Andre Abouharb is the founder and director of Catholic Apparel, a faith-inspired fashion brand. Andre has traversed a remarkable personal journey, overcoming major life challenges that have deeply shaped his mission and work. His story is powerful, as it entwines his experiences with his Catholic faith, leading him to inspire others through his life and business.

Episode Summary:

Andre Abouharb was a young man enjoying a normal night out when a shooting changed everything. As founder and director of Catholic Apparel, Andre joins Debbie and Natalie to talk about faith, trauma and what healing really looks like. He shares how the Holy Spirit met him in crisis, how volunteering at Westmead became his therapy, and why forgiving someone you have never even identified set him free. In this episode, you will discover what it truly means to find purpose and mental health through faith.

Key Takeaways:

• Andre’s life-changing night at a nightclub led to a profound spiritual and personal transformation grounded in his faith.
• The importance of family prayer and early spiritual foundations can forge resilience in facing life’s darkest times.
• Integration of spirituality with mental health practices aids in holistic healing and personal growth.
• Serving others and shifting focus away from oneself can provide healing and a sense of purpose.
• Acceptance of suffering, as seen through a spiritual lens, can lead to positive transformation and unanticipated new paths.

Notable Quotes:

• "The key to suffering is acceptance."
• "Behind every negative is a positive, and I just started searching for that positive because of my faith."
• "Time heals. It's as simple as that. Just hang in there. The storm will pass."
• "We are asking to share in the cross, and when we do, it's telling us we go from death to life."
• "When you are giving, you are receiving."

Resources:

• Catholic Apparel's Website
• Andre’s Artist Profile on Spotify - C.A

You and your mental health is important to us. If this episode brought up any heavy emotions, please know you do not need to carry them alone. Reach out to Lifeline, Beyond Blue, or the counselling service at Hills Sanctuary house at hshl.org.au

Do subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes of Finding Sanctuary.

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Blog - https://hshl.org.au/blog/

Judy Saba: Judy Saba is a cross-cultural psychologist with an extensive career working with the New South Wales Police and currently operates within a charity focused on domestic violence. Her career was kick-started over 30 years ago as one of the co-founders of the Maronite Counseling Services, where she played a pivotal role in community mental health support and understanding cultural nuances in psychological practice.

George Boutros: George Boutros is a dedicated humanitarian and the co-founder of the Sydney to Lebanon Humanitarian Aid Appeal. His journey started with Friends with Hope in response to personal and community tragedies, leading to a career focused on addressing emergency needs in Lebanon by providing food, medicine, and essentials, driven by compassion and community responsibility.

Summary

George Boutros has turned two of the most painful experiences of his life into movements that have genuinely changed communities. Joining Debbie and cross-cultural psychologist Judy Saba, George opens up about losing his cousin to suicide, the nine months that shook his tight-knit Lebanese community to its core, and how that grief quietly built something none of them could have predicted. What started as a group of cousins and friends scrambling to make sense of unimaginable loss became Friends with Hope, a support network that broke taboos, filled church halls, and changed the way an entire community talks about mental health and suicide prevention.

Then life moved on. Until the Beirut explosion stopped George in his tracks. A half-question to a colleague at Qantas turned into 27 tonnes of humanitarian aid and an organisation that now supports 23 charitable entities across Lebanon. This is an honest, moving conversation about grief, purpose, dignity, and what it really looks like when a community decides to stop looking in and start looking out.

Key Takeaways:

• Turning personal tragedy into community hope can lead to impactful and sustainable support systems.
• Community-driven initiatives can shift cultural narratives around taboo topics such as mental health and suicide.
• The importance of providing dignified aid and support to preserve the self-respect of those in need.
• Leveraging personal and professional networks can greatly enhance the reach and impact of humanitarian efforts.
• Engaging with and utilising diverse skills within a community can build a robust support network for charitable causes.

Notable Quotes:

1. "We need to try and turn a negative into a positive. And we did." - George Boutros
2. "It wasn't because of what we did; it was because of what the community responded to." - Judy Saba
3. "You bring along people on the journey, people will come and go or they'll stay." - George Boutros
4. "It encapsulated hope for those that went before us." - Judy Saba
5. "We need all hands on deck. It's a call to arms." - George Boutros

You and your mental health is important to us. If this episode brought up any heavy emotions, please know you do not need to carry them alone. Reach out to Lifeline, Beyond Blue, or the counselling service at Hills Sanctuary house at hshl.org.au

Do subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes of Finding Sanctuary.

Follow us on
Facebook - Christ the Redeemer Maronite Catholic Parish of The Hills
Instagram - @hills_sanctuary_house
Blog - https://hshl.org.au/blog/

Bridget Loulach is the founder of Glimpse of Heaven Australia, a charitable initiative based in Sydney, dedicated to aiding the homeless and families facing hardships across New South Wales. With a multi-faceted career as a lawyer, journalist, and creative, Brigette has utilized her platform to promote acts of kindness, inspired by her personal experiences and challenges. Her philanthropic journey began in her teenage years, driven by a profound familial loss and is sustained through her faith and resilience in facing personal adversities.

Key Takeaways:

• Overcoming Adversity with Community Support: Bridget's journey illustrates how building and relying on a compassionate community can provide strength in times of personal trials.
• Faith and Resilience: Central to Bridget's story is her unwavering faith, which helped her confront anxiety and life's unpredictable challenges.
• The Impact of Charitable Work: Bridget emphasises how initiating acts of kindness not only benefits recipients, but also provides the giver with a sense of purpose and peace.
• Embracing Surrender: The episode explores the concept of finding peace by surrendering control and having faith in a higher power during times of turmoil.
• From Giving to Receiving: Experiencing the receiving end of charity during her son’s NICU stay, Bridget finds a full-circle moment that enhances her understanding of the power of kindness and community.

Notable Quotes:

• "What if heaven isn't just something we hope for one day? What if it's something we can create right here and right now for someone who desperately needs it?"
• "It was born of struggle; it was born of a suffering something where you found you needed something to actually put all of your energy into."
• "And now is my time to live it. How easy is it for us to repost a quote... when life brings you down to your knees, can you live it?"
• "Embracing the season you're in and finding the peace within to thank God for it all."
• "If tonight your plans didn't go as expected, I hope you find something in your day to celebrate."

You and your mental health is important to us. If this episode brought up any heavy emotions, please know you do not need to carry them alone. Reach out to Lifeline, Beyond Blue, or the counselling service at Hills Sanctuary house at hshl.org.au

Do subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes of Finding Sanctuary.

Follow us on
Facebook - Christ the Redeemer Maronite Catholic Parish of The Hills
Instagram - @hills_sanctuary_house
Blog - https://hshl.org.au/blog/