Over the last few days, the Mental Health Ministry team called Hope & Wellness Ministry and Michelle Nealon, Joan Mibach, and I attended the first National Catholic Mental Health Conference at the Jesuit Retreat House, Los Altos. It was an excellent conference, and I am sure that I will be preaching and teaching more about what we learned there over these last few days.
A subset of us attended the pre-conference day on Mental Health First Aid Certification. This day was focused on learning the basics of mental health awareness and possible responses to those having a mental health episode. It follows the same basic training technique as the First Aid certification that we are required to take every two years. There we learn the basic responses to a person experiencing a cardiac episode, and learn the role of the first aid responder is to call 911 and then administer short-term help while the paramedics arrive—to bridge the gap to the professional first responders.
In the same way, we are all called as disciples to be first aid trained in mental health – to understand enough about the possible conditions and stresses and bridge the gap to when they seek professional help. Unlike physical sickness, it is hard to “see” someone struggling with mental health, but their illness is actual, and that is why we as a Parish want to learn more about how to help those in need of help.
With our Hope & Wellness ministry, we hope to continue to bring you more information and formation opportunities for more of us to be trained in Mental Health First Aid. We want to ensure that our parish is a stigma-free zone for all parishioners and people in need. Keep an eye for our update in this eBulletin each week. I am very grateful for the team for taking time away to learn these new and important skills.
Speaking of gratitude, I want to thank John Angotti and his friends Jesse Manibusan and Meredith Augustin for a wonderful concert last night. It was sad thatValLimar Jensen had to cancel at the last minute due to covid. It was terrific to have Sr. Rebecca up there sharing the stage as she has brought so much joy to our community through music for 19 years. Tamami, our Choir Director, stepped in at the last minute with her children for a fantastic classical performance. What a special gift they all shared with us. All was inspiring, uplifting, and filled the Church with joy! John Angotti will attend all Masses this weekend, so invite your friends to experience his gift of music along with our choirs, cantors, and musicians.
John will be back on June 14-20 to join Tamami Honma and her orchestra companions in a tribute and fundraiser Concert for Ukraine Refugees on Saturday, June 18. John will also dedicate three days to teaching piano lessons. More information is to come on both of those opportunities.
Speaking of opportunities and holding dates, I wanted to announce that we are bringing back all our major events next year. Our popular Rummage Sale is coming back after two years on September 16-17. The fun Fall Parish BBQ is one not to miss and is a great way to connect with fellow Parishioners after the Summer on September 10. Then we will hold our Auction at Villa Ragusa on February 11. More info is coming on this and other PLG events in June.
It is exciting to see so many of these community-building events back on our calendar and teams of people planning them. We ask you to get involved, help put them on and attend with your family. Email communications@stsimon.org if you’d like to get involved or find out more information.
For those of you with middle school and high school age students who are looking for service opportunities for the 2022-23 school year. Our Children’s Faith Formation team needs teen volunteers and is planning for the Fall, so now is the time to get in touch with Sr. Mary-Han and Christina Wang, who will be taking over Beth Mouer when she retires in June. We welcome Christina to the team!
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan