Anyone living with illness in mind, body or spirit and those who care about them are invited to attend a special liturgy celebrating St. Dymphna at 7:00 p.m. Monday, May 12, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville. The Sacrament of the Sick also will be available for those desiring this special anointing.

The liturgy will be followed by refreshments and a Resource Fair in the church’s Gathering Area where representatives from community organizations will be present with resource materials and to answer questions about their work.

“St. Dymphna is celebrated especially as the patron saint of those striving for wellness emotionally,” said Susan Kearney, behavioral health coordinator 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.”

Among the various agencies and groups participating in the Resource Fair are Catholic Charities; Domestic Violence Abuse Advocate; EEHealth; Ellie Mental Health; Fox Valley Institute; Grief Support at St. Thomas; Lighthouse Recovery; Mental Health First Aid, St. Thomas; NAMI DuPage; SamaraCare Counseling; Sarah’s Inn and The Centered Life Therapy.

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 celebrative liturgy, strives to break the stigma surrounding emotional or 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 and reception or the behavioral health ministry at St. Thomas, contact Kearney (630) 355-8980, ext. 108

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 3,000 households and over 9,000 registered members. 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.

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