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Ministry of Care and Companionship

On Medical Assistance in Dying and Hope in Christ: A toolkit to share our message

71624139 b00d 45d7 9803 e3d78724f96dIn June 2026, euthanasia, commonly known as MAiD, became legal in Canada. This changed the medical and healthcare landscape for all Canadians. For Canadian Catholics specifically, this raises moral questions that lead to difficult conversations or to their avoidance.

To bring greater awareness, understanding, and faithful action regarding MAiD, the Archdiocese created a toolkit titled "On Medical Assistance in Dying and Hope in Christ: A toolkit to share our message". The toolkit equips people to:

  • Understand the current context of MAiD in Canada and Nova Scotia
  • Talk about MAiD with family, friends, and parishioners
  • Understand our Catholic teaching and stance against MAiD
  • Access further resources

The toolkit is aimed at clergy, hospital chaplains, and those in pastoral care; however, it is available to all. The toolkit is meant to be used as a DIGITAL RESOURCE on your computer, tablet, or phone, and can be accessed by clicking the toolkit image to the left.

Many of the links within the toolkit connect to the resource directly, apart from the links below:

Dying with Christ, Living with Hope

Dying with Christ, Living with Hope

 

CCCB Horizons for Hope

In the fall, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) released Horizons of For Hope: A toolkit for parishes on palliative care. The resource aims to:

  • Empower and educate parishioners by addressing questions surrounding palliative care, dying, death, suffering, accompaniment, and bereavement in a holistic fashion.
  • Present high-quality content that explores how palliative care is understood from a perspective of Catholic moral and pastoral theology, medical expertise and the Compassionate Community model.
  • Facilitate meaningful conversations together so that our parishes and families become Compassionate Communities, grounded in the mercy and tenderness of the living Christ.

The toolkit was designed to be used at the parish level and can be used by people wanting to learn more about palliative care and Catholic Church teaching on end-of-life; caregivers; those recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness; family members who need resources and guidance as they journey with a loved one who is seriously or terminally ill; and parishioners and pastoral care teams who want to form a Compassionate Community program.

For more information on this free resource check the CCCB website: www.cccb.ca or click here.

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