Bp Ricken: Faith and end-of-life decisions

Recently I had the opportunity to be in communication with Jen Bolen, the mother of Jerika Bolen. Jerika is a 14-year old girl from Appleton who has type 2 spinal muscular atrophy, a terminal condition that is slowly shutting down the motor nerves of her body. Jerika’s mother and grandmother have cared for her with so much love since she was diagnosed as a small child.

This summer, we learned of her condition through news reports after she decided to enter hospice and embark into a summer of doing many of the things she has always wanted to do. She plans to remove the ventilator that helps her to breathe toward the end of summer. We pray for the Holy Spirit to offer guidance, comfort and wisdom to the Bolen family as they journey together through August.

This situation makes us pause and reflect on how our faith plays an active role in our decisions regarding end of life. The Catholic Church has always been deeply rooted in its belief that all life is sacred, social and eternal. Death is a natural part of life, a very special part that brings us into final union with our Creator for eternity.

continue at The Compass

Pro-Life Wisconsin offers help to be ready for medical decisions

As we wind down the year, we seem to hear of more and more people who are dealing with illness and hospitalization. One of the first questions asked of a person as they are being admitted is, "Do you have an advanced directive?" This is far from an ideal time to be scrambling to obtain the most acceptable form and to try to fill it out in accordance with our Christian faith. It is much better to have a carefully filled out and signed advanced directive in hand or on file. Conscientiously planning ahead, or reviewing and possibly changing an advanced directive you might have filled out years ago, is critical for your wellbeing.

The Church lovingly gives us very specific guidelines as to what is morally acceptable in medical decision making. Pro-Life Wisconsin has spelled out many of these principles in a set of easy to understand pamphlets.

Some of the titles read "Advanced Directives for Healthcare," "Feeding and Hydration," "Get a Grip on the Grammar," "Persistent Vegetative State," and "The Money Factor".

Even more importantly, Pro-Life Wisconsin offers a protective Power of Attorney for Healthcare document for you to record your advanced directives in accord with your faith. Both the Power of Attorney for Healthcare and the pamphlets are available at no charge at ProLifeWisconsin.org under "Medical Decision Making," or by calling 262-796-1111. Pro-Life Wisconsin also offers, through our speakers bureau, a brief workshop on how to fill out the Protective Power of Attorney for Healthcare document.

It is strongly advised that anyone 18 years of age or over have this critical directive filled out. Never hesitate to call with questions. Be prepared to safeguard God's precious gift of life.

In Christ,
Peggy Hamill

via Pro-Life Wisconsin 

Cardinal George to speak in Eau Claire Oct 28th at “Excellence in Ethics Symposium”

Cardinal George, by the way, will be in Eau Claire on October 28! He is the lead-off speaker at the “Excellence in Ethics Symposium” at Sacred Heart Hospital from 10:00 until 2:30. Jacky and I have already registered. The $25 registration fee includes lunch, and the food is always so good there, just so you know. Besides Cardinal George, Jesuit physician Myles Sheehan will speak on end-of-life issues like “Which types of treatments are acceptable and which are not? Where is the meaning in the pain and suffering of dying?” To inquire or register, you can call our own Mary Ellen Bliss at the Center for Spiritual Care, 715.717.6594. With the Cardinal himself in the process of dying, this event should be profound.

St. James the Greater Parish (ahem "Where All Are Welcome") - Eau Claire

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HT MT

NPR: The Town Where Everyone Talks About Death

Home sweet home.

George Phillips has his death planned out. His wife Betty has planned hers. They have filled out an advance directive, outlining how they want to die.

Their neighbors across the street have filled out the same paperwork, as has the family next door. In fact, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, you're unusual if you don't have a plan for your death. Some 96 percent of people who die in La Crosse have an advance directive or similar documentation. Nationally, only about 30 percent of adults have a document like that.

In this community, talking about death is a comfortable conversation — neighbors gossip about who on the block hasn't filled out their advance directive.

It's become such a comfortable conversation basically because of one guy in town. Bud Hammes works as a medical ethicist at a local hospital called Gundersen Health System. For years, he was called when someone's dad had a stroke, was in a coma, on machines. Bud would sit down with the family and try to help them figure out what to do next. And every time, he says, the discussion was excruciating.

continue at NPR

End-of-life issues to be discussed at event in Janesville

JANESVILLE -- The Janesville Catholic Churches’ Respect Life Committee is inviting everyone to “Holy to the Last: End-of-Life Issues and the Mind of the Church.”

The event will be held Sunday, Jan. 26, at 1:30 p.m. at the St. Patrick School auditorium in Janesville.

It is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served.

Presentation by Mother Julie

The informative presentation, by Mother Marie Julie Saegaert, superior general of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of the Church, will answer many of the ethical questions Catholics have about their own medical decisions and difficult situations regarding loved ones who are dying.

Mother Julie, as she is commonly known, was the administrator for St. Elizabeth Home for the elderly in Janesville for many years. She was transferred to the Motherhouse in Baltic, Conn. and named Superior General of the order in 2012.

continue at Madison Catholic Herald