16 Marian Helper • Fall 2023 • Marian.org ACatholic response to gender ideology. End of life issues. Treating patients mercifully, with dignity. These and many other of the biggest issues facing the Church and the world today were discussed by scholars and medical experts at the 18th annual Divine Mercy Medicine, Bioethics, and Spirituality Conference, held June 7-9 on the grounds of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Organized by the Marian Fathers’ apostolate Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy, the conference is a place where faith and reason meet and mutually enrich each other. Stronger together That’s what brought Paul O’Connor, a physician’s assistant practicing in Maine, to the conference. He explained that he thought this sort of conference is necessary “because all of us, no matter how strong our faith is, are stronger together.” “Anytime you can carry God with you throughout the day, especially amongst colleagues,” he explained, “there’s more strength” and less chance of emotional burnout. Appropriate, since this year’s theme was “Fortitude — A Virtue for Healthcare Professionals.” Fortitude, the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good, is definitely needed at the bedside of the sick and dying. Expert disciples Participants were present both virtually by livestream and in person, gathering from more than 34 states and five countries, drawn by the important formation in both spiritual care for their patients and in best practices in healthcare. Continuing education credits were available to conference participants. Speakers dealt with a range of topics both spiritual and medical. The experts included Dr. George Delgado, the man behind the revolutionary abortion pill reversal; Bishop Robert McManus, DD, STD, of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts; the Very Rev. Chris Alar, MIC, provincial superior of the Marian Fathers; and a long-time friend and collaborator with the Healthcare Professionals’ work in Ukraine: Kristin Robinson, Kansas City executive director, Project C.U.R.E./Franciscan Mission Warehouse. Aid to Ukraine Kristin explained that, from 1985-2020, Sr. Andrea Kantner, OSF, founder of the Franciscan Mission Warehouse, and Dr. Bryan Thatcher, Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy (EADM) founder, worked together to send containers around the world with medical and other supplies to people in need. In 2020, Franciscan Mission Warehouse merged with Project C.U.R.E., which had been founded in 1987 to address the staggering shortage of medical resources around the world. Since its humble beginnings in a garage in Colorado, Project C.U.R.E. has become the world’s largest distributor of donated medical supplies, equipment, and services to doctors and nurses serving the sick and dying in more than 135 countries. Please visit Marian.org/Ukraine to make a donation for Ukraine relief. One-hundred percent of funds received are sent directly to those in need through our Marian priests in Ukraine and Poland. Because shipping via container is more cost effective, monetary donations are preferred rather than sending medical supplies. Please know that boxes previously sent to the Marians or the EADM office were sent to Project C.U.R.E., and will be on future containers. Visit TheDivineMercy.org/healthcare to learn more about past conferences or to become a member of the Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy. ‘Carrying God with you’ By Chris Sparks Healthcare Professionals tackle hot-button issues
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