End of Life – The Inner life – February, 13, 2025

Fr. Dave Heney joins Patrick to discuss End of Life Issues

  • What is our hope as Catholics as our lives come to a close?
  • (6:22) How can we prepare ourselves for death in our lives?
  • What are practical ways we can prepare for our death?
  • (14:22) Medical intervention for Catholics
  • (19:20) Rudy – Power of attorney for mom. Diagnosed with dementia 5 years ago. went to confession before it kicked in. She doesn’t want us to spend money on her at the end. Where do I draw the line as power of attorney?

(23:44) Break 1

  • (24:52) Why is assisted suicide outside of Catholic teaching?
  • (35:18) Carrie – For somebody who is elderly and having some ailments but not life-threatening, and expressing an interest in suicide, what resources are there to talk them out of it?

(39:58) Break 2

  • Natasha – Can you give recommendations for my 9-year-old who is having difficulty coping with the loss of family members around us?
  • (46:03) Joe – I am a minister of care…bring communion to people dealing with these issues. I’m finding a lot of these people are ‘prayer factories’ and taking time to pray for family, friends, world in general. I have found this astonishing and something to hold up in this society that sees people as disposable.
  • What is the impotence of the Funeral Mass?

Resources:

Patrick Conley was born, raised, and baptized in Wisconsin in a Protestant tradition. After meeting his wife, Kendra, through an Evangelical ministry at the University of Minnesota, they entered the Catholic Church in 2010. They listened to Relevant Radio, specifically The Inner Life, while preparing to enter the Church. Conley now holds a degree in theology from Oxford University and has served the Church in both academic theology and grassroots pastoral ministry. Conley teaches religion classes in a Catholic elementary school, serves as his parish Director of Religious Education, and is in formation for the permanent diaconate. He also hosts Practicing Catholic on Relevant Radio, exclusive to the Minneapolis area’s airwaves, and is a traveling presenter for the Catherine of Siena Institute apostolate. He lives in rural Wisconsin with his wife and their bulldogs, Georgie and Bingley.