Catholic Health Association of Manitoba

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MISSION: Assistance in Living

Coming out of the pandemic, we’ve learned so much about how fragile our social response is to mental health issues, addictions, seniors at risk and about the huge impact of loneliness and isolation. There’s a lot of suffering. It’s so troubling. Right now, we see a rush to provide wider access to MAiD for people in despair—yet we don’t see the same push for universal access to mental health supports, housing, or social assistance. When MAiD becomes the default solution for suffering that’s caused by social circumstance or access to services I/we think we’ve failed as a society. Where is the movement, our collective mission, for assistance in living? This is what we should be focused on. Andwe know we’re not alone in that desire.

  • Canada needs to re-ignite a life-affirming approach to the care and wellbeing of all Canadians based in shared values of the dignity of the human person.
  • Canada’s continued actions to expand access to MAiD have challenged us all, no matter what our viewpoint, to examine our deeply held values and concepts of autonomy, self-determination, equality, and suffering.
  • As MAiD becomes more intertwined with our care systems, these complex issues will continue to take their toll on families, caregivers, and care communities.
  • Experts have also raised concerns about the lack of safeguards, data collection, and oversight of MAiD in the health care system.
  • As the country contemplates the expansion of MAiD for reasons of mental illness, we are at a crucial point with enormous social consequences.
  • We think there is much more pressing issue that should be the focus of our full attention: how do we support those suffering and struggling to live in our country.
  • As Canadians, many of us share enduring values and a vision for a just and caring society: The value and dignity of every human life. Loving kindness and respect. Responsibility for each other. Human rights. A desire for each person’s good and the good of all. The power of community.
  • We need comprehensive approaches to addressing suffering, rather than providing MAiD as the path of least resistance or as a form of harm reduction.

Call to Action

  • We need a social justice response to better support living in Canada. And that takes collective, intentional vision and action aimed at supporting the person in all dimensions…physical, social, psychological, emotional, spiritual.
  • We need a new movement…a new acronym… MAiLMission of Assistance in Living.
  • We are looking for others who have the same fire in their belly…or questions or concerns. We would love to talk some more about what you’re thinking and doing.

  • Contact Us to discuss MAiL in more detail: Julie Turenne-Maynard at admin@cham.mb.ca

 

Sisters Legacy of Care, Courage and Compassion

Several years ago CHAM led an initiative that acknowledged, commemorated, and celebrated Manitoba’s Women religious who have served and continue to serve in our communities. We invite you to click on the following link to learn more, read testimonies, view photos, and appreciate all the work the Sisters have done for people in need since 1844.  www.sisterslegacy.ca 

We invite you to visit the St. Boniface Heritage Garden to view the Sisters Legacy Monument and read the interpretive panels that showcase the amazing work the sisters have contributed towards in the province of Manitoba.

 

This important project could not have been realized without our major sponsors and contributors:

Catholic Health Corporation of Manitoba, Misericoridia Health Centre, Winnipeg Foundation, the dioceses of St. Boniface, Winnipeg & the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, KPMG, Université de Saint-Boniface, Sir Thomas Cropo Foundation, the Province of Manitoba, Francofonds - Fonds Deniset-Bernier, La Liberté, Éditions des Plaines, SRC.