By C.M. Paul
Kolkata, Jan. 27, 2019: India will host for a second time the international Day of the Sick from February 9 to 11. This time, it is the City of Joy – Kolkata will host the gathering.
The first time World Sick Day was celebrated in India was at the Marian Shrine of Vailankanni in southern India in 2003.
Some 50 foreign delegates, including those from the Vatican and 200 national/regional ones are expected to participate.
The dignitaries expected are papal envoy, Bangladeshi Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario, along with Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development Ghanian Cardinal Peter Kodwo A. Turkson and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India president Cardinal Oswald Gracias, among others.
Also delegates from some 27 countries of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences are expected.
St. Pope John Paul II introduced the day of the sick celebrations on 13th May, 1992 and is celebrated on the Feast of our Lady of Lourdes – 11th February.
Kolkata is chosen to celebrate the 27th Word Day of the Sick (WDS) to honour mainly “the experience of St. Teresa of Calcutta,” says Cardinal Turkson, on organising the World Day.
Albanian born Mother Teresa personally ministered to the sick and suffering people of the city and the world from 1950 to 1997 along with her Missionaries of Charity Sisters.
Host Archbishop Thomas D’Souza of Calcutta, echoes St John Paul II’s words when he says, “The annual celebration of the ‘World Day of the Sick’ makes the many Catholic health care institutions and civil society, more aware of the necessity of ensuring the best possible care for the infirm, and helping the sick person to make the most of suffering.”
Archbishop D’Souza adds, “on the human and spiritual level, [the celebration] helps creating a better understanding of the importance of religious care for the sick among diocesan and religious priests, religious sisters, and lay faithful who live and work at the side of the person in pain.”
Archbishop D’Souza initiated the immediate preparations for WDS by releasing a prayer at the Annual Corpus Christi Celebration held at St. Xavier’s Ground on November 25, 2018. This prayer is being said in all churches and homes till February 11, the last day of celebrations.
Calcutta Archdiocese Director for Social Communications Farrell Shah designed the WDS logo to express the theme decided by the Vatican: “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give” (Mt: 10:8).
The 3-day program consists of three moments, says Program Coordinator and Archdiocesan Vicar General Fr Dominic Gomes. First day has 3 sessions each with 3 presentations on Theological Foundations of Healing Ministry; followed by New Charter for Health Workers, and Ministry to the Marginalised: New Frontiers and Models. The day concludes with concelebrated Eucharistic at St Teresa of Calcutta’s tomb presided over by Archbishop D’Souza.
The second day has visits to three care centers in Kolkata – Shanti Dan and Prem Dan of the Missionaries of Charity and St Joseph’s Home for the Aged run by Little Sisters of the Poor. The afternoon meeting of the National delegations for health care and Vatican department for Integral Human Development and will conclude with a solemn Eucharist, open to all, held at St Xavier’s College ground with anointing for the sick, a sacrament bestowed only on Catholics.
Third day will see delegates traveling some 60 kms to the mother Church of Eastern India and Bangladesh – the historical Marian Shrine at Bandel (estd. 1599) for a solemn Eucharist and anointing of the sick presided over by Papal Envoy Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario of Dhaka.