News & Events

Every home a safe haven… that is the goal of Safe Haven Sunday, a movement inspired by the United States’ Bishops 2015 Pastoral Response to Pornography, Create in Me a Clean Heart.¹  The US Bishops recognize that the impact of pornography is far reaching.  In the words of Archbishop Charles Chaput, “Pornography is a problem and is causing great confusion in our culture, marriages, homes and faith communities. Children are the most vulnerable; their brains are still developing and are most impressionable.^”2   

This year participating parishes will be supporting parents in confidently talking with their children about pornography exposure.  The book Confident:  Helping Parents Navigate Online Exposure will be distributed or made avaialbe through an online link.  The book offers a step-by-step conversation guide that includes:

• Information about the prevalence of pornography use today
• A four-step process for discussing pornography with a child or teen
• Scripts for conversing with a child about pornography in the light of biblical sexuality
• Information about porn use versus porn addiction
• A plan for protecting your home and devices

Join us at weekend Masses February 24-25, 2024 to pray together in support of parents, the protection of youth, and the building of safe havens within every domestic church.

Parish Order Form
Bulletin Insert
Parish Implementation Guide

One in four people will be affected by a mental health problem at some point in their lives, yet the stigma surrounding mental health silences many and prevents faith communities from responding compassionately and effectively (The Sanctuary Course for Catholics).  May is Mental Health Awareness Month and May 15 is the Feast Day of St. Dymphna, patron saint of nervous and mental disorders.  Please consider one or more of the following means of providing outreach and promoting awareness in the month of May:

• Pray with Pope Francis on May 13  The Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers (CMHM) partners with the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network and Click to Pray to offer a Monthly Day of Prayer for Mental Health. Each 2nd Monday of the month, CMHM will offer prayers and a blog post, connected to the Pope's monthly prayer intention.  You may pray with us via the Click to Pray app or the Click to Pray website.

• On the feast day of St. Dymphna, May 15, join the Catholic Psychotherapy Association and parishes across the country in offering a Mass intention for those afflicted with mental health issues and for the mental health practitioners who support them.

  • Invite Mental Health Practitioners to attend the mass and receive a blessing. 
  • Host a Resource Fair following the mass or on another date in May. 
  • Find Worship and Liturgy Resources here:  

    • Prayers of the Faithful - National Catholic Partnership on Disability

    • Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers | Worship and Liturgy Resources (catholicmhm.org)

• Distribute St. Dymphna and St. John of the Cross Prayer Cards

  • Saint Dymphna and Saint John of God Prayer Cards | NCPD - National Catholic Partnership on Disability
  • ​​​​​​https://www.thekatiefoundation.org/storedonate.html

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Wear Green Ribbons to promote Mental Health Awareness

• Offer The Sanctuary Course for Catholics in your parish.  The course is available in English and Spanish on  Formed or at: https://sanctuarymentalhealth.org/catholics/. 

• Share information about Mental Health Ministry and consider developing a ministry in your parish.  Learn more at:  https://catholicmhm.org/  (Grant funding is available through the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers to develop lay Mental Health Ministries in parishes, to promote awareness, and to offer outreach.)

• Share the book When a Loved one Dies by Suicide by Bishop John Dolan and Deacon Ed Shoener. 

  • ​​​​​​​Or show the video series at your parish.  The series is available on Formed or at:  https://catholicmhm.org/whenalovedonediesbysuicide

• ​​​​​​​Offer Welcome and Hospitality.  Find guidance here: 

  • ​​​​​​​compassion-in-action.pdf (hhs.gov)
  • reachongoutwithhospitality.pdf (ecatholic.com)
  • How to Be Inclusive and Welcoming | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
  • Supporting People with Mental Illness in your Parish | NCPD - National Catholic Partnership on Disability

• Promote the diocesan initiative to facilitate Access to Mental Health Care

Join Bishop Hanefeldt in praying for the healing all who have experienced abuse by attending the Mass for Healing and Reparation, April 16, 2024.  The Mass will be held at The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 112 S Cedar Street, Grand Island, NE.  

Worship Guide available HERE 

Find 2024 CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH CALENDAR - HERE

FAITH

God speaks to us through his word.  Strengthen your  faith through prayer.

• Pray the Scriptures with Lectio Divina prior to each Mass.  Weekly reflections for Child Abuse Prevention Month are available HERE 

• Create a Trauma Sensitive Faith Environment  in your parish or school.  Learn how HERE 

• Be Present to Others  

• Model Clear Boundaries

• Lighten the Load

Make a meal, run an errand, open a door, or say a prayer for a parent who is over-loaded.  Be aware of signs of stress and offer a small  gesture of hope and kindness to a parent today.



 

• Share Your Story of Hope & Healing
  Be a witness to others of the healing power of Christ.  Share your personal story of hope and healing.  Need inspiration? 

• Start at home. 

• Build Blessing Bags₁

• Participate in  the Mass for Healing and Reparation

•  Wrap ‘em in Love

• Share your Table

• Share Signs of a Safe Program

• Stand Up to Bullying and Abuse

• Shed Light on the Problem of Abuse

• Report Abuse HERE

• Show Respect , Responsibility, & Caring  Created in God’s image all persons are deserving of dignity and respect.   Strive to show respect, responsibility, and caring in all you do.  Learn more HERE

• Provide Safe, Stable, Nurturing  Relationships

• Be Trauma Sensitive

• Stop the Demand

• Change the Channel

• Fast from Social Media

 Pray A Prayer for the Healing of Victims of Abuse
 

 

• Abstain from Sexualized Media

• Fast from “Fast”

• Promise to Protect Pledge to Heal HERE 
• 2022 Fact Sheet HERE
• Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People HERE

Today is the Feast of St. Maria Goretti, Patron Saint of Abused Children.  Please pray for her intercession for the prevention of abuse and the healing of all who suffer its effects.

Dear God,
We ask you to help all those who suffer from abuse. Help them find healing and peace in their life.
May Maria Goretti, who was strengthened by Your Grace, join with us in prayer for healing of all victims of abuse, particularly those abused as children or young adults.
Grant us your Love that we might reach out to them in Your Name with hope in times of trial.
As Maria prayed for her attacker, grant us the grace to pray for the true conversion of all involved with the abuse, that they might seek Your Mercy through prayer and penance.
Loving God, pour into our hearts and lives your healing Spirit, that the sacredness of every human person might be respected and protected as the precious image of God.
Help us to live in the peace which MariaGoretti had found in Christ and in the love of his mother Mary.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer by Diocese of Corpus Christi