Single Issue: $1.00 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40030139 CATHOLIC JOURNAL Vol. 94 No. 33 February 8, 2017 Solidarity Bishops address physician-assisted suicide Saskatoon residents have been expressing solidarity By Kiply Lukan Yaworski of the Sick, marked on Feb. 11, the the Catholic Church in pastoral in our respective dioceses and our with the Muslim community Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. care are asked to contact their eparchy for priests and chaplains to in the wake of a deadly REGINA — The Catholic Within the pastoral guidelines bishop for designated resource consult,” explained Bolen. “This shooting at an Islamic prayer bishops of Saskatchewan have the Saskatchewan bishops have persons to support discernment will help us to capture the dual centre in Quebec City. released three documents offering introduced a process whereby “around the pastoral approach to challenge, of responding pastorally — page 3 insights, reflections and guide - priests and lay chaplains faced those who have raised the possibil - to any given situation, while also Study sessions lines about death, dying and pas - with complex pastoral situations ity of physician-assisted suicide, holding firm to the framework of toral care in an era of assisted sui - related to assisted suicide and or regarding funeral requests for church teaching. Rather than issu - The Catholic and Lutheran cide and euthanasia. euthanasia can get assistance in those who have died in this way,” ing a set of very precise directives churches of Winnipeg are Sent to pastors and parishes discerning how best to respond. state the pastoral guidelines. presenting ecumenical study and posted on diocesan and Priests and those working for “We will have resource people — CATHOLIC , page 7 sessions to commemorate eparchial websites, the documents the 500th anniversary include a pastoral letter (“Living Salesians help former child soldiers heal of the Reformation. Through Our Dying”), a reflection — page 3 (“Jesus: the Word Who is Life”), and a set of guidelines for priests, By Junno Arocho Esteves Euthanasia threat deacons and laity providing pas - toral care to the sick and dying. ROME (CNS) — While the Even though medical assis - The three texts were released process of healing and reconcilia - tance in dying has been legal Feb. 6, 2017 — exactly two years tion continues in Colombia after in Quebec for almost a year after the Supreme Court decision 52 years of war, Salesians in the and in Canada for a few that struck down the ban on country are helping some of the months, Bishop Noel Simard physician-assisted suicide and most vulnerable victims of the has not yet come to terms euthanasia. The new reality came conflict: former child soldiers. with this new reality. To him, into effect across the country On the lush green hillsides of medically assisted death when Bill C-14 received royal Colombia’s second-largest city, is just plain euthanasia. assent in June 2016. Medellin, sits Ciudad Don Bosco — page 4 “Priests and chaplains now (Don Bosco City), an oasis of face the possibility that they will peace for young men and women TV series be called to offer pastoral care in who continue to bear — both condemned complex and painful situations physically and mentally — the where people are considering or scars of war and violence. The Catholic Women’s have chosen euthanasia or physi - Two former child soldiers League and the Council of cian assisted suicide,” said Arch - along with Salesian Father Rafael Canadians bishop Donald Bolen of Regina. Bejarano, director of Ciudad Don with Dis- “There is a need and a desire to Bosco , and James Areiza, the abilities have resources and clarity. The home’s program director for child have both guidelines and the pastoral letter protection, were in Rome Feb. 2 condemned are meant to serve as tools to help to present a documentary on some the Global navigate those situations.” of the children’s journey toward TV series In addition to Bolen, the texts recovery and reintegration. Mary Kills were signed by Archbishop Murray The Salesian-produced short CNS/Junno Arocho Esteves People Chatlain of the Archdiocese of film, Alto de Fuego (Ceasefire), COLOMBIA CHILD SOLDIERS — Former child soldiers, Manuel and because they say it seems Keewatin-Le Pas, Bishop Bryan follows the stories of Catalina and Catalina, speak to journalists Feb. 2 in Rome at the presentation of Manuel, two former child-sol - to glamorize euthanasia. Bayda of the Ukrainian Catholic Ceasefire, a Salesian-produced documentary on the process of recovery diers who are slowly rebuilding — page 5 Eparchy of Saskatoon, Bishop and reintegration for former child soldiers of Colombia’s 52-year war. Albert Thévenot of the Diocese of their lives at the Salesian house Indigenous voices Prince Albert, and diocesan admin - after enduring the carnage of joined the guerrilla group FARC, enduring physical abuse by her istrator Rev. Kevin McGee of guerrilla warfare at a young age. the Spanish acronym for the stepfather and an attempted sui- The strategic plan of St. Saskatoon. The documents were Nineteen-year old Catalina — Revolutionary Armed Forces of Thomas More College at the released in time for the World Day her real name kept hidden — Colombia, at the age of 13 after — CHILDREN , page 15 University of Saskatchewan speaks of a duty “to make of Palliative care bill passes to Health Committee STM a truly welcoming community where indige - nous voices are heard and By Deborah Gyapong tive care framework passed the the day after the bill passed sec - Gladu, who was first elected to celebrated,” writes House of Commons unanimously ond reading. the House of Commons in 2015 Christopher Hrynkow, chair OTTAWA (CCN) — Bill C- Jan. 31 and now goes to the “There are a few amendments as the Conservative MP for of the Academic Indigenous 277 calling for a national pallia - Health Committee for considera - that they want to see: one to Sarnia-Lambton, Ont., said she Working Group at STM. tion. include First Nations on the bill carefully consulted across the — page 6 “We’re grateful to MP Marilyn and the second is to make sure aisle with all parties to craft her Gladu for introducing this much- they are clear on provincial juris - bill, and relied heavily on the Sundance needed bill,” said Campaign Life diction and federal jurisdiction findings of the All-Party Parlia - Film Festival Coalition Ottawa lobbyist Johanne issues,” she said. mentary Committee on Palliative Brownrigg. Campaign Life was Gladu acknowledged the Care that released a 2011 report Opening the day before the among numerous groups that sup - Health Committee already has a calling for a national palliative inauguration of Donald port the bill, including the Cath - lot on its agenda, including a care strategy, suicide prevention Trump as U.S. president, the olic Women’s League, the Catho - study of the opioid crisis, and a and elder abuse prevention. timing of the Sundance lic Organization for Life and study of the impact of violent “I would like to congratulate festival — the world’s pre - Family and an interfaith coalition online pornography, but she the member for Sarnia-Lambton miere showcase for indepen - that included the Canadian Con - expects her bill won’t get for following up on the commit - dent cinema, both dramatic ference of Catholic Bishops. delayed. tee’s work with this important ini - and documentary — carried “She knows we support it en - “Palliative care is a priority tiative,” Liberal MP Francis an extra consciousness-rais - tirely,” said Brownrigg. “Hope - and I think you can see from the Scarpaleggia, an original member ing edge that was evident fully the committee recognizes discussion and the all-party sup - of the All-Party committee, told throughout, writes the need for palliative care, now port we got last night,” she said. the House Feb. 1. Gerald Schmitz. more than ever.” “People see this as a priority. We “Unfortunately, it is not within — page 9 “I’m pleased to see everybody have to move. There’s money in federal jurisdiction to give, or CCN/D. Gyapong come together to do the right the budget so I think it’s time for Marilyn Gladu thing for Canadians,” said Gladu action.” — ACCESS , page 4 2 Prairie Messenger INTERNATIONAL NEWS February 8, 2017 Hope is more than ‘wishing for something nice’ By Carol Glatz audience hall. “When a woman realizes she St. Paul, he said, writes words is pregnant, she learns to live VATICAN CITY (CNS) — of encouragement, telling Chris - each day in expectation of seeing Christian hope isn’t about believ - tians to arm themselves against her child’s gaze,” he said. ing in something that may or may the onslaught of doubt and diffi - Everyone needs to learn to live not come true, like hoping tomor - culties by “putting on the breast - each day with this same joyful row’s weather will be pleasant, plate of faith and love and the anticipation — “to live in expec - Pope Francis said. helmet that is hope for salvation.” tation of gazing at the Lord, of “Christian hope is the expecta - This kind of hope, the pope said, finding the Lord,” he said. tion of something that already has has nothing to do with wishing for Learning to live in “sure ex - been fulfilled and that certainly “something nice,” something “that pectation” isn’t easy, but it can be will be attained for each one of may or may not happen.” learned, he said. us,” that is, knowing Christ died “For example, people say, ‘I “A humble, poor heart” knows and is truly risen so that all of hope it will be nice weather to - how to wait, but it is difficult for humanity may gain salvation and morrow,’ but we know that it someone who is “full of himself live together with God, the pope might be terrible weather instead.” and his possessions.” said Feb.