February 11th is the commemorative feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and also the International Day of the Sick. It is an opportune occasion to give a thought to the meaning of pain through the light of Catholic faith and, at the same time, to review the Christian role toward our sick brothers and sisters, who are suffering and who are encountering with various difficult situations that might occur and have a negative impact on their living under a healthy environment in every dimension.

Usually both the Universal and local Church will have a special message for this day in order to provide guidelines and seeds of thought to celebrate this special occasion. For this year His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has also given his message with a special highlight when he brings to our attention the special event in the Church, the 150th Anniversary of the Apparition of Our Lady at Lourdes, the International Eucharistic Congress at Quebec, Canada - how they are related with the Eucharistic mystery, the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the redemptive plan and the reality of human suffering.

The Pope's text for meditation has been translated by the Catholic Commission for Health Pastoral Care and are distributed to various Church departments, institutions, hospitals and the Catholic faithful in general.

Other than the aforesaid text for meditation from His Holiness I would like to invite everybody who works in a hospital and those concerned with the sick such as in a parish, elderly hospice, various health centers,etc.,to concelebrate this occasion as follows:

Hospital and Institute Concerned with Health Care: Organize the Eucharistic Celebration for physicians, nurses, hospital staff, health professionals, patients and their relatives, or organize a special religious function for the sick giving respect to the patients of different faiths. Leaflets, folders and relevant activities can also be organized to propagate useful advices and special prayers for this occasion.

Parish and Community: Can join hands with the health related institutions in organizing a Holy Mass for the sick and the elderly in the community, Sacrament of Anointment, or sharing the Word concerning the sick in particular. They can also organize activities or inter-religious function for the sick, or conduct a seminar and talk to create awareness on the importance of health, physical check-ups, etc., as the opportunity may suggest.

Last but not least I would like to invite all to pray for the sick including all the personnel who take care of the sick so that everybody will bravely accept and stay side by side with suffering, that the sick be consoled while they are physically weak, and that all the sick be able to have an equal access to medical care, being respected for their human dignity, especially in the remote area.

Let us pray for one another so that each of us will understand the meaning of life even before we ourselves become sick.

With blessings in the name of Jesus Christ,

(Most Rev. Philip Banjong Chaiyara)
President of the Catholic Commission for Health Pastoral Care