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Mike Carotta, Ed.D.

Mike is a recognized religious educator and former Executive Director of the Department of Religious Education at the NCEA. For the last 6 years he has worked on three trauma awareness resources for two national organizations including Whole Hearted a free mental health resource from Catholic Charities USA.

He spent 4 years working with the spirituality of at-risk youth at Fr Flanagan’s Boys Town and also directed the Teaching For Spiritual Growth Summer Institute at Boston College with Harvard’s Dr. Robert Coles.

Mike is a recipient of the national Emmaus Award for Excellence in Catechesis and a visiting instructor in the theology department at Creighton University. His two most recent books are Unexpected Occasions of Grace (OSV) and Teaching For Discipleship (OSV).

Keynote:

Catholic Mental Health Awareness and Accompaniment

A recognized religious educator and former Executive Director of the Department of Religious Education at the National Catholic Education Association (USA), Mike Carotta will lead us in a trauma informed presentation that will assist us to understand how we can walk with those with mental health challenges. His presentation will invite us to consider this question: How might Catholic organizations and parishes demonstrate mental health awareness and how might we as people of faith personally accompany others who have been impacted by life’s painful experiences?

This hope-filled presentation from the author of “Whole Hearted: A Parish-based Trauma Awareness Resource”, will help us to embrace “the “art of accompaniment” which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other (Pope Francis, Joy of the Gospel, 169)”.

Breakout:

Whole Hearted: A Free Mental Health Resource FOR ALL

This breakout introduces a parish-based resource designed to help individuals understand the impact of painful experiences on mental health.  Mike Carotta will delve into “Whole Hearted” which offers helpful information and guides private journal reflections that lead to growth as one works through these personal struggles.