Pastoral Care
Have you heard about the upcoming expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying in 2027 to include mental illness as a sole underlying condition?
It’s a significant change, and one that raises important questions many of us haven’t yet had the opportunity to fully understand or discuss.
This May, communities across Saskatchewan are invited to a thoughtful conversation about MAiD and what this expansion could mean.
One thing continues to stand out. Behind the policies and headlines are real people, real experiences, and often, real gaps in support.
Across Canada, over 8 million people live with a disability, and nearly half report at least one unmet healthcare need. In Saskatchewan, that number is even higher, with close to 30% of people identifying as having a disability.
Many of the most commonly reported reasons for requesting MAiD are not only physical. They include feelings of isolation, loneliness, and a sense of being a burden. These are deeply human experiences. They invite us to pause and ask a deeper question: What does it look like to truly support someone in moments of vulnerability? Should death be considered a treatment option?
This is the kind of conversation we’re hoping to create space for across Saskatchewan.
Throughout the tour, Larry Worthen will share insights from his work with physicians and healthcare teams across Canada, along with real-world perspectives on how MAiD is evolving and what it means for individuals, families, and communities.
Each evening is designed to be accessible and welcoming, with time to listen, learn, and ask questions.
Join the conversation across Saskatchewan:
May 11 — Saskatoon at 7 p.m., at Holy Spirit Parish
May 12 — Prince Albert at 7 p.m., at Plaza 88
May 13 — Yorkton at 7 p.m., at St. Mary’s Cultural Centre
May 14 — Weyburn at 7 p.m., at McKenna Hall
May 15 — Moose Jaw at 7 p.m., at Hillcrest Apostolic Church
May 16 — Regina at 1 p.m., at Resurrection Parish
If you’ve been considering attending, we encourage you to reserve your spot.
RSVP: https://hopedoesnotexpire.ca/tour#rsvp
Help spread the word by sharing the Facebook event:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1CJgk4dt7y/
Invite your church to help spread the word. We’ve created ready-to-use posters, slides, bulletin inserts, and announcements: https://bit.ly/2026tourpromo
You can also help by sharing this with your community. Personal invitations go a long way!
Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Saskatchewan
Statement by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on the Non-Permissibility of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide within Canadian Health Organizations with a Catholic Identity
Déclaration de la Conférence des évêques catholiques du Canada sur l’interdiction de pratiquer l’euthanasie et le suicide assisté dans les organismes de santé d’allégeance catholique au Canada
Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan (CHAS)
A Faith Based Advance Health Care Directive (also called a ‘Living Will’) is a legally binding document made while a person has the mental capacity to do so. Making an Advance Health Care Directive is optional, and some people may be happier to leave these decisions to others.
Advance Care Directives are a very helpful addition to the CCCB’s Horizons of Hope program!
A copy of the Health Care Directive booklet can be purchased at the Diocese of Prince Albert Resource Centre for $3.50 per copy.
For more information on Catholic Teachings on death and dying and Pastoral Care you can contact Dr. Christine Taylor at 306-922-4747 Ext 227.
More information on CHAS can be found on their website: https://chassk.ca/
The World's Largest Palliative Care ECHO Session - 1 hour
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“Horizons of Hope: A Toolkit for Catholic Parishes on Palliative Care” seeks to:
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Empower and educate parishioners by addressing questions surrounding palliative care, dying, death, suffering, accompaniment, and bereavement in a holistic fashion.
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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.
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Facilitate meaningful conversations together so that our parishes and families become Compassionate Communities, grounded in the mercy and tenderness of the living Christ.
Click on the picture below to watch the CCCB's video
To learn more about these training webinars produced by the CCCB click on the following link HORIZONS OF HOPE.
To arrange for a Horizons of Hope workshop in your parish, contact Christine Taylor at 306-922-4747 ext. 227.
Upcoming Horizons of Hope Workshops
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
HORIZONS OF HOPE: A Toolkit for Catholic Parishes on Palliative Care
Deanery 6 TWO-DAY Workshop
Saturday, April 18 (Sessions 1 & 2) and May 2 (Sessions 3 & 4)
From 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day
As Catholics, our faith in Jesus Christ has much to teach us about living and dying well.Developed by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Horizons of Hope: A Toolkit for Catholic Parishes on Palliative Care is designed to help each of us – caregivers, the sick and dying, family members, and all who seek to learn more about palliative care and Catholic Church teachings on end-of-life – to find support and concrete assistance.
