Joline Belliveau, National Chairperson of Service, March 31, 2025
FOR: Provincial Presidents and Secretaries
CC: National Officers (for information), National Life Member Liaison
The Jubilee Year of Hope 2025: A Call for Renewal and Compassion
Jubilee 2025, proclaimed by Pope Francis, emphasizes hope, renewal and works of mercy. The “12 Hours of Prayer for Palliative Care” Kit, available on the national website, reflects these words. The national chairpersons of faith, service and social justice combined their skills to emphasize Pope Francis’ theme, Pilgrims of Hope, through prayer and resources and to describe why palliative care is the only option. I hope members will again benefit from the kit, a strong tool to use at any time of the year. So much work has gone into the kit over the years, and great efforts have been made to keep the wording and information current.
The kit contains plenty of suggestions for councils and members. This year, stations of the cross have been added, including A Physician’s Way of the Cross and The Way of the Cross Today: Reflections on Suffering in Sickness and Dying. Examples of palliative care prayers, reflections on how to lead the luminous mysteries, and prayers and reflections for caregivers, healthcare workers and the sick are incorporated. The kit also includes facts about palliative care and information about what palliative care is not. The focus is on palliative care—not medical assistance in dying.
National Hospice Palliative Care Week (May 4–10)
The theme for National Hospice Palliative Care Week is Palliative Care is For You. It highlights how palliative care provides personalized support to individuals with serious illnesses, their families and caregivers, helping them navigate the illness journey with guidance akin to the North Star.
Key points include:
- Palliative care benefits people with serious illnesses, regardless of prognosis, and supports those grieving or caring for loved ones.
- Palliative care focuses on addressing needs based on what matters most to individuals and families.
- Simple, one-page information sheets are available to explain the “what, when and where” of palliative care to make discussions easier and more accessible.
The theme calls for raising awareness and improving community access to quality palliative care. Visit the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association website for more information.
Your sister in the League,
Joline Belliveau
National Chairperson of Service