Plans to transform Outremont’s St. Raphael Church into a non-denominational, multi-ethnic centre to care for the dying include a 12-bed residence and a day program which will be the second of its kind in the province. The day centre will offer pain management, medical treatment, physiotherapy, occupational and psychological therapies, and social activities for patients, as well as counselling, support and relief services for family members.
“The external shell of the (church) building will be maintained more or less as is, but the inside will have to be entirely reconstructed,” said Conrad Pelletier, secretary-treasurer of St. Raphael Palliative Care Residence Inc., the non-profit corporation established in September 2008 to raise the $6 million needed for construction and administration of the project. Pelletier estimates another $2.2 million is needed for the first year’s operating costs.
The origins of the project can be traced back to Fr. Gerald Sinel, who was pastor at St. Raphael for 18 years, as well as chaplain at St. Mary’s Hospital where he ministered to terminal cancer patients. Faced with dwindling Mass attendance and an estimated $1 million in repairs, Sinel proposed converting the property into a palliative care facility to the archdiocese of Montréal. At that time, he was refused.
Sinel died of cancer in August 2007. When St. Raphael ceased to be a fully functioning parish in June 2008, the fabrique, or parish council, established a committee to revisit Sinel’s vision. This time, the proposal was successful.
The project comes at a critical time in the province. On June 12, the Québec national assembly introduced Bill-52, describing it as “an act respecting end-of-life care” designed to support the “right to die with dignity.” If passed into law, it will decriminalize certain forms of active euthanasia.
On the island of Montreal, there is currently only one dedicated palliative care residence.
“Of course, there are other palliative care beds in acute care hospitals,” said Pelletier.
“But this (situation) is not ideal because of the difference in the nature of care and support for these patients and their family. So there is a major need for palliative care facilities.”
The church is expected to re-open as the St. Raphael Palliative Care Residence and Day Centre in late 2014 or early 2015.