Monthly Newsletter Issue #83
 

NEWS FROM GRATIA PLENA
Padre Pio Office Blessing and Open House
Thanks to all of you who took time from your Memorial Day weekend to join us for the blessing and open house for our newest office at 26410 Oak Ridge Drive, Suite 115, Spring, TX 77380. The office was dedicated to St. Padre Pio, who was known the gifts of insight and healing. He opened a hospital called "The Home for the Relief of the Suffering" in the town where he lived and served: San Giovanni Rotondo. May 25th, the day of our celebration and dedication, is also the birthday of St. Padre Pio. He was born in 1887 in Pietrelcina, Italy. We thank all of our donors that made possible this move to a space which allows us to expand our staff size and hours of service for increased flexibility in scheduling for those living in The Woodlands, Spring, Conroe and surrounding areas. 

King David's Men Group
This weekend the King David's Men group will meet for the 200th session. This is a small group for men led by a male mental health professional to address issues of sexual integrity. It offers a confidential and safe setting to facilitate progress in recovery, integrating psychological and spiritual themes. The cost is only $10 per meeting. This group meets at the Therese Office in Sugar Land as well as the Thomas Aquinas Office in the midtown area near downtown. If there is interest, the group would return to meet again also in the Mother Cabrini Office in the NASA area. Contact the office for details. Men, if you need improvement in this area, don't delay.

SPIRITUAL LIFE
The Closing of Easter Season: (Resurrection Sunday to the Ascension of our Lord)
In the gospel accounts, we read that following the crucifixion Jesus made many post-resurrection appearances over a span of several weeks before Ascension (Mark 16, Matt 28, Luke 24 and John 20 & 21). These encounters involved individuals as well as small groups of disciples and to the Apostles. These appearances were in a variety of places in and around the Jerusalem. In all of them, we read that Jesus’ body was in a glorified state but one that bore the wounds of crucifixion. In most of the meetings it took whomever he appears to some time for them to recognize Jesus. These were intimate encounters, with him showing and asking them to view his wounds, sharing meals with them and spending time with them. He taught them about how to interpret the Old Testament concerning the messiah. Christ also assigned the disciples their mission (Matthew 28:19-20): “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

What are some points for our reflection from these appearances of Jesus after the Resurrection? First, we could see that Jesus wants us to study the scriptures, his Word, to learn about God to know who he is and who we are. Second, we could believe that Jesus wants us to be more intimate with him. We could take time with him while exercising, driving to work or school, in front of the Blessed Sacrament before or after Mass or in Adoration. It could be sitting in front of a favorite crucifix, painting or icon in your home. Sometimes we don't even need words or prayers, but just our presence and openness. Third, we could realize that like the apostles, we too have a mission from God to make Jesus known and experienced in the world. We have the ability to evangelize all the time simply by our attitude and disposition as well as by our words and actions. Each person's mission is uniquely given by God. In God’s gift of love he has a plan for every single person that is totally and completely tailor-made. He needs you. We may discern and contemplate what our mission might be, and then begin to take action.

RAISING AWARENESS
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
The month of May has been observed as Mental Health Awareness month since 1949. Every year national organizations like NAMI, Mental Health America, and other affiliates spotlight Mental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and to decrease the stigma associated with mental health disorders. Here are a few staggering statistics about mental health. About 1 in 5 adults (46.6 million) in the U.S. experience mental illness in a given year. Only 41% of adults in the U.S. with a mental health condition received mental health services in the past year. Just over half (50.6%) of children with a mental health condition aged 8-15 received mental health services in the previous year. African Americans and Hispanic Americans each use mental health services at about one-half the rate of Caucasian Americans, and Asian Americans at about one-third the rate.

