Welcome to the April 2026
Mental Health Ministry (MHM) Connection
Dear Friends of Mental Health Ministry,
As we enter these final days of Lent and step into Holy Week, we remember that Christ walks with us through every part of the human experience—sorrow, waiting, and the joyful promise of new life. For many, this season mirrors our own emotional and spiritual journeys, reminding us that God meets us tenderly in both struggle and hope.
Holy Week invites us to notice:
- Holy Thursday: The healing power of accompaniment.
- Good Friday: God’s presence in our suffering.
- Holy Saturday: The quiet spaces of waiting.
- Easter Sunday: The truth that light and renewal always have the final word.
- The courage to ask for help.
- The return of hope after a long season of grief.
- A relationship mending.
- A new sense of purpose taking root.
- A ministry expanding to meet real human needs.
If this season feels heavy for you or someone you love, our Mental Health Ministry is here to walk with you through support, prayer, and connection. You are not alone.
May the Risen Christ fill your heart with peace, courage, and renewed hope this Easter.
Walking together,
Mary Permoda
Pastoral Power in Action: Wonder, the Heart, and Mental Health
New Initiative to Form Mental Health Professionals Rooted in Church Teaching
Written by Katie Yoder
Congressman Greg Stanton's Faith Leader Breakfast
"Partway through the meeting, Congressman Stanton gave a special shout-out. As a member of the Catholic Church, he expressed deep gratitude for the bishop’s commitment to making mental health a true ministry of the Church, including providing services specifically designed for those facing mental health challenges, inspired in part by his own family's experience." - Gloria Gomez Torres, CARE Campus Manager
This Month's Highlights...
Education
Mental Health First Aid Training
Tips for Practicing Self-Care with Bipolar DisorderAccompaniment
Spirit in the Desert: Veterans and First Responders
Wesley United Methodist Church: Community Healing & Health Fair
2026 Creation SummitThe Peace in the Storm Project
Advocacy
International Mental Health Advocacy WebinarA Space for Faithful Action: Join the Monthly Mental Health Ministry Advocacy & Action Collaborative
Catholic School Pilot Program
Highlights from Pilot Program CounselorsMental Wellness
5 Relaxing Activities for SleepPartner Newsletters
Mental Health First AidAnd more!
MENTAL HEALTH MINISTRY QUARTERLY NETWORK MEETINGS
Mark your calendar for the next quarterly meeting!
Friday May 15, 2026, 10-12 Diocesan Pastoral Center
Come prepared to share what you are doing in the area of accompaniment, i.e., small groups, etc.
EDUCATION
FROM LETY...
ACCOMPANIMENT
FROM RICHARD...
Spirit in the Desert
Veterans and First Responders:
The Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree, Arizona offers a welcoming place where people of all backgrounds—religious or non-religious—can find renewal, healing, and personal transformation. The center hosts retreats that provide a supportive environment, including trauma workshops, helpful resources, and compassionate conversations specifically for Veterans and First Responders.
For more information, contact Mike Wold at michael_w_wold@msn.com or (651) 687-9767. Mike is a U.S. Navy Veteran and a parishioner at Our Lady of Joy Catholic Church in Carefree, where he leads the Military Veterans Ministry. He also hosts occasional “meet and greet” coffee gatherings and can connect Veterans with a variety of helpful resources.
You can also learn more about the retreat center by visiting this website:
Community Healing & Health Fair
2026 Creation Summit
Addressing Human Dignity and Peace on Earth
Join us on the 63rd anniversary of Pacem in Terris as we raise awareness of how to Care for God’s Creation. You will have the opportunity to participate in panels and small group discussion related to environmental concerns, stewardship, human dignity, and more! Topics include Migration & Creation & Local efforts to address poverty.
The Peace in the Storm Project
Caring for a loved one can also be a long-term journey and no less challenging. Anchored in scripture, reflection, Catholic tradition and the sacraments, and prayer, The Peace in the Storm Project offers individuals and groups the opportunity to reflect on specific, spiritual and theological questions that might arise within the heart of caregiving and life with chronic illness and pain ("Why me, God?" "Does God care?" "Why believe if I'll just keep on suffering?"). See the flyer for more information.
For more information about upcoming events, scroll down to the bottom of this Flock Note to access the Mental Health Calendar. Feel free to share your events for the upcoming months to Itzhel at icaballero@dphx.org and we will add to our collective calendar.
ADVOCACY
FROM BRIAN...
International Mental Health Advocacy Webinar
4/9/26, 8-9am AZ Time
Mental Health Ministry in the Catholic Church is built on education, accompaniment, and ADVOCACY!
Join Brian Cannon, Advocacy Program Manager at Diocese of Phoenix, and Lisa Averion, Executive Director of the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, for a practical, faith‑based webinar on Catholic mental health advocacy—from individuals who want to make a difference, to parish coalitions, civic partnerships, and public policy.
Join Brian Cannon, Advocacy Program Manager at Diocese of Phoenix, and Lisa Averion, Executive Director of the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, for a practical, faith‑based webinar on Catholic mental health advocacy—from individuals who want to make a difference, to parish coalitions, civic partnerships, and public policy.
