What is the Caring for the Whole Person Initiative?

The Caring for the Whole Person Initiative is a collaborative project of the California Catholic Conference (CCC), the Alliance of Catholic Health Care and Catholic health care leaders in California. Leadership includes bishops, Catholic health care executives, and thought leaders.

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The Initiative is aimed at creating an environment in our parishes, communities, and health care systems in which all persons are loved, wanted, and worthy and will be prepared and supported in health and serious illness through the end of life.

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Why did the partners start the Initiative?

The legalization of physician-assisted suicide in California in 2015 and growing national support for similar measures illuminated the need for greater support directed toward people in end-of-life or crisis situations. In particular, the Bishops and Catholic health care leaders in California believed the Church needed to take urgent and decisive action aimed at transforming the way in which society cares for the chronically and terminally ill.

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Accordingly, they launched the Caring for the Whole Person Initiative, a robust partnership to ensure that parishioners and patients are loved and supported; that they can openly talk with their spiritual leaders, clinicians, and family members about their wishes at the end of life; and that they have access to quality palliative care before they suffer needless medical procedures.

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What is the vision of the Caring for the Whole Person Initiative?

The Initiative’s Vision, derived from the health ministry principle of whole person care, is that:

Persons in our congregations, communities, and hospitals are loved, wanted and worthy, and will be prepared and supported in health and serious illness through the end of life.

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What is “Whole Person Care”?

Whole Person Care attends to basic human needs, strives to optimize health, alleviate suffering, bring comfort, prevent injury and illness, and foster physical, functional, emotional, social, interpersonal, and spiritual well-being.

Whole Person Care is applicable throughout the course of life and is made available through the collaborative efforts of health care, social services, congregations, and communities in the context of an individual’s family and home environment.

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How will the Initiative be implemented at The Immaculata? Is this purely a program for people who are sick or dying?

At The Immaculata we take the view that Caring for the Whole Person is a “whole life” practice that supports our parish mission. Our focus is on pastoral care, which is emotional, social and spiritual support. We recognize that the need for pastoral care can arise at different points in life and want parishioners to know their Church is here to help when they encounter challenges.

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With an array of thriving ministries, The Immaculata already has a strong foundation in Whole Person Care. Implementing Caring for the Whole Person provides an opportunity to further reinforce the parish’s goal of providing a spiritual home for all who seek God. Ensuring that parishioners feel spiritually, emotionally and physically supported throughout life will strengthen enhance the vitality of our community as we journey with God.

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Is this a ministry?

No. This is an initiative aimed at strengthening and utilizing our ministries to ensure members of our community feel supported throughout their lives in our parish.

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Because much of the pastoral care offered within our parish takes place within the context of aging, serious illness, death, and grief, we have currently established our Mental Health, Senior Discussion, Homebound and Bereavement ministries as our pillars for the initiative, but undoubtedly most of our ministries will be involved at one time or another.

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In the coming months you will be hearing more about Caring for the Whole Person at The Immaculata and within the diocese.

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What additional resources are available?

We have added a Caring for the Whole Person page on our website, theimmaculata.org. For questions or concerns contact the parish office (619) 574-5700 or The Immaculata Caring for the Whole Person Lead or Nadine Padilla at: Lawpadilla2@gmail.com. Information is also available on the diocese website and at www.wholeperson.care.