On August 23, a noteworthy Zoom session focused on the mental health care of the Episcopate and members of the Leadership Conference of Consecrated Life (LCCL-SA) took place, with over 40 participants. The session was led by Rt Rev Bishop John Dolan from the Diocese of Phoenix and Rev Deacon Ed Shoener from the Diocese of Scranton, both from the USA, who shared their expertise in addressing mental health within the Church.
This session was organized by CATHCA in close collaboration with the office of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC). The primary objective was to address the mental health care needs of Church leaders, particularly in light of the challenges and demands of their roles.
The discussion emphasized the importance of integrating mental health care into the broader context of pastoral care, with a special focus on the Catholic Mental Health Ministry. By connecting mental health care with this ministry, the session aimed to equip Church leaders with practical tools and spiritual resources to support their own mental well-being as well as that of the communities they serve.
At the end of the session, participants expressed their gratitude to the two pastoral agents, CATHCA, and the SACBC office for providing this valuable opportunity.