Date: April 9, 2026
Time: 8-9AM AZ Time (11AM-12PM EST)
****This webinar is pastoral/advocacy-focused and not a clinical resource; no diagnosis/treatment will be provided
A Space for Faithful Action: Join the Monthly Mental Health Ministry Advocacy & Action Collaborative
Mental health concerns continue to touch our parishes, families, and communities. Many people want to help—but need a place to learn, collaborate, and turn concern into faithful action. The Mental Health Ministry Advocacy & Action Collaborative exists to meet that need.
This monthly, one‑hour gathering led by Advocacy Program Manager Brian Cannon brings together parish leaders, professionals, ministry volunteers, and community partners to strengthen mental health advocacy and ministry through prayer, learning, and coordinated action.
What to Expect
Third Tuesday of Every Month
12:00–1:00 PM
Beginning April 21
Midday meetings allow parish staff, working parishioners, and retired participants to engage more consistently. Partial attendance is always welcome, and meetings are recorded with brief follow‑up summaries shared afterward.
First Meeting Login Information
Microsoft Teams Meeting
This monthly, one‑hour gathering led by Advocacy Program Manager Brian Cannon brings together parish leaders, professionals, ministry volunteers, and community partners to strengthen mental health advocacy and ministry through prayer, learning, and coordinated action.
What to Expect
- Welcome & Prayer (5 min)
Grounded prayer led by a parish‑based participant. - The Power 20 (20 min)
A guest speaker offers a focused 10‑minute presentation, followed by facilitated discussion. - Project Round‑Up (5 min)
Brief updates on current advocacy and ministry initiatives. - Local Ministry Perspectives (15 min)
Participants share needs, gaps, ideas, and perspectives from parish and community life. - Action Planning & Closing Prayer (10 min)
Concrete next steps are identified, with a commitment to shared leadership and subsidiarity.
Third Tuesday of Every Month
12:00–1:00 PM
Beginning April 21
Midday meetings allow parish staff, working parishioners, and retired participants to engage more consistently. Partial attendance is always welcome, and meetings are recorded with brief follow‑up summaries shared afterward.
First Meeting Login Information
Microsoft Teams Meeting
Meeting ID:
278 943 941 222 23
Passcode:
ev7dj7y6
Whether you bring expertise, experience, or a listening heart, your presence matters. We invite you to join us as we build a faithful, collaborative response to mental health needs—rooted in prayer and oriented toward action.
278 943 941 222 23
Passcode:
ev7dj7y6
Whether you bring expertise, experience, or a listening heart, your presence matters. We invite you to join us as we build a faithful, collaborative response to mental health needs—rooted in prayer and oriented toward action.
For more information about upcoming events, scroll down to the bottom of this Flock Note to access the Mental Health Calendar. Feel free to share your events for the upcoming months to Itzhel at icaballero@dphx.org and we will add to our collective calendar.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL PILOT PROGRAM
The Office of Mental Health Ministry attended the teacher Spring In-Service at St. Theresa Catholic School. Teachers gathered and were provided with resources (and a beautiful breakfast) to make their classroom successful. We provided Mental Health resources and information on Education, Accompaniment and Advocacy. Pilot Program updates were shared and connections were made.
The Office of Mental Health Ministry contracts with Catholic Charities Community Services to provide clinical (9 interns and 3 counselors) and wrap around services to 9 Catholic schools.
This month our Catholic School Counselors Monica, Angelica and Santa, along with counseling appointments, have been presenting on social skills, including kindness, friendship, care of self, psychotherapy tools for self-regulation, using a Catholic integration based on the Creation story and the human body, its parts, relevance as a gift from a loving God, and how to take care of it.
We provide services in these schools:
- St. Catherine - just added!
- St. Agnes
- Most Holy Trinity
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glendale
- St. Jerome
- St. Louis the King
- St. John Vianney, Goodyear
- St. Matthew
- Bourgade Catholic High School
For more information about upcoming events, scroll down to the bottom of this Flock Note to access the Mental Health Calendar. Feel free to share your events for the upcoming months to Itzhel at icaballero@dphx.org and we will add to our collective calendar.
RESOURCES
Resource Links
Mental Health Counselors and Therapists List
PHOTO GALLERY
Witness to Hope Conference
Mary Permoda and Brian Cannon presenting on Mental Health at Immigration Witness to Hope Conference
Brophy Prep and Xavier HS Advocacy Club
The Brophy Prep and Xavier HS Advocacy Club students gathered together for a student-led Immigration conference on Saturday March 21st. Topics included witness stories, understanding the impact of immigration in our daily & work lives, and how to put our faith in action. Richard DiCarlo was asked by Maggie Lauder from Office of Religious Studies to participate and share some of his experiences when he was a Phoenix police officer who had to weigh issues & balance community safety & criminal actions in dealing with the vast number of immigrant communities.
Photina Open House
Photina Center for Catholic Counseling: A collaboration between the Diocese of Phoenix and the University of Mary
Mental Health First Aid: Training City of Mesa
The MHFA Adult training took place at the City of Mesa Main Library for city employees and was facilitated by instructors Penni Scott (showing) and Lisa Bautista.
NAMI Breakfast
Mental Health Ministry attended the annual NAMI National Alliance On Mental Health breakfast
Axiom Care
Accompaniment Manager Richard DiCarlo visiting Axiom Care
Mental Health First Aid: Crosier Village
MHFA Retreat at the Crosier Village for the Priests and Staff
St. Dymphna, patron saint for those with a mental illness. Pray for us.
