HUNTERSVILLE — Bishop Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv., visited leaders of the organization Healed and Restored March 16 at their home in Huntersville to learn about their work in the community and discuss the next steps in their development.
The Catholic nonprofit, founded in 2020, seeks to heal and restore women dealing with unresolved emotional or physical trauma in a faith-driven environment.
The visit comes as Bishop Martin continues efforts to tour and connect with Catholic nonprofits across western North Carolina, as he has done with other organizations throughout the diocese.
Elza Spaedy, director and founder of Healed and Restored and a parishioner at St. Mark Church, gave Bishop Martin a tour of the home, showing him the spaces where women receive care and support.
Spaedy, author of several books on healing from trauma, spoke with Bishop Martin about the organization’s core areas of focus: healing workshops that help women explore their personal stories to find healing, restoration and wholeness in Christ; a food pantry that provides assistance during times of need; and a boutique stocked with clothing and accessories for women receiving care.
Spaedy explained that many women disconnect from their faith after experiencing trauma. The organization works to help women heal through counseling and coaching so they can rebuild their lives.
“When we encounter women, we love them in their brokenness and guide them to the divine physician,” Spaedy said. “Why are we not bringing Christ into the healing of our mind, body and spirit?”
Later, Bishop Martin met over breakfast with Spaedy and her team to discuss their needs and how they might work together. Spaedy said the organization has helped hundreds of women heal but still needs to reach more survivors, 90% of whom are Hispanic.
To meet that need, Spaedy said the organization hopes to add more bilingual female counselors and explored possible ways to begin the effort with Bishop Martin.
“The need to have more bilingual counselors is huge for us right now,” Spaedy said. “We are so glad Bishop Martin had so many ideas for us. It’s beautiful, and I expected that from him.”
— Brian Segovia
