Theology of the Body Event at St. Bernard’s!

From Dr. Kuhner

I am excited to invite you to a unique event for teens and parents on the topic of Theology of the Body and Fertility Awareness, taking place at Saint Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry! Recognizing the ever-increasing challenges posed by cultural trends, a highly qualified team of medical professionals and catechetical leaders will provide an evening of education and discussion, firmly grounded in the teachings of the Catholic Church, that will explore the significance of our sexuality within God’s plan and what it means to live free and healthy lives with regard to our sexuality and fertility.

WhatFully Alive! Health and Freedom: Understanding the Body. An Introduction to Theology of the Body, Health and Fertility Awareness

Who: Fr. Peter Van Lieshout (Pastor, St. Peter’s Parish)

Mrs. Rebecca Mitrousis (Youth Minister, Church of the Holy Spirit, Penfield)

Mr. David Klosterman (Catholic School Teacher)

Dr. Angela Kristan (University of Rochester Medical Center)

Mrs. Anne Olek, (Family Nurse Practitioner and Creighton Model FertilityCare Practitioner and Educator)

Dr. Paul Carpenter (Medical Director, Gianna Center of Long Island for Women’s Health & Fertility at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center of Catholic Health Services)

Mrs. Jaqueline Tomko (Board Certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner)

When: Friday, April 26th,  6-9pm

Where: St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, 120 French Road, Rochester, NY

The speakers will address the following questions (and many others):

  • What is the relationship between sexuality and the sacred?
  • Why did God create us as body and soul?
  • What does it mean to live a healthy life with regard to sexuality?
  • How do nutrition and lifestyle affect my body and my fertility?
  • How can learning about how my body and my fertility work help my overall health?

The event will include a taco dinner. There will be a $10 fee per family, to cover the cost of food and speakers.

Please register online before April 24th via the following link: https://www.stbernards.edu/news/fully-alive-health-and-freedom-event/

The Pictorial Evidence of the Passion Seen on the Shroud of Turin

GIORGIO BRACAGLIA

Please attend this unique presentation by Shroud forensic expert Giorgio Bracaglia who will describe evidence on the Shroud of Christ’s four wounds: Crown of Thorns, Scourging, Wrist Wounds, and Pierced Side. Segments of the award-winning documentary on the Shroud, titled “The Silent Witness,” will be shown, and documentary Director David Rolfe will Skype in from Europe to join Giorgio Bracaglia for an interactive Q&A session with the audience.

Thursday, February 28, 2019, from 5:30-8:00 pm
St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry
120 French Rd, Rochester, NY 14618

Light appetizers start at 5:30 pm
Shroud presentation from 6-7: 30 pm
Dessert and conversation until 8 pm.

Link to the flyer for Giorgio Bracaglia’s talk…

President’s Update – June 2018

I am happy to report on the tremendous success of our first ever Conference, which took place last month. The Conference, jointly sponsored by all the Guilds of Western New York, was focused on multiple issues affecting all those who practice the art of medicine while trying to adhere to Catholic principles. Over 100 attendees
were enriched by the insights of our speakers, Father McTeigue, Wesley Smith and Drs. Anne Nolte and Thomas Carroll. We are grateful for their insights regarding conscience protection, spiritual concerns, women’s fertility and end of life care.

The evaluations by those in attendance were uniformly positive. There are no other local organizations, besides our Guilds, positioned to address the many moral issues our Society faces regarding protection of the dignity of each and every human being by our health care delivery system. The audience appreciated our efforts to promote the infinite value of the human person, in contrast to a modern culture that seems to march to a steady drumbeat of the exaltation of personal autonomy and relativism.

We would be remiss if we did not express our sincere appreciation for the support and guidance of our Bishops. His Excellency, Salvatore Matano, Bishop of Rochester, celebrated the White Mass to a full crowd following the Conference. Knowing our mission is centered on the absolute Truth, Way and Life of Jesus Christ gives us hope and strength. Our Bishops remind us of our vision of imitating Jesus Christ in our personal and professional lives.

Mario Dickerson, MTS, Executive Director of the Catholic Medical Association, was invited to address us concerning the mission of the CMA. The growth of the CMA has been extraordinary over the recent past. The organization is positioned to address our concerns on a national level and support the growth of the regional Guilds.

The Finger Lakes Guild is committed to supporting all members of the Health Care community seeking to adhere to Catholic values. This recent Conference was evidence of that commitment. Please keep us in your prayers and be sure to include any future events on your calendars.

