THE SANCTUARY COURSE FOR CATHOLICS

ABOUT THE COURSE

How can a church become a sanctuary—a place where individuals living with mental health challenges feel safe, supported, and a sense of belonging? The Sanctuary Course for Catholics was created to inspire and equip communities of faith that are asking this important question. Developed in consultation with mental health professionals, theologians, and people with lived experience, this eight-session study guide explores key mental health topics and examines meaningful ways to offer companionship, support recovery, and promote wellbeing.

Who is it for?

The Sanctuary Course for Catholics is a study guide for small groups, designed to raise awareness and start conversations in local churches regarding mental health. Your group might include:

People with questions about mental health
Mental health professionals with a wealth of knowledge to share
Leaders who want to engage their community in mental health conversations
People supporting loved ones with mental health problems
People living with mental health problems

The Sanctuary Course for Catholics is for anyone who wants to learn about faith and mental health. It requires no previous training or expertise—just a willingness to engage in dialogue with other believers. This course and films address difficult and sensitive topics, and may not be appropriate for a young audience. It is not recommended for people ages 17 and younger.

The Sanctuary Course for Catholics is also available in Spanish! You can find The Sanctuary Course para Católicos (Español) on our resource portal for free.

How do I access it?

You can access The Sanctuary Course for Catholics for free on our resource portal. Simply create an account or login, then get started exploring the course and our other resources.

GO TO THE RESOURCE PORTAL

COURSE STRUCTURE

Coursebook

The coursebook defines key terms, presents relevant research, addresses common questions, and explores important concepts from three perspectives: the psychological, the social, and the theological. This reading, done in advance of group meetings, helps participants connect around the session’s topic using a shared framework and language.

Films

The films elevate the voice of lived experience, emphasizing various aspects of the realities of living with mental health challenges. Mental health professionals, theologians, and church leaders contribute insights, helpful biblical integration, and ideas for community support. Participants watch the films together during group meetings. Note that films include content warnings; some participants may choose not to view certain films.

Also Includes:

Audiobook

LEADER'S Guide

Participant's Guide

Group Guidelines

Film Transcripts

CONTRIBUTORS

Rev. J. Michael Miller

Helena Orellana

Fr. David Songy

Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, CSB – Archbishop of Vancouver, BC
Most Reverend Samuel J. Aquila, STL – Archbishop of Denver, CO
Helena Orellana, PsyD, LCP – Clinical Psychologist, Director of IPS Center for Psychological Services, Divine Mercy University
Harvey Payne, PsyD – Academic Dean, Divine Mercy University
Father David Songy, OFM Cap., STD, PsyD – President and CEO, Saint Luke Institute
Scott G. Hefelfinger, STL, PhD – Assistant Professor of Theology, Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology
Dr. Chi-Chi Obuaya, MRCPsych, MBA, MBBS – Consultant Psychiatrist, Co-Director of the Mind and Soul Foundation

OUR APPROACH

Sanctuary’s resources integrate theological, psychological, and lived experience perspectives. They are developed with the conviction that informed and empathetic conversations about mental health challenges can transform communities of faith.

Informed

Our resources are developed in consultation with mental health professionals, theologians, and people with lived experience—all from diverse denominational, racial, and cultural backgrounds. This allows us to place clinical and pastoral perspectives in dialogue with personal experience and community practices.

Empathetic

Listening to someone’s story can broaden your perspective, reframe your understanding, and awaken your empathy. For this reason, the stories of people of faith with lived experience feature prominently in our resources. At Sanctuary, we believe it is important for individuals with mental health challenges to speak for themselves, and it is equally important for church communities to listen.

PERSPECTIVES

Psychological

Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Psychological perspectives primarily focus on the emotional and relational experiences of people living with mental health challenges. Our content is not intended to produce experts or mental health professionals; instead, it is designed to help you grow in awareness and empathy.

Social

The social perspective focuses on the ways that mental health challenges affect both individuals and communities of faith. Research suggests that meaningful relationships and supportive communities play a key role in recovery. This perspective gives the opportunity to examine unique ways that the Church can support mental health and wellbeing.

Theological

The theological perspective considers the ways that faith can help us understand and respond to the realities of mental health challenges. In particular, we examine how Christians read and interpret the Bible in light of lived experience, and how the Church responds to the call to be a redemptive community where everyone is welcome.

FAQ

To see answers to frequently asked questions, click here.

HOW DO I BEGIN?

The Sanctuary Course for Catholics is available for free on our resource portal. Creating an account is simple, and then you can explore the materials of The Sanctuary Course for Catholics and see how the course can benefit your community.

Getting started with talking about mental health or facilitating The Sanctuary Course for Catholics in your community can feel intimidating, which is why we designed a Facilitator’s Guide specifically for facilitators of The Sanctuary Course for Catholics. This PDF can be found in the downloadable materials for the course on our resource portal. We have also created a quick start page for facilitators on our resource portal. You can check it out here.

GET STARTED WITH THE SANCTUARY COURSE