# Toolkit on Palliative Care

- Link: https://nweparchy.ca/2021/12/toolkit-on-palliative-care/
- Published: 2021-12-02T19:23:04-08:00
- Author: Website

_“Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients (
adults and children) and their families who are facing problems associated with 
life-threatening illness. It prevents and relieves suffering through the early identification,
correct assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, whether physical, psychosocial
or spiritual.”_

– [World Health Organization, “Definition of Palliative Care”](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/palliative-care)

 

 

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##### **“Horizons of Hope: A Toolkit for Catholic Parishes on Palliative Care” seeks to:**

 * Empower and educate parishioners by addressing questions surrounding palliative
   care, dying, death, suffering, accompaniment, and bereavement in a holistic fashion.
 * Present high-quality content that explores how palliative care is understood 
   from a perspective of Catholic moral and pastoral theology, medical expertise
   and the _Compassionate Community_ model.
 * Facilitate meaningful conversations together so that our parishes and families
   become _Compassionate Communities,_ grounded in the mercy and tenderness of the
   living Christ.

##### **Why Promote Palliative Care in our Parishes?**

As people of faith in Christ, horizons of hope open before us when we gather around
the sick and the dying. Families, friends, parish communities and health care professionals,
together, all play an important role to care for and accompany those in need of 
palliative care that recognizes the dignity of the human person.

When confronted with a life-limiting diagnosis, we can find ourselves in an unfamiliar
and even frightening situation. These moments are usually marked by having to make
numerous practical decisions surrounding care and support for loved ones and ourselves.
More often than not, such decisions require moral discernment through the lens of
our Faith. We believe in the dignity and sacredness of human life at all stages,
from conception to natural death. At the same time, our faith does not demand that
life is to be sustained at all costs.

As Catholics, our faith in Jesus Christ has much to teach us about living and dying
well. **Horizons of Hope: A Toolkit for Catholic Parishes on Palliative Care** is
designed to help each of us – caregivers, the sick and dying and family members –
to find support and concrete assistance.

 

##### **Who developed this resource?**

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) formed a Joint _Ad hoc_ Committee
on Palliative Care with a variety of partners and experts to address the increasing
complexities regarding end-of-life issues in Canada. The Committee members included
representatives from Pallium Canada, Dominican University College, Canadian Catholic
Bioethics Institute, Catholic Health Alliance of Canada, Congregation of the Sisters
of Saint Joseph in Canada.

 

##### **For whom is the program designed?**

 * Those seeking to learn more about palliative care and Catholic Church teaching
   on end-of-life;
 * Caregivers;
 * Persons who have recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness;
 * Family members who need resources and guidance as they journey with a loved one
   who is seriously or terminally ill; and
 * Parishioners and pastoral care teams who want to form a Compassionate Community
   program.

##### _**“By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” **_

##### _**Luke 1:78-80**_

# **FOR TOOLKIT  MATERIALS GO TO:**

 _[https://www.cccb.ca/faith-moral-issues/suffering-and-end-of-life/horizons-of-hope-a-toolkit-for-catholic-parishes-on-palliative-care/](https://www.cccb.ca/faith-moral-issues/suffering-and-end-of-life/horizons-of-hope-a-toolkit-for-catholic-parishes-on-palliative-care/)_