Parishes encouraged to offer Whole Hearted as youth ministry resource

August 24, 2023

Close-up of a man's hands clasped in prayer. A Bible is open on the table before him.

Recognizing the crucial importance of mental health, the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) is inviting Catholic parishes and organizations to host a seminar, resource session or presentation integrating Catholic spirituality and mental health on a chosen Sunday afternoon or evening in October. To aid in this important effort, NFCYM is encouraging these groups to utilize Whole Hearted, the free trauma awareness resource created by Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA). NFCYM is urging parishes to deliver Whole Hearted as a four-hour Sunday afternoon seminar or across four Sunday evenings in October, either virtually or in person.

Launched in 2022, Whole Hearted integrates spirituality and religious practices with behavioral health. While not intended to be used in place of clinical or professional therapy, Whole Hearted informs participants of trauma’s impact and how one might begin to move forward from it both mentally and spiritually.

This year, a version of Whole Hearted geared specifically for young adults was developed by CCUSA with input from NFCYM. Participant and facilitator guides in English and Spanish and other Whole Hearted resources are available on CCUSA’s website.