The World Day of the Sick is celebrated every year on the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes, February 11th. In his message for this year’s feast day, Pope Francis commented on the themes of faith and charity. Focusing on those who are sick, caregivers and volunteers, the Pope said: “We thus find ourselves before the mystery of God’s love for us, which gives us hope and courage: hope, because in the plan of God’s love even the night of pain yields to the light of Easter, and courage, which enables us to confront every hardship in his company, in union with him.”
Here at St. Joseph’s Home, we joined together as a family to pray on the occasion of the 22nd World Day of the Sick, mindful of the suffering of those who are sick and of the heroic compassionate efforts of those who follow Christ in the ministry of healing. Visiting from St. Peter’s Church in Itasca, IL, Fr. Slawek Ignasik presided over our Eucharistic Prayer Service.
As a renewal of our dedication to serve with dignity and Christ-like care, each Little Sister and staff member were invited to have their hands blessed and anointed with holy oil from the Grotto of the Nativity in the Holy Land.
In a powerful sign of the Healing Power of the Eucharistic, Fr. Slawek went to each person individually and placed the Blessed Sacrament over our heads. Culminating the prayer service was an invitation to bless ourselves with Holy Water from Lourdes. Leaving refreshed and refueled, we went forth to love and serve each other.
Mary, Health of the Sick, Pray for us.