Establishment of the Polokwane Diocese Mental Health Ministry

The burden of mental illness and the associated effects has become a problem globally. The Catholic Church has recommended the establishment of a spiritual accompaniment of those affected by mental illness, as well as their families and those who care for them. The support for the care of the mentally ill has been emphasised by Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis and presently, Pope Leo XIV.

Locally, the establishment of the Catholic Mental Health Ministry has been supported by the SACBC, with His Lordship, the Rt. Rev. Bishop MJ Masela in full support of the establishment of this ministry in the Polokwane Diocese.

The main purpose of the Ministry is to provide spiritual accompaniment to those affected by mental illness, and to provide emotional and psychosocial support to those afflicted by mental illness. The other objective is to provide mental health education and promotion to the general community and parishes, and to reduce the stigma associated with having mental illness or having a loved one with mental illness. The other objective of the Ministry is not to offer professional mental health care, but to provide referral pathways to established professional mental health care providers in the communities, for those who are in need of professional care, or are already receiving it.

With the support and leadership of Bishop Masela, the Polokwane Diocese is in the process of establishing the Catholic Mental Health Ministry (CMHM) in the Parishes, with the support of the Parish Priests.

The initial training on the CMHM took place on the 11^th of April 2026, St George’s Hall, Cathedral of the Sacred and was attended by 33 participants from various Parishes. The workshop was facilitated by two trainers from the Catholic Health Care workers Association (CATHCA), Dr Andrea Cortimiglia and Mr Kagiso Moremane, who were instrumental in the establishment of the Klerksdorp Diocese CMHM.

The three Polokwane Diocese health professionals, Dr PJ Mokoena-Molepo and Dr CM Molepo, as well as Ms Mmapula Gege Kgopa, were involved in the organisation of the training workshop.  The three facilitated the mental health workshop for the clergy last year at Mater Dei Pastoral Centre last year, wherein the clergy realised the necessity of Catholic Mental Health Ministry in the diocese.

“The Kingdom of God is amongst and within you”, Bishop Masela said in his opening remarks.

Bishop Jeremiah Masela opened the training workshop with a prayer and blessed the meeting with his presence throughout the day.  “The Kingdom of God is amongst and within you”, Bishop Masela said in his opening remarks. Quoting from the late Pope Francis teachings, “ I want a church that is not confined to a kind of its comfort zone, I want a church that is not simply satisfied with remaining indoors celebrating beautiful liturgies but remains detached from what is happening outside its walls”.

He stated that he would like to see a church where everyone goes out, where everyone opens their eyes and ears to see and hear what is happening in their own surroundings. “How is it possible that we can minister or evangelise in an environment that is not open to these daily social illnesses. The Kingdom of God is in you and amongst you to live this reality; I am going to spend this day getting an idea of what mental health is all about. I think this is the beginning of the process whereby we will have people who will acquire skills that will enable the church to make a difference in society.”

CATHCA delegates, Dr Cortimiglia and Mr Moremane presented well-structured and informative power-point presentations which were easy to follow and understand.

The training was very successful and served as the initial training step towards the establishment of this important Ministry. The plans are in motion to have a follow-up training workshop which will be held at the Mater Dei Pastoral Centre from the 22^nd to the 24^th of May 2026.

It is hoped that the establishment of this Ministry will bring hope to those affected by mental illness.