This episode discusses mature topics surrounding mental health and includes a mention of suicidal ideation. If you are in crisis, please call, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or text or chat with the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

Sister Josephine welcomes her first guest of Season 2, Christian Bentley, to discuss his experience living with bipolar disorder. Christian shares his journey through the highs and lows of the illness, his struggles with suicidal thoughts, and the stigma surrounding mental health. He emphasizes the importance of self acceptance, faith, and the sacrament of confession in managing his condition. With personal anecdotes and profound wisdom, Christian offers hope and encouragement to others living with mental health challenges.

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. To learn more, click here.

Links:

• Christian Bentley's Instagram
• Pastoral Response to Persons with Mental Illness
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
• Gaudium et spes, "On the Church in the Modern World" encyclical
• Pastoral Response to Persons with Mental Illness
• From “Mean Girl” to Saint, the story of Hyacintha
• Saints who confronted suicidal thoughts
• National Catholic Mental Health Campaign, USCCB Introductory Statements
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (USA): 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text "HELLO" to 741741 https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
• Crisis Text Line (USA): Text "HELLO" to 741741 https://www.crisistextline.org/

This episode is sponsored by Catholic Charities USA. Help Catholic Charities serve your neighbors in need by joining us at www.WeAreThere.US.

Journey to a new depth of hope, even in seemingly impossible circumstances, with Sr. Josephine in her new book HOPE: An Invitation. Available at osvcatholicbookstore.com.

Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Learn more about Sr. Josephine at:
https://nazarethcsfn.org/
https://www.instagram.com/sr_josephine/

Journey to a new depth of hope, even in seemingly impossible circumstances, with Sr. Josephine in her new book HOPE: An Invitation. Available at osvcatholicbookstore.com.

Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Learn more about Sr. Josephine at:
https://nazarethcsfn.org/
https://www.instagram.com/sr_josephine/

Bishop Shelton Fabre, Archbishop for the Archdiocese of Louisville and former chair of the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism (2018 to 2023), sits down with Sr. Josephine for the last episode of Hope Stories season one.

Resources

• Archdiocese of Louisville
• Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

Journey to a new depth of hope, even in seemingly impossible circumstances, with Sr. Josephine in her new book HOPE: An Invitation. Available at osvcatholicbookstore.com.

Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Learn more about Sr. Josephine at:
https://nazarethcsfn.org/
https://www.instagram.com/sr_josephine/

Sr. Josephine Garrett is joined by her parents, Aunt Dee and Uncle Billy, for a moving discussion about loving well, praying through struggle, seeing blessings, and recognizing the awesome gift of God's mercies.

NOTES

• What We Have Seen and Heard: A Pastoral Letter on Evangelization from the Black Bishops of the United States
• Sr. Thea Bowman’s June 1989 Address to U.S. Catholic Bishops
• Demystifying Catholic Terms, with Sr. Josephine

This episode is sponsored by the U.S. bishops' 9 Days for Life Novena
Join the U.S. bishops’ pro-life novena from January 16 through January 24
www.9daysforlife.com

Journey to a new depth of hope, even in seemingly impossible circumstances, with Sr. Josephine in her new book HOPE: An Invitation. Available at osvcatholicbookstore.com.

Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Learn more about Sr. Josephine at:
https://nazarethcsfn.org/
https://www.instagram.com/sr_josephine/

Sister Josephine is joined by her friend and fellow Catholic speaker Chika Anyanwu to talk about life as a missionary, staying authentic while preaching the Gospel, and how her Nigerian roots and immigrant perspective shapes her faith and role within the Church.

Resources:

• Chika's website
• My Encounter: How I Met Jesus in Prayer by Chika Anyanwu

This episode is sponsored by GIA Publications
The Fire This Time: A Black Catholic Sourcebook
Promo Code: HOPE10
CLICK HERE

Journey to a new depth of hope, even in seemingly impossible circumstances, with Sr. Josephine in her new book HOPE: An Invitation. Available at osvcatholicbookstore.com.

Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Learn more about Sr. Josephine at:
https://nazarethcsfn.org/
https://www.instagram.com/sr_josephine/

Sister Josephine shares an intimate, moving conversation with Jennifer Monette about the struggles and hope found through single parenting as a faithful Catholic.

This episode is sponsored by GIA Publications
The Fire This Time: A Black Catholic Sourcebook
Promo Code: HOPE10
CLICK HERE

Journey to a new depth of hope, even in seemingly impossible circumstances, with Sr. Josephine in her new book HOPE: An Invitation. Available at osvcatholicbookstore.com.

Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Learn more about Sr. Josephine at:
https://nazarethcsfn.org/
https://www.instagram.com/sr_josephine/

Sr. Josephine sits down with the parents of Deanna Johnston (previous episode), Deacon Chip and Anne Marie Jones, about their faith journeys to and within the Catholic Church, from the perspective of individuals and as a married couple raising children in the faith. And they share the beautiful witness and steadfast faith of Anne Marie during a period of illness.

Follow Deacon Chip on his blog Tall, Bald, and Called.
Deacon Chip currently serves at The Catholic Church of the Nativity in Bartlett, TN.

This episode is sponsored by GIA Publications
The Fire This Time: A Black Catholic Sourcebook
Promo Code: HOPE10
CLICK HERE

Journey to a new depth of hope, even in seemingly impossible circumstances, with Sr. Josephine in her new book HOPE: An Invitation. Available at osvcatholicbookstore.com.

Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Learn more about Sr. Josephine at:
https://nazarethcsfn.org/
https://www.instagram.com/sr_josephine/

Busy mom of four and Director of Marriage and Family Life in the Diocese of Tyler, Deanna Johnston, reminds us all how God invites us all to give everything to Him, even our messes. Sr. Josephine and Deanna share an honest, enlightening conversation about what it feels like to navigate not "feeling Black enough" and belonging to the Body of Christ.

Deanna's ministry connections:
St. Philip Institute of Catechesis and Evangelization, Diocese of Tyler, TX
Witness to Love
Follow Deanna on X @deannamj131.

This episode is sponsored by The Catholic Theology Show with Dr. Michael Dauphinais, https://catholic-theology-show.castos.com/

Journey to a new depth of hope, even in seemingly impossible circumstances, with Sr. Josephine in her new book HOPE: An Invitation. Available at osvcatholicbookstore.com.

Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Learn more about Sr. Josephine at:
https://nazarethcsfn.org/
https://www.instagram.com/sr_josephine/