Pastor's Corner November 16, 2003 |
33rd Ordinary Sunday |
Planning for the Unforeseen
The Archdiocese had recently held the "Pastoral Study Seminar". There were
altogether two sessions. Each session lasted for 4 days. Over 300 priests attended.
The topic for the seminar was: "The way to care for the sick, in particular for the
terminally ill".
Life expectance of man has been extended due to well-advanced research and
developments in the medical field. At the same time, treatment towards the
terminally ill has been monitored under a new ethical and moral focus. The Bioethic
Institute was established in Toronto two years ago. The purpose of its
establishment is to provide further research and guidelines in analysis of biotechnological
developments and theories, under the guidance of our church. The
conclusions of the Institute are regarded as very important by the Canadian Catholic
Conference of Bishops.
Priests, who have participated in these two seminars, usually perform the Rite of
Anointing the Sick on the patient before he/she is hospitalized, in the presence of
his/her family members.
We also discussed the Power of Attorney. It is not a 'will'. In fact, it is the
appointment of a certain individual to make decisions on behalf of oneself in case
one is incapable to manage. This appointment omits a lot of unnecessary
administrative procedures in a difficult time.
Regardless of whether you are part of the medical staff or part of the family, it is
important to understand this: What the patient needs most may not necessarily be
the best medicine, but rather, it is caring, attention and understanding.
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