Dcn. Tom Lambert

Dcn. Tom Lambert

Tom is a founding member and currently co-chair of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Commission on Mental Illness, and advisor to Faith and Fellowship, Oak Park, Ill. Tom served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the State of Illinois’ National Alliance on Mental Illness including a 2 year term as President. Tom co-founded and co-chaired the National Catholic Partnership on Disability’s Council on Mental Illness located in Washington D.C., served on the Board of Pathways To Promise, and served on the Board of NAMI-Faithnet.

Tom was ordained in 1983 and currently serves at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Parish in Chicago. Tom’s wife Rita is a spiritual director. Their oldest daughter has a mental illness. For the past 30 + years they have advocated for people with mental illness and their families in the community and for better pastoral awareness and care within the Church. They have led workshops across the country educating dioceses, priests, deacons, parish staff, religious, and laity about mental illness. Tom authored the manual “Mental Illness and Faith Community Outreach,” and wrote “Justice Issues and Catholic Social Teaching.” Tom provides a website of pastoral initiatives and resources for people with mental illness and their families at www.miministry.org.