Hospital joins forces with community partners to bring Catholic health care ethics conference to Alexandria
CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital has a rich tradition, almost 70 years, in central Louisiana, and Christopher Karam, CEO of CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Health System, is honored to lead the Catholic healthcare ministry. According to Karam, “the Sisters’ wonderful Catholic healthcare ministry has been there for all, regardless of their ability to pay, as patients and their families grasp with often difficult healthcare decisions. As the issues that confront us in healthcare become more complex and often challenge our position as a Catholic healthcare organization, staying current in Church teachings will help us all better live out what God calls us to be.” In an effort to support health care professionals in their service to patients and families, Karam initiated the collaboration between the Diocese of Alexandria, Catholic Physicians Guid of Central Louisiana, and St. John Paul II Foundation to bring the first Converging Roads health care ethics conference to CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital on Saturday, February 29, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. “This upcoming conference is a blessing to our hospital and the Diocese as it gives us an opportunity for physicians, clergy, our associates, and the local communities to grow in the understanding of Catholic bioethics,” Karam shared.
Converging Roads is an inititative of the St. John Paul II Foundation, a national Catholic apostolate proclaiming the Good News about life and family through education and formation. At this conference, health care professionals and chaplains can receive continuing education credits; however, all are invited to attend regardless of profession. On the topic of Health Care and Human Dignity, Converging Roads provides continuing education deeply rooted in the Hippocratic and Catholic ethical tradition and will feature presentations from Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, PhD on “Proportionate Vs. Disproportionate Means and Pain Management”; Natalie Rodden, MD on “End of Life Decision Making and Advance Directives”; Jeffrey Berger, MD, FASAM on “A Catholic Response to the Opiod Crisis”; and more. Father Joy Antony, Chaplain of CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, invites all to “get the most out of several national and local experts at one event.”
When asked, “why should someone attend Converging Roads?” Fr. Joy responded, “By healing the sick, our Lord, Jesus Christ, revealed the kingdom of God to them. Thus, healing has a noble purpose beyond physical cure. The vast majority of our Catholic population and doctors take their faith seriously and expressed their desires to know more about authentic, Catholic teaching on their health care ministry. Converging Roads focuses on how the healing ministry of Jesus Christ can be faithfully carried out on a daily basis.
Registration for Converging Roads is now open, and prices range from $69-$149 based on CME/CNE inclusion. The conference will include seven presentations, a light breakfast, lunch, opportunities to attend Mass and confession, and a wine and cheese networking social. Students (medical, nursing, graduate, and undergraduate) are offered a special rate of $15, and priests in the Diocese of Alexandria are offered free admission. If you are a priest who would like to attend, please email erin@forlifeandfamily.org to register. For registration or more information, visit www.convergingroads.com.