IMBISA, the Interregional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa, held a workshop for priests on mental health and self-care at Padre Pio Retreat Centre in Pretoria, South Africa, from 27 to 31 October 2025.
28 priests from all 9 member countries of IMBISA were led by Sr. Yvonne Sanyanga HLMC, from Zimbabwe and Fr. Admar Alberto Pena from Angola, both experts in psychology, to reflect on the importance of mental health awareness and self-care for a healthy priestly life.
Working in groups according to the Conversation in the Spirit method, the participants recognised the necessity of maintaining a balance between the physical, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions of their lives. They highlighted some of the maladaptive and psychotic behaviours that can be manifested in priestly life and ministry as a result of failing to attend to their mental health.
They acknowledged that widespread myths prevail, often preventing them and their superiors from taking positive and structural steps for self-caring. The call to be strong at all times for those to whom they minister often leaves little room for vulnerability, which erodes the joy of priestly ministry.
Participants and presenters acknowledged that mental health issues are slowly becoming a reality globally as well as in the region and together we need to respond to it. They expressed the strong hope that IMBISA would urge all member bishops to implement planned and structured interventions that would make mental health care an ordinary structural part of the Church for her ministers. This includes the examination of the possibility of establishing a centre for mental health care in the IMBISA region.
In his visit to the workshop on Wednesday, 29 October 2025, Bishop Masilo Selemela, auxiliary bishop of Pretoria, expressed his gratitude to participants for making time to attend the workshop and underscored the importance to maintain a healthy balance in life.