tvc.dsj.org | February 5, 2019
COMMUNITY
7
Do you have an Advance Directive? – It’s a legacy of love…
By Kathy Fanger
Our January article, “This Year,
Resolve to Plan Ahead,” stressed that
end-of-life planning deserves your
restful, intentional focus. Having plans
in place, with your wishes known,
avoids your loved ones having to
guess what should be done, often in
a crisis situation. You lift them of po-
tential guilt, arguments and financial
burdens.
What a generous gift of love! They
will be so grateful to you.. What
better time than February, a month
associated with love, to accomplish
your Advance Directive, Estate Plans,
burial property and communicat-
ing your desire for Catholic Funeral
Services.
Do you have an Advance Health
Care Directive (AHCD)?
An AHCD is a critical legal docu-
ment which every person 18 years
and older should complete. An AHCD
allows you to control the types of
medical procedures you want pro-
vided or withheld in the event of an
incapacitating illness or injury when
you cannot communicate for your-
self. Medical treatments are never
required.
An AHCD allows you to designate
a person(s), or agent, who will make
sure that your wishes are carried out.
This person might be a completely
different person than the one you
choose to attend to your financial
matters. Ask their permission. With-
out an AHCD, the courts or others may
have the power over such decisions.
Educate yourself about Palliative
Care medications used at end-of-life
that keep people aware, but out of
pain. Discover what artificial nutri-
tion and hydration, CPR, other medi-
cal treatments, and the POLST are
used for and when they are a bridge to
restore health. Attend our workshop:
Questions at End of Life – A Catholic
Perspective. Your health care agent(s)
may always contact a priest for guid-
ance when faced with a difficult deci-
sion on your behalf.
Cindy Safe, former Executive Di-
rector and founding board member
for Coda Alliance, has given Advance
Directive workshops for the past 16
years. People often express that they
don’t know how to begin the discus-
sion with their loved ones.
Coda Alliance developed GoWish,
a deck of 36 cards, that helps you prior-
itize your end-of-life wishes, such as,
“to say goodbye to important people
in my life,” “to prevent arguments by
making sure my family knows what I
want, “ “to be free from pain,” “to be
kept clean.” You may add other faith-
based ones: “to receive the sacrament
of the Anointing of the Sick.” Play
GoWish online or purchase a deck of
cards (available in multiple languages
at www.codaalliance.org) or at our
workshop.
After your Advance Directive is
completed, signed and witnessed,
be sure to have conversations with
your appointed agents and your loved
ones about your end-of-life plans and
give copies to your doctors, agents
and family members. Read over and
update every few years.
Catholic Cemeteries staff is happy
to meet with you and assist you at no
charge with your end-of-life plans –
always in alignment with Catholic
Church teachings. Make February
your month to accomplish your legacy
of love.
To receive our free Legacy Plan-
n i ng Gu ide – a c ompr e he n sive
step-by-step booklet to document
important end-of-life information,
or make a free appointment, call
(650) 428-3730 or visit www.ccdsj.org.
Upcoming Workshops
Planning a Catholic Funeral Mass
February 6, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Holy Family Parish – Community
Center, 4848 Pearl Ave., San Jose
Presenter: FatherChristopher Bennett
At this hands-on workshop, you
w ill lear n t he basic elements of
planning a funeral Mass or memo-
rial service for you or a loved one.
FatherBennett will share scripture
readings and music selections that
may have special meanings to you.
Begin to document your wishes for
participants and selections.
Anointing of the Sick Presentation
followed by the Sacrament
February 16, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Saint Joseph of Cupertino Parish
Community Center
10110 N. DeAnza Blvd. Cupertino
Facilitator: Monsignor Joseph Milani
Learn about this comforting sac-
rament which gives strength and
graces. Offered to baptized Catholics
in need of healing i.e. preparing for
surgery, serious/ongoing condition,
frail in old age, suffering from de-
pression. May be received more than
once. You need not wait until death
is imminent.
Parish Bereavement Ministers’
Training SPRING 2019
Bridging the Gap with Hispanic Com-
munities*
February 21, 28, March 7, (Skip 14), 21,
28, April 4; make-up for one missed
class on April 11,
Classes 7 – 9 p.m.
The Chancery, Diocese of San Jose
1150 North First St. Suite 100, San Jose.
The ministry of consolation de-
pends on fait h, compassion a nd
prayerful presence. This in-depth
training and enrichment series is
for parish staff, clergy and volun-
teers. Focus includes the grief pro-
cess, effective communication, and
models of parish consolation pro-
grams. *Course materials provided
in English and Spanish. RSVP by
February 14 to (650) 428-3730 x510,
[email protected]
SOLACE – Soul + Grief
Mont h ly Drop -i n Gr ief Suppor t
Group grounded in spirituality and
faith
February 27, 7 – 9 p.m
(4th Wednesay each month)
O’Connor Hospital Chapel
2105 Forest Ave., San Jose.
Parking in the back lot, right of main
entrance.
Facilitator: Candee Lucas, M.A.
Pastoral Ministries. We hope to create
a sacred space for you to share your
grieving. No RSVP necessary. Free.
Sponsored by Catholic Cemeteries
and O’Connor Hospital.
Cathedral Docents Seek Additional Members
Do you enjoy meeting new people?
Do you enjoy encounters with visitors
from around the world? Would the
opportunity to share with others the
rich history, the unique architecture
and the art treasures of Saint Joseph
Cathedral appeal to you?
If so, the docents invite you to
consider joining them by attending an
orientation meeting on Wednesday,
March 13, at 1 p.m. at the Cathedral
Parish offices.
The Docent Association of the
Cathedral Foundation is seek ing
additional volunteer docents from
across the Diocese to guide tours of
the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph,
providing an enriching experience for
downtown visitors. Newly trained
docents would be assigned at the
Cathedral with veteran docents, one
or two days a month, to conduct tours
for drop-in visitors. Docent hours for
visitors are Tuesdays through Fridays,
from 1 - 3 p.m.
Docents are also available to make
presentations to prescheduled tour
groups of grade school children, par-
ish organizations and a variety of civic
groups. Typically, docents spend about
4 hours a month in the cathedral.
In their role, the docents assist the
diocese in its goal to preserve the his-
tory of this central place of worship
and introduce the community to the
beauty of our Cathedral. The docents
gather quarterly for a general meeting
and potluck lunch. They share with
the other docents the experiences
they’ve had with a wide variety of
visitors and gain more information
on the church and diocese.
At the December meetings, they
are joined by the Bishop for a catered
luncheon.
In addition to learning the rich
history of the Cathedral and its art
and architecture, new members will
be given guidance on conducting
tours. The 1 p.m. orientation meeting
on Wednesday, March 13 will be held
in the parish office meeting room on
the 2nd floor of the Cathedral Par-
ish Building, 80 South Market St. in
downtown San Jose. A series of four
required training sessions will be
conducted on Wednesdays, March
20 and March 27 and continuing on
April 16 and April 23. All training
sessions will start at 1 p.m.
For further information or to sign
up for the orientation, call Nina
Tranchina at (408) 283-8100, ext. 2210
by March 8.