President’s Note

Being the first day of a new year, it is natural to reflect on the events of the past year and consider what the upcoming year may bring. The Guild certainly had an active 2017! We sponsored two evening presentations at St Bernard’s, discussing Medical Missions in May and a Catholic perspective on Physician Assisted Suicide in September. Both events were well attended and most successful. We cosponsored Peter Colosi’s talk on Euthanasia in August as well.  Our annual summer Soiree was a most pleasant evening marked by beautiful weather and gracious company. I especially enjoyed being able to introduce our Guild to Physicians, Nurses and Healthcare workers who were not previously aware of our presence in the community.

As you may know, the Guild is a Chartered member of the Catholic Medical Association. The CMA is a national organization that attends to a myriad of concerns on a wider scale than any local Guild could possibly achieve. The CMA sponsors a Mid Year Forum that is focused on building stronger Guilds. I was able to attend this meeting for a second year in a row, and continue to find it a valuable investment of time. The main event of the CMA is their annual meeting, this year held in Denver. The theme was “Medicine at the Service of Marriage and the Family”. The topics addressed were wide ranging, from the Truth of the Human Person to avoiding Burnout to NFP to Bioethics to the Cultivation of a Healthy Society, among scores of other presentations. Fellow Board members Jean Parker and Angela Maupin were able to attend as well and we were able to network with many other Guild and CMA members from thoughout New York State. A highlight during the conference was the announcement that the New York Appellate Court unanimously rejected the argument that PAS is a constitutional right.

Our Guild is always looking to grow in membership and increase it’s visibility in our area.  Our intent is to make our evening programs of interest to our Catholic community, as well as the community at large. We reach out to our Medical Students and Residents, as well as other health care students, to inform them of our presence and serve as a resource to them on their personal and professional journeys. We hope to sponsor a Physician in training to attend the CMA’s Boot Camp this upcoming summer. We have sponsored tables at the Rochester Men’s and Women’s Conferences to introduce ourselves to those audiences.

Our Board is active and committed in the pursuit of making the Guild relevant to our community. I am sorry to say that our Vice President, Ellen Dailor, M.D.. will be leaving the Rochester area for a new position in Florida. We will miss her greatly. I am thrilled, however, to welcome four new members to our Board in the near future. Drs. Angela Maupin, Thomas Carroll and Bryan Stanistreet and Sue Moncynski, RN will bring a healthy, young energy to the Board, which we will all appreciate.

Looking ahead to 2018, I am excited to announce that the Finger Lakes Guild, together with the Buffalo and Syracuse Guilds, will be sponsoring a day long conference entitled “Catholic Perspectives on Modern Day Health Care” this May 5, 2018. We have an outstanding schedule of speakers, including Wesley Smith J.D., Anne Nolte, M.D., Father Robert McTeigue, S.J., PhD., and Thomas Carroll, M.D. The event will take place at the RIT Inn and Conference Center and will include celebration of the White Mass. Please be sure to mark this on your calendar today and look for further information on our Website in the upcoming months.

It has been a privilege to be involved with the Finger Lakes Guild and I look forward to working with you as we undertake new endeavors this upcoming year. For your part, I would ask you to stay involved. Join the Guild (see our website to access the 2018 membership form). Come to our events. Talk to a colleague or student about us. Invite them to join the Guild and attend one of our events with you. And by all means, join us in prayer that the Guild will continue to grow and be successful in all it’s endeavors!

Medical Student and Resident Bootcamp

Are you a Medical Student or Resident looking to deepen your understanding of how your Catholic Faith can guide you in your personal and professional journey as a Physician? Do you wonder how to respond to the challenges extended by your colleagues when the subject of the sanctity of human life is broached?

If so, perhaps we should ship you off to Boot Camp! No, we are not referring to a months long endless program of pushups and 10 mile long runs wearing a 40 pound backpack. We are referring to a one week long program sponsored by the Catholic Medical Association.

The goals are to assist Catholic medical students to:

    1. More fully live and understand the Catholic faith and moral tradition in order to thrive as faithful Catholic physicians.
    2. Develop skills to help organize Catholic support groups within medical schools and residency programs.
    3. Evangelize Catholics and non-Catholics encountered throughout medical training.

The 2018 Boot Camp is scheduled for June 18-24 in Mundelein, Illinois. The Finger Lakes Guild will be proud to sponsor a Medical Student or Resident, so there will be no cost to attend.

Check out more about the Boot Camp by visiting the website of the CMA at Cathmed.org. If you are interested, be sure to contact the Guild. You may use this contact form:

Boot Camp. A great chance to get into awesome (spiritual) conditioning!