Pastoral Ministry Days ‘Restored: Making All Things New’

From the Office of Faith Formation

Every day we witness the growing struggle of individuals battling mental health issues like depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction. It’s a reality that touches every corner of our lives — whether at home, in the workplace, within our schools, or in our communities.

Did you know that 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. lives with a mental illness, and 1 in 8 is currently prescribed an antidepressant? Moreover, a staggering 50% of Americans have faced an untreated mental illness at some point in their lives. These figures don’t just impact people outside of a life of faith but also affect the individuals we serve in our parishes and can even affect those serving in some leadership role. You may recall hearing that Bishop James Conley from the Lincoln Diocese took a leave of absence for a year to address his mental health. These realities highlight the urgency of our conversation about mental health and the importance of clergy, lay leaders, teachers, and parents being aware of the growing resources available to us from a Catholic perspective.

Hosted by the Office of Faith Formation, the annual Pastoral Ministry Days conference will be held at Terra Sancta Retreat Center, March 9-11. The conference is open to all but targeted to those involved in parish ministry. The topic for this year’s conference is, “Restored: Making All Things New,” and will feature presentations from Dr. Greg Bottaro, a Catholic psychologist and the founder and Executive Director of the CatholicPsych Institute. The two-day conference will provide tools for church ministers seeking renewal in their own mental and spiritual well-being, equipping them to serve others more effectively from a place of wholeness, strength, and grace.

Dr. Greg’s institute aims to “provide services and resources based on the integration of faithful Catholic anthropology with sound psychological science to help people become who God created them to be.” The approach taken by the institute combines faith and psychology, emphasizing personalized mentorship to transform an individual’s daily challenges.

Bottaro’s personal story has shaped his approach to psychology. The psychologist grew up in a nominally Catholic family. The divorce of his parents during his teenage years deeply affected him. He went off to college feeling “completely unbalanced.” At Boston College, Bottaro studied St. John Paul II’s “Love and Responsibility” under renowned philosopher, Dr. Peter Kreeft. The book transformed his understanding of love, marriage and human happiness and compelled him to want to give his life away in service to others. Subsequently, Dr. Bottaro entered religious life as a Franciscan friar with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in New York, where he began his studies in psychology. His vocational discernment eventually led him away from religious life to pursue marriage and his doctorate in psychology. He met and married his wife Barbra and is now the father of seven.

PMD 2025 promises to offer a rejuvenating experience for ministers that will hopefully reach beyond simply those participating: to their families, parishes, and anyone else they serve. We hope you’ll consider joining us for this unique opportunity.