Following a week of reflection and prayer about Catholic health care during National Catholic Health Care Week Feb. 4-10, Bishop Mark Hagemoen will celebrate a diocesan Compassionate Healers’ Mass on the World Day of the Sick, 9 a.m. Sunday Feb. 11 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon.
World Day of the Sick – Feb. 11, 2024:
Echoing the Holy Father’s message, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) also expressed its commitment to prayer and accompaniment of the sick, noting: Pope Francis reminds us of the fundamental importance of human relationships in the process of healing and comforting the sick, referring to the biblical passage from the Book of Genesis, emphasizing that God created man by endowing him with vital relationships.
The CCCB invites all the faithful to adopt the compassionate gaze of Jesus towards those who suffer, are alone, marginalized or rejected. The CCCB encourages all members of the community to take concrete steps to accompany those who are ill and isolated, whether through prayer, visiting a loved one, offering gratitude to healthcare professionals and volunteers, or other acts of solidarity. We trust ourselves to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Health of the Sick, asking that she may intercede on behalf of all and help us to be artisans of outreach and fraternal relationships.
Prayers of the Faithful suggestions for World Day of the Sick:
- For the sick and hospitalized: may they feel the healing power of Christ and find comfort and hope in His constant presence. We pray to the Lord…
- For healthcare workers in our hospitals, long term care facilities and community: may they be a light to others and a testament to Christ’s compassion as they live their faith and care for their patients. We pray to the Lord…
- For those supporting family members: may they find in themselves the generous hands of Christ and the strength to offer healing and hope, especially when more is asked than they feel able to give. We pray to the Lord…
- For those who offer help and support to people struggling with addictions, those in prison and individuals with mental health concerns: may they respond with compassion and creativity as they share healing words and presence. We pray to the Lord…..
- For those who work with victims of crime and domestic abuse: help them cherish the dignity of the people they work with and help them inspire confidence and peace in those who seek their aid. We pray to the Lord….
- For administrators and government leaders: may they work to enact legislation and policies that elevates human dignity, recognizes the common good and reverences faith in God. We pray to the Lord…
National Health Care Week 2024
National Catholic Health Care Week (NCHCW) was marked Feb. 4-10, providing an opportunity to reflcct on our calling as a Catholic community to be vibrant signs of hope in our world.
This annual national week is an invitation to learn more about the role, value and impact of Catholic health care in Canada and to be vocal, informed supporters of Catholic health care and the healing ministry of Jesus in Canada.
Learn more about how Catholic health care is rooted in the gospel and in the legacy of the founding religious congregations by visiting the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada (CHAC) website at: www.chac.ca/en
Through stories, reflections and prayer, all are encouraged to explore how to foster hope and healing in ourselves, our communities and our society: to make life-giving connections, welcome each other in community, foster healing and wellness—body, mind and soul—and find purpose and meaning in our calling and our circumstances.
This year’s theme, “Signs of Hope,” speaks to the courageous gift of Catholic health carrying on Jesus’ healing ministry as a sign of hope in the world and offers words of blessing and hope to each person in their journey to care for themselves or others. It acknowledges and responds to the challenges faced in our communities.
Holding all those who are hurting in our hearts – and grateful for the many Catholics who faithfully serve in formal and informal expressions of Catholic health care throughout our communities – the Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan (CHAS) organizes the annual Compassionate Healers’ Mass each year for Catholic dioceses in the province.
Join Bishop Mark Hagemoen in praying for those who provide care to others in our communities: medical professionals, administrators, caregivers, volunteers and family members. The 2024 Compassionate Healers’ Mass in the diocese of Saskatoon will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 11 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family.
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