Organization: Catholic Health Association of Canada

I was cleaning out some files from my days as a hospital chaplain, and I came across a pamphlet for the Catholic Health Association of Canada. I am presently the diocesan liaison to the charismatic healing ministry, and in that capacity I’ve come to see that there is a difference between “healing” and “health care” ministry. In the former, we pray with authority so that a person might be healed of their woundedness. In the latter, we offer a pastoral presence to those suffering from illness, whether their own or that of someone else. The two go together: while Jesus continues to heal today, for reasons ultimately known only to the Father not everyone benefits from the more dramatic form of healing, and so the pastoral presence is important as well. In addition, because of the socialized nature of medicine in Canada, it is important to have a public voice in the various health care debates our society faces today. In the words found on the back of this pamphlet:

The Catholic Health Association of Canada is a national Christian community committed to health care in the tradition of the Catholic Church. As a witness of God’s healing activity in the world, the CHAC is committed to the promotion of a healthy society in which the love, hope and justice of the Gospel are revealed. Because we see health as a condition for full human development, our Association encourages all activities destined to promote wellness, prevent disease, and cure sickness.

While many of their members are institutional, they also have a category of individual membership. I know there are those out there with a passion for this sort of thing — hope you find this interesting!