Be Not Afraid: Essentials for Interfaith Leaders About Palliative and End of Life Care in Your Community
Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Be Not Afraid: Essentials for Interfaith Leaders About Palliative and End of Life Care in Your Community

A complimentary interfaith conference designed to equip Greater New York faith leaders and health ministry/outreach representatives with practical tools for supporting individuals and families facing serious illness and loss.

Key Event Details

DATE: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
TIME: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Calvary Hospital (1740 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10461)

Lunch served
Optional hospital tour after the conference
Free on-site parking

Please register by April 7th.

REGISTER

Why This Conference

This conference is designed to foster dialogue about faith, family, and the end-of-life journey—and to give faith leaders practical guidance they can use immediately in their communities.

Attendees will leave with:

  • A clearer understanding of palliative and end-of-life care
  • Practical tools for ministering to people facing serious illness and loss
  • Insight into how palliative care can be leveraged across diverse communities
  • A chance to connect with other leaders navigating similar needs

Michael J. Fosina

“The end-of-life journey demands both exceptional medical expertise and profound spiritual support. Navigating end-of-life care requires empathy, understanding and compassion. Our primary goal with this conference is to empower the bedrock of our communities — our faith leaders — with tools and practical knowledge they can apply to interactions with members of their congregations.”

Michael J. Fosina, MPH, FACHE, President, Calvary Hospital

Conference Presentations

Robert Brescia, MD
Understanding Palliative Care
Robert Brescia, MD
Director, Palliative Care Institute and Psychiatric Service, Calvary Hospital
Mary Beth Quaranta Morrissey and Rev. John Anderson
Opportunities of Palliative Care Across Diverse Communities
Mary Beth Quaranta Morrissey, PhD, Esq., MPH
Founder/President, The Collaborative for Palliative Care

Fr. John Anderson, I.V. Dei, BCC
Vice President of Mission Integration, ArchCare
Jessica Nymeyer
Sacred Presence in Serious Illness: Practical Tools for Supporting People Through Illness Uncertainty
Jessica Nymeyer, MBA, MSN, RN, AGACNP-BC, ACHPN
Director, Palliative Care, Calvary Hospital

Event Details

    • Admission is complimentary for faith leaders and lay representatives of faith communities who have health ministry or health outreach roles.
    • Lunch will be served to all attendees.
    • Optional tour of Calvary Hospital is available at the conclusion of the conference.

Questions?
For more information, please email calvaryevents@calvaryhospital.org or call 718-518-2285.

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