The 2019 theme is "Fitness #4Mind4Body" to bring awareness to the old adage “you are what you eat.” We learn more and more each with research how a well-balanced diet, a healthy sleep schedule, exercise, intestinal health, and hydration all affect both our mental health and our physical health. There are more and more studies that show the correlation between chronic medical illness and mental disorders. Our bodies function as one unit, and so we need to work on habits that will lead to good mental, physical and spiritual health.  Some of those commonly recommended are: uninterrupted sleep for 8 hours each night, eating 2-3 well-balanced meals per day, drinking at least 3 liters of water per day, learning how to manage stress in a healthy manner, engaging in positive thoughts and conversations, avoiding too much “screen time” especially social media, engaging in more “face time”, visiting a doctor for preventative health and cancer screenings, spiritual practices, volunteering or work that involves human services, and taking some time for self-care every day. All these together can potentially help with our mental health.

Soul Shop
This organization helps bring education and training at the parish level to address suicide, a pro-life issue. Fe Anam Avis, a pastor at a suburban church, began to explore the response of faith communities to suicide in 1999 when three students died by suicide in a seven-month period of time. He found that most congregations were not prepared to address the issue. The first training was in Cleveland (OH), but the movement has spread nationwide.

RESEARCH
Effects of Witnessing Tragedy 
A study was recently published using data gathered by an ongoing longitudinal, epidemiologic study of 942 people who were between the ages of 0 and 17 when they were directly exposed to the 9/11 attacks, children who were below Canal Street in Manhattan during the attacks and/or personally witnessed the Twin Towers fall. These children were compared to a control group of 563 children from Queens not directly exposed to the attacks. The Global Psychiatric Epidemiology Group at Columbia University in New York City and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and coauthors assessed the data for participants 12 to 15 years after the attacks. 

They found a significantly higher incidence of past-year psychiatric disorder and lifetime physical health conditions. People with direct exposure were more likely to have developed Separation Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Marijuana Abuse, any type of Anxiety Disorder, or any type of internalizing disorder, compared with the control subjects. They were also half as likely to be living with a spouse/partner or independently than the control group. The research group is doing follow-up studies that include psychiatric assessments and objective health assessments. 

The conclusion from the researchers highlights the need to develop and implement a comprehensive intervention with trauma exposed children immediately following an event, and to monitor their physical and mental health across their lifespan.

GO THEREFORE
Here are some examples of recent Gratia Plena staff involvement in events and activities outside of the office:

• May 1 -- Lizbeth Barajas presented a class on Postpartum Depression in Spanish for at-risk pregnant mothers at the Bluebonnet Pregnancy Center of the Houston Coalition for Life.
• May 8 -- Dr Ken recorded two segments for the In God's Image Radio Show with host Charleen Katra, who heads the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Ministry for Persons with Disabilities. The program airs every Sunday on KWWJ-AM "GOSPEL 1360" at 5:30 AM, KYOK 1140 AM (Conroe) 6:45 AM, KIKK 650 AM 9:00 AM (CBS Affiliate) and KKHT 100.7 FM "THE WORD" 2:30 PM.

• June 8 -- Lizbeth Barajas will present a class on Postpartum Depression in Spanish for at-risk pregnant mothers.

MONTHLY RECOMMENDATION
Movie of the Month
 

Set in France at the beginning of World War II, this inspiring film narrates the heroic work of Sister Helene Studler, the Daughter of Charity who saved the lives of thousands of French refugees by preventing them from becoming prisoners of the Nazi forces. Among those she saved was the future Prime Minister of France, François de Mitterrand.

Sister Helene was dedicated to the care of orphans and the homeless in France when WWII broke out, and she witnessed the horror and the barbarism of the Nazis who built a concentration camp close to her center. Putting her life in constant danger, she organized an amazing underground network of freedom to save over 2,000 people from death by the Nazis.

This film release commemorates the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Daughters of Charity by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac in 1617. In Spanish with English subtitles, the movie is directed by Pablo Moreno (St. Pedro Poveda and St. Maria Soledad), and stars Assumpta Serna,Luisa Gavasa and Javier Bódalo.