CANCER SHRINE TO OPEN IN MESA

First of its kind in Arizona

MESA, Ariz. – (November 6, 2009) The dedication of the St. Peregrine Shrine – Arizona’s first 24-hour Adoration Chapel devoted to serving families of all faiths affected by cancer will take place with Bishop Thomas Olmsted at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, November 14, 2009 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1551 E. Dana Ave, Mesa.
The free standing 2,400 sq. foot gold-domed shrine will hold up to 70 people and will be open 24 hours a day for prayer. The shrine is devoted to serving families of all faiths affected by cancer and offers emotional and spiritual support, cancer resources, education, outreach, wigs, treatment supplies, and medical equipment loan all free of charge. Staffed by volunteers trained by the American Cancer Society, the shrine will ensure that families affected by cancer have support in all areas of their cancer journey.
“A cancer diagnosis can be very complicated. It may bring with it grief, changes in lifestyle and appearance, spiritual concerns, financial concerns, physical changes, and a great sense of powerlessness. The shrine wants to help families affected by this disease cope with the diagnosis and everything that comes with. We fully expect miracles here.” said Shrine Director, Melissa Veselovsky.
Veselovsky’s words are echoed by a National Cancer Institute study on spirituality and cancer care that found “spiritual and religious well-being may be associated with improved quality of life in the following ways: reduced anxiety, depression, and discomfort; better adjustments to the effects of cancer and its treatment; increased ability to enjoy life during cancer treatment; feeling of personal growth as a result of living with cancer; and improved health outcomes.”
“If we can help people cope with cancer by supporting them emotionally and spiritually – we should see more people surviving cancer.”
The St. Peregrine Chapel is named after St. Peregrine Laziosi, a thirteenth-century monk that was miraculously healed from cancer.
For more information, contact the Chapel Director at 480-844-4493 or www.cancershrine.org or www.cancershrine.blogspot.com on the internet.