We begin our series with a team from the Department of Spiritual Care at St. Francis Hospital Trinity Health of New England: Michael Rogers, PhD – Mission Integration Consultant; The Rev. Heather McDougall-Walsh, BCC, CCISM – Manager of Spiritual Care, and The Rev. Dr. Celillon Alteme, MACE, MDiv, DMin, ACPE, BCC – Manager of Clinical Pastoral Education.
- Introduction:
- Mike Rogers introduces himself and colleagues, Reverend Heather MacDougal Walsh and Rev. Celillon Alteme, from the spiritual care department.
- Catholic View of Death:
- Death is viewed as a change, not an end; it is a transition to eternal life with God.
- Catholics believe that death does not end relationships; it connects to stewardship of life.
- Advanced Care Planning is critical in understanding how to best care for one another at the end of life.
- Relationship with God:
- Death is grounded in the relationship with God, who loves and created us, and does not change with death.
- Pope Benedict’s emphasis on community and connection in funeral practices, invoking the litany of saints instead of the Dies Irae.
- Accompaniment in Death:
- Catholics should focus on accompanying loved ones through death with care, comfort, and vigil.
- Being present during difficult times, answering uncomfortable questions, and showing love as life changes.
- Acknowledgement of societal discomfort with death and the need for more openness.
- Stewardship of Life:
- Life is a gift from God and should be viewed as a responsibility to care for, not control.
- Stewardship means caring for both life and relationships, including maintaining health and working to repair relationships.
- Pope Francis’ reminder of stewardship as responsible care, not domination, of the world.
- Death and Dying:
- Death is inherently uncomfortable, but Catholics believe in the dignity of life at every stage.
- Care, not cure, is paramount when death is inevitable.
- In Catholic healthcare, there is a focus on palliative care and robust hospice support, acknowledging the importance of care even when cure is not possible.
- Dying with Dignity:
- Dying with dignity does not mean controlling death but recognizing life as a gift that deserves care and respect, even at the end.
- Stewardship involves making difficult decisions, such as discontinuing treatments when they no longer provide care.
- Advanced Care Planning:
- Good stewardship includes planning for the end of life, which can be done through advanced care planning.
- It is important to communicate our wishes to our loved ones to prevent difficult decisions during times of crisis.
- The speaker reflects on the challenges of making decisions for loved ones at the end of life and the importance of advanced care planning to alleviate that burden.
- Closing Reflection:
- Encouragement to reflect on the process of stewardship and end-of-life planning.
- The speaker emphasizes that death is made holy through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who sanctifies every moment of life.