News - August 2020

Faith and Fellowship is called to follow the example of Jesus by bringing an awareness of God’s presence and care to people who experience mental illness, and to provide for them a welcoming sense of belonging through the formation of communities of faith. Faith and Fellowship groups consist of 10-15 adults including approximately equal numbers of persons with mental illness and volunteers from local churches. They meet semi-weekly as partners in prayer and socialization. For information, contact Connie Rakitan at [email protected]

In a world turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic, Michael Horne offers a balm of gentle help and calm normalcy. As a licensed clinical psychologist and director of clinical services for diocesan Catholic Charities, Horne, 42, supervises counseling, medical and other programs, and still sees a few therapy clients on the side.

Sacred phrases, known as Mantrams, include ancient forms of Christian repetitive prayer used by the Desert Fathers. Jill Bormann, Ph.D., R.N. research scientist at the VA San Diego Healthcare System has established that slow, daily repetition of Mantrams reduce stress, focuses attention, deepens sleep, and increases one’s patience. In my experience, regular and frequent use of a mantram places one’s spirit exquisitely in the Sacrament of the Present Moment.