News - January 2021

Lifting Families Together (LFT) has been organized to operate exclusively for charitable purposes, including, but not limited to improving the quality of life for children with health issues in the Houston Metropolitan area.

Established in 1954 by philanthropist Ima Hogg, is the area’s longest serving mental health education and advocacy organization focused on shaping the mental health of people and communities in the areas of children and education, integrated health care, veterans, and community education. We actively work to replace stigmas about mental illness with compassion and proper treatment. Our work: Links people to mental health services Provides education and training for the community Removes barriers to mental health care Facilitates change in systems Advocates for legislative solutions Addresses the vast need for public mental health services Links people to mental health services

For this new edition of The Deacon’s Mic, I’m honored to talk with Deacon Ed Shoener, from the Diocese of Scranton. Ed created a new and vital ministry five years ago, when he wrote candidly — and movingly — about the suicide of his 29-year-old daughter. He is the co-editor of a new book by Ave Maria Press, “Responding to Suicide,” which presents powerful personal testimony from Catholics who have lost loved ones to suicide. It also offers concrete pastoral ideas to help clergy accompany those who are coping with the aftermath.