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.

Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: Catholic Health Care Perspectives

An upcoming webinar titled: Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada Health Care Perspectives is being broadcast on September 21, 2017 from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm ET.

This 90 minute webinar provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about these important matters:

What Does Medical Assistance in Dying (AKA Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide) look like in Canada?
What does it mean for the Catholic Health Care community?

New Book! Rediscovering The Art of Dying by Sr. Nuala Kenny

In her new book, Rediscovering the Art of Dying: How Jesus’ experience and our stories reveal a new vision of compassionate care, Sr. Nuala Kenny reflects on the inevitable questions we all face regarding health, illness, suffering, and dying. She provides a profound spiritual and biblical reflection by linking the Passion of Christ, Jesus’s own experience of suffering and death, with real-life stories about patients.

Ministry of Care and Companionship Resources

A new webpage with resources from the Archdiocesan Ministry of Care and Companionship Committee to support the care of the sick and suffering in our parishes and regions is now available. You will find this page on the Archdiocesan website here: www.halifaxyarmouth.org/care

Recent Activity

The Ministry of Care and Compassion successfully launched in the parishes in Clare.

15 women answered their baptismal call to serve on the Ministry for the five parishes, Sacré-Coeur Saulnierville, Stella Maris, Meteghan/Saint-Alphonse, St. Bernard, Notre-Dame du Mont Carmel Concession, and Sainte Marie Church Point.

The Archbishop James M. Hayes Symposium 2017 on Trauma, Suffering and Resilience

This year’s Archbishop James M. Hayes Symposisum is scheduled for May 15- 17, 2017. Sessions for the day symposium will take place between two locations: the Atlantic School of Theology and Saint Andrew’s Unite d Church on Coburg Rd. The conversations will focus on the theme: Trauma, Suffering, and Resilience.