Catholic Counseling and Mental Health Ministry Summit

Most Reverend John P. Dolan
Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix
Opening Keynote on Monday

Bishop Dolan brings to his ministry a deep and personal commitment to mental health advocacy. Having lost three siblings, a brother-in-law, and a nephew to suicide, he has become a compassionate voice within the Church for those affected by mental illness and suicide loss. In the Diocese of Phoenix, he has:

• Instituted an annual Mass of Remembrance for Those Who Have Died by Suicide
• Established the Diocese of Phoenix’s first Office of Mental Health Ministry through the generosity and support of the Piper Foundation
• Spoken widely through media and public engagements on the importance of mental health
• Co-authored two pastoral resources published by Ave Maria Press: When a Loved One Dies by Suicide and Responding to Suicide: A Pastoral Handbook for Catholic Leaders

He currently serves as chaplain of the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, continuing to advocate for greater understanding, healing, and pastoral care within the Church for all those impacted by mental health challenges

Kelly Colangelo-Fulford
Director of Catholic Counseling, University of Mary
Afternoon Keynote on Tuesday

Kelly Colangelo-Fulford earned her undergraduate degree from Niagara University and her master’s degree in counseling from Syracuse University. She is currently a doctoral candidate in counselor education and supervision at Divine Mercy University and anticipates graduating in May 2027. Her clinical approach is person-centered and trauma-informed, with specialized training in EMDR, crisis counseling, risk assessment, and suicide prevention. Her dissertation examines barriers to self-forgiveness among college students, specifically exploring the roles of perfectionism, shame, and scrupulosity. Her work also incorporates the Catholic-Christian Meta-Model of the Person to better understand healing, forgiveness, and human flourishing.

Deacon Ed Shoener
President of the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers
Closing Keynote on Tuesday

Ed Shoener was ordained a permanent deacon in 2004 and serves at St. Peter’s Cathedral in the Diocese of Scranton. Deacon Shoener is a founding member of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers and the Catholic Institute of Mental Health Ministry at the University of San Diego.

His daughter, Katie, died by suicide in 2016. Katie’s obituary went viral because it spoke to the needs and concerns of people who live with mental illness. Millions of people read it, and tens of thousands of people from across the world contacted Deacon Shoener. Again and again, he heard from people who lamented that the Catholic Church offered little to minister to those suffering from mental illness and their loved ones. In response, Deacon Shoener co-founded the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers.

The International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers combats mental illness stigma by promoting compassion and understanding and has provided free resources to parishes worldwide and to individuals and families seeking support, education, and community. The association now has over 7,000 members in over 75 countries.

Deacon Shoener, along with Bishop John Dolan, is co-author of the books Responding to Suicide: A Pastoral Handbook for Catholic Leaders and When a Loved One Dies by Suicide (Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, IN).

Panelists and session presenters will be announced December 1.

All events at the Diocesan Pastoral Center unless otherwise noted.

Monday

4:00 PM – Check-In and Exhibits Open
5:00 PM – Mass at St. Mary’s Basilica
6:00 PM – Catered Dinner and Cappella Performance
6:30 PM – Welcome and Keynote: Bishop John Dolan

Tuesday

8:00 AM – Catered Breakfast, Check-In, and Exhibits
8:30 AM – Prayer: Sister Ginger Downey, OLVM
9:00 AM – Opening Remarks 
9:30 AM – Interdisciplinary Panel 
11:45 AM – Catered Lunch  
12:30 PM – Mini Lectures and Round Table Discussions  
3:00 PM – Break 
3:15 PM – Afternoon Keynote: Kelly Colangelo  
4:00 PM – Break 
4:15 PM – Mass 
5:00 PM – Catered Dinner 
5:30 – 6:30 PM – Closing Keynote: Deacon Ed Shoener

To be announced on December 1.

Participants may earn up to 7.5 contact hours.

• Morning Keynote: 1.0 hour

• Interdisciplinary Panel: 2.25 hours

• Mini Lectures and Roundtables: 2.5 hours

• Afternoon Keynote: .75 hour

• Closing Keynote: 1.0 hour

TOTAL: 7.5 hours

Conference Venue
Diocesan Pastoral Center
400 East Monroe St, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Opening Mass
St. Mary’s Basilica
231 N 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004
(walking time from Diocesan Pastoral Center: 2 minutes)

Available Accommodations
Denu Hotel and Spa
1 E Adams St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Walking distance to the Diocesan Pastoral Center - 9 minutes
$145 / night – A limited block of rooms has been reserved for our participants until Feb. 1st.

For information, call 701-355-8318 or email Brenda Tufte (bmtufte@umary.edu).

The nearest airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).