World Day of the Sick and Indian Church motivation to “do more”
Bangalore (AsiaNews) – The commitment of the Indian Church to reach out to the sick “is concrete and rooted among the people” but “much more can be done, especially for marginalized, at risk communities”, Mgr Bernard Moras told AsiaNews on occasion of the upcoming World Day of the Sick. The bishop heads the Episcopal Health Commission.
The decision to celebrate this Day on 11 February was taken by John Paul II who wanted to remember sick people on the day dedicated to the Virgin of Lourdes, when it was celebrated for the first time. The theme this year, announced by Benedict XVI on 13 December, is “spiritual and pastoral care for those affected by incurable diseases”.
On this theme, the Archbishop of Bangalore said the Church in India “extends her resources and support to alleviate sickness and pain, stressing a holistic and integral approach to care. The Church is dedicated to healing physical but also spiritual and emotional wounds. However, given the number of congregations and religious institutions, much more can be done to relieve the sufferings of people.”
India’s health situation is “perennially at risk. The vast majority of people live in rural areas in unsanitary living conditions and lacking access to medical resources, often of the most basic kind. The paradox is clear: public spending on health is increasing but at the same time so is the number of sick people. As a Church, we run homes for the aged, institutions for patients with AIDS, hospitals and clinics, and yet it saddens me that much more can be done for the poor and marginalised.”
As Chairperson of the Health Commission, Mgr Moras said: “In spite of our technological advancement and increased Catholic commitment in the field of medicine, the impact we have had on the health of the poor is inadequate. On the World Day of the Sick we ask Our Lady of Lourdes to infuse the Church in India with her grace and gifts to serve the sick as if we were doing a service for Christ.”
Fr P Xavier, Rector of the shrine of Our Lady of Health of Velankanni, also known as ‘Lourdes of the East’, said: “On the eve of the Feast, at the grotto where Our Lady appeared, we will celebrate a solemn High Eucharist. Then pilgrims will go for a candle-lit procession to the shrine some distance away. It is a way of showing one’s faith and people of all religions are invited to take part.”
He continued to say that the shrine “was witness to the devastating tsunami but managed to resist. In our society, it is moral decadence that hits the population hardest. Let us pray that God may heal our ills, physical and spiritual.”
The Episcopal Commission for Doctrine is also busy with activities for this Day of the Sick. The chairman, Mgr Thomas Dabre, said: “Together with the Health Commission we have organised a national conference for medical personnel. We will present an understanding of the challenges inherent in health care and the mission of caring for the sick.”
The bishop said: “The fundamental moral values of human life will be the main thrust of the programme. It will be of immense benefit to those actively involved in hospitals. They will understand that their work is rooted in human dignity, solidarity, justice, care and compassion.”
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