Being Prepared Ensures Your Final Wishes Are Followed

Conversations about illness, death and dying are never easy. 

Whether death comes suddenly or after prolonged illness, most of us are not comfortable discussing our medical wishes or end-of-life plans with our loved ones. However, being prepared ensures that your final wishes are followed. 

It’s important for you and your loved ones to understand the Church’s teachings on end-of-life decisions.

Prior to the global pandemic restricting large, public gatherings, The Catholic Foundation hosted “THE CONVERSATION: A Catholic Perspective on End-of-Life Issues” at St. Rita Catholic Community in Dallas.

Five speakers delivered a series of conversations before a sold-out crowd about how advance planning on your part keeps your family from having to make these difficult decisions.

The following five topics are listed in the order in which they were presented, and you’re invited to watch the entire series of five videos in any order you wish.

•    “Pastoral Care of the Sick and Dying” by Fr. Joshua Whitfield, Pastoral Administrator at St. Rita Catholic Community
•    “Legal Considerations: Ensuring Your Wishes are Followed” by Michael Lynch, a founding member at Malouf Lynch Jackson & Swinson P.C.
•    “Funeral & Cemetery Planning” by Chris Taylor, Funeral Director with Dignity Memorial/Sparkman Group
•    “Charitable Legacy Planning” by Michael George, CFRE, Senior Development Officer with The Catholic Foundation, and 
•    “Principles of Catholic Bioethics” by Fr. Peter Fonseca, M.A., M.S., MDiv. and Associate Pastor and Director of the Office for Continuing Formation for Priests at Sacred Heart Parish in the Archdiocese of St. Louis