The Catholic Church promotes and encourages hospice and palliative care. Many don’t know what hospice care is or when the right time is to begin care. Here are several videos to explain hospice and palliative care. Choose to review some or all videos as time/setting allows.

Catechesis Video Questions

7-12 grade

1. When should we begin our preparation for death? How can we prepare for our own death?
2. According to Catholic teaching what options are permitted and available for people who have a terminal diagnosis
3. According to the Church,  the right to life does not also include the “right to die?” The Church promotes Hospice and Palliative care instead of doctor prescribed suicide and euthanasia; why is this? Why would the Church oppose doctor prescribed suicide?
4. People who request doctor prescribed suicide often cite reasons that they don’t want to be a burden on others, or they don’t want to be limited in what they can do. How can the the people of the Church help such people in difficult situations?
5. What does it say to people with disabilities when others promote doctor prescribed suicide for those who have life-altering injuries or their illness requires them to become more dependent on others?

Faith sharing/Parishioners

1. How does Lent help us prepare ourselves for death? When should we begin preparation for our own death?
2. Has someone you know ever been faced with the choice to end extraordinary means of prolonging the life of a loved one? How did they come to their decision?
3. What can be done for those who wish to end their life because of a terminal diagnosis or severe injury? What does the church have to offer them? What medical treatments are morally permissible?

Parish Leadership/Committees

1. We believe that God alone is the master of life and death. How might your parish pray for strength to sustain and understand and respect the life God gave us to live, even in the midst of terminal illness?
2. How can your parish contribute to providing assistance to those with terminal diagnosis or debilitating injuries/pain?
3. The USCCB website (http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/respect-life-program/killing-the-pain.cfm) offers facts about Hospice-administered sedation for imminently dying patients. Does your parish support the ministry of Hospice as a means of relieving pain and suffering of the terminally ill?

Witness Video Questions

7-12 grade

1. Maggie shares here story about her own cancer story. Where did she get the strength to continue on once her cancer came back?
2. How was Maggie’s father able to give her strength even after he died in her own cancer story?
3. What did Maggie’s father give to his children even though he was unable to do the same things he did before his accident?
4. How was Maggie’s father like Jesus? How were Maggie and her family like Simon of Cyrene?

Faith sharing/Parishioners

1. What lesson did Maggie learn from her father that has helped her with her cancer?
2. What do you think makes it difficult for people when they are injured or diagnosed with a terminal disease?
3. Have you prepared for your own eventual death? Have you discussed your wishes with your family?

Parish Leadership/Committees

1. How can your parish help people like Maggie and her father when they are facing terminal diagnosis or severe injury?
2. What did Maggie learn from her father’s example?
3. How can your parish help others prepare for their death that is compatible with Catholic teaching?

Activity Suggestions

7-12 grade

1. Make care packages for people who are in hospice care.
2. Speak with legislators about the need for improving laws to make hospice care more available for everyone.
3. Contact legislators to oppose assisted suicide and euthanasia that such laws are not passed in the State of Iowa.

Faith sharing/Parishioners

1. Contact your state legislators as a parish promoting end of life care that is consistent with the dignity of each and every life and oppose physician assisted suicide legislation.
2. Talk with one another about your end of life wishes, you fears, concerns, and hopes.
3. Support fellow parishioners or members of the community who are in hospice care.

Parish Leadership/Committees

1. Promote hospice care at your parish by holding events/speakers/retreats that focus on end of life issues and learn about what hospice care is.
2. If you parish does not already have it set up, organize a visitor schedule for parishioners who are on hospice by members of the parish.
3. Contact your state legislators as a parish promoting end of life care that is consistent with the dignity of each and every life and oppose physician assisted suicide legislation.

For whom should we pray for that is facing a terminal diagnosis?

Closing prayer

O God, who willed that our infirmities

be borne by your Only Begotten Son

to show the value of human suffering,

listen in kindness to our prayer

for our brothers and sisters who are sick;

grant that all who are oppressed

by pain, distress or other afflictions

may know that they are chosen

among those proclaimed blessed

and are united to Christ

in his suffering for the salvation of the world.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

(collect from Roman Missal: For Various Occasions, #45. For the Sick; Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.)