By Lisa Healy
My name is Lisa Healy. I’m 42 from Engadine and I’ve always wanted to be a mum.
But when I finally became a mum, I felt very lonely and very isolated.
Until I let Jesus in.
I was born in Dublin, Ireland, to Catholic parents, but we never really learned about Jesus or the Bible. I would call myself a Catholic by accident—more out of tradition than faith.
When I finished university and moved to Australia, I met my Irish husband, and after we married, we started trying for children. Our daughter Ava was born in 2015, and she quickly became the love of my life.
But things changed when my second child, Oliver, arrived.
I expected all the joy, love, and the fulfillment I had with Ava. But instead, I found myself sinking into a dark, lonely place. I felt isolated, overwhelmed, and numb – like I was just going through the motions and had lost all sense of who I was inside.
I remember feeling so overwhelmed, not knowing how to handle the late nights, the exhaustion, and the invisible weight I carried internally. My husband tried to help, but I was never honest with him about how I was feeling. I just told him I was tired.
The worst was when I told my naturopath, “I don’t want to be their mum anymore,” because the pain felt so heavy. It was a struggle just to get out of bed each day.
I longed for a village, a community where I could feel supported and understood. I was desperately searching for meaning – something beyond the exhaustion and loneliness.
One day I found myself walking past the church near our home. One day, I peeked inside as Mass was happening and quietly stepped in with the kids. Sitting there in that space, I felt a flicker of something I’d been missing – peace and serenity.
That moment planted a seed.
It led to a profound realisation that God had been with me all along. Looking back, I can see how his presence sustained me through the darkest days.
I just became so full of hope and so full of love. For the first time, I understood that I was loved, known, and cherished by God. Jesus had come to save me, not just in a general sense, the way people say I’m saved, but in a personal, intimate way.
I started attending Mass regularly and found my parish. Then someone invited me to Alpha, which was a pivotal moment – I started forming a real connection with Jesus. Learning about him and his love transformed me from the inside out.
Today, I am more confident in my faith. I have recently completed the Arete Course and I’m a religious education co-ordinator at my local school because I want to share his love with others.
I now aspire to be a saint – to grow holier every day – and to help other mums realise they are not alone. I want them to know that Jesus is waiting for them, that he will carry them through their pain and struggles.
To any mothers feeling lost in the silent suffering of post-natal depression, I want to say: you are loved. You are not forgotten. Jesus sees you, he cares for you, and he is with you every step of the way. You don’t have to face your pain alone – Christ is by your side, ready to bring light into your darkness.
