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Home of the Saint Labre Community
based in Northern VirginiaWalking together in Faith and Fellowship towards mental health recovery -
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About Saint Labre Community
The Labre Community for Adults with Mental Illness was founded in 2018 in Alexandria, Virginia. It provides an alternative to secular support groups by offering supportive prayer/intercession, Christian fellowship, and Catholic/Christian mental health resources.
As such, the community emphasizes peer supported recovery: growing in healing and holiness through the intercession and fellowship of our “peers” who also walk the continuous journey of mental health recovery. It is not a clinical service, and does not take the place of clinical services, but works alongside more clinical aspects of recovery by offering the spiritual element and the company of others who likewise carry this cross. The spiritual support group meets on alternate Saturdays and Sundays (see Events page); other activities include healing Masses, retreats, and social evenings.
As of July 2020, The Labre Community of Northern Virginia has united itself as a chapter of the Association for Catholic Mental Health Ministers. Contact us via email for more information at [email protected]. You may wish to consider starting a Labre Community in your own parish or diocese.
Founding peer member Kirsten Marie Obadal is a Catholic of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, and she lives with a chronic mental health condition. Kirsten has completed training in the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Peer Support Specialist, and is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is devoted to our Blessed Mother as well as to Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, the Patron Saint of Mental Illness.
Contact Us
You can contact us via email at [email protected] or on Facebook. For immediate crisis response, call 911 in your area or contact the national suicide hotline: 1-800-273-8255. Or text HOME to 741741.
National Mental Health Crisis Line
For immediate Crisis assistance, call 988 from anywhere in the United States.
For someone to talk to, call 1-800-273-TALK.
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Start a Labre Community in your Parish or Diocese
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The original Labre Community is based in Northern Virginia, and has joined up as a chapter of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers. The Labre Community offers Catholic peer support services. Peer support is mentoring, fellowship, and supportive prayer and sharing along the journey of mental health recovery.
Mental illness is indeed a cross, but you need not bear it alone. The fellowship and support of one’s peers (PIRs–people in recovery) is a vital element of successful and sustained recovery. Recovery is an ongoing task which needs a variety of resources including medical intervention and counseling, but peer support has been demonstrated to be a very helpful resource along the way.
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Interested in learning more? Contact us at [email protected].
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Saint Labre Community Resources & News
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What St. Thérèse of Lisieux Can Teach Us About Mental Health: Psychologist Offers Catholic Perspecti
To the casual observer, everything is just fine with Margaret. She’s intelligent, energetic and charming. Colleagues notice that she has an edge at times, but who doesn’t? Yet those people very close to Margaret experience far more than an edge. They experience sudden rage, hostility, accusations and demands that make it very difficult to stay nearby. Quite ironically, however, people remaining close to her is exactly what Margaret wants.Read More -
The IPS Center for Psychological Services is committed to providing high quality mental health care from a Catholic Christian worldview of the person, which allows us to take into account your needs on a biological, social, psychological and spiritual level.Read More
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Our Mission: To promote and inspire transformation in the heart of the Church, by healing and equipping God’s people for the New Evangelization. This mission is fulfilled in the very heart of the Church, helping people activate the fullness of their sacramental graces, while transforming their lives.Read More
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RPSV is a nonprofit organization founded in 2011 to support adults with mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness issues across Northern Virginia. RPSV operates five drop-in Recovery Centers (located in Annandale, Arlington, Merrifield, Reston, and South County Alexandria) which serve ~9,000 adults annually, many of whom use our services many times throughout the year. Our oldest participant is 84, and ~35% of those we serve are veterans. Our programs are free to the public.Read More
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Upcoming Saint Labre Community Chapter Events
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Saturday, August 13, 3:30 PM2nd and 4th Saturdays at 3:30pm, at 307 S Royal St., Alexandria, VA, 22314Read More
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Sunday, August 21, 6:30 PM1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, 6:30pm EST For zoom links write to [email protected]Read More
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Saturday, August 27, 3:30 PM2nd and 4th Saturdays at 3:30pm, at 307 S Royal St., Alexandria, VA, 22314Read More
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Sunday, September 4, 6:30 PM1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, 6:30pm EST For zoom links write to [email protected]Read More
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ad hoc-Ask about meetings for the adult children of parents with mental illness. Meetings occur periodically.
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Videos
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