From June 4 to 6, Saint Luke Institute joined Catholic leaders from across the country and abroad for a first US-based conference of the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers (ACMHM), held at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Themed “Building a Culture of Community: Equipping Leaders for Mental Health Ministry,” the gathering drew clergy, religious, and lay ministers to the nation’s capital to discuss a range of mental health needs in the context of ministry. Though the first US conference, the ACMHM held a first-of-its-kind international gathering in Rome, Italy in November, in which SLI also participated. The experience of camraderie, meaningful dialogue, and resourcing that occured at that event enabled ACMHM to formalize this event in the US.
ACMHM — founded by Deacon Ed Shoener — equips parishes and Catholic communities to raised awareness of mental health needs and to help ministers and laity spiritually accompany those living with mental illness. Its ministers offer presence and connection to resources rather than diagnosis or treatment. As SLI Director of Mission Partnerships and Communication, Marc DelMonico, PhD – who represented SLI at the ACMHM Rome event – remarked, “The opportunity for SLI to continue its partnership with the ACMHM at this event is both natural and providential. As a provider of integrated psychological and therapeutic treatment with spiritual care, SLI is a strong partner in the effort to resource ministers who encounter those with mental illness or needs in their day-to-day work. Our resourcing and expertise begins when their accompaniment opens the door to therapeutic care.”
SLI contributed in two panels where team members gave voice to its integrated model of care and resourcing alongside representatives from Saint John Vianney Center, Divine Mercy University, and the Archdiocese of Vancouver, Canada. SLI President & CEO, Rev. Patrick J. McDevitt, CM, PhD, spoke at a pre-conference session, “Clergy and Religious: Mental Health and Self-Care.” Later, in a breakout panel on “Spiritual Direction vs. Therapy,” Stephen Carroll, PhD, LCPC, and Kathleen Hope Brown, D.Min., Director of Spiritual Care, presented to a standing-room only group how spiritual accompaniment and clinical care differ, and why it is very important for those who have expertise in both areas to understand what role they play and to avoid causing confusion or difficulty for those they serve by uncritically blending the two roles in their work.
Rev. McDevitt further highlighted the value of SLI’s presence, not only for the event, but for its ongoing strategic work as a ministry in service to the life of the Church: “Ministers like these are often the first to notice when someone is struggling. Helping them know and understand the various aspects of a pastoral and professional response to those struggles is vital to their effective ministry. As both church leaders and laity gain greater awareness of the importance of mental health and wellbeing, SLI’s nearly 50 years of credibility makes us a trusted partner as the Church seeks to care for mind, body and spirit together.” Further, he noted, “As SLI builds its long term plan – Healing Hearts, Renewing Hope: 2030 – events such as this highlight creative new avenues of partnership.”
In addition to these opportunities, participants visited an SLI exhibit table to learn about the organization’s clinical and educational services and work. “Our presenters received a lot of follow-up following their events, and many have come to SLI’s table with great interest for collaboration or partnership,” DelMonico said. “We look forward to where the Holy Spirit leads in those valuable conversations.”