Welcome to Catholic Health Association of Manitoba

The Catholic Health Association of Manitoba (CHAM) is a voluntary, provincial association dedicated to the healing Ministry of the Catholic Church. Through its Ministries of education health care ethics, spiritual care, social justice and Catholic ownership, CHAM fulfills its mission.

Our members span the continuum of social services, long term and continuing care, acute care, and seniors’ services across Manitoba. Each year, we strive to foster relationships between our members through regular correspondence along with events such as our Annual General Meeting, special events and conferences.

Through the ministries of education, healthcare ethics, spiritual care, Catholic ownership and social justice, CHAM fulfills its mission of compassionate concern and respect for all persons.

Join the Journey - Body, Mind & Spirit

Spiritual Care Training Series

CHAM is embarking on a new program to expand the ability of CHAM member facilities and parishes to help people understand the aging journey and the role of spirituality in an older person's life. Participants will develop a holistic understanding of an older person and be able to offer quality spiritual care.

Participants would then have the tools to support people who may be frail, alone and lonely either in their homes, long-term care home, supportive housing complex or even hospital.

The training in this program is excellent for staff who work in a care home or hospital, for individuals caring for loved ones in their home or for people who visit with seniors in their homes or care homes.

The training program consists of the following eight segments:

Understanding the ageing process
Spirituality in ageing
Good Communication
The Power of Storytelling
Dementia
A New Home and a New Way of Life
Grief, Loss, Death and Dying
Roles, Boundaries and Self-Care

To view the poster and register for this series, click HERE

"The material presented in the course was not only insightful, but also often personally challenging, allowing a person considering Spiritual Care for the older person to understand not only the amazing possibilities of love and service in this type of care, but also to understand the resulting personal journey for the spiricutal carer."

Brian, Participant

Recent News

CHAC 2020 Conference cancelled due to COVID-19

March 23, 2020

Managing Stress during COVID-19 pandemic

March 23, 2020

•It is normal to feel sad, distressed, worried, confused, fearful and angry during a time of crisis.

•Draw on any helpful skills that you may have used in the past during difficult times to manage your emotions during this outbreak.

•Talk to people you trust, perhaps friends and family.

•If you feel overwhelmed, talk to a health worker, social worker, spiritual health provider, religious leader, community elder, or any other trust person in your community.

•Get the facts about your risk and how you can take precautions. Use credible sources to get information.

If necessary call Health links at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257. You can also source information about covid-19 at https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/coronavirus/index.html

•Employees have counselling services available through EAP. Contact 204-786-8880,or 1-800-590-5553.

•If you must stay at home, maintain a happy lifestyle, (including a proper diet, sleep, exercise if possible, and social contact at home). Keep in touch with family and friends through, email, phone, facetime etc.

•Limit your use of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs to cope with your emotions.

•Limit the amount of time you spend watching, listening, and reading upsetting media coverage.

Practice relaxation exercises (e.g. breathing, meditation, mindfulness, prayer)

•Remember you are not alone. Together we will work together to support one another.

Source: Some material adapted from Source: WHO. Coping with stress during the 2019-nCOV outbreak: Geneva. 2020, page 17, https://sharedhealthmb.ca/files/briefing-note-covid-and-mental-health.pdf

Mindfulness:

Our lives unfold in moments; fully experiencing the moments of our lives helps us find more peace and experience much less worry, anxiety, and depression. Mindfulness involves paying attention to what is happening in the present moment. Let us decide to become aware of our own thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and behaviors. … being aware of the sights, sounds, and smells in our environment, irrespective of what happened yesterday or last year, and what may or may not happen in the future. The present moment is where we always are.

Gratitude:

The practice of gratitude may actually reduce or deter “negative” feelings such as anger, bitterness, and worry. Gratitude helps to dissolve negative f

COVID-19: Cham office closed

March 19, 2020

Although the Catholic Health Association of Manitoba's office at 431 Taché Avenue is closed until late April, the Executive Director will be working from her home office.

Please do not hesitate to continue sending emails to jtmaynard@cham.mb.ca or calling the office number 204-235-3136 that has been redirected to Julie Turenne-Maynard's personal cell number.

Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy
in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may rejoice in your comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.

CHAM Winter Edition Newsletter

January 23, 2020

Please take a moment to read CHAM's current newsletter by clicking HERE.

NEW CATHOLIC ETHICS GUIDE APP

December 17, 2019