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.

Conscience Protection for Nova Scotia Doctors

Imagine a healthcare system where death is considered a therapeutic treatment. Imagine being a Christian doctor in that system. Imagine being told by your medical regulator that you are abandoning your patient if you don’t make arrangements for them to get an assessment for euthanasia. That healthcare system is in Nova Scotia today. The Nova Scotia medical regulator is pushing through a policy that would force physicians to refer patients for euthanasia, abortion, and transgender services. Twenty-three courageous Christian physicians have told Nova Scotia’s medical regulator that they cannot abide by this new draft policy.

When they are at their most vulnerable, people may choose euthanasia if they don't have suitable options to live. We need physicians who will go the extra mile to ensure their patients are connected with the supports and services they need. Nova Scotia’s physicians are too important to patient care to be sacrificed for the sake of an unnecessary policy.

Click here for a message from Larry Worthen: https://bit.ly/NSPastorsVideo

We need your help! On Friday March 22, 2024, the NS medical regulator plans to pass a policy that would force NS physicians to participate by way of a referral in euthanasia, abortion, and transgender services against their conscience. Twenty-three NS physicians have already signed letters saying that they cannot abide by this policy. The regulator has indicated that if there is a complaint against a physician for not following this policy, they will be disciplined and may lose their license. All of these services are currently available without a referral.

Write the Nova Scotia regulator today to tell them you don’t want this policy to be approved: https://bit.ly/NSRegulator24