NEWS PROVIDED BY
Catholic Healthcare International
Feb. 25, 2026
JACKSON, Mich., Feb. 25, 2026 /Standard Newswire/ — Catholic Healthcare International (St. Pio’s CHI) is proud to announce its First Annual Conference on Unsettled Issues in Catholic Bioethics & Gala, bringing together an extraordinary roster of Church leaders, physicians, ethicists, theologians, and advocates for a faith-rooted examination of the most pressing and unsettled moral challenges in healthcare today. The event takes place March 21, 2026, in Jackson, Michigan.
This landmark gathering will both feature and be guided by some of the most prominent voices in Catholic bioethics, including:
• Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke — Episcopal Advisor to CHI; Former Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura; prominent voice for life and faithful Catholic moral teaching.
• Bishop Joseph Strickland — Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Tyler; founder of Pillars of Faith; champion of the Church’s teaching on human dignity.
• Sister Deirdre Byrne, POSC, MD — Double board-certified surgeon and former U.S. Army Colonel; internationally known pro-life physician; Saint Padre Pio Institute for the Relief of Suffering, School of Osteopathic Medicine (proposed) Board Member.
• Ezra Sullivan, O.P. — Professor of Moral Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas (Angelicum), in Rome; bringing theological and pastoral insight to ethical discussions.
• John A. DiCamillo, PhD, BeL — President of the National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC); a leading voice in Catholic moral teaching.
• Monique Wubbenhorst, MD, MPH, FACOG, FAHA — Senior Public Policy Fellow at the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture, University of Notre Dame; respected OB-GYN and ethics scholar; Saint Padre Pio Institute for the Relief of Suffering, School of Osteopathic Medicine (proposed) Board Member.
• Calvin Robinson — Clergyman in the Old Catholic tradition; commentator, and cultural voice engaging pro-life perspectives in public life; Saint Padre Pio Institute for the Relief of Suffering, School of Osteopathic Medicine (proposed) Board Member.
• Bobby Schindler — President of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network and leading advocate for the medically vulnerable; CHI Leadership Team Member.
• George Mychaskiw II, DO, FAAP, FACOP, FASA — Founding President of the proposed Saint Padre Pio Institute for the Relief of Suffering, School of Osteopathic Medicine; CHI Board Member; anesthesiologist; and Chief Academic Officer at Salud Education.
• Timothy Nelson, MD — Pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish; former cardiologist; pastoral voice for healthcare conscience and moral care; CHI Board Member.
• Jere Palazzolo, MHA — Founder & President of Catholic Healthcare International; visionary for faithful Catholic health care and medical formation.
Together, these speakers represent excellence in medicine, theology, public policy, and the Church’s moral tradition — offering both intellectual depth and pastoral sensitivity.
The conference will address urgent unsettled questions in Catholic bioethics including:
• The moral status and inviolable dignity owed to living human beings conceived through in vitro fertilization and preserved in their embryonic stage of life.
• End-of-life care, ordinary vs. extraordinary means, and faithful accompaniment of the dying.
• The moral responsibilities of caregivers, acknowledging the sacred dignity of those they serve.
• Decision-making in complex neurological and consciousness disorders.
This event offers continuing education credit for eligible participants.
Conference Schedule – March 21, 2026
• Conference: 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location: Commonwealth Commerce Center209 E. Washington Avenue, Jackson, MI 49201
• Holy Mass: 4:00 p.m., Cardinal Raymond Burke, Presiding Celebrant
Location:
Mary Star of the Sea Parish (½ block from the conference center)
120 E. Wesley Street, Jackson, MI 49201
• Gala Evening of Faith, Fellowship, and Mission: 6:30 p.m.
Location:
Commonwealth Commerce Center
209 E. Washington Avenue, Jackson, MI 49201
Attendees may participate in the conference, the gala, or both events. Each offers unique opportunities for intellectual formation, meaningful dialogue, and authentic Catholic fellowship.
“We’re gathering not just for discussion, but for mission,” said Jere Palazzolo. “This conference is designed to equip the faithful to defend the dignity of every human person, in health care and beyond.”
Registration Information:
Details, schedules, and ticketing are available at www.chi-usa.com/bioethics. This conference & Gala promises rare direct engagement with leading Catholic thinkers and practitioners — a formative experience for anyone committed to the Church’s vision for healthcare and human dignity.
Sponsor the Gala: www.chi-usa.com/galasponsor
Media Contact:
Ann O’Reilly
aoreilly@chi-usa.com | 630-220-6550
SOURCE Catholic Healthcare International