The St. Patrick's Sturgis and Preeceville councils of the Catholic Women's League of Canada welcomed Rev. Mark Miller to Preeceville Club 60 on August 31 when he gave a presentation on caring for the dying in an ethical manner.
The Catholic Women's League of Canada was founded in 1920 and is the largest national organization of women, with over 83,000 members.
鈥淥ur focus this year is on the theme 鈥極ne Heart, One Voice, One Mission: Palliative and Hospice Care,鈥欌�� said Kathleen Pitt. 鈥淒uring this 鈥榊ear of Mercy鈥� proclaimed by Pope Francis, our theme focuses on outward expressions of mercy towards our brothers and sisters as they reach the end of their lives.
鈥淧ope Francis calls us to be the visible face of Christ in the world,鈥� she said.
Members of The Catholic Women's League are committed to protecting the sanctity of life and recognizing the human dignity of all people everywhere.
Pitt recited that on June 1, Barbara Dowding, the聽 national president, spoke at an euthanasia rally on Parliament Hill.
"Our focus on palliative hospice care springs from our love and concern for the dignity of all persons,鈥� Dowding had said. 鈥淓nd of life care is true compassion. lt allows individuals who are facing death not to be burdened by pain and suffering but to receive the necessary support that respects their human dignity both physically and spiritually, rather than choosing physician-assisted death as a desperate last resort.
鈥淭he Catholic Women's League of Canada will continue to advocate for a national palliative care strategy and to provide care for the elderly, disabled, the sick and for those who are isolated or marginalized."
鈥淲e are very pleased to have Father Mark Miller with us to help us understand how we can participate in this seemingly daunting task,鈥� said Pitt.
A native Westerner, born in Edmonton, Dr. Miller studied in Winnipeg, Toronto and Germany before completing his doctorate in moral theology in 1992 at the University of Notre Dame in 麻豆传媒AV Bend, Indiana. After receiving his doctorate, Miller spent 16 years as a clinical bioethicist working at and out of St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon. He has taught and provided workshops at Catholic colleges, in adult formation programs, for Catholic teachers, and many health care practitioners. He is now the president of the English-speaking Hedemptorists of Canada. He continues his clinical ethics work part-time at the Centre for Clinical Ethics at St. Joseph's and St. Michael's hospitals in Toronto. Dr. Miller is the author of books and numerous articles on bioethics.
