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6 I HEALTH CARE JULY 2, 2014 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER DON'T FORGET TO SAY "THANKS!" DEACON APPRECIATION ISSUE August 13, 2014 The deadline to reserve your ad is August 5, 2014 The deadline for camera ready ads is August 7, 2014 For more information contact Mike O'Neill today at (303) 715-3253 or michael.oneill@archden.org July 1-10 Eight-Day Silent Retreat August 11-20 Eight-Day Silent Retreat September 10 Day of Prayer (9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) September 26-28 Weekend Retreat (Men) October 3-5 Weekend Retreat (Women) October 14 Day of Prayer (9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) 4801 North Highway 67, P.O. Box 185, Sedalia, CO 80135 Phone: 303-688-4198 ext. 122 (information/reservations) Website: www.sacredheartretreat.org BY JULIE FILBY To foster the partnership be- tween Catholic health care insti- tutions and the Archdiocese of Denver, Archbishop Samuel Aq- uila announced the constitution of a new health care commission for the archdiocese. "The commission will offer guidance, oversight and lead- ership in the area of Catholic health care," according to a de- cree signed by Archbishop Aquila and Chancellor David Uebbing March 12, and it will ensure that Catholic identity is "treasured and cultivated." The commission will be chaired by Lynn Grandon, arch- bishop's liaison for health care, program director of Catholic Charities' Respect Life Resources and executive director of Light- house Women's Center. "Our role is going to be one of support, encouragement and education to the institutions and team members," Grandon said, "to really reinforce Catholic med- icine and the 'why's' behind it." The commission will arrange quarterly meetings for peer dia- logue among members that will include Catholic hospital admin- istrative personnel, pastoral care providers, Catholic doctors, and leaders of ethics committees. They will also offer an annual medical symposium on relevant cultural issues to educate physi- cians and other health care pro- viders on challenging health care issues, Grandon said. Members of the commission's executive leadership team were personally chosen and appoint- ed by the archbishop for up to a fi ve-year term. In addition to Grandon, they include: Kathryn Benes, director of Catholic Char- ities' Regina Caeli Clinical Ser- vices; Christian Brugger, J. Fran- cis Cardinal Stafford Professor of Moral Theology at St. John Vian- ney Theological Seminary; Dede Chism, perinatal nurse practi- tioner and co-founder of Bella Natural Women's Care; Marilyn Coors, associate professor of bio- ethics and genetics in the depart- ment of psychiatry at the Uni- versity of Denver; Kari Goerke, instructor at Loretto Heights School of Nursing at Regis Uni- versity and Catholic Charities' board member; and Deacon-Dr. Alan Rastrelli, board-certifi ed in palliative care and medical direc- tor of Divine Mercy Supportive (Hospice) Care. The group is also charged with ensuring the "Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services" issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2009 is honored by employees of Catholic health care facilities in the archdiocese. Julie Filby: 303-715-3123; julie. fi lby@archden.org; www.twitter. com/DCRegisterJulie Group created to support Catholic health care "Each one of us is called to recognize in the fragile human being the face of the Lord." —Pope Francis International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations gathering, Sept. 20, 2013 Catholic hospice Divine Mercy honors Deacon-Dr. Rastrelli, gets fi rst patient PHOTO BY DAVE RICH DIVINE Mercy Supportive Care accepted its fi rst patient this month, two years after establishing a Catholic hospice program. "We are the archdiocesan hospice," said Mark Skender, develop- ment offi cer. Thanks in large part to $71,000 in Catholic Founda- tion grants and other donations, Divine Mercy secured its license last month, engaged clinicians, obtained medical supplies and purchased an electronic medical records system. "The commu- nity is embracing us in ways we could never have imagined," Skender said. "End-of-life care is becoming more secular, but we are bringing Catholic end-of-life needs to our patients and their families." On June 16 Divine Mercy celebrated its successes and honored Deacon-Dr. Alan Rastrelli, medical director, who was key in establishing the hospice, at the St. John Paul II Center. Above: Deacon-Dr. Rastrelli is presented an award from Divine Mercy CEO Kevin Lundy.