Barbara Zahner

Barbara Zahner

Diocese of San Jose, CA

Barbara is a founding member of Mental Health Ministry in the Diocese of San Jose. Barbara is also a Board-Certified Chaplain with the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. She has worked in hospital and hospices, specializing in palliative care and behavioral health. Barbara is also a trained Spiritual Director. Following the deaths by suicide of three members of her former parish in March 2015, Barbara began  Out of the Wilderness, a suicide bereavement support group for those who experienced grief from the death of a loved one by suicide. Using a grant from the Catholic Institute for Mental Health, Barbara worked with the pastor and staff of her current parish, St. Francis of Assisi Church in San Jose to initiate 3GEN+, a parish-based Mental Health Ministry. 3GEN+ focuses on the mental, emotional, and spiritual health of Three Generations: Teens, Parents and Elders. The mission of 3GEN+ is to educate, advocate, and accompany those affected by mental illness. Barbara collaborates with leaders from other parishes in the Diocese of San Jose to help them launch Mental Health Ministries. She also works closely with NAMI FaithNet of Santa Clara County and she serves on the task force for Suicide Prevention and Intervention for Santa Clara County.

In earlier life, Barbara founded an advertising and PR firm. She also served as founding Executive Director of Sacred Heart Community Service, a non-profit agency that serves the economically poor with food, clothes, housing, education, immigration, and health care.

In 1968, Barbara married her college sweetheart Richard, whom she met at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. They have four adult children and nine grandchildren. Barbara holds an MA in Pastoral Ministries with an emphasis on Spirituality from Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California. She also was granted an honorary PhD from Santa Clara University for Public Service. Barbara’s deepest desire is to serve God where most needed.