Dr. Greg Bottaro, a Catholic psychologist, was the Pastoral Ministry Days featured speaker, addressing 237 clergy, religious, and laity. They gathered to attend “Restored: Making All Things New,” March 9-11, at Terra Sancta Retreat Center, Rapid City.

In 2012, Bottaro founded the CatholicPsych Institute in New York, and he is the creator of the Catholic Psych Model of Applied Personalism. His work involves establishing a Catholic standard for mental health and training others how to use it. His PMD addresses advocated church ministers strive for healthy and compassionate attitudes toward themselves and others.

The annual gathering brought together parish leaders from all parts of the Diocese of Rapid City. It was conducted under the auspices of the Office of Pastoral Ministries, directed by Sr. Sara Kowal, SCTJM. Her staff and hospitality volunteers guided participants through days of talks, Liturgy of the Hours, Adoration and Masses. The conference also brought to light the gifts of Lakota and Hispanic Catholics. There were hymns and readings in Lakota, Spanish and English. During breaks people could visit booths representing both diocesan ministries and various Catholic vendors.

A key component of the PMD conference was Bottaro’s emphasis between mind, body, and spirit. “What the brain creates, the body believes,” he said. He spoke on a secular philosophy, cartesian dualism, which teaches the mind and body are separate. In addition, much modern thinking leaves out the needs of the soul or relationship to God. According to Bottaro, there is a pandemic of anxiety today and people are concerned with things beyond their own influence. “We are relational by nature and that is an intrinsic part of our being,” he said. “You can’t do this on your own.”

He continued, “You need to set boundaries. What am I responsible for, and what is God responsible for?” Bottaro urged the participants to release burdens that are too large to God, because the Lord can carry heavier loads than we can.

“My hero and the model for everything I do, besides Jesus, is the work and example of St. John Paul II,” he said. According to Bottaro, the late pontiff contributed an understanding of who we are in the world. He gave us a blueprint of the modern person and he loved art, literature, and theater, which formed him as a person. “He found good in everyone,” said Bottaro. “There is more to us than we might realize and St. John Paul II already wrote it out.”

From the many conference talks Jenny Dirk, the parish secretary at St. Mary Church, Lemmon, said she will use this in ministry: “The idea of being in the present, not living in the past or worrying about the future. Just being present with the people we are ministering to and with.”

Amanda Pearson, assistant director of Evangelization, at Blessed Sacrament Church, Rapid City, said, after the conference, “You have to heal yourself before you can help others — especially in evangelization.”

Click here to watch Dr. Greg Bottaro’s presentations