Southern Nebraska Register
St. Michael Parish in Lincoln held “A Night of Renewal” March 14, bringing a Catholic worldview to questions about mental health.
The women’s conference highlighted two mental health therapists, Ashley Montag and Katie Bardsley, who spoke about healing and the renewal of the whole person. Dozens of women listened to the presenters speak about the integration of the whole person in the pursuit of mental health.
“The pursuit of renewal is a lifelong process,” Bardsley said.
She began the presentation with the biblical story of the raising of Lazarus in the Gospel of John, chapter 11:32-44. She noted that the passage illustrates Jesus’ response to sickness and death.
“Mental health is a big topic,” Montag said. She stressed that people can openly address mental illness, or “we can shut ourselves down.”
She went on to speak about two things which present themselves in addressing mental health and illness: curiosity and shame.
“Curiosity opens us up to the Lord,” Montag said. “It gives us the desire to lean into Him.”
Bardsley said one should not give in to shame regarding mental illness.
“When we are shamed, it takes curiosity away,” she said. “Shame is a feeling that we are flawed,” she added.
The two women went on to speak about ‘the parts of the whole’ regarding mental health – mind, body, heart, and soul. They began with the scriptural basis for each part, and provided listeners with ways to address issues that arise in each of these areas in relationship to mental health.
Part of the presentation included breakout sessions that allowed each of the participants to discuss issues in their lives and how they affect their relationships with others, and the Lord.
