Foster the Good: A Christian Response to Suicide Prevention and Intervention

Realizing that ministry has radically shifted in the past year, the Office for Evangelization and the Office of Social Ministries are presenting a new monthly speaker series:  Foster the Good.  In his Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti (paragraphs 77-78), Pope Francis writes that we are all constantly presented with new opportunities to care for our brothers and sisters.  He encourages us to act locally, out of a sense of fraternity, and as part of a community.  Those that serve the church:  Youth Ministers, Social Ministers, Campus Ministers, and Volunteers, have found themselves pushed in new directions, and this series looks to build up the skills needed to truly serve the Church in this particular period of time.

The last week of each month will feature a lunchtime speaker who will present on a relevant issue or method of ministry.  Following the event, we’ll post online references and guides for how to utilize the topics discussed.  Additionally, we’ll provide training opportunities for people who want to further learn and grow in these areas.

Our next Foster the Good session will be Tuesday, August 24, 2021. This month we will host Deacon Frank Nelson from Holy Rosary, Richmond who will be speaking to us about A Christian Response to Suicide Prevention and Intervention. This talk will identify suicide information and statistics among various groups in the United States and explore pastoral responses toward prevention and intervention.

Click HERE to register in advance!

Sponsored by the Diocese of Richmond and led by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Services, the Foster the Good team is offering ASIST, a two day interactive workshop on suicide first-aid, on November 3rd and 4th from 8:30AM – 4:30PM. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may be at risk of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Although ASIST is widely used by healthcare providers, participants don’t need any formal training to attend the workshop – ASIST can be learned and used by anyone.

Click HERE to register for ASIST.  

Click here to view past Foster the Good Sessions.