Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Melody Lickliter, still mourning the loss of her daughter Hannah Hayes, attended a special Mass at St. Albert the Great Church to honor those lost to substance abuse and overdose. Hayes, a mother of three, had been clean for over a year before succumbing to fentanyl. "If it was anything else, she could have come back," Lickliter lamented.

The Mass on February 3 drew around 75 attendees and was led by Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre with several deacons and priests participating in the Archdiocese of Louisville's Mass of Remembrance and Healing. During the service, Lickliter expressed her hope for her daughter's happiness.

Father Jason Harris delivered a homily sharing his personal struggles with depression, anxiety, and internet addiction. He reflected on the challenges faced by those battling addiction: "I thought I was managing my life through depression and anxiety... I didn’t realize how much chaos I was living in."

The reading from Lamentations struck a chord with Father Harris: “My life is deprived of peace; I’d forgotten what happiness is.” He acknowledged the difficulty in admitting one’s inability to manage life's challenges alone but emphasized the importance of faith in finding light amidst darkness.

Father Harris reminded attendees that Jesus offers light to everyone, saying, “His compassion is not spent.” He encouraged seeking peace and healing within the community: "We pray for a sense of community... of healing and of peace."

Throughout the liturgy, emotions ran high as congregants wept openly while St. Albert’s adult choir performed music that balanced somberness with hopefulness. The service concluded with Archbishop Fabre expressing his desire for collective comfort through shared prayer: “We want to help you carry that cross of grief. You are not alone.”