As National Catholic Health Care Week draws to a close on Feb. 7, leaders at the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada (CHAC) remain thoughtful of the continuation of more than 400 years of history that has impacted Catholic health care across the country.

Beginning on Feb. 1, faithful from around Canada were reminded to pause, reflect and celebrate the extensive programs and services provided by Catholic health care institutions under the theme “ Open Hearts, Healing and Hope.”

It’s the sixth year that CHAC, who unify the voice of 129 health organizations with Catholic identity, celebrated the week with the hopes of raising a greater awareness in communities, dioceses, parishes, government, and society at large about the vital work of Catholic health organizations.

Advertisement

“ In part, that week allows us to respond to what we're seeing around us in the scope of Catholic healthcare and to engage our communities and the 88,000 people across Canada who work in Catholic healthcare systems,” said Fran Ross, the National Catholic Health Care Week project lead. 

“It was an opportunity to celebrate and showcase, but also to reflect on a lot of the challenges in healthcare and society right now. We felt this theme really helped us focus on honouring the dignity of every person while participating in shaping our shared life and seeking justice with courage and humility.” 

While Catholic healthcare serves over 5 million Canadians each year and has a legacy dating as far back as 1639, with the arrival of various  congregations of religious sisters, it can often be overlooked just how big a footprint Catholic healthcare has had on Canada's current high-quality, integrated system. 

As highlighted by John Ruetz, president and CEO of CHAC, the mix of an evolving legacy with a sustained presence has allowed Catholic Health to go from building hospitals to touching nearly every aspect of healthcare while not losing its grounding in Catholic social thought.

“ There are a lot of mental health and addiction organizations that have a Catholic identity and were asked to take leadership because of our long history of proving that we can respond to major unmet needs for the most vulnerable people. While these people have changed over the years, our care has not,” Ruetz said. 

“We’re not only celebrating the more classic institutions like hospitals that have been around for a long time, but we're thinking about what the need is today as well. It’s the same thing that the first sisters did,  but today it’s more upstream, areas like affordable and supportive housing, care for the aging and palliative care, all over the spectrum.” 

Advertisement

CHAC provides toolkits and resources complete with stories, social media guides, reflections and prayers in both English and French during the week, with Ross emphasizing its appeal in parishes, dioceses, schools and even with elected officials as more organizations begin to recognize National Catholic Health Care Week.

Various local examples of uptake during the week of reflection include special masses in continuing care centers, school initiatives like pandemic-era thank-you notes from Alberta students and diocesan video packages. The Catholic Women's League specifically has helped in the distribution of resources throughout Canada and across its many members.

Falling just after the week is the 34th Annual World Day of the Sick, celebrated on Feb. 11, under the theme of “The compassion of the Samaritan: loving by bearing another’s pain.” The commemoration, originally established by Pope John Paul II in 1992, encourages prayer and compassion for the sick, their families and caregivers. To Ross, the timing makes for a perfect synergy between the two. 

“It’s another reminder of the work being done in getting people to reflect on their own health and that of their communities, and the week prior helps to set the stage for what the intention of World Day of the Sick is all about — they have different purposes, but they have the same spirit,” she said. 

Ruetz, too, sees something of a beautiful dichotomy between the big picture being celebrated before a moment of pause and reflection on the much-needed continued work Catholic healthcare faces day to day. 

“ The celebration week isn't only about people who are sick, but all the great things that we're doing to keep people healthy. That leads really nicely into World Day of the Sick, as we need to remember there are people who need us. On the heels of everything we're doing to celebrate, it is ideal to also pause and think about the people who need that care and the caregivers who are at their side,” he said. 

The Catholic Health Alliance of Canada’s tools and resources remain on their website year-round, and can be accessed at https://www.chac.ca/en/national-catholic-health-care-week/. 

Advertisement