Catholic Healthcare
The Office of Life, Justice and Peace provides support to Catholic healthcare professionals through the Catholic Healthcare Ministry. Visit the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Catholic Healthcare page for more information.
Caring for the Whole Person is a state-wide initiative of the California Bishops and Catholic healthcare systems that enable each parish to provide community support and meaningful resources to individuals and families. The objective of Caring for the Whole Person is to educate, equip and empower each person to make informed decisions for their health and well-being. All efforts of the Caring for the Whole Person initiative utilize science-based research, Catholic Healthcare ethics, and the Gospel message to inform all people for optimum care and health practices at any stage of life.
The initiative of Caring for the Whole Person takes its guidance from the Ethical Directives for Catholic Health Care, with much of the directives focusing on enhancing end of life care. Visit this page to learn more about Catholic bioethics, download the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Healthcare Directives, and access helpful tools for End of Life Care.
Care & Prepare: Finding Loving Care at the End of Life is a parish workshop put on by the Office of Life, Justice & Peace in parishes throughout the Archdiocese. Discussion topics include Church teaching on end of life ethics, accessing quality palliative care, hospice care and advance healthcare directives, and pastoral care at the end of life. These trainings are great for parish leaders, caregivers, and the elderly and their family members. Visit this page to access example Care & Prepare presentations and learn more about hosting a workshop at your parish.
Caring for those with mental illness or suicidal thoughts is an essential part of the Church’s pastoral responsibility. The Church seeks to provide help, hope and healing in any stage of life. Visit the LA Catholics Mental Health and Suicide page to read the message about mental health from the California Bishops, utilize community support resources, find a Catholic mental health professional, and access resources for personal or parish education.
Get involved! Interested in being a Caring for the Whole Person liaison or building a Caring for the Whole Person ministry at your parish/organization? Provide your contact information here and a member of the Caring for the Whole Person team will contact you.
Educate Your Parish on Opposing Assisted Suicide
Why Oppose Assisted Suicide Flyer
Assisted suicide sends the message that we do not care nor wish to accompany our brothers and sisters at the end of their lives. It affects the poor and the vulnerable, who may be unable to afford expensive treatments but may be pressured to purchase the drugs. Physician-Assisted Suicide also increases suicides in general.
The Peace in the Storm Project is a nonprofit organization in the Catholic tradition that helps parishes and parishioners in their journeys with caregiving and living with chronic illness, chronic pain, the effects of aging, disability, and other serious life challenges. At the heart of the ministry are parish-based, small, faith-fellowship groups that meet to learn about ways that God works in and through illness and caregiving and how the Church supports everyone along the way. The Peace in the Storm Project groups use the books Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain and Illness and Peace in the Storm for Caregivers and discussion guides provided by the ministry to spark reflection on sacred scripture, Church teaching, the sacraments of the Catholic Church, prayer, and conversational fellowship -- all to encourage, support, and strengthen caregivers and those navigating serious life challenges. Along with the small groups, the ministry offers additional support, mentoring for group leaderes, information, and practical guidance for parishes to bring group participants more fully into the life of the Church through healing masses, reconciliation services, Stations of the Cross, and other parish-wide events. The Peace in the Storm Project began at one parish in New Canaan, CT, in the Diocese of Bridgeport and is now active in more than fifteen (arch)dioceses and Catholic organizations throughout the United States. For more information, contact Maureen Pratt, executive director of The Peace in the Storm Project, [email protected] or visit www.thepeaceinthestormproject.com
Learn more about matters of Caring for the Whole Person in the news to enhance your education and share relevant information with your parish.
The hypocrisy of encouraging doctor-assisted deaths after a year of saving lives
Opinion: Minorities need health care, not life-ending prescriptions
Do you ever wonder what more you can do for the bereaved mothers and grandmothers in your care? Their loss is different from all others and brings with it a host of complications. Sacred Sorrows is a ministry founded by a spiritually inspired grieving mother to help spiritually devastated grieving mothers encounter the mystery of grace. Discover ways to offer immediate and practical help on this journey that never ends, and bring about transformation and hope in the lives of the grieving mothers and grandmothers you encounter and accompany in your ministry.