Physician's Order For Life-Sustaining Ministry

CYBERSHELF # 2

The required readings for the month of March brought me to another phase of learning, which allowed me to discover new things concerning the nature of mission and ministry. One of the things that surprised me in this group of readings was the idea on the end of life introduced by the Physician’s Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST).The idea of valuing the gift of life as experienced by those who are terminally-ill is given much importance through this kind of pastoral care. This special expression of compassion and love for those who are sick or even dying is being brought to a different level of understanding in such a way that the patient’s wishes and health condition are given much respect. Through the required readings
He said that, “Jesus’ mission is revealed in his attention to the sick, in his compassion for the crowds who need spiritual and bodily nourishment, in his naming of the children as the greatest, the most important, in the Kingdom.” (125)This thought stirred up a different kind of emotion in me as I continue to discern the various callings or that one special vocation that I am called to do in a lifetime. Again, it poses a huge challenge in me knowing that I have yet to expand and explore my horizons regarding mission and ministry. Likewise, the words of Jesus have always been relevant and compelling for Christians like me, who desire to respond to this call of mission with love. As this year is dedicated as “The Year of Mercy” by the entire Catholic Church, I, too, am greatly challenged to give witness to it as reflected in my encounter with the people that I meet daily in
On the other hand, I find the interview conducted to Msrg. Arturo Banuelas on Creating a Vibrant Church to be my favorite among the required readings because of its theme on empowering the people in the parish who are called in the ministry. As Msgr. Banuelas explained, “The key to a thriving parish is not what goes inside, but what its members are doing beyond its walls.” It is very inspiring to note that the members in St. Pius X Parish in El Paso, Texas are empowered and trained to do their specific ministries to better serve the people. He further stressed that, “building relationships was really important, but I think the major shift came when the people started to see that they were not volunteers but that they were called to a ministry.” As Pope Francis beautifully describes it, “Mission is never the fruit of a perfectly planned program or a well-organized manual. Mission is always the fruit of a life which knows what it is to be found and healed, encountered and forgiven. Mission is born of a constant experience of God’s merciful anointing.” To me, mission is celebrating the gift of presence with other people. This is a dynamic perspective of experiencing and immersing to the ministry in the 21st