Help for Facing Depression

Rev. John Powers will be speaking on "A Witness to Hope: Depression Recovery" at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish Center in Westfield, MA on October 22 from 9:30 am to 3 pm. Registration begins at 8:45 am. Cost is $15. For more information, call (413) 452-0645 or email frjohn@cpprov.org. Here is an excerpt from an article he wrote regarding this event:

You may find it difficult to believe that a highly functioning Roman Catholic priest would experience the tormenting loneliness of depression. After all, I presumably had faith, theological studies and God on my side. I'd written a number of books on the subject of emotional and spiritual health, been a traveling and radio and television preacher and was even, at one point, accepted into a doctoral program in psychology.

Depression, however, shows no partiality. It's an equal opportunity disease that robs you of the very things you need for a meaningful life: love, friendship, self-worth, faith, work, God and the ability to enjoy the simple pleasures of everyday life.

No one is immune to the mood disorder of depression. No one! Nobody! . . . I've traveled to madness and have not only survived the journey but have returned with enough sanity and graceful serenity to either help some to avoid having to take the trip there or to help them on the road back.