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.

Book Launch: Still Unhealed

Sr. Nuala Kenny, SC has written a new book on the sexual abuse crisis in our Church. A book launch for, Still Unhealed: Treating the pathology in the clergy sexual abuse crisis, will happen on Thursday, October 3, at 6:30 in the Chapel Building at the Atlantic School of Theology. Dr. David Deane was also a contributing author to the book.

The book is currently available through Novalis for pre-order and copies will be available for purchase at the launch. For more information on the book see the Novalis website by clicking here.

Sr. Nuala Kenny’s Awarded a 2018 CPA Award

Sr. Nuala Kenny was recently warded first place in the pastoral ministry category of the 2018 Catholic Press Association (CPA) Awards for her book: Rediscovering the Art of Dying: How Jesus’ Experience and Our Stories Reveal A New Vision of Compassionate Care. The award was announced at CPA’s annual conference June 15.

The Art of Dying: Stories of the End of Life Journeys

The Archbishop James M. Hayes Centre for Pastoral Care and Pastoral Theology presents a series of events about The Art of Dying: Stories of the End of Life Journeys, beginning with Prophetic Witness: Accompaniment. Presented by: Sister Dr. Nuala Kenny, OC, BA, MD, FRCP(C).

The Way of the Cross Today

As we prepare to begin the season of Lent, many parishes and groups are looking for various ways to celebrate the Stations of the Cross. The Archdiocesan Ministry of Care and Companionship Committee would like to suggest an option! The Way of the Cross Today: Reflections on Suffering in Sickness and Dying is a series of reflections on the Stations of Cross written by Sr. Nuala Kenny, SC. In this booklet Sr. Kenny writes: