St. Anthony’s hosts string of talks
The B.C. Catholic
End-of-life issues are at top of mind for some members of St. Anthony’s Parish this Lent.
The West Vancouver community is hosting talks on assisted suicide, palliative care, and other topics during this solemn season.
“It’s been such a hot-button topic,” said organizer Suzanne Latta, a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Women’s League.
Interest has spiked since the Supreme Court ruling on assisted suicide. Latta said it is also timely because a new Centre for Palliative Support has opened recently in North Vancouver.
“We’re promoting the importance of palliative care,” she said. “We need more support across the country.”
Every Thursday this Lent, a guest is giving a different perspective on dying and caring for people who are dying, from Feb. 11 to March 17.
Speakers include Marylene Kyriazis, a co-founder of the Paul Sugar Palliative Support Foundation; palliative care physician Margaret Cottle; the Cascadia Society’s Ruth Tschannen; and Sister Angela Marie Castellani, FSE.
These presentations can help people in the community “be prepared for the inevitability of death,” said Latta. She worries too many “wait until it’s too late to talk about things in the family.”
This is the third consecutive year the CWL group has put on this series of presentations on end-of-life issues. Each afternoon event begins with homemade soup and buns at noon. The speaker takes the microphone at 12:30.
“It’s educational, and combined with fundraising,” said Latta. Admission is $5, with the funds supporting the recently opened Centre for Palliative Support as well as the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.
About 50 people have attended each of the first two sessions. Latta invites parishioners and community members to attend. More information is available at the parish office: 604-926-6881.
