Healing Mass to be celebrated May 15 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church
Anyone seeking hope and healing in body, mind or spirit for themselves or someone they love is invited to attend a Mass commemorating St. Dymphna on Monday, May 15, her feast day, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Naperville. The Sacrament of the Sick also will be available for those desiring this special anointing.
"St. Dymphna is celebrated especially as the patron saint of those striving for wellness emotionally," said Susan Kearney, coordinator of the behavioral health ministry at St. Thomas. "But emotional illness also impacts physical and spiritual health so our invitation is to come and join us - no matter whether your illness is physical, emotional or spiritual - and be reminded to hope in God and never lose sight of His presence and love."
A reception in the church gathering area will follow Mass and representatives from community organizations will be available to distribute information about their work and their resources. Among participating organizations will be Linden Oaks Behavioral Health and SamaraCare Counseling. In addition, Jim Kintz will be available for discussion.
It will begin at 7 p.m. at the church, 1500 Brookdale Road.
Kintz, retired after several decades working with a variety of Illinois law enforcement jurisdictions, continues his interest in preventing and resolving domestic violence issues as a volunteer speaker about the topic. Certified as an instructor for domestic violence investigation with the Illinois Police Training Board, Kintz also developed "Protect Your Flock," a program that educates priests in the Rockford Diocese on the dynamics of domestic violence. In 2010 Tri-City Family Services recognized his continuing volunteer activities with the William D. Barth Award.
St. Dymphna, herself, was a young girl - only 17 - when her mother died, and emotional difficulties that plagued her father following his wife's death culminated in the young girl's martyrdom. Subsequent cures and miracles attributed to her resulted in Dymphna's being canonized a saint and many successful treatment centers are named in her honor.
The behavioral health ministry at St. Thomas the Apostle, sponsor of this program, strives to break the stigma surrounding mental illness and to minister to the emotionally/mentally ill and their family and friends with confidentiality and respect through advocacy, prayer, education and support.
For more information about this special liturgy or the behavioral health ministry, contact Kearney, at (630) 355-8980, ext. 108, or at sdkearney@comcast.net.
St. Thomas the Apostle, a parish of the Diocese of Joliet, strives to bear the Good News of God's unconditional love to all generations through worship, faith formation, witness and service. Organized in 1984, the St. Thomas faith community numbers more than 3,400 households of more than 10,750 people. Complete news and information on parish events, guest speakers and special programs is available at www.stapostle.org. For general parish information, please call (630) 355-8980.