Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland and St. Ambrose Parish in Brunswick collaborated on a daylong conference Feb. 21 that focused on accompaniment and mental health. St. Ambrose has a robust mental health ministry known as CARES, Concerned. Alert. Responsive. = Everyone. Safe.
“You are not Alone” was the topic of the event, which attracted nearly 250 in-person attendees and another 50 who participated virtually. Keynote speaker was Bishop John Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona, who shared his personal story of dealing with mental health issues.
The bishop lost three of his eight siblings to suicide. His compassion for those afflicted with mental illness led him to establish a mental health ministry in his diocese after being installed as the fifth bishop of Phoenix in August 2022. The ministry started in December 2022 and emphasizes education, accompaniment and advocacy.
Bishop Dolan also celebrates an annual Mass of remembrance for people who died by suicide. The first liturgy was a month after his installation in Phoenix. In addition, he has appeared on various media platforms and accepted speaking engagements on the topic of mental health.
The bishop wrote two books, “When a Loved one Dies by Suicide” and “Responding to Suicide: A Pastoral Handbook for Catholic Leaders.” Both were published by Ave Maria Press.
When asked what was the biggest takeaway from his presentation, the bishop had a one-word reply: “Hope.”
Dobie Moser, senior director of mission and ministry for Catholic Charities, facilitated the conference. He has a master’s degree in counseling and a doctor of ministry in leadership. Moser serves with the CYO athletics staff and the Diocesan Social Action Office staff. He and his wife Lisa lost a son to schizophrenia.
her presenters were Dr. Dave Margolius, director of the Cleveland Department of Public Health; Father Bob Stec, St. Ambrose pastor; Jonathan Clemente, a certified peer support specialist at Catholic Charities; Dr. Molly Wimbiscus, a child and adolescent psychiatrist; Fredy Robles, chief program officer for Catholic Charities; and Lisa Moser, Dobie Moser’s wife, who is a special needs and early childhood educator who has served as a family mentor to immigrant families, has accompanied many individuals and families affected by mental illness and volunteers with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
Dr. Margolius, who previously was a primary care physician at MetroHealth, talked about how the COVID 19 pandemic exacerbated mental health issues and caused isolation. Even before that, he said a teen mental health epidemic had taken hold. Societal issues contributed to the growing mental health crisis, he explained. The Cleveland Health Department is addressing these issues, including working with the homeless to help them find permanent housing, not just the opportunity to stay in a shelter.
Addressing the infant mortality and childhood poverty rates are two other health crises Dr. Margolius and his staff are addressing. He said a tax credit was available to parents after the pandemic that helped decrease childhood poverty. However, Congress did not renew the credit in 2023 and the rate jumped again to 2019 levels, as did the infant mortality rate.
“It’s easy to amplify the bad noise about cities because resources are gone and people are suffering,” Dr. Margolius said. “Spend some time with them. Learn about what’s happening.”
He said Catholic Charities has been instrumental in helping, specifically mentioning the immigrant/refugee resettlement populations.
It’s been a rough couple of weeks, Dr. Margolius said, as he finished his department’s budget. They’re also keeping an eye on what happens in Washington, D.C., since that could cause a ripple effect that could require staffing reductions.
“You give me hope and we need it,” he told the conference attendees.
“Who in this world is outside of God’s mercy?” Dobie Moser asked the group. The answer was unanimous: No one.
Reflecting on the conference theme, Moser reminded attendees that it’s better to share the pain with others. “We can solve this together. We need to do our part to make things better.”
Father Stec shared the genesis of the parish’s CARES ministry, noting it began a decade ago.
“It’s a pastor’s concern, not a response. What’s needed is a sense of awareness and concern,” he said. Father Stec recalled how a woman from the parish noticed she hadn’t seen another parishioner in a few weeks. She asked him if he knew anything about her situation. After a couple of weeks, they reached out and discovered the woman hadn’t left her house for a month and was dealing with depression and isolation, so they sprung into action to help her.
“How do we work together to create a seamless effort/garment of care?” Father Stec asked. “The solution is for people to step up, do more and work together to ensure that every child of God has what he or she needs.”
He gave some examples of the ministries at St. Ambrose, including a food program that ensures people have a hearty meal and can connect with the volunteers who deliver the food. That accompaniment is important, he stressed.
There also was a panel discussion featuring Clemente, Dr. Wimbiscus, Robles and Lisa Moser during which each shared their story and how they are working to help others suffering with mental health challenges or their families and friends.
Clemente talked about his personal struggles with substance abuse before experiencing psychosis and how he can mentor others in similar situations. He mentioned some of the resources available to accompany people, including Magnolia Clubhouse.
Dr. Wimbiscus said recovery is a process and the medical professionals must work as a team. She sees her work as a calling, not just a job. She quoted St. Luke: “To whom much is given, much is expected. I consider it a privilege to see children every day. It is important work. And I appreciate having a community to share in this work,” she said, noting how important it is to think beyond the walls of an office while working to reduce suffering daily.
Robles spoke about the support and services Catholic Charities offers to those struggling with mental health and substance abuse challenges. “The clinical work is important, but we also have to create a space for them to rebuild their lives,” he said, noting social connectedness is a key component. Catholic Charities addresses that with its family centers and other resources. “Accompaniment is directly connected to respecting people’s dignity. They need to be heard, understood and valued. At Catholic Charities, there is no division. It’s us.”
Lisa Moser said whenever she begins accompanying someone, she first contacts the professionals. The road to recovery is long, but three things are key: people, places and purpose, she explained. “People must accompany. There is a need for a safe place to live and it’s important to have purpose to give meaning to your life,” she said. It may seem like things aren’t changing, but she said that isn’t always true.
She shared the story of a woman whose daughter lived several states away and she was suffering with mental health issues. After being unable to connect with her daughter, the woman decided to fly out to try and visit her. They did not connect and the mother felt very alone. Lisa and Dobie Moser called someone who contacted the mother. “They talked and prayed and it made a big difference because she had someone who cared. The situation with her daughter didn’t change, but the mother had someone to accompany her. Sometimes I have to embrace humility and realize I need to reach out to others and to learn.”
She also shared this advice: “Hope is a powerful antidote to despair. Just being present is an action of hope. This steady presence is an act of hope showing you are not alone. Accompaniment may not cure the person or make a big difference in their situation, but it lets them know they are not alone. In his last week, my son’s psychiatrist told me, ‘Your son suffers profoundly.’ I agreed, but said, ‘He’s not alone.’”