World Day of the Sick is a global observance of the Roman Catholic Church held annually since 1992 on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.  The shrine at Lourdes is a major pilgrimage site for people seeking physical healing by drinking from the shrine’s spring and bathing in its waters.  The message of Lourdes goes beyond physical cures to encompass spiritual, emotional and moral healing.

In early February, the Order again assisted in Masses in observance of World Day of the Sick throughout the Western Association.  The Most Reverend Gabino Zavala, retired Auxiliary Bishop of the San Gabriel Pastoral Region of Los Angeles, was the principal celebrant of the Los Angeles area Mass.  The Most Reverend Salvatore Cordileone, Bishop of Oakland, was the principal celebrant at the Mass held at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland.  The Most Reverend Todd Brown, Bishop of Orange Diocese, celebrated the Orange County Mass at Holy Family Cathedral.  The Most Reverend Jaime Soto, Bishop of Sacramento, was the principal celebrant of the Sacramento Mass, held at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.  The Most Reverend Thomas Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix, and the Most Reverend Kevin Vann, Bishop of Ft. Worth, concelebrated the Mass in Scottsdale, Arizona.  The Most Reverend George H. Niederauer, Archbishop of San Francisco, was the principal celebrant for the San Francisco Mass held in the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption.  The Most Reverend Patrick J. McGrath, Bishop of San Jose, was the principal celebrant for the San Jose Mass, held at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph.  The public was invited to all of these Masses.  During each Mass, those in need of healing received the Anointing of the Sick, a sacrament of the Church.  Also, the hands of caregivers were anointed.

Healing and caring for our sick and suffering brothers and sisters is a central mission of the Order.  On this 151st anniversary of the apparitions of Lourdes, it was especially appropriate to invite everyone to pray for the sick, to ask for healing of body, mind and spirit, and to extend our prayers and thanks to all the professionals who dedicate their lives to caring for the sick, be they doctors, nurses, therapists or other health care providers.