Deanery 6 will host this 2-day workshop over two weekends.
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The first day will be held at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in St. Walburg on, Saturday, April 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
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The second day of the workshop will be held at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Meadow Lake on Saturday, May 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Bishop’s Annual Appeal is the sponsor of this workshop. There is no charge for the workshop materials or for attending the workshop. Please REGISTER with your pastor to aid in planning for the day, or contact Christine Taylor at 306-922-4747 or catechetics@padiocese.ca. Participants are asked to bring a bag lunch each day. Coffee and a morning and afternoon snack will be provided. Please see the poster at the back of the Church for more information.
Horizons of Hope:
A Toolkit for Catholic Parishes on Palliative Care
Protect Sask Medical Professionals
Saskatchewan medical professionals are vulnerable to legal prosecution if they do not bend to coercion and intimidation to participate in medical assistance in dying (MAiD). There needs to be legal protection for the medical professionals who object to the participation of MAiD, or the pressures of offering it to their patients.
We would like to see the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly pass conscience protection legislation similar to that passed in Manitoba in 2017. The legislation passed was effective in aiding those who conscientiously refused and it also protected them from a regulatory body of nurses or doctors requiring participation as well. Manitoba´s legislation could act as an example for other provinces to follow.
Sask Pro-Life Association would encourage Saskatchewan residents who support our mission to click on the link below which will take you to the website and sign the petition. Conscience Rights in Saskatchewan, a group of volunteers plan to meet with Saskatchewan MLAs to discuss the importance of conscience rights legislation for medical professionals and present them with petitions.
Canadians for Conscience
This video from Canadians for Conscience presents short clips from health care professionals who speak about why they need conscience protection.
You can also retweet and tag us on social media.
Twitter: @Cdns4Conscience
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/canadiansforconscience/
Instagram: cdns4conscience
We Can and Must Do Better
Religious Leaders in Canada oppose Bill C-7
“An Act to amend the Criminal Code”
(medical assistance in dying)
September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day
Below are websites with information on Suicide Prevention and Resources.
Websites:
Government of Canada
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Suicide in Canada, https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/suicide-prevention/suicide-canada.html
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Suicide Prevention, https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/suicide-prevention.html
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Suicide in Canada: infographic, https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/suicide-canada-infographic.html
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Indigenous Services Canada (2019), "Suicide prevention in Indigenous communities", https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1576089685593/1576089741803
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Statistics Canada (2017), "Suicide rates: An overview", https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-624-x/2012001/article/11696-eng.htm
The Centre for Suicide Prevention has some excellent resources, including statistics, multimedia, and more infographics
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"Resources", https://www.suicideinfo.ca/resources/
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"Suicide stats for Canada, provinces and territories", https://www.suicideinfo.ca/resource/suicide-stats-canada-provinces/
Other sites
Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, https://suicideprevention.ca
Interfaith Statement on Suicide Prevention
WholeHearted Workshop
The Diocesan Mental Health Ministry Team will be offering a new program called WholeHearted beginning in winter of 2026.
WholeHearted provides basic and helpful awareness of the source of our woundedness and a pathway to begin healing. It is not clinical or professional therapy. It informs participants about the impact that life’s hurts can have and suggests ways to start moving forward mentally and spiritually. The first two sessions focus on recognizing and responding to life’s wounding experiences. The last two sessions focus on the dynamics of renewal and restoration.
WholeHearted introduces participants to an ongoing process of:
• Recognition: Seeing your experience of woundedness and assessing your response(s) to it.
• Renewal: Prayer and other spiritual exercises as sources for strength and newness.
• Restoration: The ongoing and intentional work needed to move forward healthily.
Each session will include: brief content, private reflection, suggested practice, discussion and scriptural reflection.
The Bishop’s Annual Appeal sponsors the Diocesan Mental Health Ministry, which is offering the WholeHearted Workshop.
For more information, contact Nicole at ecassistant@padiocese.ca or 306-922-4747 ext. 228. Coffee and a small snack will be provided. Please bring a reusable travel coffee mug or water bottle.