Mission Statement

The Catholic Health Association of British Columbia is a provincial Catholic organization whose mission is to witness to the healing ministry and abiding presence of Jesus. Inspired by the Gospel, this Association strives to have a universal concern for health as a condition for full human development.

In the power of the Holy Spirit and following the example of our healing Lord, the CHABC has as its principle ministries:

1. to promote respect for the inherent dignity of each person and to reverence that unique experience of life, of sickness and of death,
2. to promote and to stimulate concern for health as a total process including the maintenance, restoration and extension of health as a part of the full development of the human person and of our society,
3. to help develop structures which foster holistic health, respect and reverence for those who are sick, aged, disabled and dying,
4. to mediate or build bridges between the different groups in society that are involved in, responsible for and have an effect on health as a total process,
5. to assist in preparing the contemporary provincial community for the critical health problems of the future,
6. to probe the ethical issues in the life sciences and, in collaboration with the magisterium of the Church, to provide guidelines for action,
7. to collaborate at all levels in assuring that competent and compassionate pastoral care is available in the health apostolate,
8. as an ecclesial community, to be aware and supportive of current social justice concerns, particularly those with health care implications,
9. to intensify the humanizing of health care in cooperation with other groups in society and
10. to stimulate and support research on the fundamental root diseases and crippling illnesses of our society, as well as on methods of health care and its delivery.