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 13, 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 a reception and 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 community organizations present at the reception will be Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, SamaraCare Counseling, Catholic Charities, Ellie Mental Health, and Lighthouse Recovery. Jim Kintz, ministry chairperson and speaker on domestic violence; Paula Kosin, grief educator; and Diane McQueen and Tony Lyons, instructors in the Mental Health First Aid program also will be available to answer questions.

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 at (630) 355-8980, ext. 108, or at [email protected].

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.