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.

CCCB: Submission To The Expert Panel On Physician Assisted Suicide

The Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., Bishop of Hamilton and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), has sent a submission this past October 19 to the Expert Panel on Options for a Legislative Response to Carter v. Canada. The submission includes references to Church teaching with pertinent citations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, together with excerpts from the CCCB Plenary Assembly's statement on assisted suicide released on September 18, 2015, supplemented with further comments on the urgency and importance of palliative care.

Letter from the CCCB President to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada on assisted suicide

Dear Minister,

Further to the ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada this past February 6, the Catholic Bishops of Canada welcomed the announcement you made in media interviews last month when you said that the federal government will soon reveal details of its public consultations regarding new legislation on assisted suicide. More recently, my brother Bishops and I also noted media reports a few weeks ago which quoted you as saying that the consultation, "while not formally announced, has begun." read more

“Accompany the Dying”: The Church's teaching on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

This past February, the Canadian Supreme Court struck down the legal ban on euthanasia in Canada. Legislation is expected within the next year surrounding introducing legal means of doctor-assisted suicide for Canadians. What does this mean for Canadian Catholics? What does the Church say about medical care, suffering, and death, and how can we be witnesses to our faith in light of this radical change to our culture?

Archbishop Mancini’s Response To The Supreme Court Decision Concerning Assisted Suicide

On Friday, Feb 6 the Supreme Court of Canada struck down sections of the Criminal Code dealing with assisting in suicide. People everywhere have responded in one way or another to this change. The weekend of the ruling Archbishop Mancini shared his own thoughts and response in the his homily for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time:

“Sing praises to the Lord who heals the broken-hearted” – Psalm 147

Dear Friends,

Today the gospel shows us Jesus, the healer! He healed Peter’s mother-in-law, and he healed all those who were brought to him that evening. Why did he do that?

His actions are expressions of compassion and care for all human beings and especially for those who suffer. The responsorial psalm invites us to see and recognize the Lord’s passionate care and to be grateful for his attentiveness. As we gather today to celebrate the Eucharist, let us indeed sing and rejoice to the Lord – because he and only he can fully heal the broken-hearted.

Statement by CCCB President on Supreme Court judgment and physician-assisted suicide

Catholics are called by their faith to assist all those in need, particularly the poor, the suffering and the dying. Comforting the dying and accompanying them in love and solidarity has been considered by the Church since its beginning a principal expression of Christian mercy.

Helping someone commit suicide, however, is neither an act of justice or mercy, nor is it part of palliative care. The decision of the Supreme Court of Canada today does not change Catholic teaching. "[A]n act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, our Creator." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2277).