing mental illness by providing assistance in finding educational and other support services to aid in their understanding of mental illness.

Our goal is to provide a place to speak out and be heard in a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental environment, where isolation and stigma dissipate as supportive community is created.

The Mental Health Ministry of the Archdiocese of Hartford serves to support, encourage and pray with and for people who live with mental illness. We come together to share our faith life and experiences with one another as we also seek to grow spiritually closer to our loving God.

We are people who strive to follow and imitate Jesus Christ in all we say and do. We are committed to what our Catholic Church believes and teaches about faith and morals in answer to our human search for truth and love and we are eager to share the good news of the Gospel. We offer prayer, and spiritual support and comfort in a group setting.

This meeting is not a group counseling or therapy session. We do not take on the roles of psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors or therapists. We do not provide diagnosis or prescribe medications. If anyone is under the care of a doctor and / or taking medications they need to continue doing so because this group is not a substitute for medical care or counseling.

The taking of any illegal drugs is also a cause for removal from the group. Inappropriate or disruptive behavior, violence or abusive language is not permitted when participating in the group. If such action occurs, the member may be asked to leave the group. During our meetings, we promise to respect one another by listening carefully to what is being said and by not carrying on side conversations.

We pledge ourselves to be open and honest in sharing information with one another. We promise to hold everything said in our meetings in strict confidence and will not share it with anyone outside of our group. The only exception is should anyone look to hurt either themselves or others, the team leader has a mandated obligation in accordance with the law to ensure that the member receives proper help and support.

Thank you for your interest in the New England chapter of Catholic Mental Health Ministries. For questions, please contact Deacon Adam Michaele at [email protected].