Pastoral care is a vital element to any hospital, as workers and volunteers help patients come to grips with their ailments. It takes on a special meaning at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, as the spiritual relationships between ministers and patients tend to grow even after a patient is discharged.

Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston has opened a health center in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Niagara Falls. The $1.6 million project addresses an increasing health care need, providing primary care services to those who are underserved.

A small dedicated group of doctors in Western New York have combined their efforts to bring services and hope to needy individuals around the world through the organization named Hope for Tomorrow.  The founder of the group, Dr. Jeffrey Meilman, started the organization 18 years ago in order to serve underprivileged people who could not otherwise afford costly operations.

Compassion is one thing that every human being needs.  When it is time to choose a nursing or rehabilitation facility, compassion is a quality high on the priority list.  Brothers of Mercy in Clarence is a place that strives to provide adult-residential, health care and rehabilitation services which serve with compassion and support. 
 

Women need to be pampered, especially those going through cancer and other debilitating life circumstances. Pampering does not have to be considered selfish; it is a loving way to take care of the body and soul which provides mental, physical, emotional and spiritual rejuvenation. The physiological response to comfort provides a healing that adds to the recovery process.

Some insightful women at St. Joseph Parish in Fredonia decided to share this valuable information with other members of the community who are going through similar struggles with health and wellness.  They created a day of pampering called Comfort, Hope and Inspiration Day which provided the tools and knowledge people need to take care of themselves on a continuous basis.  They discovered that one of the primary tools in the process of recovery, an ideal way to pamper, is support from others.

 

The recent passage of a health care reform bill by Congress has seen its share of controversy, as Americans have angrily debated the topics for a year now. Even the Catholic Church is not immune to the debate, as the pro-life and social justice wings of the faith have different perspectives on the matter.

Eating well and exercising are key components to a happy, healthy lifestyle and are a part of a well-rounded, holistic approach to life. Employees from the Catholic Center, Christ the King Seminary and Catholic Charities have made a commitment to the Eat Well, Live Well program as a way of improving their overall health and wellness.

Amid the latest clergy abuse crisis that is sweeping across Europe and has even reached the Vatican, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops continues to work closely with dioceses to ensure they are in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People which was implemented in 2003. The policy includes zero tolerance for child abusers.

 The students at St. Bernadette School in Hamburg are enjoying life, becoming healthier and celebrating movement with the Dance Club on Friday afternoons.  The Dance Club was founded by Suzanne Sullivan in the 2008- 2009 school year after she and her daughters, Julie and Jill, came up with the idea in order to help the school establish more after-school clubs.