“Take My Hand, Not My Life: Living Moments of Grace at Life’s End” is the subject of a symposium Oct. 28, featuring Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla, daughter of St. Gianna Beretta Molla. The day begins at 8 a.m. with Mass at St. Mary’s Chapel, St. Paul Seminary, 2260 Summit Ave., St. Paul.
A continental breakfast and the symposium are from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at James B. Woulfe Almuni Hall, Anderson Student Center, 2115 Summit Ave., St. Paul.
Dr. Molla is the keynote speaker. There will be two panels about end-of-life care and assisted suicide, with local guest speakers. The symposium is organized by Gianna Homes and co-sponsored by the Minnesota Catholic Conference and other Catholic groups. Cost of the symposium is $25 per person. To register or purchase tickets, visit https://www.giannahomes.org/2017symposium.
Dr. Molla also will speak at a gala the night before for Gianna Homes, which provides memory care in the Twin Cities. For information about her Oct. 27 event, contact Anne Marie Hansen at anne@giannahomes.org.
St. Gianna, also a physician, was diagnosed with a large tumor on her uterus when she was pregnant with Gianna Emanuela. She instructed doctors not to remove her entire uterus, which would have aborted the baby, but only what was necessary to allow the baby to reach term. She died seven days after giving birth in 1962.