The irony of World Day of the Sick in a time of pandemic is that just when people need the service the most, they’re not able to attend.
‘World Day of the Sick not only acknowledges the suffering of the sick but also challenges the whole Christian community to express its solidarity with them. Through your compassion and concrete solidarity, dear friends, Jesus himself caresses those who are ill.’ — Archbishop Miller’s homily for World Day of the Sick
World Day of the Sick is on Thursday, Feb. 11, and while in past years about 300 people would visit Our Lady of Sorrows in Vancouver for Mass and anointing of the sick, COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings are preventing an in-person service for the second year in a row.
But the director of the Catholic Health Association of B.C. says this year’s observance offers special opportunities, such as raising awareness of people among us who are ill and suffering.
“Here’s a day we all stop and recognize the importance of those who are amongst us who have lost their ability to get around” or who, due to sickness or frailty, miss out on aspects of daily life, said Bob Breen.
“If I could reach out to all parishioners … I would say to think about somebody who is elderly or frail. You can’t visit them now, but if you know who they are and have their number, give them a call and tell them you were thinking of them today.”
World Day of the Sick was established by St. John Paul II about a year after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The CHABC has been promoting the annual day of prayer and awareness in British Columbia for the last decade.
Breen hopes all parishes will get on board this year by preaching at livestreamed Masses and sharing resources at Catholic schools about the importance of prayer and action when it comes to people who are ill.
“We have a chance to raise awareness about how important it is to recognize those who are suffering, are frail, and maybe reach out and do something.”
Besides giving them a call, cleaning their yard, or offering to pick up groceries, Catholics are also invited to pray for them. People experiencing illness (or their loved ones) are invited to submit their names online for prayer. The list will be shared with Archbishop J. Michael Miller, who will say Mass for all of their intentions at Holy Rosary Cathedral Feb. 12 at 12:10 p.m.
“We are expecting a lot of names,” said Michele Smillie, a coordinator at the Ministries and Outreach Office.
Those who include the name of their parish in the online form will also have their name sent to their parish for prayer on World Day of the Sick, Smillie said.
Meanwhile schools are being encouraged to tie World Day of the Sick into their activities by reading Scripture and writing letters of hope to people who are ill or to caregivers and first responders. In younger grades, a colouring page of Jesus healing a sick person might do.
“It’s all about getting people at a young age to start to recognize that there are people in our communities, all around us, who should be thought of and not tossed aside” due to age or illness, said Breen.
Pope Francis put it this way in his message for the 2021 World Day of the Sick: “[Jesus] asks us to stop and listen, to establish a direct and personal relationship with others, to feel empathy and compassion, and to let their suffering become our own as we seek to serve them.”
“The commandment of love that Jesus left to his disciples is also kept in our relationship with the sick. A society is all the more human to the degree that it cares effectively for its most frail and suffering members, in a spirit of fraternal love. Let us strive to achieve this goal, so that no one will feel alone, excluded, or abandoned.”
It’s a timely message, pandemic or not.
The Mass at Holy Rosary Cathedral will be streamed live Feb. 12 and can be viewed at holyrosarycathedral.org/live-stream. To submit a prayer request, visit beholdvancouver.org/events/world-day-of-the-sick.
