Ministry of Care and Companionship

We follow the example of Jesus and Mary
as we care for the sick and comfort the dying.

As Catholics we are Christian disciples committed to follow the way of the Lord whose response to suffering was to provide care! As Christ healed the sick and broken-hearted with his acts of compassion, our present Christian response to suffering must be in keeping with Christ’s actions by transforming suffering with meaning. When there is no meaning to suffering, that is when it is only pain, and of course people become afraid, angry and depressed. But where there is meaning, because there is love and proper care, in a community of support, suffering can become sacrifice! Sacrifice, in our Christian perspective, is not just another word for ‘put up with’. It literally means, from its Latin root, to make something ‘sacred’. Archbishop Anthony Mancini June 5, 2016 Letter to the Faithful.

Death of St. Joseph

Stain Glass Window, St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, Halifax, NS

An evangelizing community knows that the Lord has taken the initiative, he has loved us first. It has an endless desire to show mercy, the fruit of its own experience of the power of the Father’s infinite mercy. Let us try a little harder to take the first step and to become involved. The Lord gets involved and he involves his own, as he kneels to wash their feet. An evangelizing community gets involved by word and deed in people’s daily lives; it bridges distances, it is willing to abase itself if necessary and it embraces human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others. An evangelizing community is also supportive, standing by people at every step of the way, no matter how difficult or lengthy this may prove to be. Pope Francis 2013 Evangelii Gaudium, The Joy of the Gospel. #24.

Dying with Christ, Living with Hope

Upcoming Dying with Christ-Living with Hope Sessions

The Christian Medical and Dental Association Canada will host a spring series of their Dying with Christ - Living with Hope session. This program presents a hope-filled perspective on a universal experience. Led by theologians and healthcare professionals, the series explores timeless insights into suffering, grief, dying, the duty to care, and how dying with Christ is attainable for everyone.

Survey on the Expansion of Euthanasia/MAiD

The Canadian Federation of Catholic Physicians’ Societies is encouraging Catholics to complete a survey on the expansion of Euthanasia/MAiD. The federal government is pushing to expand euthanasia (MAiD) to include advance requests, meaning a patient could be euthanized without providing consent at the time of the procedure. This raises serious ethical concerns, yet the government has quietly launched a national consultation on the issue.

Have You Been Offered MAiD Without Asking for It?

You may have heard the story of a Nova Scotia woman undergoing breast cancer treatments who was offered euthanasia (more commonly known as medical assistance in Dying or MAiD) three times—unsolicited. This troubling case highlights a growing concern about how MAiD is being implemented in Nova Scotia. You can read more about it here: National Post Article.