National Health Care Week

From February 4 to 10, 2024 we mark National Catholic Health Care Week across Canada, recognizing the important work of Catholic health organizations in our province and across Canada. The week leads into the World Day of the Sick, February 11, a Catholic day of observance established by Pope John Paul II to encourage prayers and reflections for those who are ill and for those who care for them.

At the heart of Catholic health is a deep respect for the intrinsic value and dignity of every human being and a commitment to serving all people, from all backgrounds and faiths— especially those impacted by trauma, stigma, poverty, and isolation.

We pray for care teams who have given much over the past years and continue to walk with all those who are ill, deeply troubled, weary and struggling. We are grateful for our Catholic health ministries as partners in the healing ministry of Jesus, fostering trust, promoting justice and respecting the dignity of every human person—body, mind and soul.

Holding all those who are hurting in our hearts, we ask God to bless the work of Catholic health and we offer our prayers, support, and encouragement for the people of our Catholic health organizations who serve with compassion and courage.

You are encouraged to mark National Catholic Health Care Week with daily reflections and prayers. Please visit the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada website at www.chac.ca

—

This year marks the 32nd World Day of the Sick, observed on February 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

“It is not good that man should be alone”. Healing the Sick by Healing Relationships
is the theme of this year’s letter from Pope Francis

“Let us remember this central truth in life: we came into the world because someone welcomed us; we were made for love; and we are called to communion and fraternity. This aspect of our lives is what sustains us, above all at times of illness and vulnerability. It is also the first therapy that we must all adopt in order to heal the diseases of the society in which we live.”

Read the letter from Pope Francis

“The World Day of the Sick offers us another opportunity to pray for all those who suffer, and to reflect on our commitment to them. The CCCB invites all the faithful to adopt the compassionate gaze of Jesus towards those who suffer, are alone, marginalized or rejected. By working together to counter the culture of individualism and indifference, we can grow the culture of tenderness and compassion in our society. 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. Finally, the CCCB entrusts itself to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Health of the Sick, that she may intercede on behalf of all and help us to be artisans of outreach and fraternal relationships.”

Resources from the CCCB: