• Become A Member
  • Home
  • Start a Ministry
    • Start a Parish Ministry
    • Start a Diocesan Ministry
    • Ministry Stories
  • Resources
    • Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network
    • When a Loved One Dies by Suicide Film Series
    • CMHM Webinars & Newsletters
    • Resources by Topic & Language
      • Mental Health Ministry Retreat Resources
    • Worship and Liturgy Resources
    • Prayer Resources
    • Spiritual Support Groups
    • Church Documents and Books
    • Testimonials and Reflections
    • Helpful Organizations
    • Legal Liability
  • Training
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Our Charter
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact
    • Media
      • Mental Health Ministry in the Media
      • When a Loved One Dies by Suicide
        • Media Assets
    • List of Ministries
      • Los Angeles Chapter
      • Orange County Chapter
      • San Jose Chapter
      • Hartford Chapter
      • St. Augustine Chapter
      • Chicago Chapter
        • Chicago - About Us
        • Chicago Support and Education
        • Chicago Prayer
        • Chicago Announcements
        • Five Night Grace Series
      • Kansas City Chapter
      • Northeast (Scranton) & North-Central (Williamsport) Chapter
        • The Cathedral of Saint Peter Mental Health Ministry
        • Church of St. Gregory & St. John Vianney Parish MH Ministry
      • Houston Chapter
      • The Saint Labre Community Chapter in Northern Virginia
      • Archdiocese of Seattle Mental Health Ministry
      • Madison Wisconsin Chapter
      • South Africa Chapter
      • Idaho
      • Boston
      • St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
      • Moldova
      • Fall River
      • North Carolina
      • Diocese of Rockford Mental Health Ministry
        • Ministries
        • Feast of St. Dymphna
|||
Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers
  • Contact
Facebook
Search
  • Become A Member
  • Home
  • Start a Ministry
      • Start a Parish Ministry
      • Start a Diocesan Ministry
      • Ministry Stories
  • Resources
      • Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network
      • When a Loved One Dies by Suicide Film Series
      • CMHM Webinars & Newsletters
      • Resources by Topic & Language
      • Worship and Liturgy Resources
      • Prayer Resources
      • Spiritual Support Groups
      • Church Documents and Books
      • Testimonials and Reflections
      • Helpful Organizations
      • Legal Liability
  • Training
  • About
      • Our Mission
      • Our Charter
      • Board of Directors
      • Contact
      • Media
      • List of Ministries
    • Home of the Saint Labre Communitybased in Northern Virginia
      Home of the Saint Labre Community
      based in Northern Virginia
      Walking together in Faith and Fellowship towards mental health recovery
      • About Us Resources News Events Contact Us National CMHM

      • About Saint Labre Community 

        The Labre Community for Adults with Mental Illness was founded in 2018 in Alexandria, Virginia. It provides an alternative to secular support groups by offering supportive prayer/intercession, Christian fellowship, and Catholic/Christian mental health resources.

        As such, the community emphasizes peer supported recovery: growing in healing and holiness through the intercession and fellowship of our “peers” (PIRs=People in Recovery) who also walk the continuous journey of mental health recovery. As a ministry, the Saint Labre Community is not a clinical service, and does not take the place of clinical or psychiatric services, but works alongside more clinical aspects of recovery by offering the spiritual element and the company of others who likewise carry this cross. Our spiritual support group meets on first Saturdays and virtually on third Sundays (see Events page); other activities include healing Masses, retreats, and social evenings.

        In July 2020, The Labre Community of Northern Virginia united itself as a chapter of the Association for Catholic Mental Health Ministers. Contact us via email for more information at [email protected]. You may wish to consider starting a Labre Community in your own parish or diocese; we'd be happy to assist.

        Founding peer member Kirsten Marie Obadal is a Catholic of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, and she lives with a chronic mental health condition. Kirsten is a Certified and Registered Peer Recovery Specialist in the Commonwealth of Virginia and a trainee for the license of Qualified Mental Health Professional. She is devoted to our Blessed Mother as well as to Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, the Patron Saint of Mental Illness.


        Contact Us

        You can contact us via email at [email protected] or on Facebook. For immediate crisis response, call 911 in your area or contact the national suicide hotline: 988 on any device. Or text HOME to 741741.
         

        National Mental Health Crisis Line

        For immediate Crisis assistance, call 988 from anywhere in the United States.

        For someone to talk to, call 1-800-273-TALK.

    • Start a Labre Community in your Parish or Diocese

      • The original Labre Community is based in Northern Virginia, and has joined up as a chapter of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers. The Labre Community offers Catholic peer support services. Peer support is mentoring, fellowship, and supportive prayer and sharing among individuals affected by mental health conditions along the journey of mental health recovery.

        Mental illness is indeed a cross, but you need not bear it alone. The fellowship and support of one’s peers (PIRs–people in recovery) is a vital element of successful and sustained recovery. Recovery is an ongoing task which needs a variety of resources including medical intervention and counseling, but peer support has been demonstrated to be a very helpful resource along the way.



      • Interested in learning more? Contact us at [email protected].

    •  Resources & News

      • Alpha Omega Clinics
        Catholic clinical mental health services
        Read More
      • Eden Invitation
        Eden Invitation
        Creating space to receive the whole person, grow systems of mutual support, and empower for creative discipleship
        Read More
      • Courage International
        Courage International
        Courage members are men and women who experience same-sex attractions and who have made a commitment to strive for chastity. They are inspired by the Gospel call to holiness and the Catholic Church’s beautiful teachings about the goodness and inherent purpose of human sexuality. Through our apostolate, people who experience same-sex attraction receive pastoral support in the form of spiritual guidance, community prayer support, and fellowship.
        Read More
      • Mental Health during the Pandemic
        by Dr. Michael Horne, Arlington Catholic Herald
        Mental Health during the Pandemic
        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.
        Read More
      More News
    • Upcoming Saint Labre Community Chapter Events

      • In-Person Spiritual Support Group Meeting
        Saturday, October 7, 3:30 PM
        In-Person Spiritual Support Group Meeting
        In-Person Spiritual Support Group Meeting 1st Saturdays at 3:30PM, at 307 S. Royal Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
        Read More
      • Virtual Spiritual Support Group Meeting
        Sunday, October 15, 6:30 PM
        Virtual Spiritual Support Group Meeting
        3rd Sundays at 6:30pm, please email to request the link to join.
        Read More
      • In-Person Spiritual Support Group Meeting
        Saturday, November 4, 3:30 PM
        In-Person Spiritual Support Group Meeting
        In-Person Spiritual Support Group Meeting 1st Saturdays at 3:30PM, at 307 S. Royal Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
        Read More
      • Virtual Spiritual Support Group Meeting
        Sunday, November 19, 6:30 PM
        Virtual Spiritual Support Group Meeting
        3rd Sundays at 6:30pm, please email to request the link to join.
        Read More
      svgs<
      Sync to my Calendar Print Calendar Print Event List
      More Events
      • ad hoc-Ask about meetings for the adult children of parents with mental illness. Meetings occur periodically.
    • Videos


      We entrust our mission to Our Lady of Lourdes who is the special patroness for healing.
      May our Lady guide us so that  those who live with a mental illness know that they are surrounded by her and her Son's healing presence
      and remember that they are never alone. 



      The Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers does not provide medical, counseling, or crisis services.
      If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact your local emergency services.


      Please Donate to the Ministry
      Your donation will allow us to grow this ministry and to offer the prayer cards for free.

      Donate Now​​​

      Privacy Policy

      Login
      powered by eCatholic®