CCMA Breakfast with the Bishop

A message from CCMA - submitted by Dr. Monique Withers: 

The CCMA ( Calgary Catholic Medical Association ) was honoured to host a very informative Bishops Breakfast on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Heritage Park. It was good to see so many people at the breakfast. The need for in-person social contact was so high that after the three-hour Breakfast was concluded, some attendees kept on socializing on the Heritage Park Plaza.

56 attendees were able to meet and mingle around a talk given by our beloved Bishop W. McGrattan. The topic chosen by the Bishop was: 'Social Media and wise use of computer-generated stories, data and opinions.'

This was a timely topic as we are trying to regroup after the lengthy Covid lockdown. For many people, the Covid lockdown is a 'thing of the past.'  However, healthcare workers are still dealing with the aftereffects of the Covid pandemic.

These effects include burnout and the loss of a healthy daily rhythm of rest and contemplation.  Contemplation and reflection are needed to wisely use all the information that is now available at a fingertip through computer programs, phone apps, etc.

The Bishop provided some examples of activities that promote daily Prayer and other activities to assist in healthy choices and decision making. God is a good Father and always provides us with good gifts.

This breakfast was an example of one of these gifts through the timely advice given by our shepherd, Bishop William McGrattan. The Bishop highlighted the need for the right spiritual disposition to use the internet and computer generated data in Healthcare. We need to stay focused on the dignity and personal needs of our patients.

The Canadian Bishops as well as the Vatican have published on this topic, "Pastoral Letter on Social Media."
https://www.cccb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Pastoral-Letter-on-Social-Media_EN-2024-01-22.pdf

For the CCMA Executive, the effects noted in the week or so after this breakfast have been very encouraging. A Health Science student was able to use the Bishop's talk to write a paper for a mandatory paper. A Christ-centered physician was pleased with the clear message that physicians are meant to be healers, not technicians providing consumers with ' health products.' One attendee found that the information from the Bishop's talk made it easier to participate in a discussion on this topic at another Catholic meeting.  

It was good to see the students at this breakfast. They are our future and need to become ethical users of the computers we use in our daily lives. Some of the conversations with and comments from medical students at the breakfast were used by the CCMA President when communicating with the College of Family Physicians of Canada in the last couple of days..   

We may sometimes think that Calgary is an isolated region in Western Canada. However all Healthcare providers are connected throughout Canada by the actions of the Holy Spirit. Wise use of the internet and computers will keep these connections vibrant and healthy.   

Anyone who is interested in learning how to stay focused on the Dignity of each Person created in the Image of Christ in this computer age is welcome to attend a Canadian Christian Healthcare Conference this June in Winnipeg. More info