Adelaide: A public gathering in Adelaide has offered a thoughtful and compassionate exploration of end-of-life care from a Catholic perspective, drawing around 30 participants to Cathedral Hall for an evening of reflection, education, and discussion.
Titled “Understanding Palliative and End of Life Care: A Catholic Perspective,” the presentation focused on affirming the inherent dignity and value of every person, particularly during the final stages of life. The event, held earlier this month, was jointly organized by the Adelaide Archdiocese’s Embrace Life program and Calvary Healthcare.
Speakers emphasized that a clearer understanding of high-quality palliative care can ease fear and uncertainty for patients and their families as they approach the end of life. Mark McCarthy, Regional Director of Mission at Calvary Healthcare SA and NT, said that when people are properly informed about what palliative care offers, it can help them navigate the journey toward death with greater confidence and peace.
The discussion addressed a range of contemporary challenges, including the pressures of an ageing population, the strain on health systems, complex ethical questions, and the contrast between Catholic teaching and secular approaches to end-of-life decision-making.
Kevin Hardy, Deputy Director of Clinical Services for Palliative Care at Calvary North Adelaide Hospital, also spoke at the event. Drawing on 27 years of experience as a palliative care nurse 10 of those as a Nurse Practitioner Hardy shared personal insights from his work accompanying patients in their final days, highlighting the importance of presence, compassion, and professional care.
The program included a moving video recounting a patient’s journey from the “I Am Living | Talking about life before death” initiative, offering attendees a deeply human perspective on dying and the impact of supportive care.
McCarthy explained that Calvary Healthcare is committed to providing holistic palliative care that goes beyond physical treatment. This approach includes effective pain and symptom management, psychological and emotional support, spiritual care, and assistance for families during a profoundly challenging time.
“Fear of suffering is very real,” McCarthy said, noting that comprehensive, person-centred care can significantly improve quality of life even in the face of serious illness.
Adelaide Archdiocese Vicar-General Fr Dean Marin stressed the importance of promoting broader awareness of palliative care. He suggested that greater understanding of its value and life-affirming approach could help people see alternatives to voluntary assisted dying.
“I believe that if more people recognized the positive role palliative care plays in responding to suffering and death, they would be less inclined to see voluntary assisted dying as the only solution,” Fr Marin said.
The Embrace Life program, an initiative of the Adelaide Archdiocese, seeks to uphold the sanctity and dignity of human life from conception to natural death. Rooted in Catholic teaching, the program aims to educate, support, and foster compassionate dialogue on life issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and palliative care, while remaining non-political in its approach.
The evening concluded with a renewed call for informed, compassionate engagement with end-of-life issues, encouraging communities to support life-affirming care that respects both the person and their journey toward death.